Large-scale innovation and change in UK higher education
This paper reflects on challenges universities face as they respond to change. It reviews current theories and models of change management, discusses why universities are particularly difficult environments in which to achieve large scale, lasting change and reports on a recent attempt by the UK JIS...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Association for Learning Technology
2013-09-01
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| Series: | Research in Learning Technology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/article/download/22316/pdf_1 |
| _version_ | 1818352087927357440 |
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| author | Stephen Brown |
| author_facet | Stephen Brown |
| author_sort | Stephen Brown |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper reflects on challenges universities face as they respond to change. It reviews current theories and models of change management, discusses why universities are particularly difficult environments in which to achieve large scale, lasting change and reports on a recent attempt by the UK JISC to enable a range of UK universities to employ technology to deliver such changes. Key lessons that emerged from these experiences are reviewed covering themes of pervasiveness, unofficial systems, project creep, opposition, pressure to deliver, personnel changes and technology issues. The paper argues that collaborative approaches to project management offer greater prospects of effective large-scale change in universities than either management-driven top-down or more champion-led bottom-up methods. It also argues that while some diminution of control over project outcomes is inherent in this approach, this is outweighed by potential benefits of lasting and widespread adoption of agreed changes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:48:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5ac52a68432c4690aee2d7b7e2671122 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2156-7069 2156-7077 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:48:04Z |
| publishDate | 2013-09-01 |
| publisher | Association for Learning Technology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Research in Learning Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5ac52a68432c4690aee2d7b7e26711222022-12-21T23:35:01ZengAssociation for Learning TechnologyResearch in Learning Technology2156-70692156-70772013-09-0121011310.3402/rlt.v21i0.22316Large-scale innovation and change in UK higher educationStephen BrownThis paper reflects on challenges universities face as they respond to change. It reviews current theories and models of change management, discusses why universities are particularly difficult environments in which to achieve large scale, lasting change and reports on a recent attempt by the UK JISC to enable a range of UK universities to employ technology to deliver such changes. Key lessons that emerged from these experiences are reviewed covering themes of pervasiveness, unofficial systems, project creep, opposition, pressure to deliver, personnel changes and technology issues. The paper argues that collaborative approaches to project management offer greater prospects of effective large-scale change in universities than either management-driven top-down or more champion-led bottom-up methods. It also argues that while some diminution of control over project outcomes is inherent in this approach, this is outweighed by potential benefits of lasting and widespread adoption of agreed changes.http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/article/download/22316/pdf_1change managementtop-downbottom-updistributiveleadershipinnovationcollaborationparticipationparticipatory designcurriculum designinstitutional practicelarge scaleevolving cultureJISCstakeholder |
| spellingShingle | Stephen Brown Large-scale innovation and change in UK higher education Research in Learning Technology change management top-down bottom-up distributive leadership innovation collaboration participation participatory design curriculum design institutional practice large scale evolving culture JISC stakeholder |
| title | Large-scale innovation and change in UK higher education |
| title_full | Large-scale innovation and change in UK higher education |
| title_fullStr | Large-scale innovation and change in UK higher education |
| title_full_unstemmed | Large-scale innovation and change in UK higher education |
| title_short | Large-scale innovation and change in UK higher education |
| title_sort | large scale innovation and change in uk higher education |
| topic | change management top-down bottom-up distributive leadership innovation collaboration participation participatory design curriculum design institutional practice large scale evolving culture JISC stakeholder |
| url | http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/article/download/22316/pdf_1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stephenbrown largescaleinnovationandchangeinukhighereducation |