Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A reinterpretation of institutional transformations in European higher education: strategising pluralistic organisations in multiplex environments

  • Published:
Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The paper draws on institutional theory with special attention to recent contributions that aim at developing its micro-foundations. We address the question of how individual higher education institutions deal with institutional pluralism. We develop an analytical framework inspired by institutional theory, the sensemaking perspective in organisation theory and strategy-as-practice to connect the macro-transformation processes of the organisational field and the micro-processes of organisational strategising.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amaral, A., Jones, G. A., & Karseth, B. (Eds.). (2002). Governing higher education: National perspectives on institutional governance. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amaral, A., Meek, L., & Larsen, I. M. (Eds.). (2003). The higher education managerial revolution?. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becher, T., & Trowler, P. (2001). Academic tribes and territories: Intellectual enquiry and the culture of the disciplines (2nd ed.). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleiklie, I. (2007). Systemic integration and macro steering. Higher Education Policy, 20(4), 391–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleiklie, I., & Kogan, M. (2007). Organization and governance of universities. Higher Education Policy, 20(4), 477–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonaccorsi, A., & Daraio, C. (2007). Theoretical perspectives on university strategy. In A. Bonaccorsi & C. Daraio (Eds.), Universities and strategic knowledge creation. Specialisation and performance in Europe (pp. 3–30). Northampton: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennan, J., & Shah, T. (2000). Quality assessment and institutional change: Experiences from 14 countries. Higher Education, 40, 331–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, B. R. (1983). The higher education system: Academic organization in cross-national perspective. Berkeley, Los Angeles, Oxford: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, M. D., March, J. G., & Olsen, J. P. (1972). A garbage can model of organizational choice. Administrative Science Quarterly, 17, 1–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delmas, M. A., & Toffel, M. W. (2008). Organizational responses to environmental demands: Opening the black box. Strategic Management Journal, 29, 1027–1055.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dill, D. D., & Soo, M. (2004). Transparency and quality in higher education markets. In P. Teixeira, B. Jonbloed, & A. Amaral (Eds.), Markets in higher education: Rhetoric or reality? (pp. 61–85). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (1983). The iron cage revisited. Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields. American Sociological Review, 48, 147–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (1991). Introduction. In W. W. Powell & P. J. DiMaggio (Eds.), The new institutionalism in organizational analysis (pp. 1–38). Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Djelic, M.-L., & Sahlin-Andersson, K. (Eds.). (2006). Transnational governance: Institutional dynamics of regulation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elsbach, K. D., & Kramer, R. M. (1996). Member’s responses to organizational identity threats: Encountering and countering the business week rankings. Administrative Science Quarterly, 41(3), 442–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frølich, N., & Stensaker, B. (2012). Strategy formulation in universities—An investigation of cultural practices. In B. Stensaker, J. Välimaa, & C. Sarrico (Eds.), Managing reform in higher education—Changing cultures and identities. Palgrave.

  • George, P., Chattopadyay, E., Sitkin, S. B., & Barden, J. (2006). Cognitive underpinnings of institutional persistence and change: A framing perspective. Academy of Management Review, 31(3), 347–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gioia, D. A., & Chittipeddi, K. (1991). Sensemaking and sensegiving in strategic change initiation. Strategic Management Journal, 12(6), 433–448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huisman, J. (Ed.). (2009). International perspectives on the governance of higher education. Alternative frameworks for coordination. London and New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis group.

  • Jarzabkowski, P. (2003). Strategic practices: An activity theory perspective on continuity and change. Journal of Management Studies, 40(1), 23–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarzabkowski, P., Balogun, J., & Seidl, D. (2007). Strategizing: The challenges of a practice perspective. Human Relations, 60(1), 5–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarzabkowski, P., & Wilson, D. C. (2002). Top teams and strategy in a UK university. Journal of Management Studies, 39(3), 333–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kraatz, M. S., & Block, E. S. (2008). Organizational implications of institutional pluralism. In R. Greenwood, C. Oliver, K. Sahlin, & R. Suddaby (Eds.), The sage handbook of organizational institutionalism (pp. 243–275). London: Sage Publications.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Labianca, G., Fairbank, J. F., Thomas, J. B., & Gioia, D. A. (2001). Emulation in academia: Balancing structure and identity. Organization Science, 12(3), 312–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, T. B., Suddaby, R., & Leca, B. (Eds.). (2009). Institutional work. Actors and agency in institutional studies of organizations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maassen, P., & Olsen, J. P. (Eds.). (2007). University dynamics and European integration. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • March, J. G., & Olsen, J. P. (1996). Institutional perspectives on political institutions. Governance, 9, 247–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marginson, S., & Van der Wende, M. (2009). The new global landscape of nations and institutions. In OECD (Ed.), Higher education to 2030, volume 2: Globalisation (pp. 17–62). Paris: OECD.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Meek, V. L., Goedegebuure, L. C. J., & Huisman, J. (2000). Editorial: diversity, differentiation and the market. Higher Education Policy, 13(4), 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meek, V. L., Goedegebuure, L. C. J., Kivinen, O., & Rinne, R. (Eds.). (1996). The mockers and mocked: Comparative perspectives on differentiation, convergence and diversity in higher education. Oxford: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J. W., & Rowan, B. (1977). Institutional organizations: Formal structures as myth and ceremony. American Journal of Sociology, 83, 340–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miettinen, R., Samra-Frederucks, D., & Yanow, D. (2009). Re-turn to practice: An introduction essay. Organization Studies, 30(12), 1309–1327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mintzberg, H. (1979). The structuring of organizations. A synthesis of the research. Englewood Cliffs NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mintzberg, H. (1987). The strategy concept I: Five P’s for strategy. In G. R. Carroll & D. Vogle (Eds.), Organizational approaches to strategy (pp. 7–19). Cambridge, MA: Ballinger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, C. (1991). Strategic responses to institutional processes. Academy of Management Review, 18(1), 145–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paradeise, C., Bleiklie, I., Enders, J., Goastellec, G., Michelsen, S., Reale, E., et al. (2009a). Reform policies and change processes in Europe. In J. Huisman (Ed.), International perspectives on the governance of higher education. Alternative frameworks for coordination (pp. 88–106). London and New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paradeise, C., Reale, E., Bleiklie, I., & Ferlie, E. (Eds.). (2009b). University governance: Western european comparative perspectives. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, W. W., & Colyvas, J. A. (2008). Micro-foundations of institutional theory. In R. Greenwood, C. Oliver, K. Sahlin, & R. Suddaby (Eds.), The Sage handbook of organizational institutionalism (pp. 276–298). London: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, F. (2009). Universities’ access to research funds: Do institutional features and strategies matter? Tertiary Education and Management, 15(2), 113–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneiberg, M., & Clemens, E. S. (2006). The typical tools for the job: Research strategies in institutional analysis. Sociological Theory, 24(3), 196–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, W. R. (2008). Institutions and organizations: Ideas and interests (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, W. R., & Davis, G. F. (2006). Organizations and organizing. Rational, natural and open system perspectives. Prentice Hall: New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, W. R., Ruef, M., Mendel, P. J., & Caronna, C. A. (2000). Institutional change and healthcare organisations. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selznick, P. (1957). Leadership in administration. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shattock, M. (2003). Managing successful universities. Maidenhead: SRHE & Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, B. (2009). Pragmatism, mead and the practice turn. Organization Studies, 30(12), 1329–1347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stensaker, B., Frølich, N., Gornitzka, Å., & Maassen, P. (2008). Internationalisation of higher education—The gap between national policy-making and institutional needs. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 6(1), 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tammi, T. (2009). The competitive funding of university research: The case of Finnish science universities. Higher Education, 57, 657–679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teichler, U. (2007). The changing patterns of the higher education systems in Europe and the future task of higher education research. In European Science Foundation (ESF) (Ed.), Higher education looking forward: Relations between higher education and society (pp. 79–103). Strasbourg: European Science Foundation(ESF).

    Google Scholar 

  • Teixeira, P., Jongbloed, B., Dill, D., & Amaral, A. (Eds.). (2004). Markets in higher education. Rhetoric or reality?. Dordrecht: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wedlin, L. (2006). Ranking business schools: Forming fields, identities and boundaries in international management education. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weick, K. E. (1995). Sensemaking in organizations. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westerheijden, D. F., Stensaker, B., & Rosa, M. J. (Eds.). (2007). Quality assurance in higher education. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NIFU, Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education, Wergelandsveien 7, 0167, Oslo, Norway

    Nicoline Frølich & Bjørn Stensaker

  2. International Centre for Higher Education Management, School of Management, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK

    Jeroen Huisman & Paulo Charles Pimentel Bótas

  3. The Research Council of Norway, P.O. Box 2700, St. Hanshaugen, 0131, Oslo, Norway

    Stig Slipersæter

Authors
  1. Nicoline Frølich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeroen Huisman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stig Slipersæter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bjørn Stensaker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Paulo Charles Pimentel Bótas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicoline Frølich.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Frølich, N., Huisman, J., Slipersæter, S. et al. A reinterpretation of institutional transformations in European higher education: strategising pluralistic organisations in multiplex environments. High Educ 65, 79–93 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-012-9582-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-012-9582-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation