Analysers

Abstract

This chapter provides case studies of units that employed an analyser mode of adaptation. Those academic units that used an analyser mode of adaptation combined the characteristics, strategies and actions of prospectors and defenders. Analysers had a matrix organisational structure, core parts of the unit focused on its primary activities, usually teaching domestic undergraduate and postgraduate students. These core parts functioned in a defensive mode; they had formal, bureaucratic decision-making and resource allocation processes. In addition there were a number of research centres undertaking commercial research projects which functioned as prospectors; these groups had higher levels of autonomy than the core part of the academic unit. Staff in these research centres valued flexibility, innovation, risk taking and discovery. They had an entrepreneurial orientation and strong external networks. Staff from these research centres had weak affiliations with the core part of the academic unit and university. These research centres undertook commercial applied research projects in biotechnology, business information systems or applied engineering technologies. These research centres obtained funds from commercial research partners to develop patents, products and technologies. These two functional domains or markets operated in different ways. The core market was comparatively stable; it generated the major portion of analyser’s revenue, while the secondary markets were high-risk markets; they could potentially generate significant amounts of revenue yet they were also more competitive and potentially volatile.