Reforms, Organizational Change and Performance in Higher Education: A Comparative Account from the Nordic Countries

Description

This open access book investigates the effects of changes in leadership and managerial structures of Nordic universities resulting from reforms in the last decade. It builds on a rich, comparative dataset across a multiplicity of system-wide (macro) and organisational (meso and micro) dimensions, namely: reform or policy initiatives; drivers, aims, instruments and actors; structural changes within universities; strategic and performance management; the rise of accountability regimes; incentive and evaluative systems; and perceived changes/effects by the key actors involved, at various levels. The volume provides critical insights to the larger phenomenon of change and adaptation within the public sector. Its findings and implications are of relevance to social science researchers, policy makers, managers/administrators, and external stakeholders. Front Matter ....Pages i-xx Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Does It Really Matter? Assessing the Performance Effects of Changes in Leadership and Management Structures in Nordic Higher Education (Kirsi Pulkkinen, Timo Aarrevaara, Laila Nordstrand Berg, Lars Geschwind, Hanne Foss Hansen, Helge Hernes et al.)....Pages 3-36 Performance in Higher Education Institutions and Its Variations in Nordic Policy (Jussi Kivistö, Elias Pekkola, Laila Nordstrand Berg, Hanne Foss Hansen, Lars Geschwind, Anu Lyytinen)....Pages 37-67 Nordic Higher Education in Flux: System Evolution and Reform Trajectories (Rómulo Pinheiro, Timo Aarrevaara, Laila Nordstrand Berg, Tatiana Fumasoli, Lars Geschwind, Hanne Foss Hansen et al.)....Pages 69-108 Front Matter ....Pages 109-109 National Performance-Based Research Funding Systems: Constructing Local Perceptions of Research? (Johan Söderlind, Laila Nordstrand Berg, Jonas Krog Lind, Kirsi Pulkkinen)....Pages 111-144 External Research Funding and Authority Relations (Jonas Krog Lind, Helge Hernes, Kirsi Pulkkinen, Johan Söderlind)....Pages 145-180 The Changing Roles of Academic Leaders: Decision-Making, Power, and Performance (Lars Geschwind, Timo Aarrevaara, Laila Nordstrand Berg, Jonas Krog Lind)....Pages 181-210 Strategy as Dialogue and Engagement (Timo Aarrevaara, Rómulo Pinheiro, Johan Söderlind)....Pages 211-234 Evaluation Practices and Impact: Overload? (Hanne Foss Hansen, Timo Aarrevaara, Lars Geschwind, Bjørn Stensaker)....Pages 235-266 Front Matter ....Pages 267-267 Governing Performance in the Nordic Universities: Where Are We Heading and What Have We Learned? (Lars Geschwind, Hanne Foss Hansen, Rómulo Pinheiro, Kirsi Pulkkinen)....Pages 269-299 Back Matter ....Pages 301-326