Making Sense of the University’s Purposes, Values and Culture

Abstract

Clarity of the core ideology of the university, recognising its institutional purposes, value and culture, and the willingness of leadership to enact an organisational change programme designed to strengthen these in a dynamic environment are critical to the ongoing success of a university. Understanding the complex and dynamic state of identity embodied in the core ideology is key to successful engagement with the wicked problem of university change. Universities are recognised as embodying a strong sense of shared values which can be in conflict with the pursuit of prestige and reputation that define some university leadership strategies. The sense-making implications of the organisational structures and management approaches of universities are explored. New Public Management and the associated neoliberal theories driving change in many universities is identified as another manifestation of transformational thinking that is damaging the culture and sense of shared values regarded by faculty as core to the identity of the university, and consequently compromising sense-making and contributing to elements of the wicked problem.