Organizational adaptability in higher education: an exploration of how senior leaders of online learning units influence adaptability to a changing environment
Date
2024
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Abstract
Due to advancements in information and communication technology and the increasing student demand for online education, online learning units and their leaders are becoming central to the future of the larger institutions in which they reside. The current study was motivated by the imperative to understand how senior leaders influence the ability of their online learning units situated within residential public universities to adapt to the changing environment. This qualitative interpretive study provides empirical evidence for, and expands the understanding of, the ways senior leaders of online learning units influence organizational adaptability. It identifies a combination of interacting leadership practices senior leaders employ for creating conditions for adaptability, which include shaping networks, regulating tension, and navigating organizational context. The study also provides insights into the application of the Complexity Leadership Framework of Leadership for Organizational Adaptability (Uhl-Bien & Arena, 2018) in the specific context of online units situated within residential public universities. The findings suggest modifications to the original framework to include navigating context as a fundamental element for creating conditions for organizational adaptability. Additionally, the study highlights a need for further applied research. The study also provides current insights into practical implications of the findings, underscoring the importance of strategic leadership in enabling organizational adaptability.
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Subject
emergent change
leadership
organizational adaptability
higher education
complexity leadership
online learning