Development needs of Middle Managers in Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study of a Post 1992 New University in UK
Volume 3, Issue 6 MOHAMED SAMEER MUGHAL, ANDREW. D. ROSS, DAMIAN J. FEARON
Published online: 28 December 2017
Article Views: 36
Abstract
Development of staff by Human Resources (HR) department in any organisation is crucial to implement its strategy, operations, goals and for eventual success. Similarly, in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), the Middle Managers (MM) are drivers who execute an organisation vision, mission and contribute towards its desired attainment. MM job titles at faculty level include Deans, Head of Departments, Subject leaders and Principle lecturers/Programme leaders. However, evidence from contemporary literature, changes and challenges transpiring in the HEIs sector is influencing and generating tremendous pressures and workloads for MM to work effectively and efficiently in their respective roles. Therefore, the fortitude of this study is to explore this phenomenon and capture true MM Development Needs (DN) and propose a conceptual model. In stage one (qualitative stage), a semi-structured interview protocol was derived from 2 pilot semi-structured interviews and a literature review theoretical model. A meso case study (subcases and individual embedded cases) of a UK Post 1992 university was conducted with 23 semi-structured interviews lasting an hour each. 14 interviews were analysed in rich detail. The major findings depict 251 themes from the qualitative data analysis categorised under six main categories. To validated and cross-compare the themes, nine collected interviews were audio listened to verify and validate the findings. This study seeks to contribute to middle management theory and narrow the gap existing in HEI management development programme provision and align with middle managers requirements via proposing structured, relevant programmes to be implemented by human resources.
References
Altbach, P. G., Reisberg, L., & Rumbley, L. E. (2009). Trends in global higher education: Tracking an academic revolution. Presented at UNESCO 2009 World Conference on Higher Education, Paris, France.
Archer, M. S. (2007). Making our way through the world: Human reflexivity and social mobility. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Bacon, E., (2014). Neo-collegiality: Restoring academic engagement in the managerial university. Leadership foundation for higher education. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/qWTRNE
Beech, N., & Macintosh, R. (2012). Managing change: Enquiry and action. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press
Birds, R. (2014). Middle managers in UK higher education conceptualising experiences in support of reflective practice. Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education, 18(3), 90-98.
Bolden, R., Jones, S., Davis, H., & Gentle, P. (2015). Developing and sustaining shared leadership in higher education. Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/qfJFTg
Brew, A., Boud, D., Namgung, S. U., Lucas, L., & Crawford, K. (2016). Research productivity and academics conceptions of research. Higher Education, 71(5), 681-697.
Browne, J., Barber, M., Coyle, D., Eastwood, D., King, J., Naik, R., & Sands, P. (2010). Securing a sustainable future for higher education: An independent review of higher education funding and student finance. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/gSWpN4
Bryman, A. (2007). Research and development series, effective leadership in higher education: Summary of findings. School of Management, University of Leicester. Retreievd from https://goo.gl/PHyG4b
Business, Innovation and Skills. (2016 a). Higher education and research bill: Summary F factsheet. Retreieved from https://goo.gl/yE8HM
Business, Innovation and Skills. (2016 b). Higher education and research bill: UK research and innovation. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/pxppR1
Chater, M. (1998). The Gods of mismanagement: A mythological exploration of our management predicament. School Leadership & Management, 18(2), 231-238
Collinson, J. A. (2004). Occupational identity on the edge: Social science contract researchers in higher education. Sociology, 38(2), 313-329
Conway, E., & Monks, K. (2011). Change from below: The role of middle managers in mediating paradoxical change. Human Resource Management Journal, 21(2), 190-203.
Cooke, R. (2008). On-line innovation in higher education. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/wcYhy3
Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. S. (2003). Business research methods. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill Education
Cowen, R. (2007). Comparing and transferring: Vision, politics and universities. In Bridges, D., Juceviciene, P., Juceviciene, R., Mc Laughlin, T., & Stankeviciute, J. (Eds.), Higher education and national development: Universities and societies in transition. New York, NY: Routledge
Cresswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed method research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Currie, G., Humphreys, M., Ucbasaran, D., & McManus, S. (2008). Entrepreneurial leadership in the English public sector: paradox or possibility? Public Administration, 86(4), 987-1008.
Deem, R. (2000). New managerialism and the management of UK universities. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/pb95d3
Floyd, A. (2012). Turning points: The personal and professional circumstances that lead academics to become middle managers. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 40(2), 272-284.
Gov. UK. (2017). Get information about schools. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/wm8e65
Higher Education Funding Council for England. (n.d.). Register of HE providers. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/BLgZZB
Hoecht, A. (2006). Quality assurance in UK higher education: Issues of trust, control, professional autonomy and accountability. Higher Education, 51(4), 541-563.
Hood, C. (1991). A public management for all seasons? Public Administration, 69(1), 3-19.
Hotho, S. (2013). Higher education change and its managers: Alternative constructions. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 41(3), 352-371.
Huisman, J., De-Boer, H., & Botas, P. C. P. (2012). The future of English higher education: Two scenarios on the changing landscape. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/j9YTbm
Hussey, J. & Hussey, R. (1997). Business Research: A practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students. London, UK: Macmillan.
Jonasson, J. T. (2008). Inventing tomorrow’s university, Who is to take the lead? An essay of the Magna Charta Observatory. Bononia University Press, Retrieved from https://goo.gl/YEcVCK
Kubler, J., & Sayers, N. (2010). Higher education future: Key themes and implications for leadership and management. Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/XDKDGf
Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2008). Learning the craft of qualitative research. Los Anges, CA: Sage Publications.
Lunt, I. (2008). Beyond tuition fees? The legacy of Blair’s government to higher education. Oxford Review of Education, 34(6), 741-752.
Middlehurst, R. (2010). Developing higher education professionals: Challenges and possibilities. In G. Gordon & C. Whitchurch, (Eds.), Academic and professional identities in higher education: The challenges of a diversifying workforce. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.
Miles, M. B, & Huberman, M. A. (1994). Qualitative data analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications .
National Student Survey (NSS). (2016). Overall satisfaction results. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/YVogte
Oppenheim, A. N. (1992). Questionnaire design, interviewing and attitude measurement. London, UK: Pinter Publishers.
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Rudhumbu, N. (2015). Managing curriculum change from the middle: How academic middle managers enact their role in higher education. International Journal of Higher Education, 4(1), 106-119.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2012). Research methods for business students. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education Limited.
Sayers, N. (2010). A guide to scenario planning in higher education. Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/ji92na
Smith, R. (2002). The role of the university head of department: A survey of two British universities. Educational Management & Administration, 30(3), 293-312.
SPSS. (2017). Statistical package for the social science. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/yxHT8c
Stanfield, G. (2011). Collaborations and mergers in HE: Lessons learned and future prospects. Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, Retrieved from https://goo.gl/6w6NNE
Thomas, G. A. (2014). Professional identities of middle managers: A case study in the faculty of health and social care. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 42(5), 620-639.
Trowler, P., Ashwin, P., & Saunders, M. (2014). The role of HEFCE in teaching and learning enhancement: A review of evaluative evidence. Higher Education Academy. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/mkaGgP
Vincent-Lancrin, S. (2004). Building futures scenarios for universities and higher education: an international approach. Policy Futures in Education, 2(2), 245-263.
Watson, C. (2011). Accountability, transparency, redundancy: Academic identities in an era of ‘excellence’. British Educational Research Journal, 37(6), 955-971.
Yin, R. K. (2009). Case study research: Design and methods. Thousand oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Yin, R. K. (2011). Qualitative research from start to finish. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
To Cite this article
Mughal, M. S., Ross, A. D., & Fearon, D. J. (2017). Development needs of middle managers in higher education institutions: A case study of a Post 1992 New University in UK. International Journal of Business and Administrative Studies, 3(6), 239-259.