Strategic change in Swedish higher education |
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| Authors: | Kaj Sköldberg |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Business Administration, Umeå School of Business, Umeå University, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | Organizational fields, in theory, are held to become increasingly isomorphic and standardized over time. At first sight, Sweden's system of higher education is an illustrative case. In its major post-war event, the radical 1977 reform, a variety of means was introduced to pave the way for goal-driven planning and management. The intentions were overall homogeneity and rationality. This is quite in accordance with the theory of organizational fields. Yet, despite intentions, homogeneity remained a rather thin veneer, unable to prevent various forms of disparity from breaking through. Reality, therefore, was more on par with Trow's and others' theses of differentiation in mass higher education; isomorphism taking the place of a formal, inconvenient façade. Effects of four principal reform aspects are discussed in the present article: admission, instruction, institutional classification, and organizational framework. In the analysis of the last-mentioned aspect, a theory of  planning cultures is introduced. Further changes in the wake of the reform are also touched upon. The results are discussed in a final section, where alternative re-reform measures and outlines for further research are put forth. Intended and unintended consequences, including dysfunctional ones, are subjects of attention throughout the article. |
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