Professor University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Session Description: It has been said that “change is only the constant” and this increasingly true in higher education these days. Yet universities are also among the most change-resistant institutions there are. Part of developing leadership capacity is building an understanding of where are the levers for change in the complex adaptive system that is a university. These can be structural or social. Ultimately, in order to create or lead change it is necessary to understand the parts and dynamics of the system. Often we focus on the technical or structural aspects (processes, deadlines, infrastructure, rules). But the social factors (stakeholders, culture) are arguably more critical for change to happen, and should be addressed first. In this short course, led by the former provost of a large research-intensive university, we will do a deep dive into the overall workings of the university system and explore the social factors. We will do a stakeholder analysis and generate a stakeholder map related to an area where you want to see change.
The course is intended for anyone at any level who wants to see things happen in a better or different way. We will explore how to navigate the university system from whatever chair you sit.
After the session participants will be able to:
Identify typical key stakeholders in academic change efforts
Assess potential barriers or enablers for change efforts
Build relationship and stakeholder maps for change efforts
Create strategies for managing relational and cultural aspects of change
