IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/gjofsm/v20y2019i4d10.1007_s40171-019-00215-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Improvisation in Higher Education Management: Coping with Complexity and Organizational Dynamics

Author

Listed:
  • Vera Lucia Telles Scaglione

    (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná)

  • Victor Meyer

    (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná)

  • Diórgenes Falcão Mamédio

    (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná)

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze how improvisation activities take place within the management of a higher education organization, by examining practices and related constructs, such as innovation, intuition, bricolage and learning. This is a case study on a large private university, located in São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, non-participant observation and document analysis. The results showed that improvisation in academic management is characterized by constant pressures that challenge their managers toward adaptations, reorganization in crisis situations, the sense of urgency and coping with the unexpected. Minimal structures, flexibility and competence have proved to be essential elements for improvisation. Decisions and actions, practiced by academic managers, were characterized by spontaneity, creativity and managerial flexibility. Dynamic and complex environments make improvisational practices that emerge in the day-to-day of academic management. The existence of a culture favorable to experimentation, to the autonomy of managers, contributes to reviewing processes and disseminating practices of improvisation. The incorporation of bricolage as a way to better use limited resources proved to be promising for managerial effectiveness. Originality is demonstrated in the relationship between the practices of improvisation and academic management, seen as a unique context in a flexible and complex system. This paper highlights suggestions for managerial practice related to improvisation practices as one of the ways to cope with organizational dynamics.

Suggested Citation

  • Vera Lucia Telles Scaglione & Victor Meyer & Diórgenes Falcão Mamédio, 2019. "Improvisation in Higher Education Management: Coping with Complexity and Organizational Dynamics," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 20(4), pages 291-302, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:gjofsm:v:20:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s40171-019-00215-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s40171-019-00215-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s40171-019-00215-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s40171-019-00215-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karl E. Weick, 1998. "Introductory Essay—Improvisation as a Mindset for Organizational Analysis," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 9(5), pages 543-555, October.
    2. Giustiniano, Luca & Cunha, Miguel Pina e & Clegg, Stewart, 2016. "The dark side of organizational improvisation: Lessons from the sinking of Costa Concordia," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 59(2), pages 223-232.
    3. Lalatendu Kesari Jena & Nazia Zabin Memon, 2018. "Does Workplace Flexibility Usher Innovation? A Moderated Mediation Model on the Enablers of Innovative Workplace Behavior," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 19(1), pages 5-17, March.
    4. Herbert A. Simon, 1991. "Bounded Rationality and Organizational Learning," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(1), pages 125-134, February.
    5. Opas Piansoongnern, 2016. "Chinese Leadership and Its Impacts on Innovative Work Behavior of the Thai Employees," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 17(1), pages 15-27, March.
    6. Chris Freeman & Luc Soete, 1997. "The Economics of Industrial Innovation, 3rd Edition," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 3, volume 1, number 0262061953, December.
    7. Baker, Ted & Miner, Anne S. & Eesley, Dale T., 2003. "Improvising firms: bricolage, account giving and improvisational competencies in the founding process," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 255-276, February.
    8. Miguel Pina e Cunha, 2005. "Bricolage in organizations," Nova SBE Working Paper Series wp474, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics.
    9. Deepali & Sudhir K. Jain & Harish Chaudhary, 2017. "Quest for Effective Mentors: A Way of Mentoring Potential Entrepreneurs Successfully," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 18(2), pages 99-109, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Li Xiong, 2022. "Improvise to win: the relationship between entrepreneurial improvisation and start-up competitive advantage," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(2), pages 184-204, April.
    2. Adedapo Adewunmi Oluwatayo & Olufunmilayo Adetoro, 2020. "Influence of Employee Attributes, Work Context and Human Resource Management Practices on Employee Job Engagement," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 21(4), pages 295-308, December.
    3. Philip Ebow Bondzi–Simpson & Kingsley S. Agomor, 2021. "Financing Public Universities in Ghana Through Strategic Agility: Lessons from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(1), pages 1-15, March.
    4. C. O. Iroham & M. E. Emetere & H. I. Okagbue & O. Ogunkoya & O. D. Durodola & N. J. Peter & O. M. Akinwale, 2019. "Modified Pricing Model for Negotiation of Mortgage Valuation Between Estate Surveyors and Valuers and Their Clients," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 20(4), pages 337-347, December.
    5. Maciel M. Queiroz & André Bergsten Mendes, 2020. "Critical Success Factors of the Brazilian Offshore Support Vessel Industry: A Flexible Systems Approach," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 21(1), pages 33-48, June.
    6. Manoj Kumar Sharma & R. C. Sharma, 2021. "Innovation Framework for Excellence in Higher Education Institutions," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(2), pages 141-155, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Magni, Massimo & Palmi, Pamela & Salvemini, Severino, 2018. "Under pressure! Team innovative climate and individual attitudes in shaping individual improvisation," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 474-484.
    2. Raghu Garud & Arun Kumaraswamy & Peter Karnøe, 2010. "Path Dependence or Path Creation?," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(4), pages 760-774, June.
    3. Adomako, Samuel & Opoku, Robert A. & Frimpong, Kwabena, 2018. "Entrepreneurs' improvisational behavior and new venture performance: Firm-level and institutional contingencies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 10-18.
    4. Fernando F. Suarez & Juan S. Montes, 2019. "An Integrative Perspective of Organizational Responses: Routines, Heuristics, and Improvisations in a Mount Everest Expedition," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(3), pages 573-599, May.
    5. Raghu Garud & Roger L. M. Dunbar & Caroline A. Bartel, 2011. "Dealing with Unusual Experiences: A Narrative Perspective on Organizational Learning," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(3), pages 587-601, June.
    6. Stéphane Robin, 2023. "Free musical improvisation as an alternative model for organization," Working Papers hal-04080990, HAL.
    7. Miguel Pina e Cunha, 2005. "Bricolage in organizations," Nova SBE Working Paper Series wp474, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics.
    8. Adedapo Adewunmi Oluwatayo & Olufunmilayo Adetoro, 2020. "Influence of Employee Attributes, Work Context and Human Resource Management Practices on Employee Job Engagement," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 21(4), pages 295-308, December.
    9. Leone, Ludovica, 2020. "The Ratatouille paradox. An inductive study of creativity in haute cuisine," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 92.
    10. Venkat Ram Reddy Ganuthula & Shuchi Sinha, 2019. "Flexibility in Cognitive Functioning: The Play of Paradox," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 20(4), pages 303-312, December.
    11. Sanawi M. Sharahiley, 2020. "Examining Entrepreneurial Intention of the Saudi Arabia’s University Students: Analyzing Alternative Integrated Research Model of TPB and EEM," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 21(1), pages 67-84, March.
    12. Liu, Yang & Lv, Diwei & Ying, Ying & Arndt, Felix & Wei, Jiang, 2018. "Improvisation for innovation: The contingent role of resource and structural factors in explaining innovation capability," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 74, pages 32-41.
    13. Hanan S. AlEssa & Christopher M. Durugbo, 2022. "Systematic review of innovative work behavior concepts and contributions," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 72(4), pages 1171-1208, December.
    14. Mario Pansera & Soumodip Sarkar, 2016. "Crafting Sustainable Development Solutions: Frugal Innovations of Grassroots Entrepreneurs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-25, January.
    15. Foxon, T. J. & Gross, R. & Chase, A. & Howes, J. & Arnall, A. & Anderson, D., 2005. "UK innovation systems for new and renewable energy technologies: drivers, barriers and systems failures," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(16), pages 2123-2137, November.
    16. Ziad Rotaba & Catherine Beaudry, 2012. "How Do High, Medium, And Low Tech Firms Innovate? A System Of Innovation (Si) Approach," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 9(05), pages 1-23.
    17. Bruneel, Johan & Clarysse, Bart & Bobelyn, Annelies & Wright, Mike, 2020. "Liquidity events and VC-backed academic spin-offs: The role of search alliances," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(10).
    18. Pooja Kushwaha & M. K. Rao, 2017. "Integrating the Linkages between Learning Systems and Knowledge Process: An Exploration of Learning Outcomes," Business Perspectives and Research, , vol. 5(1), pages 11-23, January.
    19. Cimoli, Mario & Primi, Annalisa & Rovira, Sebastián, 2011. "National innovation surveys in latin America: empirical evidence and policy implications," Documentos de Proyectos 3897, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    20. Petersen, Alexander M. & Rotolo, Daniele & Leydesdorff, Loet, 2016. "A triple helix model of medical innovation: Supply, demand, and technological capabilities in terms of Medical Subject Headings," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 666-681.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:gjofsm:v:20:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s40171-019-00215-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.