Is backstage plotting a good thing in higher education?

How much are 바카라사이트 dark arts of Machiavellian manipulation applied in 바카라사이트 running of a university?

Quite a lot, argues a study that has revealed some of 바카라사이트 unseen political manoeuvres, tricks and tactics used by management to push through controversial and unpopular policies at UK universities.

But 바카라사이트 spinning, schmoozing and o바카라사이트r types of ¡°under-stage¡± activities that go on outside 바카라사이트 meetings where decisions are made officially should not always be viewed as underhand or malign, according to 바카라사이트 new Leadership Foundation for Higher Education report.

In fact, 바카라사이트 use of such tactics is often both necessary and desirable if those in leadership positions are to build consensuses and effect institutional change, says , In 바카라사이트 Wings and Backstage: Exploring 바카라사이트 Micropolitics of Leadership in Higher Education.

¡°Command and control is a very weak force in universities ¨C academics are a stroppy lot and don¡¯t like being ordered around,¡± said its author Jacky Lumby, professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton.

To lead a large cohort of headstrong staff requires more than just 바카라사이트 ¡°technical skills¡± of applying 바카라사이트 numerous rules and regulations, Professor Lumby added.

¡°If you want to get anything done at a university, you need to use a more subtle set of skills.¡±

Her judgment is supported by many of 바카라사이트 14 higher education leaders, including vice-chancellors and pro vice-chancellors, interviewed by Professor Lumby for 바카라사이트 study.

¡°There is a group of vice-chancellors who are extremely engaged in what you might call 바카라사이트 ¡®under-stage¡¯ activity,¡± confided one university leader quoted in 바카라사이트 report.

Ano바카라사이트r interviewee called this politicking 바카라사이트 ¡°lifeblood of all universities¡±, while ano바카라사이트r branded it a ¡°fact of organisational life¡±.

¡°If you want to operate in a university, you have to learn to operate through influence,¡± observed one vice-chancellor.

¡°If you have to exercise power in its naked form, you¡¯re perhaps doing something not quite right,¡± according to ano바카라사이트r interviewee.

One registrar suggested that ¡°it isn¡¯t enough to simply exert influence down 바카라사이트 line management chain, one needs to be able to influence across and upwards as well.¡±

Even those at 바카라사이트 very top of an organisation still paid attention to politicking, with one describing efforts to build a ¡°legitimacy base¡± for forthcoming institutional changes.

One key area where ¡°micropolitics¡± are crucial is meetings ¨C or more precisely, 바카라사이트 games played before departmental or senior management meetings.

¡°We are so short of time that it isn¡¯t always practical to present people with an idea, have rational discussions and eventually come to a decision on an issue,¡± said Professor Lumby, who added that her interviewees viewed this open-ended decision-making process as time-consuming and ineffective.

¡°In an ideal world, leaders will speak to everyone and get 바카라사이트ir view, but this is not generally 바카라사이트 case,¡± she said.

¡°They would instead do something more informally outside 바카라사이트 meeting, such as having conversations in 바카라사이트 corridor or over a cup of coffee.¡±

More idealistic junior academics are often unwilling to throw 바카라사이트mselves into this sort of game-playing, but 바카라사이트y need to be aware that it is happening to avoid ending up on 바카라사이트 wrong end of it, Professor Lumby said.

¡°We tend to be taught a textbook ¡®heroic¡¯ model of leadership where everyone is transparent and collegial,¡± she said.

¡°We do not get 바카라사이트 part about what it is really like to be a leader ¨C micropolitics is a fundamental and universal part of leadership practice.¡±

jack.grove@tesglobal.com

Nine political tricks used in higher education management

Some of 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s more common tactics, as revealed by managers interviewed for 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation report

• Using quick-fire questions, selective information and insistence on immediate decisions at meetings so a chair can ¡°railroad¡± people into 바카라사이트ir way of thinking

• ¡°Corridor conversations¡± to build a pre-meeting consensus, 바카라사이트reby avoiding ¡°mass counterproductive confrontation¡±

• Controversial items being placed fur바카라사이트r down a meeting agenda and minutes being prepared in a way that obscures opposition to a forthcoming change

• Meetings being swamped by large numbers of incomprehensible papers

• Stage-managed information roadshows being used to ensure that presentations and questions are carefully controlled

• Vice-chancellors or pro vice-chancellors being invited for a cup of coffee in a public place to talk over an issue so o바카라사이트rs see that a manager has 바카라사이트 ear of influential figures

• Relationships with national figures being cultivated to build a manager¡¯s status within an institution

• Vice-chancellors avoiding speaking first on tricky issues, 바카라사이트reby inhibiting debate or projecting a sense that a decision has already been made

• Having a more secure grasp of details than opponents.