Nested hybridity and value definition in public higher education : a conceptual view
Year of publication
2021
Authors
Pekkola, Elias; Pinheiro, Rómulo Miguel; Geschwind, Lars; Siekkinen, Taru; Carvalho, Teresa; Pulkkinen, Kirsi
Abstract
In this article, we explore multilevel hybridity in higher education (HE) systems, particularly the effects of marketisation on publicly funded universities. Based on current literature, we analyse how government policies and mechanisms nurture the hybrid-operating context of universities, as well as how policies and organisational and professional practices create new hybrid positions in the HE organisational field and influence academic leaders’ positions. We introduce the concept of nested hybridity, where systems at different levels are embedded and interconnected. Many changes either foster or hinder hybridity not only at national or organisational levels but also at professional practices and work descriptions level. Applying Noordegraaf’s (2015) levels of professional work, we describe work in an academic community as the microsystem, the organisation of academic work in work descriptions and managerial dyads as the mesosystem, institutional logics and policies as the exosystem and the HE system as the macrosystem. Hybrid logics of value definition and production involve a competition between formal and substantive rationalities. Positions and work descriptions of academics, para-academics and other professionals in HE institutions are not the entities in which the value is created. However, the work descriptions form the nucleus for the definition of organisational value-creation processes. New types of professional practices embodied in work descriptions and positions cement the authority structure in the organisational value-creation process. The hybridity of different substantive rationalities or the alignment of formal and substantive rationalities needs to occur at the level of individual professionals in order to have an impact on the primary value-creation processes.
Show moreOrganizations and authors
Publication type
Publication format
Article
Parent publication type
Compendium
Article type
Other article
Audience
ScientificPeer-reviewed
Peer-ReviewedMINEDU's publication type classification code
A3 Book section, Chapters in research booksPublication channel information
Parent publication name
Hybrid Governance, Organisations and Society : Value Creation Perspectives
Parent publication editors
Vakkuri, Jarmo; Johanson, Jan-Erik
Publisher
Pages
59-80
ISBN
Publication forum
Publication forum level
3
Open access
Open access in the publisher’s service
No
Self-archived
No
Other information
Fields of science
Economics; Educational sciences
Keywords
[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Publication country
United Kingdom
Internationality of the publisher
International
Language
English
International co-publication
Yes
Co-publication with a company
No
DOI
10.4324/9780429286247-6
The publication is included in the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Publication data collection
Yes