Title: The fit between e-learning policy and institutional culture

Authors: Carmel McNaught, Doug Vogel

Addresses: Centre for Learning Enhancement And Research, Rm. 302, Academic Building No. 1, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. ' City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Abstract: Universities tend to exhibit different cultural characteristics. The classifications of Yetton et al. (1997; old, new and divisional) and McNay (1995; corporation, collegium, bureaucracy and enterprise) are used to explore the diversity between, and complexity of, universities in the 21st century. Increasing financial stringency in university budgets has brought quite rapid changes to university culture and this relatively new cultural fluidity needs to be understood. We postulate a rise in the divisional/enterprise aspect of university culture. The development of eLearning policy in two universities in Hong Kong with very different overall cultures is used to illustrate these points. The applicability of the discussion to universities in other regions of the world is explored. The strategies of consultation, support and evaluation can assist with the development of a reflective and responsive university community; such strategies may assist in optimising the fit between e-learning policy and institutional culture.

Keywords: new universities; old universities; divisional university; collegium; corporation; enterprise university; bureaucracy; institutional culture; community values; e-learning policy; Hong Kong; learning technology; e-agenda; online learning; electronic learning; organisational culture.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLT.2006.011341

International Journal of Learning Technology, 2006 Vol.2 No.4, pp.370 - 385

Published online: 20 Nov 2006 *

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