Title: Administering a university's growth into the virtual domain: how to avoid the optimiser's curse

Authors: Milorad M. Novicevic, M. Ronald Buckley, Del Hawley, Bart Garner

Addresses: Department of Management, The University of Mississippi, 220 Holman Hall, University, MS, 38677, USA. ' Michael F. Price College of Business Administration, University of Oklahoma, 206 Adams Hall, Norman, OK, 73189, USA. ' Department of Finance, The University of Mississippi, 320 Holman Hall, University, MS, 38677, USA. ' Department of MIS/POM, The University of Mississippi, 320 Holman Hall, University, MS, 38677, USA

Abstract: Organisations must plan change in order to be successful, but strategic planning by universities is challenging because it is often accompanied by the emergence of the |optimiser|s curse|. The optimiser|s curse phenomenon occurs as a result of an inaccurate opportunity–threat framing of change by administrators pursuing growth in, and penetration of, the virtual domain. We provide a theoretical explanation of this phenomenon, as well as propose a matrix to assess the organisation|s climate for the planned change. In conclusion we outline a programme that may help prevent the emergence of the optimiser|s curse in the educational institution.

Keywords: online education; e-learning; online learning; virtual domain; university administration; optimiser|s curse; web-based delivery; educational change; compliance; bargaining; conflict; adaptation; internet; strategic planning; university growth.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2007.015124

International Journal of Management in Education, 2007 Vol.1 No.3, pp.251 - 265

Published online: 17 Sep 2007 *

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