Title: A metamorphosis of university from past to present: a three-stage development trajectory with strategic management perspective

Authors: Shu-Hsien Liao, Wen-Jung Chang

Addresses: Department of Management Sciences and Decision Making, Tamkang University, No. 151, Yingjung Rd, Dansui Jen, Taipei 251, Taiwan. ' Graduate School of Management Sciences, Tamkang University, No. 151, Yingjung Rd, Dansui Jen, Taipei 251, Taiwan

Abstract: In the past, university is a close system and rarely pays much attention to the environmental challenges. However, over-concentrated universities, decreased birth rate and limited funds of government have imposed great pressures on these traditional higher education institutes (HEIs) and force them to undertake many engineering programs so as to survive. From strategic management (SM) perspective, the fundamental problem is how firms to achieve and sustain their competitive advantage. Most studies so far get used to over-simplification of the relationship among environment, strategy and performance for lack of complete research framework. This study examines a metamorphosis of university in life-long learning society by incorporating organisational development (OD) to continuing education institute (CEI). Therefore, this paper proposes a three-stage development trajectory and a strategic map to outline the core value of SM. Finally, we conclude with some issues in the need of future research.

Keywords: strategic management; organisational development; universities; innovation; educational metamorphoses; development trajectories; over-concentration; birth rates; government funds; funding; higher education institutions; engineering programmes; competitive advantage; organisational performance; core values; Chinese Culture University; Taiwan; continuing education; life-long learning; engineering education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2011.040202

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2011 Vol.21 No.2/3, pp.253 - 272

Received: 23 Jul 2010
Accepted: 23 Dec 2010
Published online: 16 Oct 2014 *

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