Reorganisation in the Name of What? A case study of the organisational changes 2010-2014 at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg

Abstract

The purpose of this study has been to analyse the effects of organisational changes within academia, using the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg as a case study. Through interviews with academic and administrative staff, perusal of archival data and documentation, and observational data, a comprehensive description of the process as well as the outcomes is given. The case verifies earlier research with regards to the difficulty in imposing changes with influences of New Public Management in academia. Likewise commonly discussed problems such as bias in representation in working committees in the process towards change are observed. The main findings of the study show that vertical communication and high involvement needs to be further stressed for successful completion of reorganisations. Furthermore, reorganisations within academia risk putting focus on effects on research and education, even when the main focus of the process at hand may be administrative. A greater acknowledgement for administration and its saying in processes regarding its work ought therefore be considered.