TY - JOUR A1 - Seyfried, Markus A1 - Ansmann, Moritz A1 - Pohlenz, Philipp T1 - Institutional isomorphism, entrepreneurship and effectiveness BT - the adoption and implementation of quality management in teaching and learning in Germany JF - Tertiary Education and Management N2 - This paper presents empirical evidence on the adoption, implementation and the perceived effectiveness of quality management in teaching and learning in German higher education institutions. Theoretically, the article combines two new institutionalist approaches: institutional isomorphism and institutional entrepreneurship. Empirically, the study refers to qualitative interview data and quantitative survey data. The analysis reveals that isomorphism is a leading driver behind the adoption of quality management in German higher education institutions, whereas institutional entrepreneurship plays an important role in quality management implementation. While isomorphism can be regarded as a conclusive reason behind the absence of a perception of quality management’s effectiveness, institutional entrepreneurship may function as a corrective towards the overall negative impact of isomorphic conformity by institutionalizing quality management in a sustainable manner. KW - Higher education KW - Quality management KW - Quality assurance KW - New institutionalism KW - Isomorphism KW - Institutional entrepreneurship Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11233-019-09022-3 SN - 1358-3883 SN - 1573-1936 VL - 25 IS - 2 SP - 115 EP - 129 PB - Springer CY - Dordrecht ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Seyfried, Markus A1 - Ansmann, Moritz T1 - Unfreezing higher education institutions? BT - understanding the introduction of quality management in teaching and learning in Germany JF - Higher Education N2 - Quality management (QM) in teaching and learning has strongly “infected” the higher education sector and spread around the world. It has almost everywhere become an integral part of higher education reforms. While existing research on QM mainly focuses on the national level from a macro-perspective, its introduction at the institutional level is only rarely analyzed. The present article addresses this research gap. Coming from the perspective of organization studies, it examines the factors that were crucial for the introduction of QM at higher education institutions in Germany. As the introduction of QM can be considered to be a process of organizational change, the article refers to Kurt Lewin’s seminal concept of “unfreezing” organizations as a theoretical starting point. Methodologically, a mixed methods approach is applied by combining qualitative data derived from interviews with institutional quality managers and quantitative data gathered from a nationwide survey. The results show that the introduction of QM is initiated by either internal or external processes. Furthermore, some institutions follow a rather voluntary approach of unfreezing, while others show modes of forced unfreezing. Consequently, the way how QM was introduced has important implications for its implementation. KW - Quality management KW - Organizational change KW - Higher education KW - Mixed methods Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-017-0185-2 SN - 0018-1560 SN - 1573-174X VL - 75 IS - 6 SP - 1061 EP - 1076 PB - Springer CY - Dordrecht ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Seyfried, Markus T1 - Undisclosed desires BT - quality managers’ normative notions regarding the implementation of quality management JF - Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education N2 - Following decades of quality management featuring in higher education settings, questions regarding its implementation, impact and outcomes remain. Indeed, leaving aside anecdotal case studies and value-laden documentaries of best practice, current research still knows very little about the implementation of quality management in teaching and learning within higher education institutions. Referring to data collected from German higher education institutions in which a quality management department or functional equivalent was present, this article theorises and provides evidence for the supposition that the implementation of quality management follows two implicit logics. Specifically, it tends either towards the logic of appropriateness or, contrastingly, towards the logic of consequentialism. This study’s results also suggest that quality managers’ socialisation is related to these logics and that it influences their views on quality management in teaching and learning. KW - Higher education KW - quality manager KW - teaching and learning KW - appropriateness Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2019.1573970 SN - 0260-2938 SN - 1469-297X VL - 44 IS - 7 SP - 1106 EP - 1119 PB - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group CY - Abingdon ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scheel, Laura A1 - Vladova, Gergana A1 - Ullrich, André T1 - The influence of digital competences, self-organization, and independent learning abilities on students’ acceptance of digital learning JF - International journal of educational technology in higher education N2 - Despite digital learning disrupting traditional learning concepts and activities in higher education, for the successful integration of digital learning, the use and acceptance of the students are essential. This acceptance depends in turn on students’ characteristics and dispositions, among other factors. In our study, we investigated the influence of digital competences, self-organization, and independent learning abilities on students’ acceptance of digital learning and the influence of their acceptance on the resistance to the change from face-to-face to digital learning. To do so, we surveyed 350 students and analyzed the impact of the different dispositions using ordinary least squares regression analysis. We could confirm a significant positive influence of all the tested dispositions on the acceptance of digital learning. With the results, we can contribute to further investigating the underlying factors that can lead to more positive student perceptions of digital learning and build a foundation for future strategies of implementing digital learning into higher education successfully. KW - Digital learning KW - Technology acceptance model KW - Digital competences KW - Self-organization KW - Independent learning KW - Higher education Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-022-00350-w SN - 2365-9440 VL - 19 IS - 44 PB - Springer CY - Cham ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mah, Dana-Kristin A1 - Ifenthaler, Dirk T1 - What do first-year students need? BT - digital badges for academic support to enhance student retention JF - Journal of applied research in higher education N2 - The purpose of this paper is to analyse data on first-year students’ needs regarding academic support services and reasons for their intention to leave the institution prior to degree completion. On the basis of the findings, a digital badge outline is proposed which could contribute to improved communication of academic requirements in order to help students to better adapt to higher education demands. Digital badges might also serve as an indicator for students’ needing additional academic support services. KW - Higher education KW - Retention KW - Learning analytics KW - First-year students Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-12-2018-0258 SN - 2050-7003 SN - 1758-1184 VL - 12 IS - 1 SP - 86 EP - 96 PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited CY - Bingley ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ansmann, Moritz A1 - Seyfried, Markus T1 - Isomorphism and organizational performance BT - evidence from quality management in higher education JF - Quality assurance in education N2 - Purpose Quality management has become an integral part of management reforms in public sector organizations. Drawing on a new institutionalist perspective, this study aims to investigate the relation of management reforms and organizational performance in the context of higher education. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyse the interaction between isomorphic conformity in quality management adoption, organizational learning and quality improvement and, in so doing, address the central theoretical question of what effects isomorphic conformity has on organizational performance. Empirically, the study draws on survey data from quality managers at public higher education institutions in Germany. Methodically, it applies confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Findings The results suggest that mimetic isomorphism is surprisingly compatible with processes of organizational learning, and thus, does not inevitably compromise organizational development. Originality/value By presenting these findings, the authors contribute to the controversial theoretical debate concerning the effects of isomorphism and to the ongoing discussion regarding the organizational impact of quality management in higher education. KW - Quality management KW - Quality assurance KW - Higher education KW - Structural KW - equation modelling KW - New institutionalism Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-07-2021-0114 SN - 0968-4883 SN - 1758-7662 VL - 30 IS - 1 SP - 135 EP - 149 PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited CY - Bingley ER - TY - THES A1 - Agamy, Ibrahim T1 - Social networking software in higher education : investigating the influence of using different interaction levels on learners’ achievement and satisfaction T1 - Social-Networking-Software in der Hochschulbildung : Untersuchung des Einflusses von Interaktion auf verschiedenen Ebenen auf die Zufriedenheit und Leistung von Lernenden N2 - Education in knowledge society is challenged with a lot of problems in particular the interaction between the teacher and learner in social networking software as a key factor affects the learners’ learning and satisfaction (Prammanee, 2005) where “to teach is to communicate, to communicate is to interact, to interact is to learn” (Hefzallah, 2004, p. 48). Analyzing the relation between teacher-learner interaction from a side and learning outcome and learners’ satisfaction from the other side, some basic problems regarding a new learning culture using social networking software are discussed. Most of the educational institutions pay a lot of attentions to the equipments and emerging Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in learning situations. They try to incorporate ICT into their institutions as teaching and learning environments. They do this because they expect that by doing so they will improve the outcome of the learning process. Despite this, the learning outcome as reported in most studies is very limited, because the expectations of self-directed learning are much higher than the reality. Findings from an empirical study (investigating the role of teacher-learner interaction through new digital media wiki in higher education and learning outcome and learner’s satisfaction) are presented recommendations about the necessity of pedagogical interactions in support of teaching and learning activities in wiki courses in order to improve the learning outcome. Conclusions show the necessity for significant changes in the approach of vocational teacher training programs of online teachers in order to meet the requirements of new digital media in coherence with a new learning culture. These changes have to address collaborative instead of individual learning and ICT wiki as a tool for knowledge construction instead of a tool for gathering information. N2 - Bildung in der Wissensgesellschaft ist mit einer Vielzahl von Herausforderungen verbunden. Insbesondere die Interaktion zwischen Lehrenden und Lernenden ist in sozialen Netzwerken durch Software bestimmt, die als ein wesentlicher Faktor den Lernerfolg der Lernenden und ihre Zufriedenheit bestimmt (Prammanee, 2005), da “to teach is to communicate, to communicate is to interact, to interact is to learn” (Hefzallah, 2004, S. 48). Die Analyse der Art der Lehrer-Schüler-Interaktion auf der einen Seite und das Lernergebnis und die Zufriedenheit der Lernenden auf der anderen Seite, sind einige grundlegende zu diskutierende Herausforderungen hinsichtlich einer neuen Lernkultur mit Social-Networking-Software. Eine Vielzahl der Bildungseinrichtungen achten daher auf die Ausstattung mit Ausrüstungen und zugehörigen Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien (IKT) zur Gestaltung von Lernsituationen. Sie versuchen die IKT in ihren Institutionen als Lehr-und Lernumgebungen zu integrieren, da sie damit einen positiven Effekt auf den Ausgang des Lernprozesses verbinden. Trotzdem sind die Lernergebnisse, die in den meisten Studien untersucht wurden, sehr begrenzt. Es zeigt sich, dass die Erwartungen der Lehrkräfte an selbstgesteuertes Lernen viel höher sind, als die Ergebnisse der Studien repräsentieren. Auf Grundlage dieser Ausgangssituation wurde eine empirischen Studie (Untersuchung der Rolle der Lehrer-Schüler-Interaktion durch neue digitale Medien Wiki in der Hochschulbildung und des Lernerfolgs und der Zufriedenheit der Lernenden) durchgeführt. Aus den Ergebnissen wurden Empfehlungen über die Notwendigkeit der pädagogischen Interaktionen zur Unterstützung von Lehr-und Lernaktivitäten in Wiki Kursen abgeleitet, um den Lernerfolg zu verbessern. Die Schlussfolgerungen zeigen die Notwendigkeit für deutliche Änderungen in der Herangehensweise der beruflichen Bildung der Online-Lehrer, um die Anforderungen der neuen digitalen Medien im Einklang mit einer neuen Lernkultur zu erfüllen. Diese Veränderungen beeinhalten im Kern kooperatives statt individuelles Lernen und den Einsatz von IKT-Wiki als ein Werkzeug für die Wissenskonstruktion statt für das Sammeln von Informationen. KW - Web 2.0 KW - Sozial Vernetzung Software KW - Lern-Interaktion KW - Hochschulbildung KW - Wiki KW - Web 2.0 KW - Social networking software KW - Wiki KW - Learning interaction KW - Higher education Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-61888 ER -