Search results for ""author carmelo mazza""

This timely and important book provides a critical analysis of the changes and challenges that currently affect European universities. Using both theoretical contributions and applied case studies, leading experts argue that universities as institutions are in need of change - although the routes that the process may take are heterogeneous. The authors debate whether the reform of universities suffers from the undue influence of generalisations that do not stand up to scrutiny. It is simply too narrow to focus on strategies such as imitating a 'university model', hoping that best practices will solve the inefficiencies of the organisation as a whole, or relying on the presence of few external individuals on the universities' board to save the difficult relationships between the university and the surrounding economy and society. These ideas ignore the diversity of universities geographically and historically. Above all, they underestimate the power that such diversity holds in making universities survive across centuries. Researchers with an interest in university reform will appreciate this important contribution to the debate, whilst policymakers and university administrators will find this book invaluable in understanding the changes and problems facing European universities and gaining insights on possible solutions.

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Institutional theory has become one of the dominant organizational approaches in recent decades. Its roots can be traced to Europe and an important intellectual objective of this book is to examine North American theory strands and to reconnect them with European research traditions in order to explore new perspectives. For that purpose, this book focuses on how organizations and individuals handle heterogeneous and challenging social conditions which are subsequently reflected in various forms of change. In particular, the book: sheds light on neo-institutionalism from a European perspective examines neo-institutionalism in North American sociological and organizational theories and (re-)connects them with European research traditions explores novel and innovative methodologies to analyse institutions analyzes institutional and organizational change links micro- and macro-approaches to institutions reconnects organizational institutionalism with sociological theories. Finally, the book includes an afterword by John Meyer which is intended to stimulate further discussion. New Themes in Institutional Analysis will appeal to students and academics in organization, management and institutionalism.Contributors include: J.L. Alvarez, N. Arnold, C. Berg Johansen, S. Boch Waldorff, S. Bohn, M. Bottura, R. Corrado, G. Delmestri, G.S. Drori, B. Forgues, R.O. Friedland, M.A. Höllerer, T. Klatetzki, K. Kloos, V.P. Korff, G. Krücken, M. Lounsbury, C. Mazza, J.W. Meyer, R.E. Meyer, A. Mica, A. Oberg, V. Odorici, C.R. Oelberger, M. Pawlak, W.W. Powell, B. Soppe, J. Strandgaard Pedersen, S. Svejenova, P. Walgenbach, E. Weik, A. Westenholz

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