IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i7p2853-d341035.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Alliances of Change Pushing Organizational Transformation Towards Sustainability across 13 Universities

Author

Listed:
  • Lisa Bohunovsky

    (Center for Global Change and Sustainability, BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Science, 1180 Vienna, Austria)

  • Verena Radinger-Peer

    (Institute for Sustainable Economic Development, BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Science, 1180 Vienna, Austria)

  • Marianne Penker

    (Institute for Sustainable Economic Development, BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Science, 1180 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

Universities are expected to play a leading role in developing and maintaining sustainability. To contribute to a systemic and dynamic understanding of organizational change that is necessary in order to play such a role, we comparatively analyzed processes of organizational changes towards sustainability across thirteen universities in Austria. This comparative analysis is based on data from guided interviews and document analysis and on validation of preliminary results via group discussion and individual comments. The results show that all universities embedded sustainability in most of their areas of activity (research, teaching, operations, organizational culture, societal engagement), but the depth of integration and the type of structural embedding varies. Especially for early changes dating back to the 1990s, academics working in the broader field of sustainability studies were those agents of change, who—without formal mandate—skillfully and proactively initiated and drove organizational transformations following an idealistic and intrinsic motivation. A timeline analysis illustrates peaks of sustainability-related changes in the years of the foundation of inter-university networks in 2011 and 2017, which acted as alliances of change. Ministry intervention in 2015 helped to bring sustainability on the agenda of those universities with less change agency. In summary, sustainability transformations across the fields of teaching, research, operations, organizational culture, and societal engagement were driven by a fruitful interplay of change agency and change alliances and to a minor degree by top-down interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Bohunovsky & Verena Radinger-Peer & Marianne Penker, 2020. "Alliances of Change Pushing Organizational Transformation Towards Sustainability across 13 Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2853-:d:341035
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/7/2853/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/7/2853/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jan Lambooy, 2004. "The transmission of knowledge, emerging networks, and the role of universities: An evolutionary approach," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(5), pages 643-657, July.
    2. Verena Radinger-Peer & Gesa Pflitsch, 2017. "The role of higher education institutions in regional transition paths towards sustainability," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 37(2), pages 161-187, October.
    3. Peter Arbo & Paul Benneworth, 2007. "Understanding the Regional Contribution of Higher Education Institutions: A Literature Review," OECD Education Working Papers 9, OECD Publishing.
    4. Gesa Pflitsch & Verena Radinger-Peer, 2018. "Developing Boundary-Spanning Capacity for Regional Sustainability Transitions—A Comparative Case Study of the Universities of Augsburg (Germany) and Linz (Austria)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-26, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Maria José Sá & Sandro Serpa, 2020. "The COVID-19 Pandemic as an Opportunity to Foster the Sustainable Development of Teaching in Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Nicola Andreij Rieg & Birgitta Gatersleben & Ian Christie, 2021. "Organizational Change Management for Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Quantitative Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Friedrich, Christoph & Feser, Daniel, 2021. "Combining knowledge bases for system innovation in regions: Insights from an East German case study," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 430, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Verena Radinger-Peer & Gesa Pflitsch & Helga Kanning & Daniel Schiller, 2021. "Establishing the Regional Sustainable Developmental Role of Universities—From the Multilevel-Perspective (MLP) and Beyond," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Diana Velasco & Alejandra Boni & Carlos Delgado & Geisler Dayani Rojas-Forero, 2021. "Exploring the Role of a Colombian University to Promote Just Transitions. An Analysis from the Human Development and the Regional Transition Pathways to Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-24, May.
    3. Gesa Pflitsch & Verena Radinger-Peer, 2018. "Developing Boundary-Spanning Capacity for Regional Sustainability Transitions—A Comparative Case Study of the Universities of Augsburg (Germany) and Linz (Austria)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-26, March.
    4. Hendrik Hansmeier, 2021. "Geography of eco-innovations vis-à-vis geography of sustainability transitions: Two sides of the same coin?," GEIST - Geography of Innovation and Sustainability Transitions 2021(07), GEIST Working Paper Series.
    5. Jorge Espinoza-Molina & Alberto Paucar-Cáceres & Maria del Carmen Silva-Cornejo & Silvia Quispe-Prieto & Karina Acosta-Caipa & Esther Chambe-Vega & Erbert Osco-Mamani & Franklin Cordova-Buiza & Toni B, 2022. "Enabling Risk Management and Adaptation to Climate Change through a Network of Peruvian Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Kujath, Hans Joachim & Pasternack, Peer & Radinger-Peer, Verena, 2020. "Governance-Formen des regionalen Wissenstransfers," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Postlep, Rolf-Dieter & Blume, Lorenz & Hülz, Martina (ed.), Hochschulen und ihr Beitrag für eine nachhaltige Regionalentwicklung, volume 11, pages 76-118, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    7. Dekkera, Thekla & Jantos, Louisa, 2024. "Pass or fail? Identifying European best practice regions of university-centered knowledge transfer for sustainability transformations," ifh Working Papers 46/2024, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).
    8. Joyendu Bhadury & Samuel P. Troy, 2014. "Staid," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 28(4), pages 364-376, November.
    9. Cornelia Lawson, 2016. "Putting the Region First: Knowledge Transfer at Universities in Greater Manchester," International Studies in Entrepreneurship, in: David Audretsch & Erik Lehmann & Michele Meoli & Silvio Vismara (ed.), University Evolution, Entrepreneurial Activity and Regional Competitiveness, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 303-325, Springer.
    10. Lukovics, Miklós & Zuti, Bence, 2016. "Modern universities in a digital environment," MPRA Paper 77459, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Kellermann, Kersten & Schlag, Carsten-Henning, 2012. "Hochschulen im Zentrum der Wachstumspolitik: Von der europäischen zur liechtensteinischen Perspektive," KOFL Studien, Konjunkturforschungsstelle Liechtenstein (KOFL), Vaduz, volume 8, number 8.
    12. Zuti, Bence & Lukovics, Miklós, 2014. "How to Measure the Local Economic Impact of the Universities’ Third Mission Activities?," MPRA Paper 77573, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Shaikha R. Al-Nuaimi & Sami G. Al-Ghamdi, 2022. "Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Sustainability Aspects among Higher Education Students in Qatar," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-17, October.
    14. Alina - Irina Popescu, 2011. "Review of Higher Education's Contribution to Regional Development in Romania," ERSA conference papers ersa11p1327, European Regional Science Association.
    15. Klofsten, Magnus & Fayolle, Alain & Guerrero, Maribel & Mian, Sarfraz & Urbano, David & Wright, Mike, 2019. "The entrepreneurial university as driver for economic growth and social change - Key strategic challenges," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 149-158.
    16. Christoph Friedrich & Daniel Feser, 2024. "Combining knowledge bases for small wins in peripheral regions. An analysis of the role of innovation intermediaries in sustainability transitions," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 44(2), pages 211-236, June.
    17. Zoltan Gal, 2012. "The Role of Mid-Ranged Universities in Knowledge Transfer in Central and Eastern Europe - Sustainable University Strategies in the Era of Post-Mass Education, UDK 378. 4 : 001. 92," Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, Alliance of Central-Eastern European Universities, vol. 1(1), pages 50-70, June.
    18. Eugénia de Matos Pedro & João Leitão & Helena Alves, 2021. "HEI Efficiency and Quality of Life: Seeding the Pro-Sustainability Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-25, January.
    19. Paul Benneworth & Lars Coenen & Jerker Moodysson & Björn Asheim, 2008. "Exploring the Multiple Roles of Lund University in Strengthening Scania's Regional Innovation System: Towards Institutional Learning?," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(11), pages 1645-1664, June.
    20. repec:rom:campco:v:7:y:2011:i:1:p:444-456 is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Hansmeier Hendrik & Kroll Henning, 2024. "The geography of eco-innovations and sustainability transitions: A systematic comparison," ZFW – Advances in Economic Geography, De Gruyter, vol. 68(2), pages 125-143.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2853-:d:341035. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.