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Understanding organizational identity in universities : unravelling autonomy, governance and leadership in the case of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

(2024) HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY. 78(1). p.254-267
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Abstract
This paper offers a historical analysis of organizational identity development at a particular Dutch university, the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam. Our analysis contributes to the discussion on what factors contribute to organizational identity maintenance and evolution. Whereas the literature suggests a rather straightforward development, with national and institutional governance arrangements offering more institutional autonomy and providing significant scope for identity development and profiling, this case study shows that these relationships between identity, governance, and autonomy are not that obvious. In this particular case, the opposite happened. Despite more autonomy, VU Amsterdam was not able to maintain its historically distinctive identity, nor was it able to replace this with a new, unambiguous identity. External factors (demographics) and internal dynamics (leadership strategies) explain the anomalies.
Keywords
autonomy, governance, historical research, identity, the Netherlands, HIGHER-EDUCATION, SYSTEM

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MLA
Flipse, Abraham C., et al. “Understanding Organizational Identity in Universities : Unravelling Autonomy, Governance and Leadership in the Case of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.” HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, vol. 78, no. 1, 2024, pp. 254–67, doi:10.1111/hequ.12458.
APA
Flipse, A. C., van Berckel Smit, F. J. N., & Huisman, J. (2024). Understanding organizational identity in universities : unravelling autonomy, governance and leadership in the case of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, 78(1), 254–267. https://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12458
Chicago author-date
Flipse, Abraham C., Floris J. N. van Berckel Smit, and Jeroen Huisman. 2024. “Understanding Organizational Identity in Universities : Unravelling Autonomy, Governance and Leadership in the Case of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.” HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY 78 (1): 254–67. https://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12458.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Flipse, Abraham C., Floris J. N. van Berckel Smit, and Jeroen Huisman. 2024. “Understanding Organizational Identity in Universities : Unravelling Autonomy, Governance and Leadership in the Case of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.” HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY 78 (1): 254–267. doi:10.1111/hequ.12458.
Vancouver
1.
Flipse AC, van Berckel Smit FJN, Huisman J. Understanding organizational identity in universities : unravelling autonomy, governance and leadership in the case of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY. 2024;78(1):254–67.
IEEE
[1]
A. C. Flipse, F. J. N. van Berckel Smit, and J. Huisman, “Understanding organizational identity in universities : unravelling autonomy, governance and leadership in the case of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam,” HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, vol. 78, no. 1, pp. 254–267, 2024.
@article{01HPKPR0TY5C0KYW6WENAGBJGF,
  abstract     = {{This paper offers a historical analysis of organizational identity development at a particular Dutch university, the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam. Our analysis contributes to the discussion on what factors contribute to organizational identity maintenance and evolution. Whereas the literature suggests a rather straightforward development, with national and institutional governance arrangements offering more institutional autonomy and providing significant scope for identity development and profiling, this case study shows that these relationships between identity, governance, and autonomy are not that obvious. In this particular case, the opposite happened. Despite more autonomy, VU Amsterdam was not able to maintain its historically distinctive identity, nor was it able to replace this with a new, unambiguous identity. External factors (demographics) and internal dynamics (leadership strategies) explain the anomalies.}},
  author       = {{Flipse, Abraham C. and  van Berckel Smit, Floris J. N. and Huisman, Jeroen}},
  issn         = {{0951-5224}},
  journal      = {{HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY}},
  keywords     = {{autonomy,governance,historical research,identity,the Netherlands,HIGHER-EDUCATION,SYSTEM}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{254--267}},
  title        = {{Understanding organizational identity in universities : unravelling autonomy, governance and leadership in the case of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12458}},
  volume       = {{78}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}

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