Organizational Change Management

Managing Organizational Change during Institutional Upheaval

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Higher Education in Transition

by Dijana Tiplic

A dissertation submitted to BI Norwegian School of Management for the degree of Dr. Oecon

Series of Dissertations 5/2008

BI Norwegian School of Management Department of Leadership and Organizational Management

Dijana Tiplic Managing Organizational Change during Institutional Upheaval: BosniaHerzegovina’s Higher Education in Transition

© Dijana Tiplic 2008 Series of Dissertations 5/2008

ISBN: 978 82 7042 819 9 ISSN: 1502-2099

BI Norwegian School of Management N-0442 Oslo Phone: +47 4641 0000 www.bi.no Printing: Nordberg

The dissertation may be ordered from our website www.bi.no (Research – Research Publications)

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Abstract

This study focuses on organizational change in non-stabile environments. Non-stabile environments are characterized by dramatic change at societal, economic and political levels caused by, for example, changes in political regime or armed conflict. The literature suggests that higher education plays an important role in assisting such societies through such turbulent and dramatic times. Past research, with both international and national focus, has identified various responses of higher education institutions to a changing environment. However, an explanation as to how different responses occur is missing. In an attempt to address this issue, this study examines the ongoing processes of organizational change and the role of individuals in such processes in detail. While the empirical focus is on change in organizations hosted by an environment that can be described in terms of institutional upheaval, it is recognized that this topic has received limited attention in the field of organizational research. Exceptions to this are studies into organizational change of previously state-owned enterprises in Central and Eastern Europe. The context for the study is two higher education...