What's Happening In Institutions?

In this section we look at some of the forces inside our institutions that relate to learning space provision and the impact of new technologies.

The range of changes that colleges and universities are faced with is enormous and the interaction between these forces produces high levels of complexity. So a key issue for all post 16 institutions is how to deal with this complexity. Complex environments do not respond well to detailed analysis, especially where this leads to overly complex strategic responses that those involved in implementing them find difficult to understand. A feature of complex environments is that they consist of many strands and the temptation is to separate these out and develop separate responses to each strand. The resulting 'strategyitis' does little to clarify the complexity and can leave staff and students confused about where the institution is going and what it is trying to achieve. It is often at the interface between disparate issues that really useful development can take place.

An alternative to the analytical approach is one of synthesis - where major forces, such as reduced funding, sector growth, and new technology, are considered at a macro level. Such macro forces suggest profound shifts are needed like a move from supply-driven to demand-given services, or from teacher-centred to learner-centred organisations. Such major change can only be achieved through changes in people and their behaviours, the application of technology, and the design and configuration of the estate. It is through the interaction between strategies for these three areas that real change can be achieved.