Institutional isomorphism,entrepreneurship and effectiveness: the adoption and implementation of quality management in teaching and learning in Germany

This paper presents empirical evidence on the adoption, implementation and the perceived effectiveness of quality management in teaching and learning in German higher education institutions. Theoretically, the article combines two new institutionalist approaches: institutional isomorphism and institutional entrepreneurship. Empirically, the study refers to qualitative interview data and quantitative survey data. The analysis reveals that isomorphism is a leading driver behind the adoption of quality management in German higher education institutions, whereas institutional entrepreneurship plays an important role in quality management implementation. While isomorphism can be regarded as a conclusive reason behind the absence of a perception of quality management’s effectiveness, institutional entrepreneurship may function as a corrective towards the overall negative impact of isomorphic conformity by institutionalizing quality management in a sustainable manner.

     

Undisclosed desires: quality managers’ normative notions regarding the implementation of quality management

Following decades of quality management featuring in higher education settings, questions regarding its implementation, impact and outcomes remain. Indeed, leaving aside anecdotal case studies and value-laden documentaries of best practice, current research still knows very little about the implementation of quality management in teaching and learning within higher education institutions. Referring to data collected from German higher education institutions in which a quality management department or functional equivalent was present, this article theorises and provides evidence for the supposition that the implementation of quality management follows two implicit logics. Specifically, it tends either towards the logic of appropriateness or, contrastingly, towards the logic of consequentialism. This study’s results also suggest that quality managers’ socialisation is related to these logics and that it influences their views on quality management in teaching and learning.     

Unfreezing higher education institutions? Understanding the introduction of quality management in teaching and learning in Germany

Quality management (QM) in teaching and learning has strongly “infected” the higher education sector and spread around the world. It has almost everywhere become an integral part of higher education reforms. While existing research on QM mainly focuses on the national level from a macro-perspective, its introduction at the institutional level is only rarely analyzed. The present article addresses this research gap. Coming from the perspective of organization studies, it examines the factors that were crucial for the introduction of QM at higher education institutions in Germany. As the introduction of QM can be considered to be a process of organizational change, the article refers to Kurt Lewin’s seminal concept of “unfreezing” organizations as a theoretical starting point. Methodologically, a mixed methods approach is applied by combining qualitative data derived from interviews with institutional quality managers and quantitative data gathered from a nationwide survey. The results show that the introduction of QM is initiated by either internal or external processes. Furthermore, some institutions follow a rather voluntary approach of unfreezing, while others show modes of forced unfreezing. Consequently, the way how QM was introduced has important implications for its implementation.     

A long-term in situ calibration system for chemistry analysis of seawater

An in situ calibration system is a versatile exploration instrument for electrochemical sensors investigating the biochemical properties of the marine environment. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design of an auto-calibrating system for electrochemical （pH） sensors, which permits two-point in situ calibration, suitable for long-term measurement in deep sea aqueous environments. Holding multiple sensors, the instrument is designed to perform long-term measurements and in situ calibrations at abyssal depth （up to 4000 m）. The instrument is composed of a compact fluid control system which is pressure-equilibrated and designed for deep-sea operation. In situ calibration capability plays a key role in the quality and reproducibility of the data. This paper focuses on methods for extending the lifetime of the instrument, considering the fluidics design, mechanical design, and low-power consumption of the electronics controller. The instrument can last 46 d under normal operating conditions, fulfilling the need for long-term operation. Data concerning pH measured during the KNOX18RR cruise （Mid-Atlantic Ridge, July-August, 2008） illustrate the desirable properties of the instrument. Combined with different electrodes （pH, H2, H2S, etc.）, it should be of great utility for the study of deep ocean environments, including water column and diffuse-flow hydrothermal fluids.