JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION THEORY AND PRACTICE

Dark Matters: On-line Education and Organizational Dynamics

Author(s): Constance M. Savage

Citation: Constance M. Savage, (2013) "Dark Matters: On-line Education and Organizational Dynamics," Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, Vol. 13, Iss. 2, pp. 76 - 83

Article Type: Research paper

Publisher: North American Business Press

Abstract:

Sensemaking is part of the organizational dynamics influencing universities’ decisions to offer on-line

learning. Sensemaking and tacit assumptions result in retrograde clarification about decisions to offer

distance-learning. Factors influencing this sensemaking include market pressure, disregard of strategy,

unclear mission, ill-defined vision and a lack of valid data. When faculty members can calibrate the

degree of alignment among their institution’s mission, vision and strategy with the decision to offer on-

line academics, they can reshape their roles to have a stronger voice in influencing the sensemaking and

organizational dynamics that drive decisions about on-line academics.