Managing the university: Why “organized anarchy” is unacceptable in the age of massive open online courses

The growing complexity of the university and of its competitive, technological, and operating environment means that the status quo in management is no longer adequate. New mental models are required. An approach that has been developed through a lengthy study of strategic management in the private sector is the dynamic capabilities framework. This essay presents the dynamic capabilities framework with indications for how it applies in the university context. By thinking in terms of sensing shifts, seizing opportunities, and transforming the university, a university’s leaders can improve their own effectiveness and their school’s readiness to respond to challenges and achieve its goals