Conceptualizing the systemic evaluation of dashboards in quality enhancement processes in higher education

Abstract

The article highlights the need for improvement in the evaluation of dashboard implementations intended to support quality processes in higher education and proposes a systems thinking framework for this improvement. A review of the literature on quality enhancement processes in higher education and dashboards research highlights that quality enhancement in higher education might be more appropriately understood through the lens of complexity management. The Viable Systems Model is argued to be useful for this purpose and, in terms of the role of dashboards in supporting these processes, encourages focus on their role in supporting communication and information flow for effective decision‐making for adaptation. Some initial systems modelling is conducted to illustrate how the application of the model could guide evaluation, providing the foundation for case study evaluation and research.