Re-conceptualisation of higher education quality management problems using feedback systems thinking

Oyo, Benedict; Williams, Ddembe

doi:10.1504/ijmie.2009.027346

“…Researchers have been advocating for using the systems approach for academic planning because it is well-suited for modeling the complex and dynamic nature of higher education [ 12 , 13 , 20 , 36 – 38 ]. Therefore, this article adopts system dynamics to model operations of a college.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Will colleges survive the storm of declining enrollments? A computational model

Pavlov

¹

,

Katsamakas

²

2020

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The approaching decline in the U.S. college-age population, sometimes referred to as a "demographic storm," has been identified as an existential threat to the future of American colleges and universities. This article conducts a model-driven analysis of three plausible college-level responses to declining applications. It draws on systems theory to conceptualize a tuition-dependent college as a complex service system and to develop a system dynamics model that captures key causal interrelationships and multiple feedback effects between faculty, facilities, tuition revenue, financials, reputation, and outcomes. Simulations with the college model suggest that common solutions such as reducing faculty or adding campus facilities may improve the college's short-term financial position, but they are insufficient to ensure its long-term viability. This model contributes to the research literature on the economics of higher education, and model-driven academic management and strategy. It also provides useful implications and insights that can inform policy-makers and college leaders.

show abstract

“…Researchers have been advocating for using the systems approach for academic planning because it is well-suited for modeling the complex and dynamic nature of higher education [12,13,20,[36][37][38]. Therefore, this article adopts system dynamics to model operations of a college.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Will Colleges Survive the Storm of Declining Enrollments? A Computational Model

Pavlov

¹

,

Katsamakas

²

2020

SSRN Journal

4

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The approaching decline in the U.S. college-age population, sometimes referred to as a "demographic storm," has been identified as an existential threat to the future of American colleges and universities. This article conducts a model-driven analysis of three plausible college-level responses to declining applications. It draws on systems theory to conceptualize a tuition-dependent college as a complex service system and to develop a system dynamics model that captures key causal interrelationships and multiple feedback effects between faculty, facilities, tuition revenue, financials, reputation, and outcomes. Simulations with the college model suggest that common solutions such as reducing faculty or adding campus facilities may improve the college's short-term financial position, but they are insufficient to ensure its long-term viability. This model contributes to the research literature on the economics of higher education, and model-driven academic management and strategy. It also provides useful implications and insights that can inform policy-makers and college leaders.

show abstract

“…Because problems in higher education are complex and dynamic, researchers have advocated for studying them using feedback systems approaches (e.g., Barnabe, 2004;Bell et al, 2000;Kennedy and Clare, 1999;Massy, 2016;Oyo and Williams, 2009;Rouse, 2016). For example, Saeed (1996) studied conditions that led to the emergence of an authoritarian administration at a college in the context of a developing country.…”

Section: Feedback Models Of Higher Educationmentioning

confidence: 99%