This book offers formal and informal leaders at all levels of their
institution theory-informed and practical guidance on implementing and
sustaining change through collaborative leadership. The framework and
concepts presented are applicable at the department, program, campus, or
system level to guide minor, incremental, or transformative change.
Achieving a shared organizational vision can be a daunting challenge,
given the multiple missions of higher education, varied and often
conflicting stakeholder viewpoints, siloed organizational structures,
traditions of shared governance, and a highly educated workforce
bringing together colleagues with diverse disciplinary perspectives.
Achieving these aims requires taking into account the organization's
systems and values and the needs and aspirations of corresponding
stakeholders across the enterprise. Ruben provides a guide for achieving
and sustaining these goals in an engaged and collaborative manner.
Employing the author's widely used Excellence in Higher Education (EHE)
framework, this book offers principles and practices relative to change,
collaboration, and organizational vision that can greatly enhance the
prospects for effective outcomes, highlighting three key themes:
- Understanding and leveraging the dynamics of change.
- Leading collaboratively, and meaningfully engaging one's colleagues.
- Adopting and pursuing a shared vision of organizational purpose and
aspirations.
The book is intended for faculty and staff who want to advance the
effectiveness and impact of their program, department, and institution,
and to do so in a way that creates a shared vision to sustain these
benefits into the future. It serves as a text for the growing number of
leadership development programs, and for courses with a focus on higher
education leadership.
