You think a gigafactory is complex? Come work at a uni

A university several centuries ago was a secluded community of scholars, similar to a small, specialized workshop where knowledge was meticulously handcrafted. This intimate setting was ideal for the time, with each professor shaping the minds of a select few. From the 19th century and beyond, these workshops began a transformation, expanding into vast, complex institutions whose scale and dynamics can today compare to the biggest of industrial factories.

An overview of universities' operations

The operations of the modern higher education institution (HEI) typically consist of three pillars:

Education: What was once a master-apprentice relationship has morphed into a global classroom where digital platforms and innovative pedagogies deliver education to an unprecedented number of students across diverse geographies and age groups.

Research: Similarly, the solitary scholarly pursuit has given way to expansive collaborative projects, with multiple universities and commercial enterprises pooling resources to tackle pressing global challenges.

Third Mission: From affecting local communities to influencing global policies, the outreach of modern universities extends their impact far beyond their physical campuses, engaging with complex, global networks of stakeholders.

A challenging environment

Not only has the number of activities and stakeholders expanded dramatically, but HEIs must navigate increasingly more challenging environments. Changing national and supra-national guidelines and regulations, fluctuating funding streams, rapid technological advancements, global competition, tight labor markets, and ever-evolving societal expectations all add a layer of complexity to the administration and strategic planning required to keep these institutions autonomous and excelling.

Resources needed

I have seen bafflement painted across the faces of many corporate executives when they realized the level of complexity of university operations. Managing a university may be as demanding as running a hospital, a government agency, or a multinational corporation, if not more. And to run an organization successfully and sustainably, they need sufficient resources, starting with finance and management expertise.

Based on my experience, I am afraid that currently, those resources are desperately insufficient in many European HEIs, resulting in frustrated and overworked staff. I am afraid that soon, the consequences of that will become apparent - increasing incidents of staff burnout, failed projects, and undelivered promises to stakeholders.

Let's learn to tell the right story

HEIs must learn to tell a better story of how complex they have become, to articulate their needs more clearly, to negotiate resources more effectively, and to develop leadership and management expertise faster. I wrote this blog post hoping it might help a little bit with that.

This post and image were created with the help of ChatGPT Plus.