Bottom-level organizational changes within entrepreneurial and engaged models of university: insights from Italy

Marco Bellandi (), Annalisa Caloffi () and Sara Masi ()
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Marco Bellandi: University of Florence
Sara Masi: University of Florence

The Journal of Technology Transfer, 2021, vol. 46, issue 4, No 3, 907-932

Abstract: Abstract We analyze the way in which individual academics and research groups organize their third mission activities before and after the institutionalization of third mission strategies by the university governing body. Drawing on the literature, we put forward an interpretative framework that links central entrepreneurial or engaged strategies with the way academics organize their third mission activities. Then, we propose an application of this frame to the case of the University of Florence (Italy), before and after its transition to more structured entrepreneurial and engaged models. We use a mix of quantitative and qualitative analysis. A cluster analysis allows identifying different types of academics involved in the third mission based on the way they organize their activities. Furthermore, a set of interviews to academics complements the comparison and the interpretation of the clusters obtained. The following paths of change emerge: (1) increased proportion of academics involved in third mission activities; (2) bottom-level initiatives that are aligned with central strategies; and (3) increased heterogeneity of bottom-level organization forms, with a relative loss of importance of the group dimension with respect to the individual academics and an increased specialization of research groups.

Keywords: University third mission; Entrepreneurial and engaged university; Entrepreneurial and engaged academics; Research groups and academic quasi-firms; University of Florence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I23 I25 O32 O35 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10961-020-09805-6

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