this is important, as it is likely that it is at this stage where any weaknesses in the change process will become evident and
where major differences between organisational goals and academic goals become apparent. The academic may no
longer acquiesce to wishes of management.
These findings from an institute of technology in Ireland are consistent with the work of Henkel (2000) and
Trowler (1998) in Universities in the UK and confirm that implementing change in a higher education environment
is a complex process. Strong vision and leadership is needed to bring about policy change in higher education.
However, the process also requires an understanding of the values, behaviours, attitudes and responses of academic
staff at ground level and their ability to “amend and even create policy” (Trowler, 1998, p. 104) if the outcomes
from policy implementation are to be optimised.