A MODEL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE COMPLEXITY THEORY APPROACH

Abstract

This article aims to present a model to assess the management strategy in Higher Education Institutions (Instituição de Ensino Superior – IES) based on the complexity theory. The theoretical references on universities, on strategies development and on the complex adaptative systems theory (SAC’s) were utilized to construct a model used as the assessment parameter or approach for the case study. This is a qualitative descriptive-exploratory study on the dynamics of the strategy development process in Management Plans issued by IES. The longitudinal study case procedure was used grounded on document analysis, semi-structured interviews and direct observations carried out in a selected institution. The results obtained with the application of the model showed that the studied IES basically guides its strategy development processes, as put forward in its Management Plans, as a formal-rational model and the negotiated model. It has been making an yet incipient effort to incorporate a permanent construction model.