Analysis of the organizational identity in the University from the academics. Promote and manage changes.

The University is undergoing unprecedented changes in order to respond to the demands of society. Organizations face global changes and universities, as educational organizations, are no exception. The transition from a university focused on education and training in a local environment, to a research university with a global focus is an indisputable trend that impacts its organizational identity.

Analyzing organizational identity in the University from the perspective of the academics makes sense when considering their role in the generation of guidelines towards pertinent adjustments in the university organization in times when change is the meaning and reason for being of the universities. This fact deserves an alert attitude in search of strengthening the university organizational identity, based on the shared beliefs of academics.

Considering that organizational identity favors the balance between tradition and innovation, this study looks at the way the academic perceives changes in the identity of the university organization, and its relationship with organizational identification in the Mexican context. Based on their shared beliefs, academics can shed light on where, and above all, on how the forces of change should be outlined.

For this reason, the objectives of the study revolve in two complementary directions: to understand the organizational identity in the University from the central, the distinctive and the enduring, and to analyze the factors that favor and limit organizational identity with the University in its academics.

The methodology used starts from the interpretive paradigm, through a qualitative study. The sample is concentrated in 30 full-time academics from five private and public universities. For the analysis of results, the QDAminer software was used.

The results, although not generalizable to all contexts, show interesting as a first approach to the object of study. Based on the shared beliefs of academics regarding the idea of ​​University, the aspects to be foreseen are identified. These are mostly concentrated on educational and intellectual aspects, human and university management.

In a complementary sense, the factors that favor and limit the organizational identification with the university in its academics revolve around ideational, personal and organizational factors.

From the literature review, the results of the field study, as well as the conclusions, emerge proposed management guidelines to promote organizational identity in the changing University. In search of the balance between innovation and tradition, they would do well to perpetuate important values that distinguish the University from other types of organizations, as well as favor the organizational identification of its academics; and with this, facilitate their response to society’s demands.

The University is undergoing unprecedented changes in order to respond to the demands of society. Organizations face global changes and universities, as educational organizations, are no exception. The transition from a university focused on education and training in a local environment, to a research university with a global focus is an indisputable trend that impacts its organizational identity.

Analyzing organizational identity in the University from the perspective of the academics makes sense when considering their role in the generation of guidelines towards pertinent adjustments in the university organization in times when change is the meaning and reason for being of the universities. This fact deserves an alert attitude in search of strengthening the university organizational identity, based on the shared beliefs of academics.

Considering that organizational identity favors the balance between tradition and innovation, this study looks at the way the academic perceives changes in the identity of the university organization, and its relationship with organizational identification in the Mexican context. Based on their shared beliefs, academics can shed light on where, and above all, on how the forces of change should be outlined.

For this reason, the objectives of the study revolve in two complementary directions: to understand the organizational identity in the University from the central, the distinctive and the enduring, and to analyze the factors that favor and limit organizational identity with the University in its academics.

The methodology used starts from the interpretive paradigm, through a qualitative study. The sample is concentrated in 30 full-time academics from five private and public universities. For the analysis of results, the QDAminer software was used.

The results, although not generalizable to all contexts, show interesting as a first approach to the object of study. Based on the shared beliefs of academics regarding the idea of ​​University, the aspects to be foreseen are identified. These are mostly concentrated on educational and intellectual aspects, human and university management.

In a complementary sense, the factors that favor and limit the organizational identification with the university in its academics revolve around ideational, personal and organizational factors.

From the literature review, the results of the field study, as well as the conclusions, emerge proposed management guidelines to promote organizational identity in the changing University. In search of the balance between innovation and tradition, they would do well to perpetuate important values that distinguish the University from other types of organizations, as well as favor the organizational identification of its academics; and with this, facilitate their response to society’s demands.