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VU Research Portal Mental models on organizational change in African higher education Maassen, E.P.H.M. 2015 document version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication in VU Research Portal citation for published version (APA) Maassen, E. P. H. M. (2015). Mental models on organizational change in African higher education: A qualitative case study at Copperbelt University in Zambia. VU Vrije Universiteit. 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Oct. 2021 Mental models on organizational change in African higher education A qualitative case study at Copperbelt University in Zambia Dissertation committee Prof. dr. R. van Eijbergen University of Groningen Prof. dr. P. Franks Stellenbosch University Prof. dr. P. Maassen University of Oslo Prof. dr. A.M.R. Trompenaars VU University Amsterdam Dr. H. Wels VU University Amsterdam Prof. dr. J.J.M. Zeelen University of Groningen © Egide P.H.M. Maassen 2015. All rights reserved. ISBN/EAN 978-90-9029363-9 Cover design by : Merel Dames (d3 grafisch ontwerp) Layout by : Merijn Dames (d3 grafisch ontwerp) Printed by : Ipskamp Drukkers Cover photos : Esther den Hartog & Egide Maassen VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT Mental models on organizational change in African higher education A qualitative case study at Copperbelt University in Zambia ACADEMISCH PROEFSCHRIFT Ter verkrijging van de graad Doctor aan de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, op gezag van de rector magnificus prof. dr. V. Subramaniam, in het openbaar te verdedigen ten overstaan van de promotiecommissie van de Faculteit der Economische Wetenschappen en Bedrijfskunde op maandag 7 december 2015 om 13.45 uur in de aula van de universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105 door Egide Pierre Hubert Marie Maassen Geboren te Maastricht promotoren prof. dr. P.G.W. Jansen prof. dr. L.I.A. de Caluwé Dedicated to Merel & Jasper – my future i Foreword When I started doing research, I had worked in development cooperation during ten years. I worked as a senior advisor in higher education for the Centre for International Cooperation (CIS) at VU University Amsterdam. It was great, interesting and adventurous to travel to all these far-away countries and work with the local people in their professional environments and different contexts. I learnt a lot about different contexts and cultures, and my hunger for more experience and more knowledge seemed endless. After some five years, however, I became more critical about development cooperation and my own work as a consultant. I had been involved in many projects abroad, but certainly not always with good results. I started to ask myself questions such as: ‘How can we be more successful?’ and ‘What are we actually doing?’ This was actually the start of a personal development process in which I wished to gain more in-depth knowledge and a better understanding of my work and my personal role in it. I developed a vague idea for doing PhD research and discussed it with academic colleagues in the Faculty of Social Sciences, who appeared to be very enthusiastic (some were even more enthusiastic than I was). However, at that time, we couldn’t work it out financially. Several years later, in 2009, I discussed my idea with Frank Derksen from the Faculty of Economics & Business Administration, and with my immediate supervisor Tineke Melis from CIS, and we came to an agreement. My gratitude to them is beyond measure, for making this possible. Frank has supported me (almost) unconditionally from the very beginning to the very end, financially and mentally, in good faith of my capacity to complete the PhD research successfully. This has really motivated me throughout the process. A million thanks to Frank! Tineke has always encouraged professional development, also with regards to my PhD, and I am really grateful for her support. It is very sad and unfortunate that she died in August 2015. I would have loved to show her the end product of my study. I also wish to thank Enno Masurel, who strongly supported my research initiative from the beginning and immediately provided office space where I could start my academic work. I really enjoyed working there, among other PhD researchers from Zambia, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania. ii Between 2010 and 2015 a lot has happened in my personal life, which had serious repercussions for work, certainly in 2011 and 2012. However, with the ongoing support from my immediate family and good friends, I managed to get back on track. Where would I have been without them? My gratitude to them is huge. I also wish to express my gratitude to all my informants at CBU in Kitwe, Zambia. I have always been well received there by everyone, and it has been my pleasure to do my research work there. A special thanks for Alan Ilunga, the registrar, with whom I coordinated my research work every time I went there. He also used to take care of the necessary practical arrangements. Unfortunately and unexpectedly, he passed away in December 2014. May he rest in peace and be well remembered at CBU. I also wish to dedicate a great word of thanks to Mwansa Chabala, Progress Choongo and Mike Mwale, who helped me in organizing the interviews and many other practicalities; something I could never have done on my own. Every time, it was very nice to meet them on campus in Zambia and also outside campus in the evenings […]. Last but not least, I wish to thank the transport officer at CBU, who arranged transport for me every time I needed it – much appreciated! I wish to thank my academic supervisors Paul Jansen and Leon de Caluwé for all the guidance and support that they have provided. They remained positive and patient throughout the research process – also during the most difficult times – and always provided constructive and positive feedback. I also wish to thank colleagues at the Faculty of Economics & Business Administration and the Faculty of Social Sciences for the instant and often ad hoc support that they gave me throughout the process. Last but not least, I wish to thank the members of the reading committee for their suggestions in order to improve the final version of this dissertation. This thesis is dedicated to my children Merel and Jasper – my future. They have been (and continue to be!) a source of inspiration for me, just as much as I hope to inspire them. One day, I’ll take them with me on a trip to Africa… iii Table of contents Foreword ii List of figures and main tables viii List of abbreviations x Chapter 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Background of the study 2 1.2 Objective and research question 5 1.2.1 Objective of the study 5 1.2.2 Research questions 6 1.3 Prior knowledge and experience 8 1.3.1 Overview of frequently encountered problems and examples 12 1.3.2 First encounters with UNZA and CBU in Zambia 13 1.3.3 Reflection on prior knowledge and experience 16 1.4 Structure of the thesis 17 Chapter 2 Research Methodology 19 2.1 Scope of this study 19 2.2 Researching mental models 21 2.3 Research methodology 24 2.4 Research design 28 2.5 Data collection 33 2.5.1 Collection of documents 34 2.5.2 Participant observations 37 2.5.3 Interviews 40 2.6 Data analysis 53 2.6.1 Open coding 54 2.6.2 Axial coding 57 2.6.3 Selective coding 61 2.6.4 Validation and trustworthiness 61 2.7 Self-reflexivity 62 Chapter 3 Organizational Change, Higher Education and Culture 65 3.1 Organizational change 67 3.2 Organizational change in higher education 71 3.2.1 Higher education 71 3.2.2 Organizational change in higher education 73 3.3 Culture studies 77 3.3.1 Large scale culture studies 79 3.3.2 What do the large scale culture studies suggest? 84 iv 3.3.3 Critique and support of the large scale culture studies 86 3.3.4 Diversity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) 86 3.3.5 Generalizations about ‘African’ culture and management 88 3.3.6 Literature about management in Africa 91 3.4 Organizational change in SSA 93 3.4.1 Research about public sector reform in Africa 96 3.5 Organizational change in higher education in SSA 97 3.5.1 Higher education in SSA 98 3.5.2 Organizational change in higher education in SSA 100 3.6 Reflection on theoretical insights 102 Chapter 4 Research Setting 105 4.1 Introduction to the region of SSA 105 4.2 Introduction to Zambia 106 4.3 The higher education sector in Zambia 116 4.4 Copperbelt University (CBU) in Zambia 118 4.5 Foreign development projects at CBU 125 4.6 Organizational change at CBU 126 4.6.1 Decentralization 127 4.6.2 The introduction of a system for performance appraisal 128 4.6.3 Strategic planning & implementation 129 4.7 Concluding remarks 131 Chapter 5 A preparatory pilot study 132 5.1 Master thesis research by VU students 132 5.1.1 Decentralization at CBU by Sabien Schipper (2011) 133 5.1.2 Performance management at CBU by Pieter Kraakman (2011) 135 5.1.3 People and their