Determining Critical Success Factors for realizing innovative IT solutions in Higher Education

Abstract

There is much research on Critical Success Factors when implementing novel IT solutions in different industries and contexts. However, for the domain of higher education the amount of studies is limited. This is partially due to the fact that what is considered higher education is different across countries. Universities, Universities of Applied Science, Vocational Universities, Polytechnics and related (research) institutes both have similarities and differences. However, one commonality is that institutions in higher education are not sufficiently capable of supporting the development(s) and requirements of educational processes with adequate (innovative) IT. Therefore the purpose of this study is to determine the CSFs that contribute to the implementation and adoption of (innovative) IT in higher education in an international context. First a literature study was conducted on critical success factors which provided the foundation to a conceptual research model. Using a Delphi study the model was elaborated upon by 32 international experts from the field of higher education. The experts determined the relevance and applicability of the CSFs which then resulted in a final model consisting of 31 CFSs across 7 different subject areas. We also found that "organisation culture" is mentioned as an aspect in relation to many CSFs. It seems that attention to cultural aspects of the organisation is so important that without this the realisation of (IT) innovations will likely not succeed. The final version of the model enables higher educational institutions to organise innovative IT projects, although they still need to adopt it to their specific context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]