Institutional change in uncertain times:Lone rangingis not enough

ABSTRACT The subject of this article is how universities, and individual members of staff, have responded to external challenges for higher education, especially those associated with the increasing availability and capacities of information technologies. The article presents an argument for a dual track approach—innovation and appropriation—to the task of reinventing university cultures in order to increase the alignment between external demands and internal practices. The discussion initially focuses on the innovative development of technology-augmented pedagogical practices through an approach based on the work of isolated enthusiasts—lone ranging. This approach leads to valuable outcomes, but is inadequate as the institutional response. A second approach, based on appropriation of the innovations of the lone rangers, is offered as a strategy for engaging a critical mass of staff with technology-augmented pedagogical practices. A five phase process for appropriation is described, along with several pre-conditions for its success.