Inside the "Knowledge Factory"

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Higher education institutions have demonstrated remarkable endurance over the centuries, yet recent decades have prompted significant changes in their institutional environments, compelling universities to rethink their strategies, particularly in management education. This doctoral thesis explores how universities, especially business schools, respond to varying expectations across different systems, including American, German, and Swedish higher education. Grounded in neo-institutionalism theory, the research employs a multiple case study design that is both conceptually and empirically robust. The findings reveal an intriguing phenomenon termed "organizational schizophrenia," which allows institutions to meet external demands while maintaining their academic reputation—a crucial element for their stability and survival. This work is pertinent for students and researchers in higher education management, as well as management practitioners and administrators. As someone who supervised Heinke Robken's doctoral thesis before transitioning to the presidency of the University of Oldenburg, I can attest to its value from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The insights presented are compelling and contribute significantly to the discourse on higher education management.