'Between a rock and a hard place': Exploring societal responses to the managerial prerogative in entrepreneurial universities

Abstract

Movement from the traditional university to the entrepreneurial university has been driven by societal expectations for an increasing role in setting the science agenda and a greater return on the public investment in science. Whilst the literature has explained how these changing expectations have shifted the norms that govern university managements’ and scientists’ behaviors, and the roles of university management and scientists in the innovation system, scholars have not paid attention to societal responses then those changing roles are employed. Using content analysis of media data we analyze public responses to university managements’ use of prerogative to discipline scientists in Denmark and New Zealand. We find a division of opinion regarding the use of managerial prerogative to sanctions scientists’ behaviors.