My view has always been to focus on leadership and ego. If your senior leaders ‘get digital’ then you’re already in a fantastic position to implement technologies to enhance the student experience. However, if there is resistance at the top, don’t despair. Oftentimes, a conversation about impact and efficacy is all that is needed in order to push through any sense of ‘digital dissonance.’
A great example of this phenomenon is the inconsistent use (and support) of social media by higher ed leaders. Whilst universities strive for maximum impact and engagement with their social media efforts, leadership can either be a booster or a source of resistance. The best higher ed leaders know when to either support their people or get out of their way (I suppose that’s the same thing!) when it comes to all things related to using digital to enhance the student experience.
As evidenced by the popularity of this tweet (150 likes and counting), this issue continues to stir hearts and minds in 2019.