Senior International Officers as Catalysts of Change: Effectual Entrepreneurial Problem-Solving for Unscripted Futures

• In Event: Innovative International Research

Abstract

Senior international officers (SIOs) serve as catalysts for change in a volatile higher education environment. This research study explores how SIOs engage in entrepreneurial problem-solving to create viable, productive, and sustainable initiatives that advance internationalization. Through a theoretical lens of effectuation, this interpretivist case study involved interviews with 34 SIOs from a variety of 4-year colleges, universities, and community colleges across the United States (U.S.). We discuss the themes of SIOs embodying effectuation through opportunity creation and individual risk, as well as the importance of institutional context through effectuation regarding risk-taking, revenue-generating expectations, and the importance of partnerships and relationships. Several scholarly implications and takeaways are offered based on the SIO interviews and global trends.

Authors

• Natalie Cruz, Charleston Southern University

• Rosalind Latiner Raby, California State University

• Heidi Fischer, Old Dominion University

• Chris R Glass, Old Dominion University