Date of Award
5-10-2026
Date Published
June 2026
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Professional Studies
Department
Information Management
Advisor(s)
Arthur Thomas
Keywords
Agility;Alternative Credentials;Dynamic Management;Information Technology;Strategic Alignment;Uncertainty
Abstract
This research examines how higher education leverages information technology (IT) to mitigate the uncertainty of enrollment volatility in a dynamically shifting landscape. The strategic alignment model (SAM), a theory of strategic alignment of business and information technology, was applied to analyze how microcredential programs in higher education institutions address this uncertainty. Publicly accessible information was collected to develop cases from 15 institutions of higher education alternative credential programs. The collected evidence was assessed to discern how leveraging technology generates value related to the strategic mission of the institutions. The hallmarks of excellence standards, developed by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), were used to assess how the institutions leveraged IT to mitigate the transforming landscape. The findings from this study indicate there is a strong positive correlation between the alignment of business and IT strategies, and that when information technology is effectively leveraged, it cultivates a posture of flexibility to respond to changing conditions. The study therefore provides a foundation for further exploration. The qualitative method used in collecting artifacts in real time and piecing them together to analyze the cases was made possible through the innovative use of technology. This method further develops the conventional ethnography approach to one that aligns with the dynamic processes being studied, and it is a unique approach that varies from traditional methodology for ethnography, particularly the direct engagement with stakeholders in the form of surveys and interviews.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Williams, Sarah J., "How Institutions of Higher Education Leverage Information Technology to Navigate in a Dynamic Environment: The Case of Alternative Credentials" (2026). Dissertations - ALL. 2300.
https://surface.syr.edu/etd/2300
