This paper reviews the UK government's Science Enterprise Challenge (SEC) initiative, giving particular emphasis to the SEC objective of achieving cultural change. A ‘cultural web’ framework is applied to characterize the political, symbolic and structural issues that need to be addressed if change is to be effected. The author suggests that, if the vision of the future ‘enterprising university’ causes concern, there is a need to analyse assumptions and if necessary change activities. If the vision is acceptable, then the cultural web analysis assists in developing an understanding of the target and enables faster and better decision making on the way.
BhidéA. (1999), ‘The questions every entrepreneur must answer’, and ‘Building the self-sustaining firm’, in SahlmanW.A.StevensonH.H.RobertsM.J.BhideA., eds, The Entrepreneurial Venture, Harvard Business School Press, Cambridge, MA, pp 77 and 393.
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DTI (2000), Excellence and Opportunity – A Science and Innovation Policy for the 21st CenturyDepartment of Trade and Industry White Paper, Cm 4818, HMSO, London.
