The evolution of one higher education consortium on NK fitness landscapes: A case study

The focus of this research was on the adaptive evolution of a single higher education consortium--the Higher Education Consortium of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The major purpose of this in-depth case study was to apply Kauffman's NK model of rugged fitness landscapes, a model grounded in nonlinear dynamical systems theory, as a viable conceptual framework for studying the structure of an evolving higher education consortium.;This research addressed two questions in order to provide a more complete understanding of higher education consortia: (1) How does the structure of a higher education consortium evolve over time? and (2) What factors affect the adaptive evolution of a higher education consortium on NK fitness landscapes?;A case study approach using qualitative research methods was chosen as the most appropriate design for investigating the organization and evolution of the Consortium. Data collection methods utilized include document gathering, participant observation, and informant interviews; field notes, reflexive journal entries, and audio recordings were three of data collection techniques used. Data analysis was accomplished with a modified constant comparative method using analytic techniques of coding, theoretical sampling, and comparative analysis.;Major conclusions, framed in terms of Kauffman's NK model, were: (1) The Consortium evolved through adaptive walks on relatively smooth fitness landscapes; (2) To evolve, agents of the Consortium had to survive each step of their adaptive walks on fitness landscapes; (3) The Consortium and its committees were able to define their fitness landscapes, which in turn defined the Consortium and its committees; (4) The most salient factors in modeling the adaptive evolution of the Consortium on its fitness landscapes are mission, commitment, and cost; and (5) No single one of the salient factors was a strong enough force to hold the Consortium at a high level on its fitness landscape.;This study offers a new nonlinear perspective from which to view interinstitutional organizations. The model introduced in this research further advances the practical application a nonlinear dynamical systems paradigm to higher education consortia.