Abstract
Investigating rankings in the field of business education, we aim to
examine field structuration process to understand how categories build
symbolic value in an institutional field. We selected twenty reputed
business schools from Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK) through
purposive sampling method. Adopting the concept of data triangulation, we
gathered empirical evidences through interviews with business school
marketing managers, academic experts in the field of marketing and reputation,
and with industry experts. This data was further supplemented by variety of
secondary sources such as internal student surveys, annual reports, newsletters
and industry reports to perform a thematic analysis adopted in this study.
Thematic analysis helped us to develop a model of institutional work and field
level change by emphasizing on the key role categorization systems (rankings)
in shaping perceptions of symbolic value (reputation). Our findings suggest,
categorization tools create a contest at different levels. Consequently, it
redefines the perception about value in the field. The current study may be useful
for academia and Higher Education policy-makers by providing them with a
theoretical understanding of categorization systems such as university
rankings and the changing perception of value in the field.
Authors
1-Syed Haider Khalil Assistant Professor, Institute of Business and Leadership Studies, Abdul Wali Khan University
Mardan, KP, Pakistan.2-Fahad Sultan Deputy Director, Institute of Business and Leadership Studies, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, KP, Pakistan.3-Muhammad Tufail Assistant Professor, Institute of Business and Leadership Studies, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
Keywords
Rankings, Reputation, Categorization, Institutional Work,Symbolic Value, Business Schools
DOI Number
10.31703/gssr.2018(III-III).20
Page Nos
354-377
Volume & Issue
III - III
