Middle managers' communication and management strategies during the implementation of the European Credit Transfer System

This paper uses data obtained from a research project about the Bologna Process, carried out in ten degree programmes at one university; six of these degrees are part of a pilot project to implement the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). In this article, we examine how middle managers in these pilot degrees employ various strategies of management, consensus generation and communication while carrying out the implementation of ECTS. In addition, we examine the responses from academics pertaining to management evaluation, attitudes regarding the reform, and the perceived amount of information. This analysis allows us to identify a number of opportunities and constrictions - derived from management forms considered legitimate by the members of this university - that middle managers have to take into account.