The balancing act: Managing emerging issues of elearning projects at the university of sydney

In 2004, the University of Sydney broadened its approach to information and communication technology (ICT) in learning and teaching with a widespread initiative focusing on elearning. Two of the purposes of the elearning initiative are to maintain the central ICT services which provide quality assurance for ICT-supported student learning across the whole institution, and to assist the three colleges of the University to accomplish their teaching and learning goals related to ICT through the development of strategic college-based projects. This paper focuses on the latter strategy by giving an overview of the management and implementation of the first round of college-based projects. The project managers' reflections, as well as results from surveys conducted with key stakeholders of strategic projects (both academic and general staff), are then reviewed to identify important emerging issues which need to be addressed if balance is to be achieved between change and comfort during the implementation of the new team-based working style. Issues are centred around the project management environment in universities, the changing roles and responsibilities of academic and general staff and their communities of practice, and the need for improved collaboration and communication between these merging groups.