Sleeping with the enemy

We take the concept of e-Leadership to be multifaceted and conceptually ambiguous (Gurr, 2004). In this paper, we focus on the importance for university leaders to promote effective understanding and partnerships between Information Technology (IT) departments and all of those responsible for learning and teaching. We identify ways to achieve collaboration at all levels within university organisations. We aim to promote a new spirit of co-operation and achievement (Avolio, Kahai & Dodge, 2000). Barriers abound, often about contested ground, that constantly impact on the success of institutional systems and communication practices (Johnson et al., 2013). With our deep, embedded experience over time, (one of us as a university Director of IT, and one a Pro Vice-Chancellor responsible for learning and teaching innovations), we review the fundamental issues underpinning the relationship between these two leadership systems within Higher Education and recommend some constructive ways forward.