Factors affecting strategic change in higher education

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjørn Stensaker ◽  
Nicoline Frølich ◽  
Jeroen Huisman ◽  
Erica Waagene ◽  
Lisa Scordato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Strategic Change ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Organizational Fields ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
European Universities ◽  
Change In Higher Education ◽  
Analytical Tools

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify those factors that key actors in university governance hold as to be important in realizing strategic change within their institutions. Design/methodology/approach – Key decision-makers in 26 European universities were surveyed on their views on which factors bring about strategic change. The results were interpreted using a theoretical framework emphasizing organizational archetypes and their development. Findings – The findings indicated that strategic changes in universities were perceived as highly dependent on leadership, decision-making procedures, communication and evaluation. However, some differences between the universities in the sample can be identified, supporting indicating the relevance of using organizational archetypes as an analytical tools for observing change within the higher education sector. Originality/value – The study links organizational level developments on strategic management to macro-level change within the European higher education landscape, and provides new insights intoon the debate on convergence and differentiation in organizational fields.

Quality of learning experience, student satisfaction and perceived overall experience in the COVID-19 context

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Venugopal Prabhakar Gantasala ◽  
Swapna Bhargavi Gantasala ◽  
Tareq Na'el Al Tawil ◽  
Prerana Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Undergraduate Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Medical Programs

PurposeThe intention for this study was to explore any relationship that might exist between quality of learning experience (QLE), the second construct student satisfaction (SS) and the third construct perceived overall experience (POE) among undergraduate students within the higher education context. This study also attempts to explain the path direction between QLE, SS and POE.Design/methodology/approachThe researchers utilized structural equation modeling to analyze the variables considered for this study – QLE, SS and POE and for hypotheses testing. Respondents for this study were medical students' coordinators of the undergraduate level of medical colleges in the 28 states of India. Data collected for the study were possible by utilizing a questionnaire that was emailed to these student coordinators. The emailing effort returned 198 (n) filled questionnaires (complete) representing 198 institutions offering undergraduate-level medical programs out of a total of 542 institutions that offer undergraduate medical programs.FindingsFindings from this study confirm the relationship between QLE with SS, and PLE. Interestingly, the findings established a significant relationship between SS and POE.Practical implicationsDecision-makers and administrators of higher education institutions (HEIs) can utilize the findings from this study to focus on strengthening important elements of QLE in ways that positively impact SS and POE of students taking online courses and program offerings. The study reiterates the importance of course content, course structure, lecture-delivery quality, instructor mentoring and student-instructor interactions on SS and POE. The role of SS in reinforcing confirmation, perceived usefulness, perceived openness of the online courses and the perceived reputation was established. This relationship is key to administrators while they focus on improving SS and building on the institutions' reputation in addition to their efforts to support marketing and enrollments during the pandemic.Originality/valueResearchers in the past have examined the relationships between QLE and another construct of this study – SS. Past research has also examined the relationship between QLE and POE. However, there is not enough research exploring the relationship between SS and POE. This study establishes the relationship between SS and POE that benefits decision-makers in higher education.

Mixed qualitative–quantitative approach for bidding decisions in construction

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emad Mohamed ◽  
Parinaz Jafari ◽  
Ahmed Hammad
Keyword(s):  
Expert System ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
The Body ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Quantitative Approach ◽  
Rule Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Mixed Approach

PurposeThe bid/no-bid decision is critical to the success of construction contractors. The factors affecting the bid/no-bid decision are either qualitative or quantitative. Previous studies on modeling the bidding decision have not extensively focused on distinguishing qualitative and quantitative factors. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to improve the bidding decision in construction projects by developing tools that consider both qualitative and quantitative factors affecting the bidding decision.Design/methodology/approachThis study proposes a mixed qualitative-quantitative approach to deal with both qualitative and quantitative factors. The mixed qualitative-quantitative approach is developed by combining a rule-based expert system and fuzzy-based expert system. The rule-based expert system is used to evaluate the project based on qualitative factors and the fuzzy expert system is used to evaluate the project based on the quantitative factors in order to reach the comprehensive bid/no-bid decision.FindingsThree real bidding projects are used to investigate the applicability and functionality of the proposed mixed approach and are tested with experts of a construction company in Alberta, Canada. The results demonstrate that the mixed approach provides a more reliable, accurate and practical tool that can assist decision-makers involved in the bid/no-bid decision.Originality/valueThis study contributes theoretically to the body of knowledge by (1) proposing a novel approach capable of modeling all types of factors (either qualitative or quantitative) affecting the bidding decision, and (2) providing means to acquire, store and reuse expert knowledge. Practical contribution of this paper is to provide decision-makers with a comprehensive model that mimics the decision-making process and stores experts' knowledge in the form of rules. Therefore, the model reduces the administrative burden on the decision-makers, saves time and effort and reduces bias and human errors during the bidding process.

Attracting doctoral students: case of Baltic universities

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1017-1041
Author(s):  
Alexander Tarvid
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Doctoral Degree ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Doctoral Level ◽  
Baltic Countries ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Doctoral Programmes

Purpose In the context of falling demand for higher education and, in particular, doctoral studies, it is important to understand how to attract new students. The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of the decision-making process the PhD students of Baltic universities followed when choosing whether to continue their education at doctoral level and in which institution to do it. Design/methodology/approach It uses the data gathered in 2014 from all major Baltic universities providing access to higher education at doctoral level. Findings At macro-level, the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) are rather different in the supply of doctoral programmes and the level and dynamics of the popularity of doctoral-level studies in the population. Besides, strong country-specific effects on the goals students pursued when they enrolled in a doctoral programme and the information about the university or the programme they found useful are observed at micro-level. The main result is related to systematic differences in the perceptions students have about the benefits they will get from a doctoral degree across the current (at doctoral level) and previous (at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels) fields of study, as well as depending on labour-market experience and family and social circle. Practical implications These findings suggest that Baltic higher education institutions should employ different marketing communication strategies when attracting new doctoral students, depending on the field of study and the country they operate in. Originality/value This is the first comprehensive study on the motivation of enrolment at doctoral level in the Baltic countries. It gives the management of Baltic universities a general picture of the motivation to get a PhD degree and factors affecting the choice of university, which can be readily incorporated into universities’ strategy.

Students’ perceptions among foreign languages in the EHEA

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-214
Author(s):  
M. Isabel Sanchez-Hernandez ◽  
Dolores Gallardo-Vazquez ◽  
Beatriz Corchuelo Martinez-Azua
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
English Class ◽  
European Universities ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
European Higher Education ◽  
The University

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the students’ opinion on their proficiency in one or more foreign languages, and the importance they attribute to their foreign language competence because the adaptation to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) implies the promotion of the mobility of teachers and students. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative and quantitative approach conducted at the University of Extremadura in Spain. The method used was to triangulate the data resulting from three quite different procedures: promoting the participating students’ awareness of the issue through a seminar on the importance of mastering other languages and their relevance for graduate employability; inquiring into the students’ impressions when receiving an English class with a focus group; and a questionnaire on their opinions about the importance of proficiency in foreign languages. Findings – The findings highlight how teaching in English in European universities could bring real opportunities for the development of the EHEA. Furthermore, the development of foreign languages competences have to be a priority line of innovation in higher education in order to build a more meaningful relationship between education institutions and the European project. Research limitations/implications – The study is a first attempt to analyse the need to teach in English in European higher education institutions. Results are not completely generalizable because the study has been conducted in one university, in the field of social sciences in the branch of Economics and Business, and it has been examined only the views of students. Originality/value – The paper draws attention to the need for, and suggestions on how higher education institutions can be more aware to the needs of developing studentś English competences when designing programmes in the EHEA.

Factors Affecting Internationalization Degree of Higher Education Institutions in Portugal and Spain

2018 ◽  
pp. 348-377
Author(s):  
Marina Amorim Sousa ◽  
Tomás Bañegil Palacios ◽  
Beatriz Corchuelo Martínez-Azúa
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Internationalization Process ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Degree Of Internationalization

The aim of this study is to evaluate the degree of internationalization of Iberian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the factors that influence their internationalization process. The study begins with the contextualization of the HEI internationalization process through a brief historical synthesis and the establishment of the levels of analysis of this process, to focus, in more detail, the organizational level. To this end, it is supported in an organization dimensions model to define the components of the internationalization process and the data collection by questionnaire. The results were processed for each of its components, and the degree of internationalization was obtained by calculating the mean values of the components total. The study concludes that the Iberian HEIs have an interesting level of internationalization, which is higher for institutions with more than 5.000 students, with simultaneous focus on teaching and research, conferring the master's and doctor's degrees.

An intellectual capital maturity model (ICMM) to improve strategic management in European universities

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giustina Secundo ◽  
Susana Elena- Perez ◽  
Žilvinas Martinaitis ◽  
Karl-Heinz Leitner
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Strategic Management ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Step Change ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Maturity Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
European Universities

Purpose – The public sector is one of the least addressed areas of intellectual capital (IC) research. Universities are an interesting area of investigation because they are considered critical players in the knowledge-based society. The purpose of this paper is to develop a more general, flexible and comprehensive “IC Maturity Model” for Universities (ICMM), a framework for defining and implementing IC measurement and management approaches, as part of the whole strategic management of universities. Thus, the ICMM proposes a staged framework to initiate a step-by-step change within a university based upon its current level of IC management maturity. The different steps of maturity might be an answer to cope with the huge diversity of European universities, some of which have strong managerial orientation, while others follow collegial forms of governance. Design/methodology/approach – The research approach is based on what has been called the “third stage” of IC research (Dumay and Garanina, 2013), focused on the practices of IC approaches rather than on its theoretical conceptualisation. The ICMM has been developed under the “Quality Assurance in Higher Education through Habilitation and Auditing” project framework, initiated by the Executive Agency for Higher Education and Research Funding of Romania (EUFISCDI). Three Mutual Learning Workshops (MLWs) were organised as a mean to bring together 15 international experts and practitioners to share their views and experience on IC reporting and setting up task forces. Findings – An ICMM, which is a flexible model of implementing IC approaches within public universities, is developed. The ICMM provides a theoretical continuum along which the process of maturity can be developed incrementally from one level to the next, moving from IC data collection, awareness of IC, adjustment of IC specific indicators, measurement of IC, reporting of IC, interpretation and decision making, strategy and planning. Research limitations/implications – Future research needs to conduct empirical studies in universities to generalise the effectiveness of the ICMM model and guidelines for implementation. Practical implications – The ICMM provides a staged framework to initiate a step-by-step change within a university based upon its current level of IC management maturity and its IC value creation dynamics. It allows universities to follow different paths, not necessarily a linear sequence. Originality/value – Although several methods for IC measurement and management exist, most of these cannot accommodate the trade-off between the comparability aims and the efforts to capture the institution’s uniqueness when designing an IC model.

Identifying interrelationships among factors affecting innovation archetypes: the case of China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-432
Author(s):  
Rafif Al-Sayed ◽  
Jianhua Yang
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Multivariate Statistical Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Innovation Ecosystem ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Significant Factors

Purpose This paper aims at studying the concept of innovation ecosystems and investigating the factors affecting them based on their interrelationships with respect to different innovation archetypes. Design/methodology/approach The methodology is based on using multivariate statistical analysis of the inter-correlations among a number of variables which led to extracting a reduced set of new significant factors that affect China’s innovation ecosystem. Findings The results showed that innovation archetypes differ significantly with respect to the majority of the new factors. Practical implications Through identifying these challenges, decision-makers can develop a better understanding of the variables affecting each archetype of innovation and act accordingly. Originality/value The study is the first to fill the gap of addressing a large number of variables affecting innovation and analyzing their interrelationships.

Measuring the operational and financial efficiency using a Malmquist data envelopment analysis: a case of Egyptian hospitals

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 2521-2536
Author(s):  
Ahmed Mohamed Habib ◽  
Tamer Mohamed Shahwan
Keyword(s):  
Data Envelopment Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Financial Efficiency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Dea Approach

PurposeThe efficient use of organizational resources is integral to the existence of prime firms. This study, using Malmquist data envelopment analysis (DEA), aims to assess in the level of operational and financial efficiency and its determinants for ensuring and sustaining excellent performance in 33 Egyptian private hospitals.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a Malmquist DEA approach to assess the changes in operational and financial efficiency in Egyptian hospitals. Tobit regression was also used to identify the significant variables affecting their efficiency. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is carried out for model validations.FindingsOut of 33 hospitals, 17 were found inefficient due to the decline in their technical efficiency. Moreover, the total value of the software programs and operational expenses and the total number of employees are common factors affecting both operational and financial efficiency. In addition, the number of physicians significantly affects the hospital's financial efficiency.Practical implicationsThe study sheds light on the value of using DEA to assess efficiency. DEA in the context of emerging economy such as Egypt's can be a useful tool for decision-makers and practitioners in identifying and addressing performance weaknesses and thus supports continuous improvement in performance.Originality/valueSeveral studies have adopted the DEA approach to assess the overall efficiency of hospitals in Europe and the United States. However, in the MENA region, these studies are uncommon. This study is thought to be one of the earliest attempts to assess hospitals' efficiency in Egypt.

Earthquake preparedness in higher education structures

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 175-187
Author(s):  
Sanaz Sohrabizadeh ◽  
Katayoun Jahangiri ◽  
Parvin Shafiei Moghaddam ◽  
Hamid Safarpour ◽  
Zahra Eskandari
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Earthquake Preparedness ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Educational Structures ◽  
Internal And External Factors

Purpose Universities and higher education institutes are key pillars of all societies, as the result of their important roles in education, research and training of human resources. Nevertheless, similar to other social structures, universities need to be prepared for natural disasters. This study aims to measure and analyze the level of earthquake preparedness in a higher education institute in Tehran, Iran. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 in a higher education institute through three stages of tool, namely, development, preparedness evaluation and strength–weakness–opportunity–threat analysis. The valid and reliable tool was applied for assessment of college preparedness through a field survey. Factors affecting the obtained level of preparedness were categorized into internal (strengths and weaknesses) and external (opportunities and threats) factors to decide on an appropriate strategy for promoting the preparedness level. Findings Content validity index and content validity ratio of the tool were 88 and 98.85 per cent, respectively. The reliability of the tool was measured to be 98 per cent using the kappa coefficient. The level of preparedness was estimated to be weak. The final value of the matrix of internal and external factors was higher than average, which can be improved in the form of strength–opportunity strategy. Originality/value It is highly suggested to allocate a specific budget for improvement and evaluation of preparedness measures in all parts of education systems. In addition, making the preparedness measures as the mandatory duty for educational structures can be considered by decision-makers and managers at the national and local levels.

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