Globalisation and rapid environmental change have created many challenges for public and private organisations across Iraq as a developing country, particularly in the higher education sector. This includes, for example, decreases in government funding; increased demand for higher education; a need for economic transformation, and related competitiveness of organizations. Such challenges require exceptional leaders and strategic planning in order to take action to improve. In Iraq, the higher education sector is still one of the main foundations in progressing the knowledge economy. Studies into leadership style, strategic planning processes, and the importance of leadership and organisational culture to an organisation’s success have been used to assist both public and private Iraqi colleges in responding to the challenges they face. Although, some studies have examined the interaction between leadership and strategic planning, and leadership and organisational success, there has been no empirical study that has investigated how these three variables interact together. Thus, this study aimed, firstly, to identify the current leadership styles and strategic planning processes in the colleges and the challenges they faced, and to gain an understanding from the perspective of the senior leaders themselves as to how they might best respond to the current situation. Secondly, based on the participants’ experiences, knowledge and perceptions, the study aimed to identify implications for both practice and policy to help improve the colleges’ outcomes. The study involved a mixed-methods approach and was conducted in two stages. During the first stage, the researcher gathered quantitative data by administering a survey package to 129 leaders (deans, associate deans, and heads of departments) across both public and private colleges in the capital city of Baghdad. During the second stage, the researcher gathered qualitative data to more deeply explore the survey results by conducting individual interviews with a sub-sample of 21 leaders from both college types (ten public and 11 private). In the data analyses stages, both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were applied to compiling tables and charts, and to test hypotheses, by employing the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Microsoft Excel, and NVivo. The results of study showed that both transformational and transactional leadership styles played a varied and vital role in the colleges’ strategic planning processes, and in turn their success. The fact that private colleges were ‘for profit’ and public colleges were ‘not for profit’, as well as their contrasting funding models, highlighted key differences between the two college types’ leadership and general modus operandi. While it was found that both transformative leadership and transactional leadership styles were necessary to address the challenges colleges faced in the Iraqi educational context, the impetus for change extended far beyond the need for professional development of leaders. The embracing of information communication technologies, and reliable Internet was seen as necessary in all aspects of the colleges’ work and provision for teaching and learning, and students’ success. This applied to both college types along with the need for closer adherence to government regulations and more focused government coordination of colleges’ administrative functions. Furthermore, implications for making successful improvements to practice also identified the need to manage the challenge of sociocultural influences on the appointments and promotions of leaders. It was concluded that a greater emphasis on teamwork and provision of incentives for staff, along with a ‘boost’ to pedagogy and practice, which could be provided through the adoption of information communication technologies and appropriate professional development strategies, would enhance the colleges’ ranks and the status of their qualifications. Also, theoretically, the study offers a value-add to leadership, strategic planning process, and organisational success literature in the form of a conceptual model that links these variables in the context of Iraqi higher education sector.
In this study, the quality assurance of the linear accelerator available at the Baghdad Center for Radiation Therapy and Nuclear Medicine was verified using Star Track and Perspex. The study was established from August to December 2018. This study showed that there was an acceptable variation in the dose output of the linear accelerator. This variation was ±2% and it was within the permissible range according to the recommendations of the manufacturer of the accelerator (Elkta).
This study explores the role of nanomaterials in the performance of asphalt binders and mixtures. Two commonly available nanomaterials, i.e., nanosilica (NS) and nanoalumina (NA), were used at contents of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% by weight of asphalt binder. A set of experiments was carried out at the binder level to investigate properties such as penetration, softening point, aging-related mass loss, nanomaterial dispersion (storage stability), and workability (rotational viscosity). In addition, the suitability of NS and NS was also assessed through the testing of nanomodified asphalt mixtures, which focused on Marshall properties, the resilient modulus, moisture susceptibility, permanent deformation, and fatigue resistance. The findings in
... Show MoreThe objective of this study was to investigate the release profile of different fat and water soluble bases using diazepam as a model drug , and then to develop a satisfactory formula with a rapid release of diazepam from suppository bases .The study was conducted using theobroma oil ,glycerol-gelatin and glycerol-PEG1540 bases using conventional mold method for preparation .while the later base was utilized to incorporate diazepam ( buffered solution ) in a hollow type suppositories. The results indicated that all types of bases can be utilized to formulate diazepam as rectal suppositories with acceptable disintegration time ( 12, 10, 6, and 6min.), respectively . While 100% of the released drug had been shown differen
... Show MoreThis research deals with the motives of the use of Facebook by elderly people and the achieved needs, which leads the researcher to ask an important question: why an old persons use Facebook and are the achieved needs through which they got? The research aims to find out the habits and patterns of using Facebook by old men and stands on the main motives of the elderly in their use of Facebook. It also identifies the most prominent needs that have been made for the elderly as a result of their use of Facebook.
The research is a descriptive one in which the researcher uses survey method to achieve the desired goals. The researcher has chosen a group of old men from Diyala province. The total sample number is about
... Show MoreAbstract
In light of the great technological development and the emergence of globalization has increased global competition, where it became competitive exercise pressure on all sectors. In light of this companies mast enviorment depend on the means that keeps them on the competitive position through access to information about competitors in order to help them to draw a strategy that will achieve a competitive edge either through excellence or reduce the costs of their products and this means intelligence competitive and reverse engineering that help to gain information on competitors analyze and put of the decision-maker From this point formed the idea of research in the statement of the role of
... Show MoreThe pharmacophore 2-aminothiazole has an interesting role in pharmaceutical chemistry as this led to the synthesis of many types of compounds with diverse biological activity. Schiff base derivatives at the same time contribute to drug evolution importantly. In this review, the Schiff base derivatives of 2-aminothiazole formed and some of their metal complexes are being focused on, and the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of them is being illustrated.
Background: Neonatal septicemia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide especially so in developing countries. To reduce the mortality caused by neonatal septicemia, it became vital to diagnose it as soon as possible and treat with administration of appropriate antibiotics.Objective: To study the relationship between themicroorganisms isolated from septicemic neonates with place of delivery.Patients and Methods: Blood sample was obtained from 76 neonates (50 of them are born in Baghdad teaching hospital (Inborn), 26 of the babies are born at home or in Al-Elwya teaching hospital (out born) ,the laboratory diagnosis for the out born patients done in the same hospital(Al-Elwya teaching hospital .The aged of the neo
... Show MoreThe aim of the research is to identify the educational and psychological effects of the positive and negative aspects of using social networking websites. The researcher administered a number of questions to (250) users of different types of social networking websites. He analyzed his research results and obtained a number of results. The research has reached a number of recommendations and suggestion: Regulating the use of social media. Monitoring the parents of the sites used by children in a way that they do not feel they are observers. It is necessary to devote an hour daily to show the importance of real social life for children other than using social media. It is necessary to show the importance of choosing friends who hav
... Show More