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.
Background: This in vitro study evaluated the fracture resistance of weakened endodontically treated premolars with class II MOD cavities restored with different composite restorations (Low-shrinkage Filtek P90, nanohybrid Filtek Z250 XT and SDR bulk fill). The type and mode of fracture were also assessed for all the experimental groups. Materials and Method: Fifty human adult maxillary premolar teeth were selected for this study. Standardized extensive class II MOD cavities with endodontic treatment were prepared for all teeth, except those that were saved as intact control. The teeth were divided into five groups of ten teeth each (n=10): (Group 1) intact control group, (Group 2) unrestored teeth with endodontic treatment, (Group 3) resto
... Show MoreThe study aims to implement a serial security technology system to organize a comfortable work environment for users of computers in the General Directorate of Education in Baghdad Karkh3. The most important findings of the study are the application of a serial technology system. It is connected with scientific goals that show the scientific structure of computer learning and its applications. It considers global learning systems and take into account the ease and scientific flow of the class of elderly employees. In addition, employees of other categories, are the outputs of the sequential technological system. The aim is to create a purposeful technological system and keep pace with global developments, to gain experience, skills and
... Show MoreIntroduction: Melanin is a high-molecular weight pigment produced through the oxidative polymerization of phenolic or indolic compounds and plays a perfect role in UV-light shielding, as well as in photoprotection. Among biopolymers, melanin is unique in many aspects. This study is designed to screen Production, extraction and characterizes of an extracellular melanin pigment from clinically isolated P. aeruginosa. Objective: The aim of the current study is isolation and diagnosis of P.aeruginosa using vitek-2 compact system and screening the ability to produce melanin and characterization of extracted melanin by UV-vis, FTIR, XRD and SEM. Materials and methods: the samples swab inoculated on cetrimide agar as selective media and incubated
... Show MoreIn the current study, two sites were selected from the city of Adhamiya, central Baghdad. The first site is the Adhamiya Corniche, which includes a sample of river water and the second includes domestic sewage in the same area. The total density of benthic invertebrates was 775 ind/m2, which is divided into 15 taxa. Biological indices were found, such as the stability index, the abundance index, the biodiversity index (Shannon’s index), the homogeneity index, and the invader’s guide. The result showed an increase in the density of benthic invertebrates, as well as an increase in the diversity of these organisms.
A linear engine generator with a compact double-acting free piston mechanism allows for full integration of the combustion engine and generator, which provides an alternative chemical-to-electrical energy converter with a higher volumetric power density for the electrification of automobiles, trains, and ships. This paper aims to analyse the performance of the integrated engine with alternative permanent magnet linear tubular electrical machine topologies using a coupled dynamic model in Siemens Simcenter software. Two types of alternative generator configurations are compared, namely long translator-short stator and short translator-long stator linear machines. The dynamic models of the linear engine and linear generator, validated
... Show MoreIn this work laser detection and tracking system (LDTS) is designed and implemented using a fuzzy logic controller (FLC). A 5 mW He-Ne laser system and an array of nine PN photodiodes are used in the detection system. The FLC is simulated using MATLAB package and the result is stored in a lock up table to use it in the real time operation of the system. The results give a good system response in the target detection and tracking in the real time operation.
The importance of research lies in the school administration and that the school is the main cell of the educational system and its ultimate goal, and therefore modern education requires the presence of sophisticated leaders represented in educational administration at various levels. Administrative leaderships and the two researchers' belief that the institution’s ability and success or failure depend on a special type of leader who is highly effective and efficient, directing workers ’behavior towards creativity and achievement in order to achieve the goals of the institution in serving the educational bodies, increasing the effectiveness of leadership and developing the creative behavior of secondary school principals in
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This research sheds light on how press advertising affects consumer behavior and draws attention to it by identifying the factors that influence the intellectual perception process or attention to it. The aim of the research was to identify the factors that help achieve the objectives of the press announcement. The aim of the research was to identify the factors that help to achieve the objectives of the press announcement. The research problem was identified in four questions that were answered through a questionnaire distributed to a sample of students of College of Mass Communication, University of Baghdad. Do newspaper advertisements meet the readers’ need to search for the req |