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.
Objective: To determine the effectiveness of an Educational Program in Enhancing Nurse’s Knowledge about Occupational Health Hazards at Medical City Hospitals in Baghdad City.
Methodology: The present study employed a quasi-experimental design held at Medical City Hospitals in Baghdad City. A non-probability sample (convenience sample) consisted of (60) nurse. Data were collected by using a self-report questionnaire which consisted of six parts (a) socio-demographic characteristics (b) physical hazards knowledge (c) chemical hazards knowledge (d) biological hazards knowledge (e) psychological hazards knowledge and (f) mechanical hazards knowledge. Data were analyzed using the statistical packag
... Show More
(9)
(7)
Background: Medical students often face substantial psychological stress, which can increase the risk of substance use, professional detriment, and insufficient patient care. However, substance use in medical students remains understudied in Iraq. This study highlights the prevalence, patterns, risk factors, and negative effects of substance use among medical students at the University of Baghdad. A cross-sectional study involving 414 medical students at the University of Baghdad was conducted. The questionnaire included sociodemographic variables and the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test to screen for psychoactive substance use. The lifetime prevalence of substance use was 38.9%. Among substance users, 42.8
... Show More
A new results for fusion reactivity and slowing-down energy distribution functions for controlled thermonuclear fusion reactions of the hydrogen isotopes are achieved to reach promising results in calculating the factors that covered the design and construction of a given fusion system or reactor. They are strongly depending upon their operating fuels, the reaction rate, which in turn, reflects the physical behavior of all other parameters characterization of the system design
(3)
(3)
The current phase distinguish by the rapid scientific development, which pushes individuals to have the necessities of scientific and practical life through the proper scientific thinking which contribute to the development of invention and creativity away from memorizing and indoctrination and encouraging individuals to looking for information and then attempting to process and develop these information instead of being a passive receiver. The investment of minds becomes the logical investment in all societies by preparing the citizen to become able to face life changes and its necessities. It is very important to take care of individuals and develop their mental abilities and thinking skills. The constructive strateg
... Show More
The research aims to determine the role of Entrepreneur decision-making in its dimensions in improving the activities of Ambidexterity performance in its dimensions in the researched company. The importance of the research is also evidenced by assisting the oil products distribution company/session in directing the interest of the researched company because it has a prominent role in the Iraqi industrial community for the Entrepreneur decision-making variable that Contributes to building sustainable competitive advantage. This will happen when the company has an Entrepreneur orientation and a good strategic plan is built by the smart leaders in the researched company The researcher adopted the method of the analyti
... Show More
The objective Effect of Internal and External Environment and its Psychological & Practical Reflection on the Political Decision-Making Process
The objective of this study is to enable the role of modern and advanced computerized information systems. The model or mechanism should be developed by collecting the necessary information about the taxpayers and the sources of the taxpayers' income, on the basis of which the accuracy of the inventory process will be adopted. In addition to studies related to computerized information systems and showing their importance to the tax institution. To achieve the objectives of the study and to answer its questions, the researcher relied on collecting data and information on the subject on the literature and previous studies The secondary sources, which also formed the theoretical framework of the study, were obtained either as a practical fr
... Show MoreThe aim of this study is modeling the transport of industrial wastewater in sandy soil by using finite element method. A washing technique was used to remove the industrial wastewater from the soil. The washing technique applied with an efficient hydraulic gradient to help in transport of contaminant mass by advection. Also, the mass transport equation used in modeling the transport of industrial wastewater from soil includes the sorption and chemical reactions. The sandy soil samples obtained from Al-Najaf Governorate/Iraq. The wastewater contaminant was obtained from Al- Musyiebelectricity power plant. The soil samples were synthetically contaminated with four percentages of 10, 20, 30 and 40% of the contaminant and these percentages calc
... Show More