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.
Recent phosphorus (P) pollution in the United States, mainly in Maine, has raised some severe concerns over the use of P fertilizer application rates in agriculture. Phosphorus is the second most limiting nutrient after nitrogen and has damaging impacts on crop yield if found to be deficient. Therefore, farmers tend to apply more P than is required to satisfy any P loss after its application at planting. Several important questions were raised in this study to improve P efficiency and reduce its pollution. The objective of this study was to find potential reasons for P pollution in water bodies despite a decrease in potato acreage. Historically, the potato was found to be responsible for P water contamination due to its high P sensitivity a
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This research evaluated the effect of (UV)(400-320A)Hz(320-220B)Hz on the patient with vitiligo , using it with our new combing therapy that include the oral (Psorlene ) topical , meladinine solution applied on the Vitiligiousns Lesions , In edition to the instralesnional injection in the Vitiligiousns Lesions by long acting steroid (kenacort-A ) by aprecentage of (5%) , after that we expose the patient to UV . The ruslets of this way of treatment more effective by using of the UV rays in the treatment of vitiligo , while the previous treatment that used the UV ray with or with out the psorlene , the results were not effective on controlling of the Vitiligio diseases comparing by the treatment used in this research as it stop’s the sp
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An acidic environment causes surface changes of resin composites. Filler particlesize and filler distribution also have a direct effect on these surface changes. This invitro study evaluated the influence of Pepsi Cola drink on the surface roughness ofComposan LCM and Composan Ceram over time. Sixteen disc shaped specimens(10mm diameter, 2mm thickness) of each resin composite were fabricated, therebyforming two groups (n= 8). Surface roughness (Ra) was analyzed after 24 hrs beforeexposure to beverage. The specimens were submitted to a five minutes immersion inPepsi Cola three times daily interrupted by immersion in deionized distilled water (37C˚). Surface roughness measurements were done at 10, 30, and 60 days intervals. Datawere
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Aims: This study was done to investigate the effect of low energy laser therapy on bone healing at the extraction site. Materials and methods:(24) male albino rats were exposed to the extraction procedure of the maxillary first molar on the first day of a seven day experiment and these animals were divided into two main groups; the control group and the laser group. The laser experiment involved using (Ga-As infrared diode laser) from optodent by directing the probe over the extraction site. The control group consisted of 4 rats, and the laser group was subdivided into 5 subgroups of 4 rats each. The laser dose was as follows: B1: a single dose of 5 minutes immediately after extraction.,
... Show MoreThe research aimed mainly to discover the effectiveness of the (PEOE) model in teaching science to develop the skills of generating and evaluating information and the emotional side of the scientific sense of the intermediate first grade students. An experimental approach with a quasi-experimental design called pre-test and post-test control design was used. The research sample consisted of (60) students, who were selected in a random cluster method, (30) students in the experimental group studied the unit "The Nature of Material" using the (PEOE) model, and (30) students in the control group studied according to the prevailing method of teaching. The research materials and tools were represented in: a teacher's guide for teaching the un
... Show MoreThe current article focuses on studying the social organization reality of the Iraqi society; it aims to construct an Iraqi organized personality that believe in the principles of Islamic religion by making use of the sociology thoughts in explaining the strength of social organization, and the causes of social deviance in attempt of decreasing the deviance and strengthening the cohesion of Iraqi character.
The researchers put forward some questions: to what extent the western theoretical pattern can succeed in explaining the social organization of the Iraqi society? What is the more appropriate western theory for diagnosing the cohesion and deviance of the society? What is the s
... Show MoreThe interest of many companies has become dealing with the tools and methods that reduce the costs as one of the most important factors of successful companies, and became the subject of the attention of many economic units because of the impact on the profits of company, and since the nineties of the last century the researchers and writers gave great attention to this subject, especially in light of the large competition and rapid developments in cost management techniques, as well as the wide and significant change in production methods that have been directed towards achieving customer satisfaction, all this and more driven by economic units in all sectors whether it is service or productivity to find methods that would reduc
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