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.
Nitinol (NiTi) is used in many medical applications, including hard tissue replacements, because of its suitable characteristics, including a close elastic modulus to that of bones. Due to the great importance of the mechanical properties of this material in tissue replacements, this work aims to study the hysteresis response in an attempt to explore the ability of the material to remember its previous mechanical state in addition to its ability to withstand stress and to obtain the optimal dimensions and specifications for the manufacturer of NiTi actuators. Stress-strain examination is done in a computational way using a mutable Lagoudas MATLAB code for various coil radii, environment temperatures, and coil lengths. The computational m
... Show MoreBackground: occult blood loss must be considered as a
possible cause in every case of iron deficiency anemia.
Objective: to evaluate upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
in finding a potential cause for iron deficiency anemia
among children in Al-Anbar governorate.
Methods: Twenty five children aged 2-14 years, referred
to the gastroenterology unit in Al-Ramadi General Hospital
for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy had iron deficiency
anemia. Fiberoptic endoscopy was used under general
anesthesia and endoscopic tissue biopsies were taken from
22 patients for histopathological examination.
Results: The main presenting signs and symptoms were
pallor, abdominal pain, and stunting. The upper
gastrointestinal
Polymers, being one of the most important materials in dentistry, offer great physical and mechanical qualities, as well as good biocompatibility. Aim of this study was done to evaluate the Polyetherketoneketone and Polyetherketoneketone polymer composite material used as dental implant through tensile strength, Fourier Transform Infrared analysis FTIR, and wettability). Polyetherketoneketone composites (Polyetherketoneketone and Strontium-containing hydroxyapatite) with selected weight percentage ratios of (0, 10%, 20%, 30%), were fabricated using a compression molding technique”, The study involved Samples preparation (sheets) shaped and form into the desired shape according to standard for tests which included tensile strength,
... Show MorePolymer electrolytes systems compose of (PEO+KI+I2) and (PEO+RbI+I2) with different concentration, and a fixed amount of ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) over temperatures range 293-343 K prepared by solution cast me
... Show MoreTo determine the relationship between celiac disease and reproductive disorder, twenty two women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (18-35) years have been investigated from the period 2017/11/1 – 2018/2/1 and compared wih twenty two parentally healthy women. All studied groups were carried out to measure antitissue transglutaminase IgA and IgG antibodies by Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, There were a highly significant differences (P < 0.01) in the concentration of anti TtG IgA and IgG Ab compared to control group, while there was non-significant differences (P > 0.05) in the concentration of anti TtG IgA according to the age group and there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the concentration of anti TtG I
... Show MoreThe distribution of the intensity of the comet Ison C/2013 is studied by taking its histogram. This distribution reveals four distinct regions that related to the background, tail, coma and nucleus. One dimensional temperature distribution fitting is achieved by using two mathematical equations that related to the coordinate of the center of the comet. The quiver plot of the gradient of the comet shows very clearly that arrows headed towards the maximum intensity of the comet.
China and India are considered both rising countries, and both are among the world's most populous and fastest growing economies. The long-term growth of both China and India has reinforced the importance of their bilateral relationship. The relations between China and India are complex, as relations between them have undergone great changes during the past seven decades, ranging from friendship to hostility. This study proceeds from the hypothesis that the nature and path of Sino-Indian relations after 2013 are affected by several factors and variables, some of which represent opportunities, others represent challenges and obstacles. Several opportunities have contributed to the reformulation of bilateral relations in terms of mutual ga
... Show MoreBrowse Iraqi academic journals and research papers