Senior Administrators Research Articles

Relationships between women in leadership at predoctoral and senior administration levels in United States dental schools.

To determine the relationship between woman leadership at senior administrative and predoctoral levels in United States (US) dental schools and assess if this relationship is affected by school characteristics. A 23-question survey was created and distributed to each US accredited dental school (2023). Data regarding the gender of the school's dean, senior administrators, and student leaders, as well as school characteristics were gathered. Data were organized in Excel. Descriptive statistics were performed using mean and standard deviation for continuous measures and using count and percent for categorial measures. Statistical comparisons were performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Fisher's Exact, or Chi-squared tests for comparison of proportions. 32 dental schools provided analyzable data for this project (44.4% response rate). The most common senior administrative position held by a woman was the dean of student affairs (71.9%). For every surveyed school with a woman dean (n=11, 34.4%), at least one other senior administrative position was held by a woman. There was no statistical significance between the year of school establishment, geographic region, gender of the dean, or prevalence of women administrators and students in leadership roles. The number of women students in leadership roles was close to the national enrollment trends for gender. Included US dental school data showed no relationship between women in leadership at the senior administrative and predoctoral levels. To keep leadership-minded students interested in dental academics throughout their careers, further studies are needed to identify the most important factors influencing careers in academic dentistry.

The Role of Department Chair through the Lenses of Family Systems Theory and Family Strengths Perspective

As middle managers in higher education, department chairs play a critical role in the university structure while operating in an ambiguous location between faculty and senior administration. This paper will take a closer look at the role of department chair, how chairs are selected and prepared for the position, what the job entails, qualities of an effective chair, and challenges within the position. Then, after brief descriptions of family systems theory and family strengths perspective, the benefit of each as a useful lens for enacting the position of department chair will be explored. Sample applications of each will be provided.

Managing institutional conflicts: Stakeholder accounts of communication between conflict of interest and technology transfer offices.

There have been repeated calls for academic institutions to develop policies and procedures to manage institutional conflicts of interest (ICOI) arising from technology transfer activities. While prior research has examined adoption of ICOI policies by medical schools and universities, little is known about how these institutions handle ICOI in practice, hindering the development of evidence-based recommendations to improve ICOI management. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 25 senior administrators responsible for research integrity and conflict of interest issues at academic institutions. Data were analyzed using a descriptive qualitative content analysis approach, combining flexible coding to index the interview data with close examination, interpretation, and synthesis of coded content. Participants identified communication and information sharing between conflict of interest (COI) and technology transfer (TT) offices as a critical factor in the effective management of ICOI and suggested several strategies to strengthen coordination between these offices. These findings suggest that academic research institutions could strengthen COI programs by taking measures to improve communication and information sharing between COI and TT offices.

The case for agency: Three dimensions of discretion in presidential agenda construction

AbstractWhen scholars address presidential agenda setting, they focus on how presidents go about getting what they want. We know far less about the prior step: how presidents decide what they want (agenda construction). Moreover, prior work that has dealt with this topic has focused on the external constraints imposed on presidential choice by Congress and public opinion. I contend, by contrast, that presidents have considerable agency in determining their domestic policy priorities. They rely on it to establish who they are and where they want to take the nation, putting forward their own “political projects.” I situate this agency in the selection of agenda items and the manner and sequence in which presidents pursue them. Failing to account for this “power of initiative and origination” leaves us with an underspecified understanding of presidential decision making that obscures the consequentiality of leadership in driving important policy outcomes. I develop this argument by exploring three presidential administrations that pose a hard test for my agency thesis: Richard Nixon, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush. These case studies draw from archival records obtained at the associated presidential libraries and interviews with senior administration personnel.

Clinicians’ perceptions of “enhanced recovery after surgery” (ERAS) protocols to improve patient safety in surgery: a national survey from Australia

BackgroundSurgical patients are at risk of postoperative complications, which may lead to increased morbidity, mortality, hospital length-of-stay and healthcare costs. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) protocols are evidence-based and have demonstrated effectiveness in decreasing complications and associated consequences. However, their adoption in Australia has been limited and the reason for this is unclear. This study aimed to describe clinicians’ perceptions of ERAS protocols in Australia.MethodsA national online survey of anaesthetists, surgeons and nurses was undertaken. Invitations to participate were distributed via emails from professional colleges. The 30-item survey captured respondent characteristics, ERAS perceptions, beliefs, education and learning preferences and future planning considerations. The final question was open-ended for elaboration of perceptions of ERAS. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe and compare group differences across disciplines relative to perceptions of ERAS.ResultsThe sample included 178 responses (116 nurses, 65.2%; 36 surgeons, 20.2%; 26 anaesthetists, 14.6%) across six states and two territories. More than half (n = 104; 58.8%) had used ERAS protocols in patient care, and most perceived they were ‘very knowledgeable’ (n = 24; 13.6%) or ‘knowledgeable’ (n = 71; 40.3%) of ERAS. However, fewer nurses had cared for a patient using ERAS (p <.01) and nurses reported lower levels of knowledge (p <.001) than their medical counterparts. Most respondents agreed ERAS protocols improved patient care and financial efficiency and were a reasonable time investment (overall Md 3–5), but nurses generally recorded lower levels of agreement (p.013 to < 0.001). Lack of information was the greatest barrier to ERAS knowledge (n = 97; 62.6%), while seminars/lectures from international and national leaders were the preferred learning method (n = 59; 41.3%). Most supported broad implementation of ERAS (n = 130; 87.8%).ConclusionThere is a need to promote ERAS and provide education, which may be nuanced based on the results, to improve implementation in Australia. Nurses particularly need to be engaged in ERAS protocols given their significant presence throughout the surgical journey. There is also a need to co-design implementation strategies with stakeholders that target identified facilitators and barriers, including lack of support from senior administration, managers and clinicians and resource constraints.

Power of introspection

This article presents the results of collaborative autoethnographical (CAE) research that investigated the group dynamics and processes of an undergraduate student, a post-doctoral fellow, and two senior administrators engaged in a students-as-partners (SaP) project. The CAE methodology allowed us to systematically, collaboratively, and iteratively analyze reflections on key takeaways from our experiences. We identified empowerment through learning and support and putting values into practice as essential components of working with SaP in mixed-role groups. This CAE research also substantiates the importance of negotiating existing power dynamics, as we identified a hierarchical structure within our group that we did not address during the actual project. Based on our group’s dynamics, we suggest that active reflection and communication regarding intersecting identities, shared and individual values, and an openness to learning and growth for all group members are critical components of working toward equitable partnerships with SaP.

“Activism is welcome as long as it’s peaceful”: athletic administrators’ perspectives on college athlete activism via stakeholder theory

The purpose of this study was to examine athletic department administrators’ perceptions of student-athlete activism via Stakeholder Theory. Since 2012, the United States has witnessed a resurgence of activism within sport, college sport including. While collegiate athletes’ point of views have been studied, college athletic administrators’ (e.g., an Athletic Director) point of view is missing. The researchers interviewed senior level athletic administrators utilizing Stakeholder Theory to identify key stakeholders athletic administrators find salient when a college athlete engages in activism. Results are broken down into sub-themes highlighting stakeholders with power (coaches, communications, campus administrators, and high-level campus leaders), legitimacy (proactive culture of accepted activism, personal investment, and type of activism), and urgency (public protest, real-life events of socio-cultural importance, and the athletes). This study’s importance lies in the practical benefit it provides athletic administrators and other stakeholders surrounding an athletic department as it relates to collegiate athlete activism.

Assessing the Impact of Strategic Planning on Organizational Success in Public Educational Institutions: A Case Study of Kabwe District, Zambia

This study aims to assess the impact of strategic planning on organizational success in public educational institutions, focusing on a case study of Kabwe District, Zambia. The paper reviews the current strategic planning practices in these institutions, identifies areas that require improvement, and explores the perceptions of senior administrators regarding the influence of strategic planning on academic performance, financial management, and stakeholder satisfaction. Additionally, the study identifies the challenges and opportunities faced by public educational institutions in implementing strategic planning practices. Recommendations are made to address these challenges and improve strategic planning practices in public educational institutions in Zambia. The ultimate goal is to enhance organizational effectiveness, efficiency, and overall success in the education sector.

Retaining teachers and trainers in vocational education and training (VET): motivating career-changers to remain as VET educators

ABSTRACT Recruiting and retaining vocational education and training (VET) educators is an increasing challenge in countries across the world. So understanding their transition and retention is vital to the development of a sustainable workforce. This paper draws on interviews with senior administrators of Australian training providers and survey data from practising VET teachers and trainers to identify factors that most influenced these educators to remain in what was, for most of them, a second or later career. The research found that the major influences on retention of new educators in VET were partly extrinsic, including employment conditions, lifestyle balance and support for professional development, and partly intrinsic, including a supportive culture and job satisfaction through enjoyment of teaching and giving back to industry. The findings provide training providers with a clear indication of what encourages educators to make a long-term commitment to VET teaching and what motivates them to perform at their best once they have made the transition.

Senior and Life Administrative Committee Member Cluster Delegates [Society News

Senior and Life Administrative Committee Member Cluster Delegates [Society News

Uncollegial governance and the restructuring of the University of Alberta

This article provides an account of the undermining of collegial governance at the University of Alberta in relation to the restructuring of the university in 2020 by the senior administration and board on advice provided by the Australian consultancy firm, the Nous Group. The current president of the university has publicly promoted the restructuring in venues including the Times Higher Education supplement as a model for other universities. The model, a disastrous one for collegial governance, demands widespread attention along with the means by which it was achieved. As Bill Readings declared in his 1997 book The University in Ruins, “the changing institutional form of the university is something that intellectuals cannot afford to ignore.” At the University of Alberta, that changing form is being determined by fossil-fuelled academic capitalism. The account of what has happened is provided by a professor who has served on the university’s senior academic body, the General Faculties Council, for almost a decade. It concludes with several concrete recommendations for bolstering collegial governance at universities in Alberta, elsewhere in Canada, and possibly worldwide—wherever collegial governance is being undermined by restructuring, the corporatization of the academy, academic capitalism, or the disrespect of university boards for the authority of faculty and the academic mission.

Trusted professionals or expendable functionaries? Exploring the sources of role strain among teachers at an elite high school

In this qualitative study, I examine the sources of role strain among teachers at The Richmond Academy of Science (the Academy) – one of the most exclusive English-medium international schools in Bangalore, a city in southwest India. I address the following question: How does the Academy’s position, as one of the premiere inter-national schools, impact teachers’ interactions with students, parents, and senior administrators? The analysis of interviews with 24 teachers at the Academy indicates that structural aspects of the school, such as its dependence on recruiting stu-dents from wealthy families, inform how students, parents, and senior administrators interact with teachers. In some cases, teachers are treated as trusted professionals whose opinions are valued, whereas in other instances, they are treated as expendable functionaries whose job involves ful-filling the goals set by others – namely parents and senior administrators. Teachers’ attempts to satisfy these conflicting expectations lead to role strain, which they express as resignation and frus-tration. Interrogating how teachers at one elite school experience their work provides important insight into how schools’ structural characteris-tics and the behaviour of key stakeholders shape teachers’ professional experiences.

E-learning's influence on organizational excellence in UAE universities: Exploring the moderat-ing role of demographic variables

This study employs a quantitative approach to investigate the relationship between E-learning and Organizational Excellence in UAE universities. The study focuses on 250 senior and middle administrators from public universities selected through a convenience sampling method. The advanced statistical tools SPSS and AMOS were used to analyze the research data through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings reveal the impact of e-learning dimensions–Technical Knowledge and Management Willingness—on Organizational Excellence. Additionally, the study delves into moderation effects, revealing that Gender, Age, Educational Level, and Experience play pivotal roles in influencing perceptions of e-learning among senior and middle administrators at UAE public universities. This research contributes to the understanding of how e-learning impacts Organizational Excellence within the UAE university landscape while also highlighting the crucial moderating roles of demographic variables. These findings offer valuable insights for educational institutions aiming to optimize e-learning strategies and enhance organizational performance.

Organizational Innovations and Performance of Public Universities in Kenya

Despite the important place that research on strategic innovations has in the literature on strategic management, little is known about the relationship between strategic innovations and university performance. The limitations of measuring organizational innovation constructs, methodological ambiguities, and contentious conclusions from earlier studies served as the foundation for this study. This study set out to look into how organizational changes affected the performance of Kenya’s public universities. This study made use of the balanced scorecard approach and resource-based theory. The research design used was cross-sectional. This study’s target audience consisted of Kenya’s 31 public universities. This study’s sample frame consisted of 10 public universities. The population’s 100 respondents were picked. Using a stratified random sample method, respondents from Kenya’s 10 public universities were selected. The Israel (2009) formula was used to establish the sample size for the 80 respondents. Structured questionnaires with both closed- and open-ended questions were used to collect primary data. A Likert-type scale was used to evaluate the questionnaire items. The administration and administrative staff of Kenya’s public universities served as the study’s respondents. The deputy vice chancellors, directors, deputy directors, managers, and senior administrators were among the respondents to the survey. While Cronbach Alpha coefficients were used to test the reliability of the research instrument, the validity of the research instrument was evaluated by academic researchers and business specialists. Tables and figures were used to present the results of the descriptive statistics and linear regression method analysis of the data. The study found a strong correlation between organizational innovations and public university performance (F, 41,247= 57.8, p 0.000). The study concluded that organizational changes like restructuring, transformative leadership, and employee retraining can successfully explain the performance of public universities. According to the report, it is important to reconsider organizational changes if public universities in Kenya are to perform better. It is inferred that the findings of this study will have a substantial impact on theory, management practice, and decision-makers like the Commission for University Education and the Kenyan Ministry of Education.

Development and Implementation of a Unified Care Model Performance Framework in the Yishun Zone Regional Population Health System

Background / Objective: Governance and Leadership Subsystem (GLS) of health systems governs but also directs Service Delivery Subsystem (SDS) transformation. Performance management (PM) is a key GLS activity. Coherent PM frameworks improve SDS governance, health system performance and ultimately population health outcomes.&#x0D; Yishun Health (YH) is an integrated care organization within National Healthcare Group (NHG) caring for 320,000 residents in northern Singapore as the Yishun Zone Regional Population Health System (YZ). YH designed and deployed the Unified Care Model (UCM) as future-state SDS model to integrate and transform its care/services with care partners. A redesigned PM framework going beyond disease-condition services, specialty-departments, and institutions-partners was required.&#x0D; Method: Population segmentation was achieved using NHG River-of-Life segmentation model, dividing YZ residents into four Lifelong Care segments (LLC) and one Episodic Care segment (EC). Employing UCM, LLC and EC were further sub-segmented into a cascade of ever smaller populations of unique care needs to envision future SDS needs/demand-supply matching in the form of integrated microsystems of care/services delivery.&#x0D; UCM Performance Framework (UCMPF) was conceptualized by adapting IHI’s Quadruple Aim as annual outcomes for LLC microsystems and Dartmouth’s Clinical Value Compass as 90-day outcomes for EC microsystems. Ability to govern integrated microsystems was then modelled using clinical logic models, enabling curation of input, process, and output indicators into domains of standardized care strategies i.e. “Horizontal Logic”. “Vertical Logic” was then employed to aggregate relevant LLC or EC microsystem input, process, output or outcome indicators up the cascade of UCM population segments and higher order systems to envision future-state GLS, such as i) person and need/demand centric mesosystems e.g. LLC and EC or a community geographically, or ii) provider-centred mesosystems e.g. site-based disease condition-services or program, specialty-departments, institution-partners, culminating ultimately in whole health system or macrosystem performance indicators. UCMPF dual logic enabled stakeholders to visualize interdependencies in whole system PM indicators and more coherently co-create performance indicators at all levels of YZ.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Results: Exceeding 1,300 existing care/services indicators across disease condition-services or program, specialty-departments, institution-partners were discovered and systemically visualized using UCMPF in LLC and EC Indicator Menus, revealing how current care/services indicators impacted input, process, output and outcome of LLC and EC at different levels of the SDS. Numerous leadership conversations were conducted to envision future GLS activities using UCMPF, spawning many working level discussions, which continue to be ongoing between senior clinicians and administrators to prioritize indicators for PM. Technical definitions for prioritized indicators was also initiated to support informatics systems and enterprise data warehouse dashboard redesign. &#x0D; Discussion/Conclusion: UCMPF employs a systemic design and visualization approach to mitigate complexity in whole system PM. LLC and EC Menus reduce cognitive difficulty for stakeholders to relate their existing care/services measurement efforts with micro and mesosystem levels of the UCM and jumpstarts conversations whether existing care/services contribute or not towards YZ outcomes i.e. macrosystem. UCMPF therefore supports our ongoing care/services integration activity, and the co-creation of future GLS for YZ SDS is hypothesized to ultimately accelerate health system transformation towards better population health outcomes in YZ.&#x0D;

THE IMPACT OF HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICE ON INSTITUTIONAL BRAND IN THAILAND: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF CHINESE STUDENTS’ SATISFACTION

This study aims to explore the impact of higher education services in Thailand on the brand of institutions and investigate the mediating role of Chinese students' satisfaction. Through a qualitative and quantitative survey, the author interviewed ten senior administrators and marketers from eight Thai universities and conducted a questionnaire survey among 450 Chinese students studying in China or Thailand. Data were analysed for quantitative analysis and content analysis of in-depth interviews. The results demonstrate a close relationship among academic services, non-academic services, student satisfaction, and institutional brand. Through a literature review and relevant data analysis, the research finds that higher education services play a key role in shaping the brand image and reputation of institutions. Excellent academic services have a direct impact on student satisfaction, and the improvement in satisfaction further enhances the recognition and influence of the university brand. In recent years, China has emerged as a leading global source country for international students. As one of the major education providers in the ASEAN region, Thailand's higher education sector faces intense competition from its peers in attracting Chinese students. This research reveals that many Thai universities recognize the potential value of brand awareness in attracting more students. However, the prioritisation of brand building is not a common practice among these institutions. This study was designed to identify successful branding and communication strategies for Thai universities. The findings will also prove valuable for universities aiming to target the Chinese student market, enabling them to assess and refine their marketing strategies.

Institutional Capacity and Implementation of Financial Management Regulatory Framework in Devolved Governments in Kenya: A Case of Embu County

Between 2013 and 2022, the county government of Embu faced persistent challenges in public resource management, leading to unfavorable audit opinions despite guidance from the Public Finance Management. Reports from the auditor general (2017, 2019, 2021), the controller of the budget (2019, 2020, 2022), and internal financial documents highlighted issues such as inefficiency, poor budget management obstructing development, low absorption capacity, and misalignment with the integrated development plan. This study investigated the effect of revenue, information sharing, budgeting, and expenditure management capacities on the implementation of the Financial Management Regulatory Framework in Embu County, Kenya. The study is anchored on the agency theory, institutional theory and resource dependency theory. Descriptive research design was adopted for this study, focusing intently on Embu County as the epicenter of the investigation. The research participants comprised 65 senior administrators well-versed in the nuances of the Public Finance Act of 2012. Due to the manageable size of the target population, a census study approach was adopted, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Both primary and secondary data sources were tapped into. Primary data collection methods included structured questionnaires meticulously designed to extract specific insights, in-depth interviews for nuanced perspectives, and credible reports from authoritative sources. Secondary data, vital for contextualizing the primary findings, were sourced from a plethora of academic books, scholarly journals, and previously conducted research studies. The collected data was analyzed using a combination of descriptive statistics portrayed by percentages, mean scores, median charts and graphs. The inferential statistical analyses used is done through Anova, regression and R-squared. The study unearthed critical insights into the existing financial management capacities within Embu County. The findings collectively underscore the integral role of various capacities - revenue management, information sharing, budget making, and expenditure management - in ensuring robust financial accountability. Through examination of these capacities, the study illuminates the interconnections between efficient financial practices and regulatory compliance. The conclusion drawn from these findings emphasized the pressing need for strategic interventions within Embu County's financial management system. The study made the following recommendations: To enhance revenue management, the county was advised to overhaul its revenue collection systems, employing innovative technologies for efficiency and accuracy. Information sharing mechanisms were recommended to be streamlined, ensuring real-time communication between various governmental bodies and departments. Participatory budgeting processes, involving both public and administrative stakeholders, were recommended to instill transparency and community-driven decision-making. Furthermore, robust internal control systems for expenditure management were deemed imperative, necessitating the implementation of stringent audit protocols and oversight measures.

The Perils and Strains of Teaching Race and Racism to Predominantly White Teacher Candidates

This paper examines the overt and covert racism Black professors experience within the context of mainstream university teacher education programs. Informed by literature from Canadian sources and the authors’ personal experiences, the paper challenges the perception that Canadian postsecondary teacher education is amenable to honest, open and civil debates regarding racism. The common view of Canada as an inclusive and welcoming society needs re-examining given the degree of resistance encountered by racialized professors while teaching controversial topics, including racism and antiracism. A call is made for teacher education programs to revamp their curricula and to embed critical race and antiracist literature in all courses, in addition to recruiting, mentoring and retaining Black professors, senior administrators, staff and students.

AMALAN KEPIMPINAN MORAL GURU BESAR LEPASAN PROGRAM PRIME DALAM ELEMEN NILAI MERENTASI ORGANISASI: SATU KAJIAN TINDAKAN PARTISIPATIF

This study aims to explore the moral leadership practices that exist among principals who have graduated from the Prime program (Principals Residency and Immersion Programme), from three primary schools in Malaysia. The element of leadership that is studied among head teachers is the practice of moral leadership that exists in the aspect of Organizational Values. This study was carried out in a qualitative approach using a participatory action research design (Participatory Action Research or PAR). A three-loop PAR model adapted from Crane and Richardson (2000)3 was used. A total of 21 people, from 3 national schools (SK) have become study participants. Those who became study participants consisted of head teachers, senior administrators and academic teachers. Data for this study were collected through interview techniques, observation and journal entries. The collected data was analyzed using thematic analysis method. The findings of the study show that head teachers who completed PRIme program, in each school studied, are able to develop moral leadership practices in the management of school organizations in planning element of Cross-Organizational Values. The implications of this study provide important information to the moral leadership of head teachers, school organization management and the PRIme module in more efficient moral leadership.

FUZZY MULTIPLE CRITERIA GROUP DECISION-MAKING IN PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF MANUFACTURING COMPANIES

Today's market competition requires constant improvement of manufacturing companies. The primary key to sustainable improvement is evaluating the efficiency of manufacturing processes, which inevitably demands access to thorough and comprehensive information. However, due to the multiple numbers of effective factors that are varied in nature and value, it is impossible to identify certain factors that ensure the efficiency of a manufacturing procedure. As a solution, this paper proposes a novel approach that applies fuzzy TOPSIS. This approach provides the flexibility of evaluating multiple and varied factors of different weights in scrutinizing the efficiency of a manufacturer. The proposed approach has been applied to three different manufacturers (i.e., alternatives) in three steps. In the first step, with reference to the related literature and comments of manufacturing experts, the valuable factors (i.e., the criteria) have been selected to which experts specified linguistic terms. Linguistic terms were then converted to fuzzy numbers. Fuzzy TOPSIS was applied to analyze the efficiency performance of manufacturers. In the last step, to determine the impact of criteria weights on the decision-making process, sensitivity analysis was carried out. The findings confirm the implacability of the proposed approach to manufacturing performances in a consolidated manner. The approach can be employed by marketing managers, senior administrators, and other authorities in the manufacturing and business sectors.