Developing an Evidence-based Management Approach for Creating High Performing Organization
By:
School of Educational Studies
Universiti Sains Malaysia
1. Introduction
Much research in the field of education has been done into increasing the quality of the teaching at higher education institutions (HEIs) (Kennedy, 2011; Diaz-Mendez and Gummesson, 2012) and to a lesser degree and quality of research output (Abdulsalam and Mawoli, 2012; Aydin, 2012; Nisei and Nisei, 2013). Effective HEIs are generally seen as an important block in the development of a country (Wang, 2001; Ramaprasad, 2011). Unfortunately HEIs have come under increased pressure because of the worldwide trend of massification of higher education when at the same time international students look for better quality education, while concurrently educational budgets are under pressure because of the economic crisis (Auguste et al., 2010; Parker, 2013). This puts a great strain on HEIs who are forced to do more, of higher quality, in different ways, and with less resources. More specifically, HEIs have to deal with the concurrent challenges of managing expansion of the student body, with the accompanying required increases in facilities, staff, lecturers, and courses; maintaining and improving the quality of teaching, facilities, and curriculum; obtaining sustainable funding; improving labour market attractiveness of students; increasing managerial and staff capacities, and innovation in both teaching and managing the organization (Harrison-Walker, 2009; Pacuraru, 2012). In other word, HEIs who manage to thrive in these challenging circumstances, by paying equal attention to increasing quality of both teaching and the internal organization, are known as high performing HEIs.
According to Barber et al. (2013: 5-6), there are three fundamental challenges need to be addressed all round the world:
- Universities are new providers need to ensure education for employability;
- The link between cost of education and quality of education (and research) need to be broken, and
- The entire learning ecosystem needs to change in order to support alternative providers and the future of work.
2. High Performing HEIs
After creating high performing HEIs, a country needs to create a system of high performing HEIs, such as a world-class university system which is defined as an ecology of institutions with highly differentiated but tightly integrated visions. These universities are differentiated by their emphasis on research, teaching and service; their global, regional, national and local scope; their aspiration to be a premier, leading or a generic institution; their specialization in the arts, humanities, sciences and professions. Yet they have to act in concert for the development of the society. They have to form a coherent, coordinated, albeit complex network to generate knowledge, store it, propagate it and apply it to the development of society (Ramaprasad, 2011: 45).
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