D.Phil.

Higher Education (HE) institutions are constantly facing change. Accountability; the metaphor of student as consumer; a focus on management and leadership; and changing global economic conditions all affect the way institutions function. Recently, there has also been an increase in focus on accreditation procedures and organizational change. Although it can be difficult to measure the impact of quality assurance, this research focuses on exploring change and an accreditation procedure conducted by the Japan University Accreditation Association at a Japanese private university. Higher education institutions are social constructions and largely exist in the mind and as such, during change, some faculty members share values, rules of behaviour, and norms that become stabilized in institutional structures. This is due to the establishment of a common understanding. Conversely, there can be differences between groups in the institution. Thus, research needs to be conducted on how people make sense of change and their institution; the way information is processed and disseminated. By utilizing Ericson’s (2001) conceptual framework of four ideal types of meaning, and using Weick’s (2005) concept of sensemaking as a lens to examine the change, this research explores how faculty members make sense of change and accreditation and asks how far does this instance correspond to or otherwise illuminate Ericson’s (2001) conceptual framework for understanding change? This research contributes to our understanding of change, higher education institutions in Japan and accreditation, acknowledging the importance of effective management and leadership in HE institutions.

During the past two decades there have been significant changes in the landscape for higher education. Among these was a trend for universities and colleges to respond by adopting a more market-driven approach, leading to the introduction of new public management within universities and colleges, which led to the emergence of tensions between the academic and quasi business aims. In 2004 the UK government changed the criteria for the grant of degree-awarding powers and university title opening up the possibility for non-public organisations to apply. This thesis presents the case study of a private sector for-profit organisation as it introduced a more robust quality assurance infrastructure during the application process for taught degree-awarding powers. The analysis is undertaken within a conceptual framework developed from institutional and agency theory. The need to demonstrate legitimacy and the influence of key groups played a large part in the changes made. Using data collected via participant observation, key informant interviews and documentary evidence, the study examines the changes and management actions that took place during the period between June 2004 and July 2009 in order to identify the strategies that were adopted to manage the tensions between the academic standards and the commercial imperative of meeting shareholder expectations. The study contributes to the literature covering change in educational institutions and in particular that which reports on the introduction of a more business-oriented approach to the management of universities. The study is able to bring a new perspective to studying the management of tensions between academic and business aims by looking at the issues from an alternative angle. The key strategy developed was a gradual rationalisation of the academic aims within the business aims such that the duality of aims was diminished.

This study seeks to develop a better understanding of the nature and potential of quality management in primary schools and to determine possible professional development strategies for principals in relation to the introduction of quality management within their schools. A questionnaire was utilised to seek the insights, understandings and opinions of thirty-four primary school principals within the Western Sydney area in relation to quality management in their schools and the kinds of leadership support required to initiate and sustain this process. The policy orientation of the research is evident through suggested options for leadership development which emerge from the findings of the quesionnaire. Furthermore, the notion of schools as 'learning communities' is a vision for school education which requires the transformation of the cultural elements of schools to enable all school members to be active managers of their own learning. There is a need to develop systems and processes to allow this vision for schools to emerge, and this research accepts this challenge. This thesis, based on the outcomes of the questionnaire, includes a theoretical framework based on an overview of current models relating to quality management in primary schools and concludes with considerations for the further development of the process in primary schools in New South Wales. / Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Thesis (M.S.)--Marshall University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 152 p. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-119).

<p> This study was the result of a quantitative methods research design, which assessed: athletic training services, injury prevention at the time of the study, and intervention protocols for high schools within the Gateway Athletic Conference (GAC). This study explored the impact of injuries and concussions on student athletes. The study also examined the types of athletic training facilities, resources for rehabilitation, and procedures for athletic training programs available at the high school level in the GAC. The study uncovered some significant findings between the groups who were surveyed. The participants surveyed represented athletic trainers, athletic directors, and coaches. There were differences in how these groups viewed emergency care procedures, injury policies, and protocols. The differences ranged from views of job descriptions, written policies and procedures for emergency transportation, reporting and submitting accident reports, and regular review of the effectiveness of athletic training services. The groups did agree on most legal duties and responsibilities, general policies and procedures, injury management protocol and procedures, training room facilities, and operation questions. Blood-borne pathogens were an area in which notable improvement is needed, and there were some concerns with some of the data reporting injury statistics. Overall, the participants agreed with one another, but there were some differences throughout the study, as reported in this dissertation.</p>

Policy documents such as The National Policy on Whole-School Evaluation (Department of Education, 2001), A Policy Framework for Quality Assurance and Training System in South Africa (Department of Education, 1998) and Integration Quality Management System (Department of Education, 2003) propose broad participation of major stakeholders, in particular educators, in the process of evaluating and monitoring school performance. This represents a major shift from the inspectorate system of the past that had limited transparency and openness between the evaluators (inspectors) and evaluees (educators) and had little to do with assuring the quality of education provision. Nevertheless many teachers have resisted the introduction of these policies designed to improve schools and their performance. The system known as Whole-School Evaluation focuses on the whole school rather than on individual staff members of the school, with the aim to develop schools in achieving their context-related goals and intended outcomes. Reasons for teachers‟ resistance to such a well intended framework of policies is not well understood. Thus, this study sought to investigate perceptions of educators about Whole-School Evaluation, which is the component of Integrated Quality Management System. To do this a case study was conducted at one KwaZulu-Natal Primary School in the Phumelela Circuit of Umlazi District. The focus of the study is on educators‟ experiences of Whole-School Evaluation, their understanding of their roles in the implementation process as well as their perceptions about the intention of Whole-School Evaluation, an interpretive approach was appropriate. The study uses two methods, interviews and questionnaires, for generating data. The major finding of this study is that, contrary to their initial resistance, educators are more positive about the Whole-School Evaluation system than the previous inspection system, because they perceive it to be developmental for themselves and their schools. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

The purpose of this study is to explain the dynamics of the interaction between the different stakeholders at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) from a student development point of view. The study is conducted in order to develop an effective communication system that can assist in the management of relationships. The literature review presents an analysis of key documents. It focuses on the management of relations as well as the role that is played by communication in this regard. The systems approach provides a theoretical framework that guides the views of the researcher. Chapter Three outlines the design and procedure of the study. The research approach adopted by the researcher is qualitative and is based on a case study, which is Mangosuthu University of Technology. The following research methods are applied in the study; that is, the analysis of documentation, observations and a focus group, together with the application of questionnaires. Chapter Four presents a combination of qualitative and quantitative research data. The first part of the chapter focuses on observations that were made by the writer over a period of six months. This is followed by the analysis of the questionnaire. The last part discusses the responses that were elicited from the focus group. Chapter Five leads to the conclusive section of the whole study and it is an extension of Chapter Four in which the results of the research carried out are presented. The findings reveal that a systems approach has a significant role to play in assisting an organisation in managing relations. This approach recognises the existence of inter-relations between different parts of an organisation. The study concludes that MUT needs to take steps to create a knowledge-based institution where there is flexible learning, available anywhere, anytime and on any topic. / Thesis (M.Com)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2009.

This study is an investigation into how systems thinking was used in a school improvement initiative, which involved the implementation of the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS) in a ward with twenty-two schools. The Superintendent of Education Management (SEM), as the practitioner, initiated the study in the form of an action research, using the soft systems methodology (SSM). The preference of the SSM was justified for its suitability to explore problem contexts of a pluralist complex nature. The School Development Team (SDT) Chairpersons were the participants that went through the learning process and provided insights from their worldviews and experiences as the leaders tasked with bringing about the requisite transformation and guidance aimed at the professional development of educators, their performance measurement and whole school evaluation. The reflective study interrogates the worldviews, perspectives, attitudes and values of the participants, promotes the use of systems tools and techniques and leads to the development of conceptual models which might constructively enhance school reform. The findings of this study highlight educators’ ability to engage in reflective activities and self-directed explorations, shared experience of educators learning to learn together and continuous professional development. The reflective educators learn to recall, consider and evaluate experiences in relation to a broader educational purpose. The study explores the possibility of using the IQMS systemically in action as leverage to enhance school improvement and bring about positive change in educator accountability. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2009.

This study utilized the principles of Total Quality Management and Q Methodology to determine the attitudes of 18 junior and senior students in the music business program at Anderson University.The concourse for this study was developed using Schmidt's four principles of Total Quality Management: customer satisfaction, continuous improvement, empowerment, and teamwork. The Q sample included a total of 54 statements related to personal beliefs regarding the Music Business program.The subjects completed a Q sort, which included positive and negative statements about the Music Business program based on Schmidt's four principles.The subjects of the study were 50 percent male, 50 percent female, 50 percent junior class status, and 50 percent senior class status. Each student had completed the introductory courses within the department, and was taking upper-class level specialized music business classes.PQMethod software was used to tabulate the Q sorts, and two factors were found. Attitude types were named "Contented" and "Discontented." The two factors were not closely correlated. The "Contented" group felt their experience as a Music Business major was positive, and had a positive outlook on the future of the program. The "Discontented" group felt the program did not meet their expectations, and they had little expectation for future improvements. / Department of Journalism