Change management in higher education: A sequential mixed methods study exploring employees’ perception

Abstract

Background Higher education institutions need to put change management as a pivotal part of their strategy. The challenge is to effectively contextualize existing change management models to the respective work environment. Failing to properly adapt existing models to match the intricacies of the environment could lead to plenty of setbacks. For such a contextualization to take place, gauging employees’ engagement and satisfaction becomes of paramount importance. As such, the overall purpose of the current study is to explore the perception of employees of a medical and health sciences university in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, in relation to change management and agility, and to showcase how the captured perspectives can be systemically interpreted to inform decision-making in the context of the study. Method This research study relied on a sequential mixed methods design, which started with an exploration of the perception of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) leaders. Qualitative data was collected through a focus group session and was inductively analysed (based on constructivist epistemology). The output of the qualitative analysis contributed to the development of the quantitative data collection tool. The quantitative data was analysed by SPSS-version-27. Findings The qualitative analysis generated three key themes: Trigger, Execution, and Results, along with a thorough outline of lessons learned and opportunities for improvement. The Cronbach’s Alpha reliability score was 92.8%. The percentage of the total average of agreement was 72.3%, and it appeared that 83.2% of the variance can be explained by the instrument (p<0.001). Conclusion The current study generated a novel conceptual framework that can be leveraged by educational leadership and administration to reinforce their decisions and optimize their agility in terms of managing change. The study also introduces a data collection tool which captures the perception of higher education stakeholders regarding the way their respective institutions handle change. This tool proved to be reliable and valid in the context of the study.

TikTok: How the Application Became the Motivation for Online Learning for EFL Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

“…Indeed, effective organization is key to a successful online learning environment. Actuating in the context of online learning involves implementing plans and strategies to ensure that the designed learning experiences are put into action effectively (Ezzeddine et al, 2023). This applies to educators and students, with each having a role in the actuation process (Ibidunni et al, 2023).…”

“…44-46). Again, both educators and learners play roles in controlling aspects of online learning (Ezzeddine et al, 2023). Evaluation in online learning involves assessing various aspects of the learning process to determine the effectiveness of the educational experience (Hosseini et al, 2022), and once more, both educators and learners can play important roles in the evaluation process (Han, 2023).…”