Building a yardstick–a benchmark framework for assessing higher education management institutions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Umayal Palaniappan ◽  
L. Suganthi ◽  
Shameem Shagirbasha

PurposeHigher education management institutions play a vibrant role in imparting managerial skills to the students to face the corporate world. Performance evaluation of such institutions is mandate to ensure the outcome quality. To establish this, the present research explored the critical performance indicators of management institutions using the balanced scorecard (BSC) approach.Design/methodology/approachThis research explored the critical performance indicators of public, private and standalone management institutions in India. Data were collected from the representative sample of all the stakeholders in those management institutions. A specific vision was created and a systematic procedure was employed to arrive at the objectives, measures and metrics of the scorecard specific to the vision. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to perform analysis on the collected data. For the objectives and measures that evolved from confirmatory factor analysis, metrics were formulated based on the expert opinion.FindingsThe study resulted in 16 objectives, 46 measures and 54 metrics encompassing all the four perspectives of BSC. This paper has contributed a concrete, concise, comprehensive and context specific framework.Research limitations/implicationsThe nature of the BSC framework paves the way for continuous assessment and eventually helps the institutions to attain sustainable growth. This research contributes to the literature of balanced scorecard and also to the performance assessment of the management institutions.Originality/valueBSC-based benchmarking is a unique contribution to the academia of management education to precisely measure the performance of institutions. The model comprehensively includes the indicators from all the perspectives of stakeholders in terms of objectives, measures and metrics, thus proposing a holistic assessment.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xujia Wang ◽  
Billy Sung ◽  
Ian Phau

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate how exclusivity and rarity (natural versus virtual) influence consumers' perceptions of luxury. Further, it examines whether exclusivity and rarity can function as distinct marketing strategies in today's luxury market environment.Design/methodology/approachOnline questionnaires were administered by adapting developed scales from prior research. Research stimuli were chosen from three luxury categories including bags, wine and cruise. Confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regressions were used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results confirmed that exclusivity, natural rarity and virtual rarity were perceived as relatively distinct constructs among our sample. Findings also highlighted that perceived natural rarity (PNR) has consistently emerged as a positive and significant contributor to consumers' perceptions of luxury across all three luxury categories. The influence of perceived exclusivity (PE) on perceptions of luxury has also shown to be significant for two product categories (luxury bag and luxury wine), whereas perceived virtual rarity (PVR) did not show any significant effects across all three categories.Practical implicationsThe results indicate that consumers perceive natural rarity, virtual rarity and exclusivity as relatively distinctive marketing strategies. This suggests that luxury businesses can adopt each strategy independently to achieve desired marketing outcomes.Originality/valueThis study offers theoretical support for the proposition that exclusivity and rarity may have different functions in luxury marketing implementations. It provides empirical evidence showing the distinctiveness of perceived exclusivity and perceived rarity, which have not be done in previous research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (48) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
O. Vorobyova

The article presents the results of empirical research of the main theoretical approaches to the concept of efficiency of management services in the field of higher education. It is determined that the concept of efficiency management is a complex multifaceted indicator that includes certain performance indicators related to efficiency, profitability, effectiveness, etc., in economics and management there is no single general approach to determining the effectiveness of management. It is proved that the effectiveness of management is a complex indicator that determines the use of resource opportunities to achieve a certain goal, and these concepts are complementary and interrelated, this approach from the point of view of economics is integrated with all management functions.Ключові слова: higher education; management efficiency; management effectiveness; management efficiency in higher education; educational services.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Lithopoulos ◽  
Peter A. Dacin ◽  
Tanya R. Berry ◽  
Guy Faulkner ◽  
Norm O’Reilly ◽  
...  

Purpose The brand equity pyramid is a theory that explains how people develop loyalty and an attachment to a brand. The purpose of this study is to test whether the predictions made by the theory hold when applied to the brand of ParticipACTION, a Canadian non-profit organization that promotes active living. A secondary objective was to test whether this theory predicted intentions to be more physically active. Design/methodology/approach A research agency conducted a cross-sectional, online brand health survey on behalf of ParticipACTION. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis established the factor structure. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model. Findings A nationally representative sample of Canadian adults (N = 1,191) completed the survey. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis supported a hypothesized five-factor brand equity framework (i.e. brand identity, brand meaning, brand responses, brand resonance and intentions). A series of structural equation models also provided support for the hypothesized relationships between the variables. Practical implications Though preliminary, the results provide a guide for understanding the branding process in the activity-promotion context. The constructs identified as being influential in this process can be targeted by activity-promotion organizations to improve brand strength. A strong organizational brand could augment activity-promotion interventions. A strong brand may also help the organization better compete against other brands promoting messages that are antithetical to their own. Originality/value This is the first study to test the brand equity pyramid using an activity-promotion brand. Results demonstrate that the brand equity pyramid may be useful in this context.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-163
Author(s):  
A.Yu. Razvaliaeva

We present the results of approbating the Decision Making Tendency Inventory (Misuraca et al., 2015) in the Russian sample (N=423, Mage= 25,01, SD = 9,63). The development of H. Simon’s satisficing theory in the current studies is considered. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the theoretical three-scale structure of the inventory. We describe the relations between maximizing, minimizing and satisficing scales and personal factors of decision-making, age, and education (its level and difficulty). The study demonstrates that maximizing and satisficing are close tendencies, implemented in case of making important effortful and resource-consuming (e.g., time-consuming) decisions, whereas minimizing is connected to withdrawal from effort and knowledge, avoidant strategies and ambiguity intolerance. The yielded results suggest that satisficing needs to be trained in conditions of high demands for the cognitive sphere such as studying in a higher education institution.


Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1465-1483
Author(s):  
Khahan Na-Nan ◽  
Theerawat Roopleam ◽  
Natthaya Wongsuwan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a digital intelligence quotient (DIQ) scale questionnaire that encompasses the digital identity, digital use, digital safety, digital security, digital emotional intelligence, digital communication, digital literacy and digital rights. Design/methodology/approach DIQ research was conducted in two phases to develop an assessment scale. First, 33 questions were developed based on previous DIQ concepts and theories. These questions were then validated using exploratory factor analysis into eight dimensions as digital identity, digital use, digital safety, digital security, digital emotional intelligence, digital communication, digital literacy and digital rights. A survey was conducted comprising 409 admins and clerks in SMEs. Second, confirmatory factor analysis and convergent validity were tested along the eight digital dimensions. Findings This study extended the DIQ concept to provide theoretical contribution for DIQ with intelligence study. Eight dimensions were developed to measure DIQ, including aspects of digital identity, digital use, digital safety, digital security, digital emotional intelligence, digital communication, digital literacy and digital rights. Research limitations/implications The DIQ questionnaire was a single-source, self-assessed data collection, as the sample included only employees of SMEs in Thailand. Results showed a good fit but require further refinement and validation using a larger sample size and various supplementary sampling contexts. Practical implications The eight DIQ dimensions and questionnaire results will assist organisations and supervisors to focus on employees’ DIQ using both work and lifestyle parameters. This knowledge will help supervisors to encourage employees to increase their DIQ for more effective usage of digital literacy. Researchers and academics will be able to apply this instrument in future studies. Originality/value The DIQ questionnaire is a new instrument which comprehensively explores relevant dimensions to increase employee understanding of digital identity, digital use, digital safety, digital security, digital emotional intelligence, digital communication, digital literacy and digital rights.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 600-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Perkins ◽  
Gita Mathur ◽  
Kam Jugdev

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to draw on the resource-based view of the firm from strategic management and apply it to a study of competitive advantage in the project management context. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is used to examine the factors that constitute strategic characteristics of project management resources and outcomes of the project management process. Design/methodology/approach This study gathered data from 437 North American project management professionals using an existing survey tool from prior research involving a smaller sample. Findings The final model derived from CFA demonstrated construct validity, meaning acceptable convergent and discriminant validity. It showed only minor differences from a prior exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The final model consisted of two factors representing valuable project management characteristics, one factor representing rare project management characteristics, one factor representing inimitable project management characteristics, three factors representing organizational support for project management assets, one factor representing project-level performance and one factor representing firm-level performance. Research limitations/implications Limitations of the study include self-report bias and the use of a panel for data collection. Practical implications This study draws managerial attention to project management characteristics that constitute a source of competitive advantage. Originality/value The study validates a survey tool from previous research, reflects few deviations from factor structure of the prior EFA, and sets the stage for future research to elaborate on the conceptual model. It extends understanding of the characteristics of project management assets that lead to a firm’s competitive advantage.


2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 343-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Peterson

Purpose – The aims of this paper are twofold: first, to explore if and how management ideals are gendered within the context of Swedish higher education management and second, to investigate if and how the gendered character of these ideals has been challenged by new managerialism. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on qualitative semi-structured interviews with 22 women in senior academic management positions (Vice Chancellors, Pro Vice Chancellors, Deans and Pro deans) in ten Swedish higher education institutions. Discourse analysis is used to explore the constructions of the management ideal in the interviews. Findings – The paper identifies how the interviewed women managers constructed two different management ideals: one old-fashioned and traditional masculine ideal that was superseded by a feminine ideal that they identified themselves with. The masculine ideal was presented as being replaced by the feminine ideal due to the restructuring of higher education and the reforms in line with new managerialism. However, the feminine ideal was also associated with a number of professional challenges. Originality/value – The research study is limited to management in the higher education sector, but the results have general implications as it adds richness to our understanding of the gendered effects of new managerialism. However, the paper builds on a small qualitative study with women only interviews. The paper is therefore to be considered as explorative. More research is needed, especially including men.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay ◽  
Komal Khandelwal ◽  
Tanuj Nandan ◽  
Prashant Mishra

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to model the key influencers or predictors for usage of technology by sales professionals in India. Design/methodology/approach This study examines the effect of individual, organizational and social factors on the use of technology. The method used for primary research is survey, and data have been collected from 556 sales professionals from across four industries in India. The empirical analysis consists of confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling. Findings Confirmatory factor analysis has been used to validate the constructs, namely, peer usage, support service, perceived usefulness, attitude, usage and performance. Based on the results, it has been concluded that attitude and peer usage have a direct effect on the use of technology. Support service affects peer usage and perceived usefulness affects attitude. This model helps us understand the direct and indirect predictors of use of sales technology (ST), and its effect on sales performance. Research limitations/implications The limitation of this study is that data pertain to India only. Practical implications The findings of this paper will help sales managers and organizations develop strategies to increase the acceptance and use of new technologies, and also strengthen their arguments for convincing the various stakeholders about the benefits and relevance of the ST. Originality/value The paper attempts to build and validate a parsimonious model taking into account peer usage (social factor) and support service (organizational factor) in addition to perceived usefulness and attitude.


Author(s):  
Balázs Jagodics ◽  
Éva Szabó

AbstractStudent burnout is a serious problem in higher education. It is associated with harmful consequences, such as decreased engagement, performance, and motivation, which can lead to dropout. The job demand-resource model of burnout is a comprehensive framework to grasp the factors related to the emergence of burnout. Although numerous studies claim its suitability in explaining burnout in work environments, its applicability in the educational context is less explored. The study aimed to analyze the structure and reliability of the newly developed University Demand-Resource Questionnaire (UDRQ) and to explore the links between its subscales and symptoms of student burnout. Using the online survey method, 743 Hungarian undergraduate students participated in the data collection. The student version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory was used in addition to the UDRQ. In the data analysis procedure, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling were utilized. The confirmatory factor analysis identified a five-factor structure related to both demands and resources. Correlation analysis revealed burnout to be associated positively to the subscales of demands and negatively to resources. Structural equation modeling analysis indicated that all five demands and two resources subscales can be used to build a model that predicts a significant proportion of the variance of student burnout scores. The findings suggest the demand-resource theory is an appropriate framework to predict burnout in higher education. The newly developed UDRQ has stable structure and good reliability and can be a useful tool in subsequent research related to student burnout.


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