Journal of Management and Planning in Educational Systems
Year:2018 | Volume:11 | Issue:1 (20) |Papers Count:8

Whistle blowing is paying attention to mistakes and violations in an organization, and increasing concerns about the harmful events in the environment. The main goal of this study was to investigate whistle blowing phenomenon at school, in order to create a conceptual framework and develop its theoretical foundations. This study used a qualitative method which was conducted using descriptive phenomenology. Participants in the study included 18 formal teachers working in education office in Tehran. Selecting participants took place on the basis of experience and familiarity with the subject. Data collected by semi-structured interviews. The process of data collection continued until theoretical saturation happened. Inductive content analysis using three levels of open, axial and selective coding was done. The results showed that whistle blowing at school is an obscure phenomenon that has not achieved its actual position to the extent that it is taken the same as the other concepts including a negative value. In order to activate whistleblowing at school, there are barriers, facilitators and consequences. Also, there are the reasons for those who are fore and against whistleblowing. The most important reason for inaction and being against this phenomenon is that it is considered as a taboo which is destructive in our society.

This paper aims to study and structural pathology of autonomous campuses at three dimensions (formality, centralization and complexity) and the long-term consequences of damages. Thus, through non-probability and purposeful sampling method, one interviews 21 experts of higher education and managers of autonomous campuses of Tehran state universities. This study is a descriptive-exploratory type. Thematic analysis method is used for structural pathology of autonomous campuses and themes were extracted. Study results showed that among 181 coding cases, 27% of extracted coded was related to formality, 38% to centralization, 30% to complexity and. 5% to long-term consequences of damages. These results suggests that the greatest structural damages of autonomous campus are ascribed to centralization dimension and themes such as lack of latitude and top-down decision making, lack of independence in recruitment, lack of independence in terms of admitting students and implementing educational process and failure of financial independence.

The present study aims to design the competency model of managers of Iranian science and technology parks, as knowledge-based scientific and research institutions. This is a non-experimental research using a descriptive-analytical design with developmental objective, which was conducted through a mixed method. The study population includes three groups, namely managers, experts, and academics of the parks with managerial competencies. Qualitative sampling was done through snowball method, and a targeted random sampling was employed for quantitative part. Qualitative data was collected through desk study (of books and papers) and interview, a field study and a questionnaire inquiry were conducted for collection of quantitative data. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), T test, and Chi-square test. In the first stage, 198 concept codes were obtained through the qualitative approach specifically content analysis with category systems (coding). Then, 84 indices were identified after categorizing the codes. These indices were formed under nine main components and in three dimensions, namely general competency, interpersonal competency, and professional competency. During the second stage, a questionnaire was made and its validity and reliability were measured. The reliability (Cronbach's alpha) for general, social, and professional competencies was 0. 899, 0. 875, and 0949 respectively. The results of EFA and CFA analyses showed that the competency of managers of science and technology parks included 74 indices, 19 components, and 3 dimensions. Four components for general competency included perception attitude, innovation, and personality. Seven components for interpersonal competency were team work, leadership, effective communication, participation and consultation, global thinking, networking, and strategic insight. Eight components for professional competency considered as IT management, investment management, financial management, marketing management strategic management, environmental management, monitoring and evaluation and executive management.

Customized learning systems have higher performance in comparison to traditional systems for learners. This is also true for electronic learning (E-learning). It is essential to have such customized mechanism for effective learning process. Recently, educational data mining methods are widely used in order to enhance the learning process. In fact, by using data mining techniques, it is possible to recognize learners and create a customized learning program in a better way. In this paper, a new model to cluster learners based on their learning style has been proposed. In this model, for learners, using Felder-Solomon questionnaire different dimensions of Felder and Silverman learning style are measured. Subsequently, using k-means clustering algorithm, the learners are categorized in different groups. In order to evaluate the model, it has been used and evaluated in a real learning program. Evaluation results show the effectiveness of the proposed model since the learners showed better educational performance. Moreover, the training process became more exciting for them.

The present study was performed with the aim of investigating the effect of satisfaction of the compensation system on teachers’ hope for the future, job engagement and job adjustment, with the focus on perceived distributive justice. The current study is a descriptive-correlational research with Structural Equation Modeling approach. The population of the study consisted of all 850 female teachers who were teaching at elementary schools in Khorramabad. 233 teachers were selected as the sample size using Krejcie and Morgan table; was chosen by stratified sampling method. Data were collected through Roger and Vivien’ s Satisfaction of Compensation (1998), Niehoff and Moorman’ s Organizational Justice (1993), Snyder et al. ’ s Hope (1991), Schaufeli et al. ’ s Job Engagement(2006), and Shahrabi Farahani’ s Job Adjustment (2012) questionnaires. The construct validity and reliability of these questionnaires were confirmed using Cronbach's alpha. The data were analyzed using SPSS 23 and AMOS 23 soft wares. The research findings showed that exogenous variable (satisfaction of the compensation) in addition to have direct and significant effect on all endogenous variables (perceived distributive justice, hope of the future, job engagement and job adjustment of teachers), and because of the role of perceived distributive justice, it has an indirect part in explaining the hope of the future, job engagement and job adjustment.

In the new era of globalization, economic and cultural openness and multinational companies, and also intensive competition have been started among universities. They maintain or improve their position, and therefore, branding is an important and necessary process for them. By branding, university distinguishes itself from other universities and maintains its survival. This study investigated how to improve the brand of Payam Noor University (Karaj branch). This research is a qualitative approach which uses thematic analysis and data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. The study population is faculty members of Payam Noor University (Karaj branch), among them, via purposeful sampling, 18 people were selected as informants considering the principles of saturation. Coding process was used to analyze the data. For reliability, test-retest reliability (74%) and the intersubjective agreement method were conducted. Themes in the form of original research findings suggest that it is necessary to consider the following items in order to improve Karaj branch of Payam Noor University: management support and develop strategies, improving the quality of educational services, improving the physical environment of the university, improving university facilities, developing and implementing a comprehensive public relations program, and creating cooperative relationships.

The purpose of this study is to identify the orientations and features of the curriculum in the period of centralization in Iran's higher education system. The research methodology is a historical research tradition and it is a qualitative method that has been tried by using resources, documentation and available literature and interviewing key experts in the field of higher education and curricula to identify the orientations of curriculum in The five dimensions of the process, system, field of study, occupation and knowledge during the period of focus, and examine the characteristics of curricula in this course. Findings, this period began in 1984 with the formation of the Supreme Council for Planning in the Ministry of Science, and continued until 2000. In this period, in order to realize the goals of the Islamic Revolution, the programs of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies were focused and reviewed by the Supreme Council for Planning at the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, and universities were required to implement the decrees of that council From the point of view of part of the rule of this period, the university was more skilled than a system for the political socialization of individuals, so one of the main directions of the course was to direct curricula to the needs of society.