Arab Strategy in Higher Education Institutions: Descriptive Analytical Approach to Investigate the Cultural Problematic Factor

Abdullah Al-Beraidi

Abstract

This paper discusses the problem of the lack of awareness and good practice of strategic management in Arab organizations, and more specifically in higher education institutions. The purpose of the paper is to find out a tentative answer of the key question: Is such a lack due to the cultural problematic factor or research (i.e. scientific) problematic factor?. Thus, the paper aims at determining the core causes of the problem and to present its main symptoms. The paper adopts the descriptive analytical methodology in the light of what the paper has called “Cultural Diagnostic Approach”. The paper suggests a new model to be used in diagnosing the cultural factors which might affect the phenomenon under investigation.

After showing how strategic management is so crucial in all academic institutions, the paper concludes that this lack might be attributed to the cultural problematic factor and lists three key diseases of Arab strategy: (1) poor beliefs in the importance of strategy, (2) the dominance of managerial approach over leadership approach in higher education institutions, (3) the lack of support of strategic management by Arab governmental bodies. 

Finally, some recommendations have been put forward and can be of value to both  future research  and Arab academic and cultural institutions. Among these recommendations, the paper calls attention to the significance of conducting qualitative, and not quantitative, studies to explore more deeply the cultural problematic factor, and it places  heavy emphasis to raise the awareness of Arabs of studying, predicting and shaping the future according to their Arab Islamic Civilizational Project through training programmes for managers and leaders in education institutions and curriculum development in different levels in the educations system.

Arab Journal of Administration , vol. 27 (2), 2007