Identifying and counting factors affecting the establishment of total quality management in Iran's higher education system (case study: Central Organization of Islamic Azad University)

REZA SAHRAEI ¹ ( PhD Candidate Higher Education Management, Department of Educational Sciences, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran. )
HASAN SHAHRAKIPOUR ² ( Associate Professor Education Management, Department of Educational Sciences, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran. )
afsaneh saber garekani ³ ( Assistant Professor of Curriculum Planning, Department of Educational Sciences, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran. )

Submited date : 2023-10-04 Accepted date : 2023-10-09

Keywords: Islamic Azad University, higher education, Total Quality Management, Central organization,

Abstract :

Abstract
Introduction: Total quality management in higher education means guiding all academic, administrative and financial processes at all levels in the university in order to provide the labor market and students' needs through continuous development and improvement of service quality. The purpose of this research is to identify the factors affecting the establishment of total quality management in Iran's higher education system (case study: Central Organization of Islamic Azad University).
Research methodology: In this research, thematic analysis technique with inductive approach is used as one of the qualitative analysis techniques. The statistical population included all connoisseurs, experts and senior managers and informants of the central organization of Islamic Azad University in the field of total quality management. Interviews were conducted with 12 of them, all of whom were university faculty members, until theoretical saturation was reached. The information obtained from the interviews was analyzed using thematic analysis technique with an inductive approach.
Findings: Based on the results obtained from the analysis of the interviews, 177 subcategories, 11 sub-categories and 2 main categories were identified, which were internal organizational factors (planning, needs assessment, participation, human resources, financial resources, organizational culture, infrastructure, organizational communication and organizational management) and external factors (environmental factors, policy making).
Conclusion: Regarding the factors affecting the establishment of total quality management in Iran's higher education system (Islamic Azad University Central Organization), all external and internal factors play a role.