Abstract:
Continuous Improvement in HEIs is becoming increasingly an important part
of the HEIs strategic management. Major changes in the higher education sector
over the last two decades have exerted pressure on the ability of HEI systems to
sustain quality, meet increasing demands for accountability, and demonstrate
their economic and social role. The drive for quality management and quality
assurance has manifested in the increase in accreditation and quality audits
required of HEIs by government bodies and external entities. Saudi Arabia
higher education system is not exceptional in this regard. Therefore, this
explanatory and interpretive study adopted a qualitative grounded theory
approach, which, aims to establish how organisational culture can be leveraged
to support continuous improvement in Saudi Arabia’s HEIs. It has used a
number different data gathering instruments: including, face-to-face interviews,
focus groups and survey. It also, identifies a number of themes that influence
CI implementation in Saudi HEIs, and develop a framework of interventions
that will help to leverage the organisation cultures of Saudi Arabia HEIs to
facilitate continuous improvement. Recommendations for further study
included more focused studies on the OC of Saudi based private universities
and their current CI practices.
