DRIVERS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IMPLEMENTATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION: THE CASE OF LEBANESE PRIVATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

This research provides evidence on the relationship between responsiveness to quality assurance implementation and a business school i) organisational and leadership characteristics, ii) stakeholders’ perceptions of quality assurance as innovation, and iii) the institutional pressures in the organisational field. It is based on the insights from the institutional theory and the diffusion of innovation theory and uses a mixed-methods research approach. The current global demand for accountability and concern with educational productivity in higher education makes this research timely.
The results of the study indicate that a business school’s level of internationalisation (normative pressure) is positively associated with responsiveness whereas competition (mimetic pressure) and the government stipulations (coercive pressure) are not significant in determining whether a business school will or will not implement any quality assurance measures. In addition, leadership and organisational characteristics (such as size and level of conferred degrees) have been found to be associated with positive responsiveness. On the other hand, stakeholders’ perceptions of quality assurance as innovation have not been found to explain the level of responsiveness to quality assurance implementation.
This research concludes that responsiveness is due to a number of factors; government guidelines for quality assurance have not been seen to be effective mainly due to the lack of sanctions. The type of business has been found to impact responsiveness to quality implementation with for-profit organisations being less likely to implement quality assurance measures than their not-for- profit counterparts.
By recommending appropriate approaches to increase institutional responsiveness to implement quality assurance, the research contributes to practice as it may inform state and business schools decision makers on the appropriateness of their policy formulation and execution. It can thus assist in drawing well-versed strategies and tactics. The research also contributes to the body of knowledge on the factors affecting the adoption of quality assurance in higher education institutions.