Strategic Flexibility and Its Correlation with Achieving the Competitive Advantage of Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal University from the Viewpoint of Faculty Members

Al-Zamil, Maha Othman

doi:10.21608/jsrep.2021.185395

Strategic Flexibility and Its Correlation with Achieving the Competitive Advantage of Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal University from the Viewpoint of Faculty Members

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Maha Othman Al-Zamil

Department of Educational Administration and Planning, College of Education, Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

10.21608/jsrep.2021.185395

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the strategic flexibility and its correlation with achieving the competitive advantage of Imam Abdul Rahman bin FaisalUniversity from the viewpoint of the members of the teaching staff. To achieve the objectives of the study, the descriptive correlative approach was used. The study sample consisted of (260) faculty members, and the study made use of a questionnaire for collecting data. The results of the study revealed that the level of strategic flexibility at Imam Abdul Rahman bin FaisalUniversity is high with a relative weight (78.70%), and the creativity dimension ranked first with a relative weight of (80.28%), followed by the speed dimension (80.12%), and it came after lightness in rank. The third was (79.72%), followed by consistency (79.04%), then after realism (78.60%), and it came in the last rank after insight (74.44%). The degree of achieving the competitive advantage of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University came with a relative weight (76.96%), and it was found that there is a direct relationship between strategic flexibility and its dimensions and competitive advantage, and it was also found that there is a statistically significant effect of strategic flexibility in achieving competitive advantage, and the most dimensions contributing to achieving competitive advantage came after the dimensions of realism and lightness. It was found that there were no differences between the mean estimates of faculty members about the level of strategic flexibility due to the variables of years of service and academic rank or the interaction between them, and there were no differences about the degree of achieving competitive advantage due to the variable of academic rank or the interaction between years of service and academic rank, only differences appeared in the degree of achieving competitive advantage due to the variable of years of service for the category (7 years and less). In light of the results of the study, the researcher recommended the adoption of flexible policies and strategies and analyzing global changes in higher education and their application in the universities of the Kingdom.

Keywords

References

Abu-Radn, I. and Al-Anzi, D. (2017). Strategic flexibility as an approach to achieving sustainable competitive advantage: An exploratory study of the opinions of a sample of managers of Asiacell Mobile Communications Company in Iraq. DuhokUniversity Journal. M (20), p. (2), 237-274.

Abu Shama, F. W. (2015). The role of intellectual capital in achieving competitive advantage: An applied study in hospitals in the southern West Bank, Master thesis. HebronUniversity, Palestine.

Ahmed, M. M. and Mohamed, H. A. (2019). The mediating role of strategic flexibility in the relationship between strategic planning and achieving competitive advantage. Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences - SudanUniversity of Science and Technology, 19(1), 51-70.

Idris, M. S. and Al-Ghalbi, T. M. (2013). Testing the impact of strategic resilience as a mediator of the relationship of environmental uncertainty with strategic decision-making: An empirical study in Jordanian human pharmaceutical manufacturing companies. The Arab Journal of Management. 33(1), 105-134.

Umm Al-Khair, I. A. (2009). Work teams and their impact on productivity in the women's university education sector, master's study (unpublished), KingAbdulazizUniversity, Jeddah.

Barakat, Z. (2008). The reality of the use of the internet by faculty members in Palestinian universities for the Internet in scientific research. The Fourth International Conference of Cairo University, dated: December 18, 2008, held at CairoUniversity on the occasion of its first centenary.

Al-Baghdadi, A. and Al-Jubouri, H. (2015). The impact of organizational ingenuity in achieving strategic flexibility: A comparative field study between Zain and Asiacell in Iraq. Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Administrative and Economic Sciences, 17(1), 17-32.

Ben Ahmed. A. (2018). The impact of strategic flexibility on the quality of performance effectiveness and the competitiveness of the organization: An applied study on the Mobilis telecom company, Unpublished doctoral thesis. University of Jilali Dry Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria.

Albuainain, M. (2019). The mediating role of empowering workers in the relationship between strategic directions and institutional performance: The modified impact of strategic flexibility: A field study on a sample of Bahraini family businesses, Unpublished doctoral thesis. SudanUniversity of Science and Technology, Khartoum.

Gabr, E. W. A. (2008). The competitive advantage of products in the Iraqi market: A comparative study. Al-Ghari for economic and administrative sciences, 1, 183-200.

Hussein, H. (2016). The impact of strategic flexibility for business organizations in rationalizing their strategic decisions. Mansour magazine. 25, 67-92.

Hammadi, I. and Ali, L. (2017). The effect of strategic flexibility and environmental uncertainty on organizational health, field research in a number of Iraqi industrial companies. Dinars Magazine. (8), 44-70.

Zughdar, A. (2011). Competition - Competitiveness and strategic alternatives. I (1), Amman: Jarir Publishing and Distribution House.

Al-Sakarna, B. K. (2008). Entrepreneurship strategies and their role in achieving competitive advantage: A field study on telecommunications companies in Jordan. Journal of BaghdadCollege of Economic Sciences University, 77-112.

Suleiman, A. H. (2004). Strategic analysis and its implications for business options and competitive advantage: A case study in the General Company for Electrical Industries, unpublished doctoral thesis. Al-Mustansiriya University, Iraq.

Sharif, R. (2015). The impact of strategic flexibility on the relationship between strategic learning and achieving competitive advantage in Jordanian insurance companies, master thesis. Middle EastUniversity in Amman, Jordan.

Shammasin, S. A. (2013). The impact of strategic intelligence in enhancing strategic flexibility: An applied study on the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company, a public shareholding company, master thesis. Mutah University, Jordan.

Shiha, A. and Abdel Rahman, N. Y. A. (2016). The impact of strategic flexibility on organizational performance: A field study on insurance companies in Tartous Governorate. TishreenUniversity Journal of Research and Scientific Studies - Economic and Legal Sciences Series. 38(1), 163-183.

Al-Tai, Y. H. and Karmasha, A. M. (2010). Strategic planning and its role in achieving competitive advantage: Iraq: KufaStudiesCenter.

Tahrawi, M. (2019). The impact of decision support systems on the effectiveness of strategic flexibility: A field study in Jordanian telecommunications companies. Journal of the Islamic University of Economic and Administrative Studies, 27(1), 55-73.

Abed, I. (2016). The impact of strategic flexibility on the application of knowledge management from the point of view of senior management and employees of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company in the Gaza Strip, master thesis. Al-AzharUniversity, Gaza, Palestine.

Abdel Wahab, P. (2011). Mental flexibility and its relationship to the future time perspective and achievement goals among university faculty members. Journal of Specific Education Research, ZagazigUniversity (1), 20 - 76.

Abdawi, N. (2017). The contribution of the strategic resilience of the national economic enterprise to creating customer value: A case study of the Condor Electronics Corporation, unpublished doctoral thesis. Mohamed Khider University of Biskra, Algeria.

Al-Azzawi, S. A. K. M. (N. D.). The effect of training in achieving competitive advantage, an analytical study of the opinions of a sample of directors of government hospitals in Baghdad, master’s thesis in business administration, College of Administration and Economics, Al-Mustansiriya University, unpublished, 2005.

Al-Atawi, M. (2015). The impact of strategic flexibility on entrepreneurship of business organizations: An exploratory study of the opinions of a sample of company managers, especially small ones operating in the construction materials industry sector in Najaf Governorate Journal of Management and Economics, 1(3),127-148.

Al-Atawi, M. (2015). The impact of strategic flexibility on entrepreneurship in business organizations: an exploratory study of the opinions of a sample of managers of companies, especially small ones operating in the sector of construction materials industry in the province of Najaf. Journal of Management and Economics, 1(3),127-148.

Al-Fadil, M. (2015). Applying the concept of flexible organization in public universities in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. BabylonUniversity Journal - Humanities, 23(2), 902-920.

Falaq, M. K. N. (2011). The impact of administrative empowerment on employee creativity, A case study of the Jordan Telecom Group, the International Forum on Creativity and Organizational Change in Modern Organizations, Algeria. 18-19

Mohsen, A. & Al-Najjar, S. M. (2004). Production and operations department. Wael House for Printing and Publishing.

Al-Mutairi, F. G. (2012). The impact of creative orientation on achieving competitive advantage: An applied study on Kuwaiti commercial banks, master's thesis. University of the Middle East in Amman.

Al-Maadidi, M. & Al-Tai, A. (2011). Contributions of strategic leadership in enhancing the strategic flexibility of business organizations: A study of the opinions of a sample of strategic leaders in the general company for the manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and medical appliances in nineveh. Rafidain Development Magazine. 33(105), 112-158.

Nasseri, A. (2015). The importance of customer satisfaction in strengthening the competitive advantage: A case study of the Gulf Bank - Algeria (AGB), master's thesis. Larbi Ben M'hidi University - Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria.

Al-Najjar, F. and Al-Houri, F. (2008). Information quality and its impact on achieving strategic flexibility: A field study in Jordanian pharmaceutical companies. NisreenUniversity Journal for Research and Scientific Studies - Economic and Legal Sciences Series. 30(2), 57-77.

Al-Yasiri, A. M. & Kamel, S. B. (2013). The impact of sustainable marketing strategy on entrepreneurial orientation: An exploratory analytical study of the opinions of a sample of managers of Zain Mobile Communications Company in Iraq. Journal of Administration and Economics at the University of Baghdad, 2(8), 90-122.

Al-Yasiri, A. M.; & Al-Hamiri, A. A. (2014). The impact of strategic flexibility on banking performance: An exploratory study of the opinions of a sample of managers in a number of private commercial banks in Iraq. Journal of Administration and Economics at the University of Baghdad, 2(13)43.

Yunus, M. (2015). The role of the university in achieving a knowledge society to keep pace with information development. A field study at QassimUniversity. The Arab Journal of Higher Education Quality Assurance. 8(21), 125-156.