King Saud University Strategic Analysis - Case Study Example

Name : xxxxxxxxxxx Institution : xxxxxxxxxxx Course : xxxxxxxxxxx Title : King Saud University Tutor : xxxxxxxxxxx @ 2010 Background information King Saud University (KSU) is a public university situated in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). It was established in the year 1957 as Riyadh University. It was founded mainly to meet the needs of skilled workers in the country. Early in the 1982, it was renamed as King Saud University. It offers a wide range of courses such as, professional studies, natural sciences and the humanities for which it charges no tuition. KSU initiated different programs for the promotion of its knowledge leadership at both national and international level. Overall cost leadership occurs where the organization offers its services at the lowest cost compared to its immediate competitors. KSU achieved its low cost by increasing its efficiency as well as expanding the size of the organization. A good example of overall cost leadership is Walmart (Taher, 2002). King Saud University is considered as the premier university in Saudi Arabia. It is highly respected in Arab and Muslim community, along with receiving a number of recognition from the international bodies. It is an academic institute that has produce quality leaders within the country, such as Politian’s, academic elite, members of the national business and royal family. Its leadership is excellently led by the country’s president, professor Dr. Abdullah Al-Othman. The university has largely grown both in quality as well as regards. Al-Othman leadership, vision and mission have helped the university achieve extraordinary development that has never been witnessed before in its 50years history. His unwavering leadership has promoted King Saud University to be the best university ranked as NO 1 in the Middle East. Models/tools/techniques of strategic analysis King Saud University uses the SWOT analysis technique or model while administering its leadership. SWOT analysis refers to a quick way used in examining organization internal strength and weaknesses in relation to the existing external threats and opportunities. The use of SWOT analysis has helped the university to operate its activities in an orderly and efficient manner thus enhancing a good leadership.KSU uses the SWOT strategic analysis. The organization carries out a thorough analysis on both internal and external environment. Examples of the factors or conditions that influences external environment include; economic, technological, employment and social. On the other hand, KSU internal environment helps to spot the strength and weaknesses of the existing operation. The (SWOT) Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis offers a framework for good educational leadership. SWOT is a tool designed to be used a basis of making decisions within the organization (KhuzaimAI-Asmari, 2007). SWOT analysis is mainly used to analyze the current status of the organization thus develop a detailed plan of action in order to improve courses by utilizing the strength and opportunities. It is used (SWOT) to establish strategic objective within the organization. While carrying out the SWOT analysis, KSU has adopted a balanced approach. The organizations threats as well as weaknesses are mostly facilitated through focus group, administrators and anecdotal evidence. The overview driving forces of SWOT analysis (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) at KSU under strength includes a proper leadership which will ensure that there is a balance between young, old, experienced faculty and excellence in academic. SWOT analysis offers insight at one point or the other- just like a snapshot. Just like a snapshot, SWOT can provide different picture which most leaders if not all will rely on or get focus on. T the university, a leader can focus on planning, management of the school activities, co-ordination just to mention but a few. The analysis helps in the survey process and solving organizations problems (KSU) by evaluating different leadership practices within the firm or organization (Miller, Vandome & McBrewster Saudi Arabia, 1992). Market research King Saud University monitors its environment using the academic and research. KSU formulates interdisciplinary research teams of both the faculty as well as the students, with no regards to disciplinary borders across the academic division such as, professional studies, natural sciences and the humanities. KSU offers both graduate and undergraduate program in various fields of study. It focuses on research which applies technology to issues/problems of human need, economic and social development. The research agenda includes; energy and environment, bioengineering and applied mathematics. In order to sustain these trusts, KSU formulated a multidisciplinary research centers to act as catalysis, geometric modeling, clean combustion and the list goes on and on. Complexity of the environment The features of complexity are more present in different environment in which the university operates (KSU).The emergence of the organization structure of KSU is going through some changes due to complexity and the urge for adaptation. Consequently, there are various groups that have developed. All together, structural changes as well as the business changes occur at the university as a result of different awareness that leadership has of the strategic occurrence. The university leaders often use business intelligence while making vital issues affecting the operation. The system used support decision making by gathering and processing significant information/data about the organization and remote environment. The university (KSU) is characterized by complex adaptation system; however the environment in which the business operates is also complex. As a result, the need for optimal decision making process has been achieved over the years (Saʻūd & al-Maktabāt,1992). Complexity theory was established in order to build the university environment beyond the traditional used approach. To tie together important paradigm shift, it is significant to understand the real-world of complex problems, implementing complexity in the environment. KSU has embraced complexity in order to build a firm environment that will significantly enhance discipline throughout the school. Having understood the importance of complexity, it is therefore significant for all organization to embrace its need (Institute, 2007). Some of the key business challenge facing KSU is that completion has largely intensified; more universities are seeking new ways to improve their services in order to attract students. Furthermore, improving staff reliance is very essential since it helps to reduce the internal cost thus raise KSU productivity in terms of its services rendered. King Saud University major challenge is that it relies mostly in technology in order to solve the organizations problems. However, the university fails to understand that a mere technology will not give it a sustainable advantage. KSU business challenge triggers the organization form of leadership thus helps it to work more hard that ever before (Sallūm & Fadaak, 1995). Key business challenges The underlying principle/rationale for a leadership is clearly stated. King Al-Othman played a major role in determining the university success and failure. First and foremost, it is important to understand the term’ leadership’. It is a concept that can be explained using three key/major words, values, vision and strategy. In this article, I will forward a brief rationale for the notion of KSU leadership then look at some strategy supporting them. The full exercise of KSU leadership lies on the clarification of different values and verbalization of a vision pinned by those values. Vision is refers to what ought to be done in future. Additionally, leadership embraces strategic action so as to realize the university vision. The focus of delegating some of the leadership qualities to different staffs has proven to a good gesture in trying to improve the organization goals. It is wrong to think that, a leadership entails only the application of bottom-up power however, a leader needs to emphasize more on the collegial aspect which requires mutual accountability, collaboration as well as responsibilities. Trough different changes, such as; business changes, leadership changes as well as the management challenges, KSU can be better equipped to meet the organizational changes through the following ways: focusing on different strategic needs of the (KSU) Organization, systematic leadership that will create leadership development. The complexity of this factor is tuned to match the university needs as well as goals. KSU has achieved this through the following ways; (a) identifying the major competencies required for future success of the organization, (b) endorse the internal values that will provide an exclusive culture, (c) the university has established priorities for the existing and new managers/leaders, (d) it has also offered individual learning plans in order to widen up the development interventions. In addition, KSU can solve some of its problems by confronting its employees within the organization. An effective leader will always act decisively and fairly while handling some of the problems facing the organization and the employees at large. This ability that has been incorporated at the university is important for operational success. It also improves the employee’s morale to work hard thus increase or improve the organization success. Leaders who are known to handle difficult matters affecting the organization are recognized in dealing with resistant leaders in the most effective manner. They are also known to act decisively when major issues arise. Critical discussion of leadership-KSU Consequently, KSU has established a team that helps it in identifying matters affecting the organization. Managers are usually effective in setting goals and allow other people to fully understand what they are expected to do, in order to achieve the organization objective. KSU has managed to sustain its recognition among its competitors by solving conflict among the employees through a direct report; it has also hired intelligent people with good technical ability to work with the organization and has facilitated team members (Leaders) to do best for the organization. KSU has broad organizational perspective. When leader’s orientation is said to be narrow, he/she is alleged as not ready to undertake any sort of responsibility, not capable of managing different departments function and he/she is considered unable to fully understand how the organization operates. KSU considers those leaders with broad perspective as those who have worked in different department, have experience in various functions, managed changes, have supervised different group and developed tactical and strategic skills. Problems emerged at King Saud University after King Saud began his reign. Similarly to his father, King Saud had more than 30 (thirty) sons and he was determined to place them in different position of power as well as influence. King Saud numerous brothers, who did not believe on the fact that their nephews are holding some of the prominent position, excluded themselves from power. As a result of the political instability in the country, King Saud University was not spared from facing a terrible consequence. The new King Saud did not at any time prove to be an efficient leader during his reign. Even before he became the king, he was known as a spendthrift, and this become serious when he immediately started controlling kingdoms spring (Institute, 2007). Soon after the tremendous drama with regards to politics, King Saud University started having some major problems in terms of management efficiency. King Saud used most of the monies to recruit immense palace guard. The incoming revenues could not match the expenditures for tribes, person effects and act as subsidies to various international groups. Frustration grew over the wasteful expense incurred, lack of development projects and difficulties in maintaining some of the expenses incurred in the educational sector, such as King Saud University. Some of the university scholars started withdrawing their courses, searching for a solution, some went to study abroad. Citizens as well as students became aware of the twofold culture emerging in the country. In the early days of Aziz’s reign; such tribal twofold did not exist at all. For instance, there had been no privilege classes during Abd al Aziz’s reign, students at the university did not feel or experience the notion of the rich and poor, for example their clothing were much more similar for both the rich and the poor. However, in King Saud’s reign, this distinction could be seen by almost everyone in the country if not all, including students at King Saud University. Disappointment came from many areas; there had been a large number of middle class educated students; who went in different countries or abroad in search of education. Students went on strike due to incompetence and inefficiency of management at the university; this means that studies at one point or the other were greatly affected. It is important to understand that there is a strong correlation between politics and the countries success in terms of economy, education and so on. Political instability had a direct impact on the organization progress (King Saud University).students trust to the country’s education system was greatly affected, more and more student not only at King Saud University was affected, but also other centers as well .Students opted to study elsewhere rather than their own country. Student’s idea was greatly triggered by the mismanagement of resources as well as political instability. Problems faced at KSU Challenges or problems faced by King Saud University and the country at large are not something new in today’s current situation. There has been so many media briefing on the impact of political instability, lack of democracy and poor leadership in the country’s failure. The instability witnessed in Saudi Arabia resulted to so many misfortunates. Just as in the ancient time, poor leadership has led to poor development of countries GDP (Gross Domestic Product), this is clearly evidenced in most of the developing countries. Stability in the country leads to good infrastructure, better education system; attract more investors in the country and paves way for good leadership. For a country to develop in a good and efficient manner, leadership must not be in hereditary. In hereditary of power paves way for dictatorship in leadership. If an organization for example allow its leadership to be hereditary, the organization is most likely to suffer its consequences in the mere future. In my opinion, Good leadership must come from a person traits and not what he/she is thought to be capable of handling. Therefore, a good leader must be the one who cannot be doubted in any way, his/her activity must be pure, the same way respect cannot be bought but earned justifiable. Academic research suggest that leaders do not usually evidence the current skill set for them- and this is clearly evident in most of the universities in Saudi Arabia including King Saud University. There should be a tendency at which leaders must undertake within the organization/firms silos (Taher, 2002). Leadership should mostly reflect on the collective leadership style, where their responsibilities are vested throughout the entire organization. The style must be undoubtedly encouraged but should not be exclusively adopted. This type of leadership is most likely to work best where the aim and purpose of leadership is clearly stated with an aim of improving their services. There is s huge tendency for most leaders to center so much on, ‘known’ problems as well as the ‘known’ solutions in an effort of managing crisis that has just occurred in an organization. One of the hindrances is that these problems are usually complex and intractable. This means that an organization such as King Saud University will require a good leadership approach that is creative and adaptive to circumstance which deals comprehensively with intractable nature of the problem. This is an approach that will encourage most leaders to ask question whenever there is a problem rather than implementing “off-the-shelf” solution. Thornton’s 3 issues of leadership model KSU current situation can be improved through the application of Thornton’s 3 issues of leadership model. Several theories have been established to deal with leadership aspects such as alignment, empowerment as well as motivation. On the other hand, it is still not clear how these pieces interlock together into a coherent model, that is, if they do at all. In isolation, leadership has a character of being an art which is ultimately practiced by few individuals within the organization and the country at large who possess different talent(s). Thornton proposed an assimilating framework that takes different leadership ideas thus transforming them into a model that can be easily understood, implemented and studied. KSU has been in the lead of using this type of model in order to achieve its major objective come the end of the year of semester. The model is actually based on the basis that leaders subsist because other individual needs guidance, such that, lack of this leaders most people (employees) will not be able to accomplish the targeted goals. Thornton named this framework as the 3-C leadership model, these are; challenge, confidence and coaching. Present Challenge Of the above named 3 aspect of leadership, KSU administers highly on the challenge in order to urge the employees to set high goals. However, most of the human nature is such that a lot of people are not in the idea to leave their known comfort zone and for that reason inclined to put forward an incremental improvement in their goals. In today competitive world, such small improvements are usually sufficient. Improvements from 30%-70% is sometimes required. KSU has devised several ways which leaders may challenge its employees working in the organization. These leaders shared their vision which inspired them to work more hard; they also set high goals which ultimately forced most people to leave their own comfort zone in order to achieve their objectives. KSU leaders usually ask challenging questions to some of its employees, allowing most people if not all to reconsider their postulation about what is most likely to happen. The organization use of market research and academic helps to reveal the best practices and use these factors as a challenge. KSU also provide a wide variety of different assignment to its students. Many organizations make it as a policy to expose some of the employees to different range of aspect of the organization. Each and every new position is considered as a new challenge that helps to develop employees at KSU. Once King Saud University success is achieved, it raises the bar so that it can fight different temptations and challenges that come away (Miller, Vandome & McBrewster Saudi Arabia, 1992). KSU remains reliable to most of the Arabs as well as the Muslims cultures which have made the country (Saudi Arabia) such a unique country across the world. King Saud University holds the most respectable and reason inspired in order to pursue excellence and knowledge. It is largely committed in providing quality academic and research, and struggles to maintain and enhance an open, caring and ethical that promotes honesty, respect, trust, diversity, integrity, fairness and civility. Consequently, King Saud University has power over an educational culture which emphasizes intellectual vitality, extension and academic freedom of its services that will benefit both the local and international world. Build Confidence The second Thornton model to leadership is to build confidence. This confidence is built through education research and facilities provided by the school. Different challenges bring most leaders out of the comfort zone, which leads in a drop in their self-assurance level. Without these challenges, the challenging goals that arise may cause drop in confidence thus becoming very difficult to accomplish some of the organizations goals. For that reason, a major responsibility of the KSU leaders is to build confidence to all of its employees such that they will trust in their ability to attain the University objectives in terms of academics. A lot of experts argue that positive thinking as well as self-affirmation is a mean used to build confidence to many leaders. Paul Thornton states that simply thinking about something does not ultimately make it a reality, and that an individual achieves an actual self-confidence not by reiterating affirmations but by working and achieving the organization goal. In the process trying to achieve the organizational targeted goals (KSU), the management has expanded their abilities, created genuine and lasting confidence. KSU leaders instill real confidence to its employees through the following ways: - (1) recognizing and rewarding (+ve) positive accomplish rather than centering on insufficiency, (2) giving professional development in turn to build confidence through competence, (3) the university has also empowered some of its employees by providing them with responsibilities and authority which helps them to express total confidence, (4) verbally instilling confidence in them, (5) last but not least, is to remind workers of the past success of the organization ,which have faded from their own consciousness as a result of new challenges. Provide Coaching Coaching refers to the process used in advising people to enhance their own success. It may take different forms, from offering training to a wide perspective. Coaching helps KSU leaders to understand better on how their hard work fit into wider strategy, thus allowing them to make good decisions. KSU leaders coach its employees by (1) providing feedback after employees have carried out some important task for instance meeting with client, (2) showing some of their best practices of others to be used as an example of how work should be carried out within the organization so that it can accomplish its mission and vision before the year end, (3) it formulated different question and directs them carefully to its employees in order to improve their understanding thus allowing them to think through a matter before undertaking it, (4) and last is to set an example, particularly on e of incessant self-confidence. However, over coaching must be avoided because it has the ability to create dependent employees, cause them to feel more micro-managed and might reduce their inventiveness (KhuzaimAI-Asmari, 2007). Relationship Among the 3-Cs There is no particular "accurate" order and for the reason, the balance between the three vertices is imperative. The 3-Cs does not call for any specific order. For instance, a leader may prefer first to present a challenge, after that, to fabricate the confidence desired to meet those challenge, afterward coaching. On the other hand, a leader may build confidence, and then present the imposing challenge. A correct balance between the 3-Cs is significant. Reflect on the stability between confidence and challenge. A major challenge with enough confidence is most likely to result in failure. In opposition, high confidence with very little challenge can lead in under-utilization of individual aptitude and boredom. In the case of inadequate confidence, coaching may be used in order to improve employee's skills and as a result build confidence. In the case of inadequate challenge, the employee may be required to offer an assignment that enhances and utilizes his/her capabilities. Conclusion The Leadership Challenge draw round the skills required to build up a person's leadership latent and presents realistic and easy-to-follow course of action for putting into practice. First it is important for a leader to have faith amongst themselves, thus will help them reduce unfaithfulness and enhance cooperation and coordination. Through this, it becomes more and more easy for employees to work together in order to achieve the organization targeted objective. KSU should enhance the spirit of trust among employees; this will not only reduce leaders work but enhance objectivity and confidence. Political instability of the country has the ability to affect most of the organizations performance, including that of KSU. As much as there is a strong correlation between stability of the country and the development of business activities, KSU should shun away from leader who are only interested in the own selfish deeds and not of the university. KSU should establish a strong internal control system to manage any challenge that comes their way. Trough this, the organization will be able to control those students who move away from the country in search of education somewhere else or in another country. KSU should not allow leadership which is based on inheritance. When leadership revolves around one family, there is likelihood, that this kind of leadership will not be good. A leadership based on these values is most likely to be ineffective, thus leading to misappropriation of funds and mismanagement system in the school. This type of leadership enhances dictatorship. A qualified leader entrusted to control the school affairs must be that one who is independent from any influence from relatives and friends. Therefore a good leader is that who has good qualities of being a leader. Being a leader is just as being called upon by Allah to carry out His duties. KSU should instill discipline among its employees as well as in students. Discipline will help the organization to facilitate its work in the most effective and efficient manner thus attaining the organization objective. Discipline goes hand in hand with the organization development. References Institute, Arab Urban Development. Riyadh, the city of the future. New York: al-Maʻhad al- ʻArabī li-Inmāʾ al-Mudun, 2007. KhuzaimAI-Asmari, Awad. Low Complexity Image Compression Algorithm. Saudi : Riyadh, 2007. Miller, Frederic P, Agnes F Vandome, and John McBrewster. King Saud University. 2011: VDM Publishing House Ltd, Saudi Arabia. Sallūm, Ḥamad ibn Ibrāhīm, and Tarek A. Fadaak. Science and technology in Saudi Arabia. the University of Michigan, New York: Amana Publications, 1995. Saʻūd, Jāmiʻat al-Malik, and ʻImādat Shuʼūn al-Maktabāt. Journal of King Saud University, Volume 4, Issue 1. New York: University Libraries, King Saud University, 1992. Taher, Khalid a. h. value engineering as an effective tool for improving the performance of students at the college of engineering - king saud university. Riyadh: KFUPM, Dhahran, 2002. Read More