Occupational Aptitude for General Managers in the Ministry of Education in the Sultanate of Oman - Research Proposal Example

The role of strategic thinking in enhancing occupational aptitude Author’s name Institutional affiliation Proposal: The Role of Strategic Thinking in Enhancing Occupational Aptitude for general Managers in the Ministry of Education in the Sultanate of Oman Introduction It is universally acknowledged that strategic thinkers are one of the most highly effective managers (Al-Atabi, 2014). However, while there have been a number of sources written about strategic planning, their main area of concern is based on isolated process that usually occurs once or twice annually. By so saying, it means that, each and every organization should devise a way of incorporating system thinking in their strategic plan because true leadership revolves around systematic thinking and acting strategically every day (Forbes, 2012). Additionally, a true leader needs a team of workers that is well gifted with the appropriate skills and can as well fit into the organizations culture without difficulties (Kahneman, 2012). Therefore, in order for the General Managers in the Ministry of Education in the Sultanate of Oman to make better decisions when it comes to hiring, they should use Aptitude testing so as to avoid turnover costs as well as making it possible to attain individuals with the appropriate skills (Hester & Adams, 2014). The significance of this research proposal is that, it makes it easier to evaluate and analyze the vital role that strategic thinking plays in enhancing the issue of occupational aptitude within an organization. In this proposal, there will be quantitative analysis of ten general managers within the ministry of education across different levels (LinkedIn, 2015). Additionally, the mangers will be selected randomly from the ministry of education workers portfolio (ITA, 2012). By so doing, this research proposal will aim at evaluating the role systematic thinking plays in leadership and effectiveness when it comes to occupational aptitude and the benefits that accrue as a result of aptitude testing. Furthermore, practices like innovation, communication, persuasion, result oriented, organizations aptitude, individual skills and the future potential of the general managers were taken into consideration. By so saying, it means that, each general manager will be assessed depending on the leadership skills and effectiveness scale (LinkedIn, 2015). This extensive research will take a maximum of 1 year. Moreover, Leadership Effectiveness Assessment will be used to assess the leadership skills and practices as well as the individual effectiveness that will be rated on a scale of ten. Recent literature review Many studies stipulate that, a strategic plan alone cannot sustain organizations success (Schoemaker, 2012, Meadows, 2014, Gharajedaghi, 2011; Athanasou & Esbroeck, 2008; Krogerus & Tschappeller, 2011). Additionally, most organizations require adaptable strategic plans that may act as a form of living breathing document files rather than normal paperweights (Wooton et al., 2010). In other words, strategic aptitude assessment enables leaders to think systematically in identifying and improving their organization’s strategic plan that will make it possible to gain competitive advantage always (Schoemaker, 2012). According to Randall, (2015), a systematic thinker is able to anticipate, challenge, interpret, learn and decide. By so doing, they are able to reflect on their achievements and failures and engage the stakeholders of the organization so as to examine and manage differences (Kapeerer, 2012; Whiteford & Hocking, 2012). Several studies have examined the effect of occupational aptitude testing in the success of the organization (Elizabeth, 2015); UNESCO, 2015; Barrett, (2006). They found out that, many organizations use ability testing to make essential decisions when it comes to hiring so as to reduce high turnover rates. Additionally, it helps to establish the natural talents within the general managers as well as the limitations and strengths of the managers (Dixit & Nalebuff, 2013). Furthermore, the process involved in assessing individuals is more demanding and complex. As a result, many organizations have turned to Aptitude testing so as to simplify and improve their development and recruitment process. To explain more, according to (Barrett, 2009 and Stephen, 2007), when organizations test individual’s aptitude, they look beyond their achievements and failures in the past as well as their future potential. To explain further, Aptitude testing gives objective and efficient comparisons as far as workers are concerned (Horwath, 2014). Moreover, aptitude tests help the organization to screen-in key factors in vital areas. All in all, aptitude tests are cost effective and easy to deliver results (DSI, 2015). However, when all this studies are combined together, they argue that, systematic thinking may be influenced by cultural bias. They explain further that, that previous experiences of an individual may affect their performance on their jobs (Gabrielle & Gollwitzer, 2015). By so saying, it means that, there is no perfect link between performance and aptitude. Owing to these facts, (UNESCO, 2015; Robert ,2014; career view,2014; Gre.Ac.Uk,2012 ) suggests that the only way to reduce the challenges associated with both the ability and aptitude test will be employing them as one part of the whole promotion and hiring process. Research question, objective and aim The main respondents in this proposal will be the general managers who will be used to establish their effectiveness and their leadership skills. The evaluation of the general managers will be based on the following research questions; Research Questions 1. Which strategic thinking can be used to enhance occupational aptitude within an organization? (Robert, 2014). 2. How can aptitude testing be employed in an organization? 3. What are the benefits or disadvantages that are associated with strategic thinking in enhancing occupational aptitude? Hypothesis In order to limit the variables that cannot be eliminated or controlled, there are a number of assumptions that are formulated. The first assumption is that, the general managers will be able to provide the most accurate answers and that they will not be influenced by their previous experiences. Additionally, the second assumption that will be made is that there is a close relationship between strategic thinking and occupational aptitude. Finally, it is hypothesized that strategic thinking plays a critical role in occupational aptitude by general managers and are vital in enhancing the performance of the Ministry of Education in Sultanate Oman. Research Objectives 1. To determine the strategic thinking that can be employed to enhance occupational aptitude in an organization. 2. To investigate how aptitude testing can be used in an organization. 3. To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages that can be associated with strategic thinking in enhancing occupational aptitude. Research general objective The aim of this research is to systematically establish a routine of systematic thinking in enhancing occupational aptitude for the general managers using their leadership skills and their level of effectiveness. Moreover, a number of research studies points out the importance of strategic planning in an organization but this is mostly in isolated phases that occur either once or twice annually (Gre.Ac.UK, 2012). By so saying, it means that, this proposal will explore the role strategic thinking plays in enhancing occupational aptitude extensively. Research general aim The primary aim of this proposal is to incorporate strategic thinking in occupational aptitude for general managers as well as making the organization to realize the importance of strategic thinking in occupational aptitude. Additionally, it also aims to make the ministry of education focus on strategic thinking when it comes to occupational aptitude since it makes it possible to establish the leadership skills of individuals, their future potential and the effectiveness of their workers. Research methodology Study design In this extensive research, the dependent variable is occupational aptitude whereas the dependent variable is strategic thinking. By so saying, it means that, this study design is in the form of a questionnaire analysis. Additionally, the influence of strategic thinking on occupational aptitude is examined on each manager across the departments of the Ministry of Education. Furthermore, the questionnaire will be designed in such a way that it takes into consideration the leadership practices and the factors that are associated with individual effectiveness. The general managers will be interviewed within a span of 6 minutes and given questionnaires for further assessment. Study population and sampling The study will be conducted on a large scale involving ten (10) general managers working in the ministry of education in Sultanate Oman. Additionally, the participants will be randomly selected using the workers Portfolio in the Sultanate Oman’s Ministry of Education. Data collection methods and instruments Each general manager will be assessed and evaluated based on the LEA (Leadership Effectiveness Analysis), a three-sixty-degree assessment tool that measure twenty-two leadership practices as well as over twenty measures of the level of effectiveness. Additionally, the leadership values included things like innovation, communication, persuasion and result oriented. On the other hand, effectiveness comprised of factors such as credibility, future potential, individual skills and organization aptitude. The techniques that will be employed in the collection of the information include; direct observation, interviewing and use of questionnaires. Direct observation will also be used to assess the communication skills, organizational aptitude. To explain further, Interviews and questionnaires will be used to establish the leadership and the effectiveness level of the general managers. Data analysis methods The information that will be assessed using the Leadership Effectiveness Analysis (LEA) will also inferentially tested using the Turkey’s HSD and the ANOVA to establish the attributes that are significantly related to occupational aptitude. Additionally, the leadership practices as well as the effectiveness will be evaluated on the rating of ten so as to assess the viability of the information that will be obtained. On the rating scale, the values will be evaluated using bipolar words ‘weak’ and ‘strong’. In this case, those values below five will be termed as Weak attributes whereas those above five will be the strong attributes of the general managers. Besides the rating scale, SPSS 13.0 software will be employed to analyze the effectiveness of the data that will be collected through the questionnaires. In this case, the correlation of the answers obtained will be analyzed using the strength tools incorporated in the software across the leadership and effectiveness attributes. Therefore, owing to the fact that, data will be primarily assessed using the LEA tool, statistics will not necessarily be needed. In fact, the other analysis tools will only be used to act as control tools of the experiment Measures to assure the quality of the study In order to reduce the error value in this extensive research proposal, a follow-up research will be conducted. The follow up research will investigate the more desired leadership values produced by five general senior executives that are responsible for establishing leadership development goals and objectives for their respective organizations. Another way that will see to it that this research is of higher quality is the employment of the SPSS 13.0 software that correlates the leadership practices and effectiveness attributes using the strengths tools. Additionally, the rating scale of ten will also help in establishing the viability of the answers provided. Furthermore, the employment of inferential statistics tools such as the ANOVA will help in establishing the difference in values. Study period The research proposal will take a maximum of 1 year. The first 5 months will be used in sampling of the population then conducting of interviews and data collection in general. After collecting data the analysis of the data and interpretation will take place using pie charts, descriptive tables and graphs relying on SPSS software which will take 3 months of the study period. Finally,the remaining four months will be used in covering recommendations and conclusions, followed by editing of the work(which also includes proofreading of the work). Research Procedure Ten (10) general managers will be randomly divided into two groups each comprising of Five general managers. Additionally, each general manager will be told the importance of the study. They will then be interviewed and assessed within a span of six months . Given the fact that, each group of the general managers will be tested on different days, they will be notified on the importance of not disclosing the content of the interview as well as the assessment to their fellow general managers. Furthermore, the general managers will also be notified that they will be presented with the purpose and the results of the study when the entire process will be over. All the general managers and executives will be evaluated in the same boardroom using Study Carrels that are able to block their opinions and views from each other. Owing to these facts, the managers will also be informed that there is no wrong or right answer. Moreover, after the completion of the assessment, each manager will be appreciated for making the research study a success. Conclusion The results of the extensive research as well as the follow-up study reinforce the significance role that strategic thinking plays in enhancing occupational aptitude in a leadership position. By so saying, it means that, in order for the Ministry of education in Sultanate Oman to realize its strategic plans, it should be able to incorporate strategic thinking when it comes to hiring of its workers and evaluation of their skill. Additionally, strategic thinking is not an easy process to acquire because it involves a collection of techniques (Colley, 2007). Therefore, based on the research, the Ministry of Education in Oman should be able to set a side ample time that will enable the managers to focus on the strategic planning alone ( Mohammed ,2015). Moreover, they should communicate a proper stipulated mission and philosophy that will make the hiring of workers by the general managers easier. References AL-ATABI, M. (2014). Think like an engineer: use systematic thinking to solve everyday challenges & unlock the inherent values in them: Dream big. Be different. Have fun. ATHANASOU, J. A., & ESBROECK, R. V. (2008). International handbook of career guidance. [Dordrecht], Springer. BARRETT, J. (2006). Career, aptitude and selection tests match your IQ, personality & abilities to your ideal career. London, Kogan Page. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10167421. BARRETT, J. (2009). Career, aptitude and selection tests match your IQ, personality and abilities to your ideal career. 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Strategies for vocational guidance in the twenty-first century. Retrieved from: http://www.unesco.org/education/educprog/tve/nseoul/docse/rstratve.html WHITEFORD, G., & HOCKING, C. (2012). Occupational science: society, inclusion, participation. Chichester, West Sussex, Wiley-Blackwell. WOOTTON, S., HORNE, T., & WOOTTON, S. (2010). Strategic thinking: a nine step approach to strategy and leadership for managers and marketers. London, Kogan Page Limited. Read More