BEYOND SYMBOLIC COMPLIANCE: QUALITY AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Authors : Elif Genç Tetik

Pages : 724-744

Doi:10.58884/akademik-hassasiyetler.1787230

View : 64 | Download : 192

Publication Date : 2025-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The concepts of quality and organizational strategy have been widely addressed in the public sector literature, yet empirical evidence in higher education remains scarce. This study explores the alignment between strategic plans articulating goals and quality assurance systems regulating the processes in the organizations. Undertaking a qualitative research design, it draws on 24 documents, including internal self-evaluation reports, external accreditation reports, and strategic plans, produced by eight Turkish public universities that have received either full or conditional institutional accreditation. The findings present that references to quality and strategy appear concurrently across all institutional documents, although they are considerably more salient in internal self-evaluation reports than in other reports and strategic plans. Universities with full accreditation demonstrate a higher degree of consistency among quality, planning and strategy mechanisms, frequently reinforced by the application of the accreditation process. Four higher education institutions holding conditional accreditation, however, show partial or developing consistency but do not display a fully functioning mechanism that links the relevant components. Moreover, fully accredited universities tend to rank more highly in international rankings, highlighting a potential link between the degree of quality assurance and overall institutional reputation. The research finds that, ultimately, the existence of the process management adopted by universities encompassing quality and strategy can be a critical factor in achieving full accreditation and better international reputation.
Keywords : Kalite, Strateji, Akreditasyon, Kamu Sektörü.

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