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Finn, Andrew John (2014) Quality Assurance Implementation within a Further Education and Training Provider; Organisational Perspectives on Efficiency and Effectiveness: An Exploratory Case Study. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.
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Abstract
This study explores efficiency and effectiveness of the quality assurance initiatives in place within a further education and training provider in Ireland, with particular emphasis on the organisational structure from which they originate and the impact that this has upon them.
The literature review presents the concepts of quality and quality assurance, and charts the theoretical development of the field over the centuries. It encompasses the manner in which quality initiatives have been implemented in industry and considers the application of these initiatives to the education sector, from both theoretical and real world perspectives. The review also addresses the influence of organisational structure on implementing these initiatives and the relationship between them.
The research takes the form of an exploratory case study which has utilized qualitative methods to generate its empirical findings. Data was collected through the use of a series of open ended semi-structured interviews. Data was coded and analysed before being sorted and presented in thematically similar groupings.
The organisation structure in place was assessed and has been identified as a formal organisation, consistent with the features of the professional bureaucracy described by (Mintzberg, 1980). Inefficiency and ineffectiveness were discovered within the quality assurance practices of the provider, but were found to be inherent within the initiatives themselves.
This research has found that there is no evidence to suggest that the organisational structure of the further education and training provider has directly impacted upon the efficiency and effectiveness of the quality assurance system in a negative manner, but found indirect links between the two areas which are worthy of further consideration. Organisational culture was identified as a serious potential influence upon quality assurance initiatives success.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Undergraduate) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education |
| Divisions: | School of Business > BA (Honours) in Human Resource Management |
| Depositing User: | Claire Wallnutt |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Nov 2014 15:15 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Nov 2014 15:15 |
| URI: | https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/1747 |
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