Designing a Lean Leadership Model in the Country's Higher Education System with a Grounded Theory Approach
Akhlāq-i zīstī i.e., Bioethics Journal,
Vol. 15 No. 40 (1404),
14 July 2025
,
Page 1-10
https://doi.org/10.22037/bioeth.v15i40.46372
Abstract
Background and Aim: Today, universities require staff who are familiar with the lean management approach and can develop solutions to transform challenges into opportunities through continuous process improvement and excellence enhancement. The present study aims to identify factors affecting lean and innovative leadership in the higher education system using a grounded theory approach.
Methods: This study is applied in terms of its objective and was conducted using the Grounded Theory approach. The sampling method combined cluster sampling with purposive sampling. The primary data source consisted of semi-structured, in-depth interviews with university faculty in the field of educational management and higher education in the city of Ardabil. Sampling continued until theoretical saturation was reached, and a total of 14 interviews were conducted.
Ethical Considerations: The confidentiality of the interviewees’ information and identities was fully maintained, and the collected data were used solely for scientific and research purposes. Moreover, the authenticity of the sources and fidelity in reporting the results were strictly observed.
Findings: After data collection, the interview transcripts were analyzed using a systematic coding approach. In this process, the three-stage coding procedure -open, axial, and selective coding- was carried out. The results showed that the factors influencing the realization of lean leadership in the country’s higher education system, represented by 123 extracted codes, can be classified into five main categories: individual factors, organizational factors, strategy and vision, equipment and infrastructure, and outcomes.
Conclusion: The implementation of the key components of lean leadership in the higher education system is an undeniable necessity for enhancing efficiency, innovation, and educational quality. Accordingly, policymakers and university administrators should adopt a lean leadership approach to transform the existing management system from traditional and bureaucratic models toward dynamic, efficient, and innovative frameworks. This transformation will foster sustainable development, organizational learning, and continuous improvement within universities and higher education institutions.
- Lean Leadership
- Higher Education
- Leadership Styles
- University
How to Cite
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