STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING IN SAUDI ARABIA HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR IN Literature review

STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING IN SAUDI ARABIA HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR IN GLOBAL CONTEXT - Literature review subjectUniversity decision-making processes are influenced by political, economic, cultural as well as technological factors (Elyas, & Picard, 2013, p. 31-41). The factors affect literally all aspects of the operations of universities and are global in nature. They hence influence on the environment within which the universities operate, the expectations of the public in services to be offered in the future as well as the structure and sources of pecuniary resource necessary for their management and running. Decision making process involves making conscious choices among many alternatives and requires critical thinking as well as sound reason in order to choose on the most appropriate alternative among the many (Rugh, 2002, p. 45-50). Strategic decision making therefore entails a number of attributes, which accept definition, and identification of a problem, identification as well as analysis of alternatives, choosing and implementing an option as well as evaluation on the outcomes from the choice do for possible corrections. Besides, it is noted that decision-making and management of higher education in Saudi Arabia is not free from government influence (Onsman, 2011, p. 519).The higher education sector in Saudi have undergone through great structural and ideological change especially after the 9/11 global policy shift feature. To agnise this, Elyas and Picard carried a study in critique of the system of higher education sector in Saudi while in perspective with global scene (2013, p. 31-41). In among other findings, the effect of western economies (neoleberalism) was shown to have greatly influenced the system. Both learners as well as top management teams have embraced the policy look-alike shift in globalization as well as neoliberalism. However, in a critical view, authors have argued that adoption of localized neoliberalism would be more stron g in shaping the environment of