Organizational Environment Management in Higher Education Institutions with Complex Adaptive System Approach: Practical Implications in the Management of Medical Education Institutions

Today, due to the complexities created in the external environment of  universities and medical education institutions, the need to change the structure, processes and organizational systems to adjust with external environment is inevitable. Therefore, the purpose of present study was to evaluate the issue of organizational environment management in higher education institutions with the approach of a self- organization complex system in medical education institutions.

This is a qualitative research based on case study. In this regard, using a targeted sampling approach based on the criteria (based on the discipline, expertise, and related performance history) and theoretical saturation techniques, deep interviews were conducted with twelve managers and faculty members in relation to the phenomenon under investigation. Then, the data was analyzed using the Nvivo software through the method of thematic analysis and was categorized in the form of basic, organizing, and inclusive themes and was organized content network.

Based on the results, environmental management with self-organization complex system approach including infrastructure dimensions, develop organizational capacities, network change management, resources management, environment dynamics, interactive environment management, self-organization performance management and strategic management, each of which in turn has several components.

Results showed that by considering current situation of external environment of universities, necessity of using strategic approaches, key capacities of university, understanding interactive methods with external environment and improving performance in order to increasing effective response to environment is inevitable. Also, attention and continuous evaluation of environmental changes reticulated and using internal resources to meet these needs with systematic views and strategic based on sufficient response to social needs is necessary. Awareness of policy makers and managers of higher education institutions about the importance of the dimensions mentioned in this framework can continuously improve the performance of medical universities in responding to the needs of society and the external environment.