Presenting a Conceptual Model of Reengineering Educational Processes of Universities and Higher Education Institutions Based on Lean Organizational Approach(Case : National Defense University)

The Lean Approach is a system of Respect for people and continuous improvement of processes that, through a scientific approach to all stakeholders, eliminates waste of work, fluctuations and irrational affairs. The main purpose of this study is to present a conceptual model for reengineering the educational processes of universities and higher education institutions based on the requirements of the Lean Organization. This research is conducted in the framework of a qualitative approach. For this purpose, 18 experts and academics and executives who were informed about the reengineering of university educational processes and lean approach were selected by purposeful sampling and interviewed in a semi-structured manner. Themes were used to analyze the data. To assure the validity of the research, the members' survey and multi-bias method of data sources were used and to calculate the reliability of the coding performed, test-retest reliability and inter-subject reliability were used. After implementing the content of the interviews and their preliminary analysis, the basic concepts were identified and categorized in order to reach the main categories of similar codes. As a result of this study, seven (7) main processes and forty-three (43) subunits of educational processes at the university were identified by prioritizing reengineering with a lean organizational approach. According to experts, the reengineering of identified learning processes and sub-processes based on a lean organizational approach improves the quality of university outputs by continually improving processes and satisfying university stakeholders.