Improvement project in higher education institutions: A BPEP-based model

Area of Science:

• Quality Management
• Higher Education Administration
• Organizational Excellence

Background:

• Improvement projects (IPs) are crucial for quality management in organizations.
• Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) continuously implement IPs for academic and administrative excellence.
• Existing models for IP implementation in HEIs require further research and validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a model for Improvement Project (IP) implementation in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
• To base the proposed model on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP) framework.
• To test research hypotheses related to IP implementation within the HEI context.

Main Methods:

• Development of a research model based on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP).
• Data collection via a questionnaire administered to over 700 Mexican public HEIs.
• Statistical analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with IBM SPSS Amos.

Main Results:

• The proposed model demonstrated statistical validity for IP implementation in HEIs.
• Convergent and discriminant validity of the collected data were satisfactory.
• All proposed research hypotheses were statistically confirmed.

Conclusions:

• The developed model offers a validated framework for HEIs to enhance processes through IPs.
• The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP) provides a robust foundation for IP implementation in higher education.
• This research contributes a practical tool for HEIs aiming for operational excellence via systematic improvement projects.