Digitizing Administrative Processes to Ensure Quality Digital Transformation at Umm Al-Qura University - A Proposed Strategy

Abstract

     The research aimed to develop a proposed strategy for digitizing administrative processes to ensure the quality of digital transformation at Umm Al-Qura University. This strategy was achieved by revealing the degree of practicing digitization dimensions from the perspective of university leaders, and the presence of any statistically significant differences between the arithmetic means of practicing digitization attributed to each of the leadership position, college, and leadership experience. A descriptive approach was used, and research community consisted of (164) academic leaders at Umm Al-Qura University across its branches, including (27) college deans and (137) heads of academic departments. Sample members were selected using a (Non-random Purposive/Judgmental Sampling), with (122) leaders responding, constituting (74.39%) of the population.

       The study concluded that digitization of administrative processes, in all its dimensions, achieved a medium level of practice, according to the following order: digital security and compliance, followed by digital structure, digital strategy, digital culture, digital procedural design, and digital user experience. There were also statistically significant differences in digitizing administrative processes, attributed to leadership positions in favor of college deans, and for each dimension (digital strategy, digital structure, and digital user experience) was attributed to college, in favor of colleges of natural sciences, while there was a significant difference for (digital procedural design, digital culture, and digital security and compliance) in favor of colleges of humanities, and differences attributed to leadership experience in (digital structure, and digital security and compliance), For those with advanced experience (five years or more). In view of findings and proposed strategy, study recommends establishing a unit specialized in digital transformation within the university and joining digital university networks to exchange expertise and international best practices.