EVALUATIONG THE PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT FOR THE EXTENSION ORGANIZATION IN LIGHT OF THE TOTAL QUALITY STANDARDS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORKERS IN GOVERNORATES OF BAGHDAD AND DIYALA FROM IRAQ

1008 EVALUATIONG THE PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT FOR THE EXTENSION ORGANIZATION IN LIGHT OF THE TOTAL QUALITY STANDARDS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORKERS IN GOVERNORATES OF BAGHDAD AND DIYALA FROM IRAQ 1 Sajid R. H. 2 A. A. Naji Prof.  Researcher  1 Dept.Exten.Techn.Tran .Coll . Agric. University of Baghdad 2 Dept. Exten.Techn.Tran Coll . Agric. University of Baghdad sajadalsade1962@gmail.com   ABSTRACT:  This was aimed to identify the performance of the senior management of the extension organization in light of the comprehensive quality standards from the point of view of agricultural extension workers in the governorates of Baghdad and Diyala in Iraq through the following:Identify the field of planning, identify the field of decision-making, identify the field of humam relations.Data from agricultural extension workers in the governorates of Baghdad and Diyala, which included a graded pentagonal scale consisting of degrees of approval with grades ranging between 5-1 To measure the degree of application of comprehensive quality standards for higher management in the fields from the viewpoint of the agricultural extension workers in the above-mentioned governorates.The governorates of Baghdad and Diyala were selected as an area for conducting the research, as the research community included 38 agricultural divisions, at a rate of20%and by8divisions,and a random sample of510 agricultural extension workers was withdrawn, amounting to20%and by102 agricultural guides.The results showed that the weighted mean for the field of planning from the viewpoint of agricultural extension agents was 3.189,which is close to a certain extent from the hypothetical mean of 3 and a percentage weight 63.78%.With regard to the field of human relations,it came with a weighted mean3.136. Key word:planning,decision-making,human relationships,weighted,hypothetical.


INTRODUCTION
Agricultural extension guides the targeted to change their attitudes towards the best by providing them with more information and knowledge and convincing them to adopt the new technologies (16). In addition to the fact that the knowledge and skills it provides are based on the needs of men and women (9). This program is done by increasing the awareness of agricultural extension workers of the need to efficiently transfer that knowledge to the targeted and their families, and then increase their awareness of it. Thus, Agricultural extension is an education that leads to improvement through carefully and systematically planned programs (17).In many third world countries, agricultural development is one of the most important goals of their national governments, and this concern is reflected in governmental and private institutions (14), Also, it must be understood that in order for the development occurrence, there must be many components, some of which are related to policies and legislation, some of which are related to the level of technologies. Besides, some of them are related to the nature of the resources available in society, whether natural or human resources. However, the evidence confirms that the existence of agricultural systems capable of discovering and adapting modern technologies to serve the targeted is one of the basic foundations in agricultural development in any country (11). Accordingly, it can be observed that rural families in societies are the field of extension work in rural development and building the national economy. Since agricultural extension invests its efforts, means, and methods towards this development to raise the level of the rural individual agriculturally, mentally, and socially, expressing their needs, aspirations, and hopes, As well as, actual participation in developing agricultural production by improving their access methods on knowledge and modern agricultural technology in the various fields of production and marketing of commodities and agricultural plant and animal products (3).Poor management is one of the most prominent problems facing developing countries in general and Iraq in particular, and to overcome these problems, organizations should be developed. Likewise, the performance of the administration and its workers improved, as whenever the administration has promoted its apparent and hidden powers, these organizations succeed in performing their tasks and this is what has been proven by experience. The United States of America, France, Japan, Germany, Singapore, and South Korea have made long strides in the science of management because effective management tries to integrate its functions. Further, coordinates together with human, material, financial, informational, and technical resources to achieve the goals that the organization seeks (8). The extension service could be better if it was well managed and accountable to farmers to meet the needs of all farmers (18), and this is what made the intellectual conflict open to the concept of total quality. Therefore, agricultural institutions seek to raise the level of performance through the approach of total quality management because it is a philosophy that requires a profound change in the vision, foundations, concepts, and practices. Since it is a system of integrated management that aims to activate the elements of total quality represented by the strategic vision and its focus on the customer and the commitment of senior management to quality since it is everyone's responsibility to solve problems and continuous improvement (12). As well as, decision-making that is based on facts and reduces uncertainties and risks by relying on quantitative methods prepared for this purpose such as a decision tree and others (7). Meanwhile, the decisions related to the application of total quality management (TQM) are among the long-term strategic decisions that are taken at the level of senior management in organizations. The strategic decision determines how to reach TQM and determine the time required to achieve it. Therefore, the needs are increasing to support the senior management to achieve success, as they are the most capable of convincing other levels to implement it. So, it can say that it is necessary to train leaders on the concepts and principles of TQM to increase their capabilities and skills to effectively affect the organization and communicate with workers, and meet the needs of the targeted Besides, create an encouraging environment for planning and implementation for total quality programs with continuous improvement in their performance (2)Due to the importance of quality, the Islamic religion has adopted the foundations and philosophy of total quality management (15). These methods present good agreement with the definition The American Federal Quality Institute defines quality as correctly perform the correct work from the first time with reliance on the beneficiary's evaluation to know the extent of improving performance (1). Quality is the correct performance of the work from the first time with the evaluation of those targeted for it to see the extent of performance improvement. Many organizations have accelerated their use in the field of their administrative work, and thus the importance of extension management is reflected in the practice of some functions, activities, and services, whether in planning, organizing, implementing, monitoring. Along with, decision-making and solving problems, evaluation, communication, and coordination as well as cooperative work to achieve the goals sought by the extension agency (10). The great interest in this field led to the development of the concept of quality, its methods, and tools in a way that could not provide a full definition of this concept. Until its definitions multiplied and companies and organizations have increasingly adopted competitive strategies based on the concept of quality because it means continuous improvement. As well as, improving the product and owning time and innovation that comes with everything new and keeps pace with everything developed (12). Management in the general sense has been practiced in various forms by ancient civilizations, which is a science that has rules, origins, theories, and modern concepts stemming from its primary mission to make the organization with its various components high-performance for its use of available resources the best use. Also, it is naturally an intellectual process that is reflected in the practical reality of the organizations in the form of practices for all its functions in order to effectively achieve the goals of the organization (6). The human practices of the leadership or administrative roles, with the many responsibilities and burdens on it, affect one way or another productivity. Consequently, the human element, in all its levels and components in agricultural extension management, is the basic and decisive factor for increasing the effectiveness of the extension system, developing rural communities, and improving their standard of living (5). pointed out that there is a weakness in the performance of the extension manager and the absence of its activities at all levels. For that reason, new approaches have been used in measurement and evaluation, including total quality standards as an entry point in evaluating, improving, and developing performance. Since developed countries adopt these standards, and it has become evident for every organization to strive for quality and upgrading. Besides, the focus has become on using the approach of total quality management in service organizations Accordingly(4), the importance of using TQM in evaluating performance to continuously improve products and processes in line with continuous developments, and the fact that the extension process is an informal educational process. Thus, its fields are similar to the educational practical fields whose fields are within the total quality standards. Given that, the extension management must be based on international standards and that suits its work in order to improve the quality of its performance. Hence, the research problem is a result of the lack of studies in this field, where the researcher mentioned the study of total quality standards in the performance of the senior management of the extension organization, and accordingly, to find out the reality of the performance of higher management within the total quality standards, this research aimed to answer the following question. The research aims to identify the performance of senior management of the extension organization in light of the total quality standards from the standpoint of agricultural extension workers in the following fields: planning, decision-making, human relations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The researcher used the descriptive approach by selecting a random sample of agricultural extension workers in the governorates of Baghdad and Diyala, whose number is 510 agricultural extension workers with a percentage of 20%, by 102 agricultural extension workers. The questionnaire was used in addition to the use of a five-point graded scale consisting of approval degrees (very large, large, medium, few, very few) and weights 1 -5 were given respectively for all the scale paragraphs. Thus, the total scale degrees ranged between 1-76, and the research data was collected through observation, personal interview of the respondents, phone contact, and a questionnaire form, which is the best way for this purpose. The data collection process began on 3/9/2020 and the results of the collection were completed on 13/11/2020, and the statistical processes to extract the reliability percentage ended on 20/11/2020. Furthermore, data were collected from 102 respondents, noting that three questionnaires were excluded due to the inaccuracy of the information, and the final questionnaire was presented as shown in Tables 1. The senior management prepares an integrated annual extension plan with relevant authorities 2 The formulation of goals and policies by senior management corresponds to the requirements of the targeted 3 The annual plans for senior management cover all regions 4 The senior management relies on accurate and objective data and achieves clear results for the targets and their agricultural activities 5 The senior management is interested in the extension staff and increasing it in terms of quantity and quality 6 The plans formulated by the senior management achieve the adaptation of the objectives and extension programs to meet the needs of the environment 7 There is a future view from the senior management of the working environment of extension organization to enable it to work in strategic planning Plan financing 1 Financing is sufficient for the senior management's plans, in terms of quantity The senior management has sound decisions in overcoming the crisis or containing a specific situation 3 When decision-making, senior management resort to a participatory management method that uses the experience of employees 4 The senior management takes its decisions based on studying the environment and relying on a constantly updated database 5 Senior management possesses information and decision skills that enable them to decision-making 6 When decision-making, senior management focuses more on the nature of the administrative problem than on the issue of solution 7 The alternatives to solutions proposed by senior management shall be in a format commensurate with the capabilities available and the extension organization objectives 8 Decision-making in senior management leads to the formulation of achievable objectives 9 The evaluation results are used by senior management in decision-making related to the extension service 10 Senior management decision-making with the optimal use of material and human resources The senior management encourages employees to play their service role in providing extension service 5 The questionnaire was collected from extension workers, and the collection process lasted from 20/9/2020 until 30/1/2021.

RESULTS AND DISWSION Planning field:
The degrees of the weighted mean of (11) paragraphs in the planning field were between (2,515 -3,838) degrees and percentage weight between (50.3 -76.76)%. Similarly, most of the paragraphs recorded a weighted mean greater than the hypothetical mean, except for two paragraphs that recorded the weighted mean lower than the hypothetical mean of (3), as shows in Table 2. Results in Table 2shows a convergence between the weighted mean of the paragraphs. However, the paragraph (preparation of an annual extension plan) ranked the first with a weighted mean of (3.838) degrees and a percentage weight of (76.76)%. This may be attributed in general to the that the extension plans in the senior management of the extension organization are one of its basic duties and the fact that planning in it is central and is contrary to the total quality standards in the development of annual plans. Likewise, is consistent with the total quality standards in the fact that the plans are integrated with all relevant authorities, as well as the extent to which their objectives are achieved through programs and activities, so it obtained a good rate. In the role of the paragraph (funding is sufficient for the senior management's plans in terms of quantity and quality), it ranked the last, with a weighted mean of (2.515) degrees and a percentage weight (50.3%). This may be attributed to the weak financial potential and the lack of financial allocation in the agricultural field by the central government and this result agrees with the results of the interviews with the Planning Director in the Agricultural Extension and Training Department and the Diyala and Baghdad governorates. Moreover, this in turn directly affects the ninth paragraph, which states (Senior management shall develop appropriate financial plans to cover their objectives) as its weighted average was (2.959) degrees and a percentage weight was (59.18).

Decision-making field
The degrees of the weighted mean for the (10) paragraphs in the planning field was between (2.646 -3,545) degrees, and the percentage weight between (52.92 -70.9%), and that the majority of these paragraphs recorded a weighted mean greater than the hypothetical mean of (3) degree, as shown in Table 3. However, the paragraph (senior management has sound decisions in overcoming the crisis or containing a specific situation) ranked the first, with a weighted average of (3.545) degrees and percentage weight of (70.9)%. This may be attributed in general to the senior management's seeks to work with total quality standards with a medium degree to make sound decisions. As well as, the presence of an administration trying to understand its external environment, and this result is consistent with the results of the interviews with the Director of Planning in the Department of Agricultural Extension and Training. Furthermore, the paragraph (When decision-making, senior management resort to a participatory management method that uses the experience of employees), ranked the last with a weighted average of (2.646), a percentage weight of (52.92%). This may be attributed to the fact that the extension management adheres to the centrality in planning its extension programs without relying on the participatory principle.
In addition, this makes it lose accuracy and objectivity in formulating objectives, which is the paragraph that ranked the seventh (decision-making by senior management leads to the formulation of achievable goals) as it got a weighted mean of (2.747) and a percentage weight of (54.94)%. This may be attributed to the senior management's lack of reliance on the feedback, which is ranked the eighth paragraph (the senior management employs the evaluation results in making decisions related to the extension service) and that obtained a weighted mean of (2.747) degree and a percentage weight (54.94)%.

The field of human relations
The degrees of the weighted mean for the (6) paragraphs in the field of human relations were between (2,171 -3,989) degrees, and percentage weight between (43.42 -79.78)%, and that the majority of these paragraphs recorded a weighted mean greater than the hypothetical mean of ( 3) as shown in Table 4.  Table (6) The opinions of agricultural extension workers to identify the performance of the senior management in the extension organization in light of the total quality standards in the field of human relations Results in Table shows a convergence between the weighted mean of the paragraphs. However, the paragraph (the senior management is working to find coordination and cooperation between the departments and the divisions within the department) ranked the first, with a weighted average of (3.989) degrees and a percentage weight (79.78)%. This may be attributed to the fact that the senior management is keen to promote the culture of total quality among its departments in the field of human relations through coordination between departments. Coupled with, activating social relations between workers, which is the paragraph (senior management encourages to activate social relations between its employees) that ranked the third with a weighted mean of (3,636) and a percentage weight of (72.72). These results are consistent with the results of the interviews for the Planning Manager in the Agricultural Extension and Training Department. Then, the paragraph (senior management works to achieve humane dealing and equality among all employees in a way that encourages creativity and innovation), ranked the last with a weighted mean of (2,171) degrees and a percentage weight (43.42)%. This may be attributed to the lack of an appropriate work environment for not involving the lower administrations, represented by extension workers, including technicians and division managers, to work with senior department Recommendations 1. The necessity to work on the principle of decentralization in the extension work by senior management and the extension organization 2. Applying and implementing total quality standards 3. The involvement of employees at all levels by the senior management 4. Establishing an appropriate mechanism for coordination between departments 5. Increasing the number of courses in the field of decentralization to develop management skills and experiences in this field and promote the culture of decentralization among employees