STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSION PLANNING IN UNIVERSITIES: A MIXED-METHODS ANALYSIS

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to give a pattern for establishing successionplanning system for the middle managers at universities based on mixedmethods study. In the qualitative section, interviews with experts were done and in the quantitative part, the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis method was applied. The statistical population of this research in the qualitative section consisted of academic and executive managers of universities in Iran, and experts and policymakers in the field of higher education. The participants were selected through theoretical sampling, and after 26 interviews, the saturation was attained. The statistical population of this study in the quantitative part, were 1200 executive managers of the universities, based on statistics on 2018. After the components were extracted, the quantitative part of the research was examined and factor validity was used for assessing the validity. The reliability of the tool was estimated by Cronbach's alpha and hybrid alpha, and 400 samples were calculated using random sampling. Results of the qualitative part in the form of the paradigm of the approaches were categorized into three subgroups of meritocracy, management style, and organizational readiness. They reflect the approaches of establishing the succession planning system in managing universities which is shown in the form of a pattern. Quantitative data analysis showed that the instrument has favourable fit indices. The results of factor analysis in the form of strategies for the establishment of the succession planning included management skills and attitudes, and creating organizational readiness.