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. http://mojem.um.edu.my 47Morrin (2013) conducted a mixed methods study entitled "Important factors in planning for succession planning: a case study of the Ontario College of Technology and Visual Arts". The results showed that talent management, administrative programs, diversity, fairness, and sense of legitimacy are the effective factors in the implementation of succession planning programs.Mateso (2010) conducted a study entitled "Management and planning for succession planning at the University of Midwestern" with 414 participants, which indicated that succession planning is being implemented in a few parts of the university. In the study, the respondents emphasized the necessity for the development of such a program at the university. In addition, the respondents did not know enough about this program; regarding the type of faculty, type of occupation and years of work. There was a significant difference in the knowledge of the respondents.Due to the limited number of studies in this field, the purpose of this study is to develop an appropriate model for the establishment of succession planning system, especially in the field of Universities and consequently in the higher education through validation of the questionnaire of strategies for the establishment of succession planning system. MALAYSIAN ONLINE JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT (MOJEM)http://mojem.um.edu.my 48