An examination of the ability of the heads of department to make decisions in Libyan universities
The overarching purpose of this study is to discover the ability of the heads of department to make decisions in universities in Libya. This was accomplished through the examination of three main aims: firstly, to examine the level of department heads' ability to make decisions; Secondly, to determine the level of department heads' ability to make decisions according to certain fields of study including the decision making concept, the stages of making the decision, objectivity, flexibility, quality, control, and communication; and thirdly, and finally, to examine if there are any differences in the level of department heads' ability to make decisions attributed to the variables of scientific qualification, experience, gender, age, and specialization. The data collection tools consisted of two main dimensions including one hour interviews with 11 heads of department in Libyan universities and a questionnaire distributed to heads of department in Libyan Universities. The semi-structured interviews included two phases with initial interviews carried out with 11 heads of department at Libyan Universities during the summer of 2008. The researcher then undertook further in-depth interviews that were carried out during the summer of 2009 with the same 11 heads of department at Libyan universities in order to gather rich data about the topic under scrutiny. Over the course of reading some of the interviews, the researcher analyzed the statements that reflected the respondents' actions and views. The questionnaire distributed to heads of department in Libyan universities included a total sample of 500 heads of department and questionnaires were handed out and collected in person by the researcher. The response rate was high with 448 completed questionnaires collected in addition to 2 forms that were returned without being completed. All statistical analyses of the data were accomplished using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software (version 16). As will be revealed in the presentation of findings provided later in this study, the level of the ability of the heads of department to make decisions overall was considered to be high and the most important factor which helped the heads of department to make good decisions in Libyan universities was perceived to be the length of experience as a head of department. All heads of department felt that theydemonstrated a high level of ability to make decisions according to the fields of the study, which included the decision-making concept, the stages of making the decision, objectivity, flexibility, quality, control, and communication. However, all heads believed that there were differences in decision-making ability according to such factors as gender, age group, and whether a scientific or humanities based departments. It is suggested that the results of the study may help in developing education administration and management at universities in Libya and internationally. Recommendations for practice are provided including the suggestions that better selection and training of heads of department are crucial if the ability of heads of department to make decisions is to be improved. It should be noted that the study relied on the perceptions of the heads of department and although respondents noted comparatively few differences in the quality of decision-making ability based on the level of qualification or training there was a strong consensus that good decision making was contingent upon level of experience. Findings suggest that more rigorous pre-service and in-service training will enable heads of department to act with confidence in their decision making from an earlier point in their career. Moreover, the researcher proposes that best practice in other developed systems of higher education suggests that heads of department in Libyan universities require more systematic training in the softer leadership and management skills relating to human resource management
LB2300 Higher Education, LG Individual institutions (Asia. Africa)
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