A Model of Empowering Managers in Islamic Azad Universities of Mazandaran

The present study was undertaken with the purpose to develop a model of empowering managers in Islamic Azad Universities of Mazandaran (IAUM). Including 750 managers working at 17 branches of IAUMs in 2012-2013، the population of the study consisted of the branch directors and deputes، college directors and deputes، heads of faculties، office managers and staffs (administrative، educational and research officers). Using Krejcie and Morgan’s table of sampling and stratified sampling method، 253 respondents (216 males and 37 females) were selected as the sample of the study including. In order to collect data، both library and field research methods were employed. A use was made of a close-ended questionnaire with 100 Likert scale items to measure the components of manager empowerment. Collected data were feed into SPSS and the confidence coefficient was calculated through Cronbach’s Alpha. In order to construct the model، LISREL software was used. The research findings indicated that vision، purpose، and mission components، training methods، ways of acquiring skills and knowledge in structural dimension، component of job satisfaction and the feeling of safety management in managerial dimension، components of self-esteem and self-actualization، the payment and bonuses in motivational dimension، components of the division of power، delegation and ethics، and professional behavior in participation dimension had the highest average load factor. In managers’ views، managing these factors plays a significant role in manager empowerment. Therefore، regarding the results and their approval by previous researches along with the available theories، we could conclude that the suggested model had theoretical and empirical validity. Hence، it is suggested that it be implemented to empower managers of different branches.