Techniques to Enhance the Competencies of Department Heads

The purpose of this study was examining the techniques to enhance the competencies of department heads. The statistical population included all students (N: 15724) and faculty members (N: 239) of Islamic Azad University of Kerman, and also experts in management. The research method was mixed. The study comprised of three parts: 1) analyzing the gap between current and ideal status of department heads competencies; 2) Competencies prioritizing; 3) Identifing and prioritizing techniques for enhancing the competencies. In the first part, the sampling method was stratified random sampling and the data collection instrument was the questionnaire of current and ideal status of competencies. In the second part, the sampling method was purposeful and the data collection instrument was the questionnaire of competencies paired comparisons. In the third part, the sampling method was purposeful and the data collection tools were semi-structured interviews and questionnaires of Quality Function Deployment. The data were analyzed by Paired Samples T-Test, Analytical Hierarchy Process, Content Analysis and Home of Quality Matrix. The findings indicate a significant gap between the current and ideal status of department heads competencies. The findings also identified and prioritized 69 techniques to promote the competencies of department heads. In the end, the results were discussed.