The Challenges of Succession in Iran's Higher Education's Centers (Case Study: Universities of Ilam Province)

The aim of the present study is to identify challenges facing succession planning within academic environments among employees of Ilam Universities.
This study has carried out using database method and making interviews to 12 experts in the field of human resource management through snowball method in universities of Ilam province. In order to analyze data, open, axial, and selective coding ways were applied. At quantitative stage, 360 managers and employees participated in completing questionnaire provided by researcher.
Research findings indicated that ambiguity in role, inappropriate training for employees, lack of respect to meritocracy, inappropriate performance evaluation,indifferenceculture, regarded among causal central factors emerging challenges of succession and succession include weakness in career path of equal opportunities for improvement, which can lead to some consequences for succession influenced by field factors and intervener factors.
The authors of the research concluded that appropriate training and formulating succession instructions would provide a path for appropriate improvement and lack of which is regarded as a challenge.