Providing a model for evaluating university managers’ competency using grounded theory

This study was conducted to provide a model for evaluating university managers’ competency using grounded theory. The statistical population consisted of 40 university managers, of which 10 people were selected as samples using purposive sampling. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The validity of the data was checked through the review of the participants,  as well as the review of experts not participating in the study. The reliability of the model was checked using the Kappa coefficient. The Kappa coefficient was 0.63, which was at the level of a  valid agreement. MAXQDA software was used to analyze and code the interviews. Finally, the model derived from the grounded theory was provided based on the criteria identified. Besides, 72 open codes were identified from 503 segments of the interviews. 72 primary codes were categorized into 10 categories, including organizational strategies, managers’ knowledge, university conditions and facilities, management of organizational affairs, extra-organizational management, university performance management, human resource management, management of organizational resources,  skills, and managers’ characteristics. According to the results, managerial skills ranked first with 144 codes, management of organizational affairs ranked second with 67 codes, and university performance management ranked third with 66 codes. 27 (67.50%) of the 40 interviewees referred to organizational affairs management. Managerial skills were prioritized in terms of the number of repetitions of codes, and management of organizational affairs was prioritized in terms of generality and comprehensiveness among the respondents, indicating the importance of these categories.