%0 Journal Article
%T Staff Perception towards Leadership in Transforming Wolaita Sodo University: Qualitative Inquiry
%A Mulatu Dea Lerra
%J Open Access Library Journal
%V 1
%N 6
%P 1-19
%@ 2333-9721
%D 2014
%I Open Access Library
%R 10.4236/oalib.1100907
%X In the stir of the competitive era of education today, higher education institutions
(HEIs) attempt to advance themselves in academic programs, researches and innovations.
To this end, they need to transform to realize such aspiration. This study was designed
to look at staff perception toward leadership in transforming Wolaita Sodo University.
Qualitative research design and case study method are used under the study. Part
of the data was collected from a sample of 15 participants. The sample colleges
and administration divisions, college deans, department heads, academic and supportive
staff were selected through purposive sampling. The tools used to gather relevant
data were interview, FGD, and relevant document analysis. Findings of the study
revealed that attempt to transform the skill and competence of academic and supportive
staff and students¡¯ learning are found to be insignificant; the top academic leaders
focus on routine and administrative issues at the expense of emphasis on strategic
matters, and changing the prevailed institutional culture. Moreover, there is lack of empowerment of the middle and first line managers
who are highly engaged in operationalzing transformation process. Hence, change
at Wolaita Sodo University lacks transformational dimension and the change may not
make its intended goals. The study recommended that the transformation should primarily
focus on developing people through empowering them and giving them responsibilities.
The transformational leaders should focus on strategic issues instead of wasting
time in changing and re-changing structures. The government needs to avail adequate
budget and personnel to help the transformation. The University should also diversify
its sources of income instead of relying on government subsidy, and should be autonomous
to run its own affairs without direction or influence from any level of government.
%K Change
%K Leadership
%K Reform
%K Transformational Leadership
%K Transformation
%U http://www.oalib.com/paper/3104549