The Relationship Between Delegation of Authority and Effectiveness of Taking Decisions in the Academic Departments from the Perspective of the Lecturers in the Palestinian Universities

This study at identifying to determine the relationship between delegation of authority and effectiveness of taking decisions in the academic departments from the perspective of lecturers in the Palestinian universities. This is done by reaching the degree of delegation of authority and the degree of effectiveness of taking decisions by the various criteria in academic departments from the perspective of lecturers in Palestinian universities. The study attempted to answer some questions and test some hypotheses: - What is the degree of delegation of authority in academic departments from the perspective of the lecturers in the Palestinian universities? -What is the degree of effectiveness of taking decisions in academic departments from the perspective of the lecturers in the Palestinian universities? -There are no significant statistical differences at (α=0.05) between delegation of authority and effectiveness of taking decisions in academic departments from the perspective of the lecturers in the Palestinian universities. -There are no significant statistical differences at (α=0.05) between delegation of authority and effectiveness of taking decisions in academic departments from the perspective of the lecturers in the Palestinian universities attributed to the variables of gender, university, faculty, academic qualification, job classification ,and years of experience in teaching. The study’s society composed of all staff lecturers in the Palestinian universities of (Bethlehem University, Birzeit University, Hebron University, The Arab American University - Jenin, Jerusalem University - Abu Dis, And An Najah National University), The lecturers held PH.D or M.A degrees. The number of the study's society is (1710) for the year (2005/2006). The thesis' sample consisted of (370) members that represented approximately (21%) of the study's society. The study was chosen by using the stratified random sample method. Also, the researcher conducted his study by using the field descriptive method.In the process of collecting data, the researcher used two questionnaires: 1-Delegation of authority questionnaire which consisted of (44) items,distributed by five criteria: decision making, professional development,status (position), self – efficacy, and impact. 2-Effectiveness of taking decisions questionnaire which consisted of (34) items, distributed by three criteria: education responsibilities, and administration responsibilities, and the action of taking decisions process.Moreover, the researcher validated the study tool by presenting it to experts in the fields of educational administration and business administration, and to Arabic language professionals. In addition, he calculated the reliability coefficient for both questionnaires by using Alpha Chronbach. The researcher answered the questions of the thesis by using the following statistical processes: Mean value, Percentage value, Person Correlation Coefficient, Independent T-test, One-Way ANOVA, and Scheffee Test. The study reached the following conclusions: -The degree of delegation authority in the academic departments from the perspective of lecturers in the Palestinian universities was very high; it was (82.2%). -The degree of effectiveness of taking decisions in the academic departments from the perspective of lecturers in the Palestinian universities was very high; it was (76%). -There was a positive relationship that was statistically significant at (α=0.05) between the delegation of authority and effectiveness of taking decisions. -There were differences statistically significant at (α=0.05) in the delegation of authority between males and females, the difference leaning to males. -There were differences statistically significant at (α=0.05) in the delegation of authority between PH.D and M.A holders, the difference leaning to PH.D holders. -There were differences statistically significant at (α=0.05) in the delegation of authority in the criteria of taking decision and the total degree between academic education and academic administration; the difference leaning to academic administration. -There were differences statistically significant at (α=0.05) in all the criteria and the total level in the delegation of authority in the criteria of experience in teaching from (5) years to (10) years and experience more than (10) years; the difference leaning to more than (10) years experience in teaching. -There were differences statistically significant at (α=0.05) in the delegation of authority and effectiveness of taking decisions between humanities faculties and science faculties; the difference leaning to science faculties. -There were differences statistically significant at (α=0.05) in the effectiveness of taking decisions in educational responsibilities, and the action of tacking decisions process and the total degree of the effectiveness of taking decisions in between academic education and academic administration; the difference leaning to academic administration. According to the study findings the researcher recommends the following: -Giving more attention to the lecturers' scientific research projects because it is the responsibility of the university, mainly the academic departments. -Relating scientific projects and M.A and doctoral study to community issues. -Expanding the responsibilities of the academic departments' councils by participation in department budget allocation. -Giving more attention to the evaluation methods and studying the test results and analyzing them to improve educational careers and giving workers the opportunity to innovate and revise methods and ways.