A causal model of the relationship between cognitive processes and effective leadership of academic department chairs in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

The present study was conducted aiming to investigate the causal relationship between cognitive processes and effective leadership of academic departments’ chairs in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Using descriptive correlational study method, 40 academic department chairs in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences were studied by census method. Data were collected through computer-based testing of working memory, cognitive flexibility, problem solving, social cognition, creativity design fluency test, Herbst University Leadership Questionnaire (2003), and Analoui Effective Manager Questionnaire (1995). The findings revealed that working memory, cognitive flexibility, and creativity have a relatively high mean value compared to social cognition and problem solving. Also, there is a significant relationship between working memory and creativity with social cognition.  Consequently, paying attention to the aspect of social cognitive functions of academic departments’ chairs leads to growth and success in the field of executive cognitive functions. According to the findings, the model of predicting effective leadership path of university departments’ chairs a weak fit in terms of cognitive processes. It can be said that cognitive processes do not play a significant role in predicting effective leadership of academic departments’ chairs in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.