@TheAmplitwist Thank you for noticing the issue with those questions. Yes, I'm going to check the other questions as well, but I didn't have the time to check everything at once.

Would a question on the site about desirable characteristics of department heads be considered "shopping" or "opinion based"? It could provide advice for those considering such a position or those voting for a head. (Similarly "undesirable" characteristics). Would meta be better/possible?

@Buffy As far as I can see, the role of a department head can vary strongly between countries and (at least in my country) even universities. For example, at my current department, there is a rota of who has to do the job, so your question wouldn’t even be meaningful. So, unless you clearly specify the role (or it is more standardised elsewhere), it would at least be depending on individual factors.

And then it can still be opinion-based, depending on the details of the role. You might ask something like: “What qualities are typically considered relevant for department heads [with given specifications of the role]?”, but then who may provide a substantial answer to this?

But, even for those who must take on the role, it is probably valuable to cultivate (or learn) certain things beyond the strictly technical. Some places I know have specific training for new heads.

@Buffy The point is that the duties of a head are so country and university dependent that a general answer would not be possible. Also the types of interactions between the head and the department faculty vary a lot.

OK. I'll let it go.

nice try :-)

@MassimoOrtolano, you are a real archeologist, I think. Closing a question after 6 years.

Or did it get recently reopened without a fix?

@Buffy It was already closed, but as a duplicate of a deleted question which can be confusing.

Ah. Too bad it was never improved, actually.

Also the original one was rather unclear.