Competency-Based Training of Managers in the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education*

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
mohammad salarianzadeh 1
Mahdi Jafari Sirizi 2
Mohammad Hossein Yarmohammadian 3
Ali Maher 4
1 Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Health Services Management, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Educational Planning, Health Management and Economics Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4 Health Services Management, Education Center of Tehran Municipality, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: In every organization, productivity is considerably related with organizational knowledge, experience, creativity, and skills. Therefore, an organization must develop training programs to extract and supply individual, occupational, and organizational needs. This case study described the management performance promotion plan in the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME). The plan aimed to strengthen the knowledge, insight, and skills of managers for organizational missions.
Methods: Competency-based training (CBT) was used to empower managers in the Iranian MOHME during 2002-2008. The program included 7 stages for which a professional training committee was formed and 7 education-research-consultation centers were established. All man-agers of MOHME were covered by the program. In every stage, both the findings of previous studies and implementation of new research were used. The training committee confirmed the validity of the primary and secondary information, the training method, and results in every stage by using scientific methods and tools.
Results: The extracted needs, developed packages and implemented courses were in line with the objectives, strategies, problems, legal duties and organizational and occupational needs of the MOHME. Managers' performance assessment at 6-month and one-year intervals showed their per-formance was improved by 25%. Their performance was also 37% higher than untrained managers. Most managers did not initially possess adequate management knowledge, skills, and experience.
Conclusion: In order to promote performance of managers, attention must be paid to organiza-tional missions and the required skills and knowledge. CBT is an appropriate model for improv- ing individual, professional, and organizational performance of managers and can be used in the Iranian MOHME.

Keywords

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Health Information Management
Volume 8, Issue 8
Winter 2012
Pages 1025-1038