Providing a Performance Evaluation Model for Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology

In recent decades, although public administration has concentrated on the complex concept of performance and its evaluation, it has simultaneously neglected ministers and their departments, or, if done, it is still at an initial stage. The importance of performance evaluation is not concealed to anyone, and theoretically, when we move up in the organizational hierarchy its importance grows till we reach the ministers at the top of government agencies and at the borderline of politics and administration. In addition, science in today's world has not only become a tool for states' power and domination, but it determines the development of countries. Hence, the great role of science and technology organizations and their leaders in countries’ development. Considering the lack of a performance evaluation model for top administrators, this study has addressed the Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology and interviewed 42 experts following a combination of quota, targeted and theoretical sampling methods. This resulted in 37 organizing themes and 9 general themes through thematic analysis as follows: higher education development, beneficial science production, higher education preparation, managerial achievements, policy-making achievements, political achievements, promotion of science, university and scientists, Islamization of universities, scientific diplomacy and budget management.