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

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. 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 managers 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. 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. Manager's performance assessment at 6-month and one-year intervals showed their performance 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. In order to promote performance of managers, attention must be paid to organizational missions and the required skills and knowledge. CBT is an appropriate model for improving individual, professional, and organizational performance of managers and can be used in the Iranian MOHME.