Designing a specific competency model for the senior managers of medical sciences universities

Abstract

Background and aims: Managers play a vital and decisive role at the heart of organizations because they are considered the most important competitive advantage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to design a model for the specific competence model of the top managers of medical science universities in Iran. Methods: This applied, exploratory research was done using qualitative-inductive approach and the Strauss and Corbin basic theory method in the medical sciences universities of Iran from 2019 to 2022. The study population of this grounded theory-based qualitative research consisted of 17 individuals selected from among the chancellors and vice-chancellors of medical universities in Iran using purposive sampling. Results: The findings indicated 19 general categories in a model, including causal conditions (targeted organization, organizational indicators, competence factors, and individual factors), and central phenomenon (specific competence of senior managers). The other categories were underlying conditions (organizational characteristics, environmental field, external macro factors, and components of economic competence), and intervening conditions (personality traits, managerial intelligence, and management of changes and time). The remaining categories encompassed strategies (competence factors, education and talent management, managerial factors, standardization, and organizational factors) and consequences (organizational and national development in the field of health, medicine and welfare, society, and service management). Conclusion: The competencies of managers, as the key human resource, are extremely important for the success of the organization. The findings of this study demonstrated that the specific competencies of senior managers can be used as an indicator.