An Employee Competency Framework in a Welfare Organization

Abstract

Purpose—The aims of the current study were as follows: (1) to develop a framework of the job competence of employees to examine the recruitment of employees in their specialized fields, and (2) to answer the question of whether the development of that framework of the job competence of employees in attracting and employing people or their appointment and promotion was effective in achieving the goals of the organization. Design/methodology—Researchers examined the work environment of a branch of the Welfare Organization of Iran and the most important duties and responsibilities of the employees of the specialized spheres of the organization. Afterward, researchers listed the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for the employees. Then, the authors asked 70 experts working in this organization to express their views on the importance of each of these items and the status of each of the proposed items in terms of their relevance, clarity, simplicity, and ambiguity. Accordingly, the competencies were categorized and titled. The identified competencies were classified into four main groups: needs assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The authors used the pairwise comparison method and the hierarchical analysis process approach to weighting. Findings—The authors set and presented critical competencies related to each specialized field of healthcare, social, educational, and cultural affairs in separate frameworks. The research results allowed theoretical and practical approaches to modeling to consider transversal and disciplinary competencies for a social, economic, or environmental commitment based on the sustainability concept. Value—Developing the employee competency frameworks of the health service is essential for sustainable development. The validated employee competency frameworks in the Welfare Organization can be applied in other provinces of Iran and other sectors of the healthcare system.