Designing and Validating a Model of General and Technical Competencies for Professional Human Resource Managers in the National Iranian Oil Company
Keywords:
General Competence, Technical Competence, Human Resources Managers, National Iranian Oil CompanyAbstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to design and validate a comprehensive model of general and technical competencies for professional human resource managers in the National Iranian Oil Company.
Methodology: This research adopted an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. In the qualitative phase, 16 academic and organizational experts in human resource management were selected through purposive sampling and interviewed using semi-structured protocols until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis using MAXQDA. Based on the qualitative results, a questionnaire was developed and its content validity was confirmed using CVR and CVI, while reliability was assessed through Cronbach’s alpha. In the quantitative phase, data from 296 senior HR managers and specialists were analyzed using PLS-SEM in SmartPLS.
Findings: Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the model consists of two core constructs: general competencies and technical competencies. General competencies were structured into individual, interpersonal, and organizational dimensions, whereas technical competencies were organized into professional management and leadership, business acumen, and HR service orientation. All path coefficients were statistically significant, and model fit, reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity indices were within acceptable thresholds.
Conclusion: The validated model provides a robust, context-specific framework for the selection, training, evaluation, and development of human resource managers in the oil industry and offers practical guidance for strategic human resource policymaking.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mahdi Haji Heydari (Author); Alireza Rezghi Rostami (Translator); Behzad Mashali, Soodeh Ali Bakhshian (Author)

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