The evaluation of a multiyear management development program in a third world setting

Abstract

This is an evaluation of a management development project designed to improve the technical and analytical skills of public health administrators in Jordan. The study suggests that action research and learning methods can be used to improve the knowledge and performance of senior managers. The methods also proved useful in uncovering administrative, structural, and interpersonal factors that had the potential to limit the capacity‐building process. In the design of third world management development programs, careful attention should be given to organizational, environmental, and technical factors that influence how well the methods meet the developmental needs of the participants. Although this research did not uncover any cultural conditions limiting the use of an action‐based training and development approach, the participants in this sample were not broadly representative of the population.