Design and Validation of a Human Resource Management Efficiency Model in the Health System with an Emphasis on Social Capital

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mahbobeh Nikkhesal ¹

Mohammad Hasan Shaki ²

Seyed Ahmad Jafari Kelarijani ²

¹ Ph.D. student, , Department of Management, QaS.C., Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Management, QaS.C., Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22067/tmj.2026.93821.1760

Abstract

This study aimed to design and validate an effective Human Resource Management (HRM) model within the healthcare system, emphasizing the role of social capital. The current research was conducted using an exploratory mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) approach at Babol University of Medical Sciences. In the qualitative phase, data were analyzed from interviews with 10 HRM experts, leading to the identification of five core components of HRM effectiveness: 1) Human resource organization and alignment, 2) Meritocracy in managerial appointments, 3) Empowerment of managers and staff, 4) Human resource retention, and 5) Utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Subsequently, in the quantitative phase, the Delphi method was executed over three rounds for index validation. A sample of 183 managers and staff from the university was selected via simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using self-developed questionnaires and the software packages SPSS and AMOS through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results demonstrated that the proposed model exhibited an optimal fit. More significantly, social capital (encompassing communication networks, organizational trust, and goal convergence) acted as an effective organizational substrate, playing a significant role in explaining and reinforcing the dimensions of HRM effectiveness; this capital led to enhanced employee participation, facilitated decision-making, and improved productivity. These findings underscore that simultaneous attention to managerial mechanisms and the strengthening of social capital can form the foundation for designing HRM policies based on meritocracy, empowerment, and organizational interaction within medical universities.

Keywords

Keywords: Efficiency

Human Resource Management

Social Capital

Health System

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