Policy-Making in Determining the Mission of Medical Sciences Universities During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Competitive Advantage and Scientific Strength

Shafian, Sara; Heidarpoor, Peigham; Bahaadinbeigy, Kambiz; Yazdani, Shahram

doi:10.22062/sdme.2020.91408

Policy-Making in Determining the Mission of Medical Sciences Universities During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Competitive Advantage and Scientific Strength

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Sara Shafian ¹

Peigham Heidarpoor ²

Kambiz Bahaadinbeigy ³

Shahram Yazdani ²

¹ Management and Medical Sciences Education School, Shaheid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

² Virtual School of Medical Education and Management, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

³ Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22062/sdme.2020.91408

Abstract

Background: The outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) caused a pandemic in most countries, and how to face the pandemic is a major issue that needs to be addressed worldwide. Objectives: The current study aimed at determining the competitive advantage and scientific strength of medical sciences universities to face this pandemic.
Methods: A mixed-methods was employed to conduct the current study from May to April 2020 in three steps: a) identifying the academic departments with the most exposure to this pandemic; b) designing the protocol to calculate the scientific strength and competitive advantage, c) allocating the mission to academic departments.
Result: The scientific strength and competitive advantage were calculated for clinical and non-clinical departments in all medical sciences universities. The obtained results indicated that some universities, for instance, Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Iran, Isfahan, Mazandaran, Shiraz, Kerman, and Mashhad, had the most competitive advantage that would increase their responsibility to face this pandemic.
Conclusion: Policy-makers that clearly identify the mission and objectives of their institutions and define the relevant tasks may have better performance based on the capacities and abilities of the medical sciences universities.

Keywords

Coronavirus

COVID-19

Academic Departments

Scientific Strength

Competitive Advantage

Mission Differentiation

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