Clarifying Professional Competencies in Incident and Emergency Managers: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background Today's incident and emergency managers required to havare e multiple professional competencies to correctly and efficiently manage incidents amid the increasing complexity of the environment. This qualitative study aimed to explain the professional competencies needed to be based on the emergency managers’ duties in disaster management scene. Methods A qualitative‌‌ study was conducted on 18 Iranian incident and emergency managers using face-to-face, semi-structured, and in-depth interviews. Data were collected using purposeful sampling. Data were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman’s approach, through MAXQDA software, version 2020). Results Data analysis led to the identification of 5 main categories and 18 subcategories. The 5 main categories included thinking skills (strategic thinking, critical thinking); professional disaster management skills (knowledge and experience, planning, organizing, decision-making, leadership, research power, risk management); effective communication (collaboration, interpersonal communication, intersectoral communication); personal qualities (demographic characteristics, physical traits, personality); and ethics and familiarity with the law (organizational ethics, professional ethics, law, and policy). Conclusion This study identified a wide range of professional competencies needed by incident and emergency managers. As managers do not acquire all these specialized and technical skills during their studies, they must receive training to respond to and manage disasters in emergencies. Furthermore, programs can be included in the managers' training and continuing professional development curricula to improve competence in this field. These crucial competencies are recommended for inclusion in the design of educational programs, the continuing professional development of incident and emergency managers, and the indicators of job performance in this field in Iran.