Health care management competencies: identifying the GAPs.

This study examines issues around health care management competencies, as perceived by senior managers. A combination of questionnaire survey, focus group and in-depth interview methods was used to ascertain views on the importance of various competencies, current competency levels and thus the deficiencies or "GAPs." GAPs are greatest at the frontlines, where managers are generally appointed from clinical roles. However, there are significant GAPs at all levels of management.