Assessing Faculty Members' Needs and Motivations Effective in Conduct of Training Activities at Arak University of Medical Sciences in 2012

Introduction: Motivation is one of the most important tools to pursuade faculty members to perform more effectively and efficiently in their workplace. Based on Herzberg's theory, this study tried to reveal the needs and motivations of faculty members of Arak University of Medical Sciences at doing their jobs. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, of 168 faculty members at Arak University of Medical Sciences, 102 members filled out the researcher-tailored questionnaire. The questionnaire included 40 questions emenating from Herzberg's two-factor theory. Gathered data was analyzed using t and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Response rate was about 60.7%. 24.5% of the faculty members were working at the basic science departments and 74.5% at the clinical ones. Factors of "communication" and "progress and development" had the greatest impact on faculty members' motivation. On the contrary, factors of "physical condition" and "salary" had the least effects. There was a significant relationship between the age of faculty members and motivational factors of "nature of job", "responsibility and career", and "supervision and monitoring". The relationship between working experience and factors of "salary" and "job security" was also significant. Conclusion: Communication is one of the most important factors in increasing the motivation of faculty members whereas the physical conditions of work and wages are of minimal impact in this regard. As faculty members get older, salary, supervision and monitoring, and job security play more important roles as motivational factors. In other words, with the increase of age and working experience, academic members' expectations of the management changes and if university policy makers do not have a proper evaluation of their activities and neglect their due participation and a applaude, no meaningful change in faculty members' motivation happens.