This study aims to verify the effectiveness of leadership competency training for mid-level managers, specifically section chiefs, in public institutions. Previous studies on training effectiveness have relied on self-report scales, which are suscepti...
This study aims to verify the effectiveness of leadership competency training for mid-level managers, specifically section chiefs, in public institutions. Previous studies on training effectiveness have relied on self-report scales, which are susceptible to response distortion. To reduce the likelihood of response bias, this study employed a situational judgment test(SJT) format to assess training effectiveness. Data were collected from 67 participants who attended a leadership competency training program for section chiefs at Institution K. Pre-training and post-training surveys using the SJT format were conducted, and paired t-tests and Wilcoxon tests were used to analyze the mean differences in competency scores before and after the training. The results showed that the average agility competency score increased from 2.42 before training to 2.66 after training, while the average drive competency score rose from 2.41 to 2.68. These findings suggest that competency training has a positive impact on trainees' actual job performance. This study has academic and practical significance as it is the first case to apply the SJT format in evaluating training effectiveness within a public institution. Furthermore, it enhanced learner engagement through an education design based on problem-based learning (PBL). Future research should extend the study to various institutions and job groups to examine the generalizability of the findings.