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This article is based on recent research work conducted to
compare the managerial motivations among management students with students of other fields at Shiraz University,
pointing to the fact that management today is a demanding and increasing complexity of managerial role requirements and the
managerial motivations of management students. According to the prevailing observations made by many authors, modern
managers must possess some other skills and capabilites besides
the ability to accomplish the routine administrative function. This research adopted the elements of the managerial motivations
theory as being the skil1s and capabilites needed to run modern business organizations successfully. This article, then, addresses
the question of suitability of the formal Iranian educationa1 courses in business management.
To answer this question systematically, the MSCS-H scale is
used to measure the managerial motivations of a random sample
of students taken from various departments of Shiraz University. If such management courses are effective in enabling their
graduates to assume managerial positions, then the management


students should score much higher on MSCS scale than the students fnl111 other disciplines.
In order to use the said scale in Iran, it was translated into Farsi and changed slightly to take into account the cultural
differences. This was done carefully with expert help. The validity and reliability of the prepared scale was tested and found to be
acceptable.
The statistical analysis of the results showed, that.
1) the students of the fiedls whose course materials generally involve more practical activities are superior in managerial
motivations to other students, 2) no significant differences were found in managerial motivations of the management students in
, comparison with other students, 3) management students scored
significantly higher only on two subscales, the routine
administrative function and competitive situations - apparently because these two subjects are covered with further details
throughout the management courses. It is concluded that the content of management courses and the current teaching methods
should be subjected to a thorough revision, and changed accordingly.