Management Research in Iran

Abstract The appointment of managers to new positions in Iranian public organizations is invariably accompanied by multiple challenges due to complex bureaucracy, frequent political changes, and diverse stakeholder expectations. This qualitative study, employing an interpretive phenomenological approach, aimed to explore the lived experiences of newly appointed senior managers and to identify their proactive strategies for effective adaptation to new job positions. The participants were 19 senior managers from public headquarters in Mashhad, selected through purposive sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were collected via in‑depth semi‑structured interviews conducted between August and October 2023 and were coded and analyzed using MAXQDA software. The findings revealed that successful adaptation of newly appointed managers is a self‑initiated and proactive process. Data analysis led to the extraction of seven main themes: (1) organizational environment assessment and analysis, (2) organizational communication and interactions, (3) strategy planning and implementation, (4) personal and organizational development, (5) challenge and risk management, (6) performance and productivity improvement, and (7) external and inter‑organizational networking, along with 21 sub‑themes. Since the proactive strategies of newly appointed managers serve as the key to successful organizational adaptation in the public sector context, they enable managers to reduce role ambiguity, gain social legitimacy, manage internal resistances, and implement constructive changes within bureaucratic government structures. The findings of this study extend organizational socialization from a passive framework toward proactive agency, offering an indigenous model for designing managerial training programs, role transition policies, and leadership empowerment initiatives in the public sector.

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify the dimensions and assessment models of professional qualifications in digital marketing jobs. This research employed a systematic review method, focusing on studies published in international databases between 2016 and 2025. Ultimately, eight selected articles were approved, analyzed, and synthesized. findings revealed that assessing soft skills—such as analytical thinking and problem-solving, communication skills, teamwork, management skills, personal attributes, and interpersonal abilities—plays a significant role in evaluating the professional qualifications of individuals in digital marketing roles. another key finding was that integrated models like DigComp are recognized as some of the most comprehensive frameworks for assessment in this field. In addition to general qualifications, DigComp covers five core areas: information and data literacy, communication, content creation, safety, and problem-solving. Furthermore, the 21st Century Skills Model, which includes learning skills, digital literacies, and life and career skills, along with performance-based situational questionnaires and assessments, can serve as effective, multidimensional tools for evaluating individuals’ qualifications in these occupations.

Abstract Development of key personnel, as one of the basic components of human resource management, plays a pivotal role in improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and learning of organizations. The aim of the present study is to design a talent development model in the Court of Accounts of the country. This study was conducted with an interpretive paradigm, a qualitative approach, a case study strategy, and a content analysis method. The research population included organizational experts in key positions who were identified and clustered based on the experts' opinions. To collect data, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 experts selected through purposive sampling, and the data were analyzed until theoretical saturation was reached. The findings showed that the talent development model in the Court of Accounts consists of four main parts: (1) goals and strategies, (2) what and areas of development, (3) how and mechanisms of development, and (4) individual and organizational results. The studies showed that key forces have been developed in some areas, such as personal and technical competencies, but for the future they also need to pay attention to other areas. Also, the experts emphasized the difference in mechanisms, level and implementation between key forces and other employees. The identified talent development mechanisms fall into four main categories: job-based, relationship-based, formal program-based and informal/informal mechanisms. This model can be used as a practical basis for designing and improving talent management programs in the Court of Accounts and similar organizations.

Abstract The developments of the last few decades in the economy, even capitalism and the crisis of 2007, show that it is impossible to talk about the withdrawal of the government in the development process. The level of government involvement in the development process is one of the important issues of the economy. The main goal of this research is to describe the way and scope of government intervention. The research method of this research is descriptive-analytical. Government production of goods and services, transfer payments, taxes and regulations are the four main channels of the government to influence economic activities. And the regulation of the government's optimal intervention based on investment, commercial and industrial policy has been investigated. Based on the results of the research, contrary to liberal beliefs that government intervention hinders development in East Asian countries, the conscious intervention of government agents is the main factor in the development of these countries, and the main focus in these countries is on the manner and scope of government intervention instead of interference or non-interference. In our country, the presence of the government should be comprehensive and focused on development. With the intervention of the government in the processes of development, regulation and guidance of the market mechanism, inadequacies can be eliminated and the economic system can be driven to a better situation in terms of resource allocation and economic capacity creation.

Abstract Adopting a scientific approach to management and human resource management in Iran is less than a century old. This study has studied the evolution of "human resource management knowledge" in Iran using the qualitative research strategy of the Grounded Theory. The research data were obtained from interviews with a group of veteran professors of Iranian management knowledge, supplemented with data collected from written sources. The oral and written data of the research were then analyzed using open coding, central coding, and selective coding. The final theory based on the systematic model of the Strauss and Corbinchr('39')s Grounded theory categorizes the evolution of human resource management knowledge in Iran into four historical periods: "period of formation", "period of growth", "period of separation" and "period of re-creation" of human resources.

Abstract The global banking industry, driven by new technologies and changing customer behavior, has undergone major changes unprecedentedly all over its history. As banks contend with innovation challenges in their processes, fintech companies benefiting from digital capabilities, deliver innovative and customer-centric services. In the business world, the collaboration between these two institutions has taken many forms. This has also attracted the attention of the academic community, and several papers have been written in this field. The purpose of this article is to review these articles, and its main question is: What has the scientific literature contribute toward bank-fintech collaboration? To answer this question, a systematic literature review, based on PRISMA Checklist, has been utilized and various specific areas have been examined to understand the necessity, evolution, challenges, drivers, benefits, barriers, and types of bank-fintech collaboration in the scientific articles. The most significant achievements of the articles are discussed in the paper; furthermore, different types of bank-fintech collaboration in the scientific literature are listed, and a bank-fintech collaboration algorithm is presented. Ultimately, the gaps in the literature and suggestions for future research are expressed.

Abstract Alliances can be a very effective way to achieve new strategic opportunities, but despite this, a high percentage of strategic alliances fail and end failure.. Therefore, the present study sought to identify the factors affecting the stability and stability of strategic alliances using a systematic review. The case of the study was all articles accepted from invalid databases after filtering in several stages, 44 articles were reviewed for final evaluation and analysis. In the coding process stage, the selected articles were performed and 30 sub-themes were divided into three main themes: Senior management team, structure, and business. In the individual section, the strategic ability of the leaders, the commitment of the senior management team, the coordination between the senior managers of the units, having interdisciplinary specializations, and having previous experience in the inter-company cooperation space were identified. In the structure section, module management process, continuous and short-term performance feedback, data output transparency, number of module partners, complementary resources, distinct goals, having an international perspective, intangible outputs, symmetric learning capabilities, clear division of labor, a form of governance, Type of contract, reward system, contract orientation and type of exchange were identified; For the business sector, cultural distance, market growth, partner reputation, partner size, partner experience, contract territory, type of partner activity, cash flow of each partner, a unique type of exchange, correct choice of key partner were selected. Finally, based on the five identified proportions (cultural, strategic, operational, organizational, and individual) at each level of sustainability, it can be significantly increased

Abstract One of the main challenges constantly facing the majority of the organizations is planning to develop and improve processes and operations based on the adoption of new technologies, especially digital technologies, to react to the requirements of markets and competitive environments. Therefore, by using hybrid research approach (qualitative and quantitative), the present study explores the applications of digital technologies in terms of technical needs and business performances in the supply chain network of the bedding industry. The method includes developing an efficient measurement tool to evaluate the digitalization and automation specifications for integrated management of the supply chain operations and flows in manufacturing industries and validating it using the multi-criteria decision-making approach DANP (DEMATEL-based ANP), which is considered the study’s contribution to knowledge and the literature. Therefore, in the first step, the list of influential factors was determined as 6 process areas and a total of 22 related attributes using the desk-based research and Delphi method. Then, the weights and relationships among factors were evaluated using the DANP technique. According to the obtained results, the process area of inventory and warehouse management is considered the most critical factor with the highest weight. However, the process areas of sourcing and buy and business management were identified as the most effective factors in improving critical areas.

Abstract Customer relationship management provides the basis for customer optimal communication, customer loyalty and customer retention. This requires the design of customer-based strategies, the proper implementation and applying of technology, employee empowerment and increasing the level of customers knowledge. Given the advances in e-banking and the reduction of face-to-face contact points, the use of business intelligence tools to effectively use large volumes of customer information also seems necessary. The purpose of present study is to provide a conceptual framework for customer relationship management in electronic banking using business intelligence tools in Sepah Bank and merged banks. For this purpose, a qualitative research has been conducted and first, by reviewing the studies, the initial framework has been identified and then, Theme Analysis has been used for its development in electronic banking. The research population is 7 experts of case study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and credibility and confirmability were used to assess the validity of the results. After analyzing the data, the customer relationship management framework in e-banking is classified into 6 dimensions, 16 components and 35 indicators. The main dimensions of which are Customer reach and acquisition, Customer identification, Customer attraction, Customer relationship development, Customer retention and customer relationship review.

Abstract Industrial groups have interactions within and outside groups. In this paper, twelve industrial groups of companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange are reviewed in order to evaluate linear information dynamics. Conservatism measures of “ratio of sum of price to sum of book value” and “mean of price-to-book ratio” are considered. In sample periods, in order to remedy the effects of special factors in sample industries, later ratio is de-trended. For controlling effects of each industry, inflation, and some other factors on the various industry indices, two measures of “average annual difference between price and book value” and “each industry index” are considered. Industry analysis shows that "sum of price to sum of book value" criterion has a significant correlation with the average of market value to book value and the correlation would be stronger if using the de-trended criteriun. Finally, comparing scaled variables on the average annual difference between price and book value, it concluded that scaled variables based on the index of each industry led to a much stronger coefficient of valuation models. Therefore, for assessment and analysis of linear information dynamics in industrial groups (including environmental factors such as conservatism in accounting policies, industry, stock market indices, cost of capital rate, inflation, the policy of dividend distribution, past and present of book value and securities) can be used for developing residual income valuation models.

Abstract The automotive industry, as the forefront of the technological revolution, is undergoing a profound transformation with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. AI and its application in this industry have evolved into a complex technological ecosystem that encompasses numerous stakeholders. The objective of this research is to identify and analyze the position and role of stakeholders within the AI ecosystem in Iran's automotive industry. To this end, a list of stakeholders in the AI ecosystem was initially compiled. Subsequently, the position and role of these stakeholders were analyzed. Data regarding the stakeholders' positions were collected using an interest-power matrix, for which a questionnaire comprising 48 items was designed and completed by 36 experts and specialists. Based on the findings, the stakeholders in this ecosystem were categorized at both macro and micro levels and classified into four groups using the interest-power matrix: key stakeholders (with high interest and high power), contextual stakeholders (with high power and low interest), dependent stakeholders (with low power and high interest), and marginal stakeholders (with low power and low interest). The results indicate that governmental institutions, research centers, and automakers are among the key stakeholders, while financial institutions and some suppliers fall into the contextual stakeholder group. End-users, including consumers and drivers, are considered dependent stakeholders, whereas media and some regulatory organizations are categorized as marginal stakeholders. This classification can assist policymakers and industry players in optimizing interactions and fostering the sustainable development of the AI ecosystem in the automotive industry.