Journal of Iranian Public Administration Studies

Journal of Iranian Public Administration Studies

A Systematic Review of Practice Theory Studies in the Context of Public Organizations

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Economics and Management, Tarbiat Modares University
2 Faculty of Economics and Management, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.
3 Faculty of Economics and Management, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
4 Faculty of Economics and Management, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
10.22034/jipas.2025.515306.1788
Abstract
This study aims to provide an overview of published sources and examines the practice theory approach to achieve a deeper understanding of behavior in organizational studies. To achieve the research objectives, a systematic review method was employed, along with an extensive search in reputable scientific databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCOhost. Additionally, forward and backward citation tracking techniques, as well as some artificial intelligence-based platforms, were utilized to complement the relevant sources. Ultimately, 11 articles that were fully aligned with the research topic were selected for analysis. In this study, thematic analysis was used as the analytical approach, and Reckwitz's (2002) "Practice Theory" was adopted as the theoretical framework. Themes referring to "ongoing activities and practices" were labeled as practice-related. A total of 17 practices within the domain of organizational studies were identified and analyzed. Using the aforementioned theoretical framework, the dimensions (material, meaningful, and skill-based) of each practice were systematically documented and analyzed. The main contribution of this research is the identification and classification of key practices in the field of organizational studies that have been examined using the practice theory approach. The primary innovation of this research lies in its comprehensive examination of the application of practice theory across various organizational contexts, rather than focusing on a specific area.The findings of this research can assist administrative systems in gaining a deeper understanding of the factors influencing employee behavior, needs, expectations, motivations, and changes in organizational norms and procedures
Keywords

  • Receive Date 06 April 2025
  • Revise Date 19 September 2025
  • Accept Date 22 October 2025