Journal of Iranian Public Administration Studies

Journal of Iranian Public Administration Studies

A Dimensional analysis of the phenomenon of managers’ necessary evils in the decision making of managers in a public organization

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Department of Management, Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economy, Vali-e-Asr University, Rafsanjan, Iran.
2 Msc., Department of Management, Vali-e-Asr University, Rafsanjan, Iran
10.22034/jipas.2026.518274.1796
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to explore the underlying dimensions of necessary evils by public organizational managers. Necessary evils are those job duties where an individual must perform an act as part of their job that inflicts harm on another person in order to achieve a greater objective. In this regard, a dimensional analysis design was employed within the framework of grounded theory. The spatial scope of the research was Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, and the participants were its managers, who were invited to collaborate based on theoretical sampling. Following the principle of theoretical saturation, the number of participants reached 20. Data were collected through open and in-depth interviews. For data analysis, dimensionalizing, differentiation, and integration/reintegration were conducted. The results of the data analysis led to the identification of 42 characteristics organized into 13 dimensions. The explanatory matrix containing the identified dimensions positioned buffering within the theoretical perspective. The context included organizational objectives and management functions, while the conditions pertained to financial, legal, and natural constraints, as well as deviations, including budgetary deviations, performance deviations, legal deviations, and natural deviations. Additionally, the processes encompassed disciplinary, precautionary, contractionary, destructive, and emergency actions. Ultimately, the consequences of necessary evils were identified as follows: consequences related to managers (guilt), consequences related to objectives of necessary evils (protest), and consequences related to the organization (improved productivity).
Keywords

  • Receive Date 21 April 2025
  • Revise Date 15 December 2025
  • Accept Date 05 January 2026