https://www.jipas.ir/ Journal of Iranian Public Administration Studies en daily 1 Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0330 Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0330 https://www.jipas.ir/article_229428.html Purpose: The primary objective of this study is to examine the determinants of attention to public issues as a critical precondition for their entry into the policy agenda. The research is grounded in the assumption that in a society such as Iran, characterized by a centralized decision-making structure and a distinctive media environment, understanding the mechanisms through which public and elite attention is mobilized is essential for the effectiveness and legitimacy of public policies. Specifically, the study aims to test the effects of four key variables—issue knowledge or awareness, public issue image, issue linkage, and media use—on the level of attention paid to public issues among two groups: public opinion (citizens) and policymakers (members of parliament).Methodology: In terms of purpose, this research is descriptive, and in terms of outcome, it is applied in nature. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design. The statistical population consisted of two groups: nineteen members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and ninety-eight citizens of Isfahan Province. Participants were selected using random sampling methods. Data were collected through a researcher-designed questionnaire developed on the basis of theoretical foundations and previous empirical studies. The face and content validity of the questionnaire were confirmed by expert review, and its reliability was verified using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for all constructs, all of which exceeded the acceptable threshold of 0.70. To analyze the data and test the research hypotheses, structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted using the partial least squares (PLS) approach with SmartPLS software.Findings: The results of the structural equation modeling analysis supported all four main hypotheses of the study. Issue knowledge or awareness was found to have a positive and statistically significant effect on attention to public issues, indicating that greater awareness of an issue’s dimensions and consequences increases the likelihood of public sensitivity and attention. Public issue image also exerted a positive and significant influence, suggesting that individuals’ overall perceptions and evaluations of an issue—whether it is viewed as harmful, beneficial, or consequential—play an important role in attracting attention. In addition, issue linkage, defined as the extent to which a public issue is connected to broader and more salient concerns such as security, economic conditions, or social justice, was shown to significantly enhance attention to public issues. Among all examined variables, media use emerged as the strongest predictor of attention to public issues, underscoring the central role of both traditional and new media in agenda-setting, framing, and shaping individuals’ cognitive priorities.Conclusion: The findings indicate that the process of attracting attention to public issues in Iran is complex and multidimensional, driven primarily by cognitive and media-related factors rather than demographic characteristics. These results carry important practical implications for policymakers and governance institutions. Effective policy communication requires moving beyond one-way information dissemination toward participatory and issue-centered communication strategies that enhance public knowledge, shape realistic yet compelling issue images, and create meaningful linkages between technical policy problems and citizens’ everyday concerns and core societal values. Furthermore, rather than adopting a purely controlling approach to media, policymakers should assume an enabling and facilitative role by promoting transparency, supporting specialized journalism, and engaging constructively with emerging media platforms. Strengthening the cognitive capital of society through reforms in the education system-from schools to universities-can foster critical thinking, issue analysis skills, and media literacy, thereby cultivating more informed and responsible citizens who actively participate in policymaking processes. Finally, continuous monitoring of public issue images and their discursive linkages can enable policymakers to strategically frame issues, mobilize attention at critical moments, and prevent public neglect or misunderstanding of key policy challenges. https://www.jipas.ir/article_228145.html Purpose: In accordance with the principles of classical and contemporary management theories-such as organizational control theory and performance measurement perspectives-the improvement of any organizational phenomenon requires effective control and management. Such control, however, is difficult or even impossible without valid and reliable measurement instruments. This viewpoint underscores the pivotal role of designing and validating measurement tools in organizational research. In this context, organizational diplomacy, conceptualized as a behavioral capacity for enhancing intra-organizational interactions, requires a clear operational definition and a robust measurement instrument. Moreover, contemporary work environments-characterized by workforce diversity, intra-organizational conflicts, generational differences, political behaviors, and the formation of pressure groups-demand that human resource (HR) managers perform roles that extend beyond traditional managerial frameworks. Contingency-based role theories and behavioral models of human resource management suggest that managerial effectiveness in such contexts increasingly resembles the function of a professional diplomat. Accordingly, the primary objective of the present study is to develop and validate a reliable instrument that enables the assessment and comparison of diplomatic human resource management across different organizations. Such an instrument can provide a foundation for strategic policymaking and the design of training and development programs.Methodology: Drawing on the conceptual model of diplomatic human resource management and employing the ten-step scale development methodology proposed by Rattray and Jones, a measurement instrument was developed and validated for the target construct. The resulting questionnaire consists of 66 items and is designed to assess diplomatic human resource management across eight dimensions. The validation process was conducted using data collected from a statistical population comprising managers, deputy managers, and human resource specialists working in both public and private sector organizations.Findings: The developed instrument effectively measured diplomatic human resource management across eight core dimensions: (1) influencing employees through positive interaction, (2) monitoring employees while preserving human dignity, (3) diplomatic human resource planning, (4) diplomatic job analysis, (5) diplomatic human resource provision, (6) diplomatic training and development, (7) diplomatic performance management, and (8) employee retention. Together, these dimensions offer a comprehensive representation of the multifaceted roles of HR managers as organizational diplomats and demonstrate how a diplomacy-oriented approach can elevate workplace relationships from routine administrative functions to a more strategic and human-centered level.Conclusion: The findings of this study enable the systematic evaluation of the current state of diplomatic human resource management within organizations and provide a foundation for strategic initiatives aimed at institutionalizing diplomatic principles in HR functions. Furthermore, the study contributes to the theoretical advancement of human resource management literature by introducing and operationalizing the construct of diplomatic HR management. From a practical perspective, the instrument can assist managers in identifying their strengths and weaknesses, facilitating the development of diplomatic competencies and enhancing their capacity to act as mediators and facilitators in complex organizational environments. Consequently, human resource diplomacy can not only improve intra-organizational interactions but also increase employee satisfaction, reduce organizational conflicts, and strengthen social capital. At a macro level, the application of this instrument can support organizational policymakers in designing training and development frameworks aligned with actual workplace needs, thereby fostering organizational cultures grounded in respect, trust, and collaboration. Ultimately, this approach contributes to the development of flexible, learning-oriented, and resilient organizations capable of effectively responding to inevitable environmental changes. https://www.jipas.ir/article_229881.html Purpose: This study aims to provide a conceptual clarification and to determine the precise relationship between the two key concepts of “progress” and “justice”, which have been articulated as the central slogan of the fourth decade of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. Given that development and continuous advancement constitute some of the most fundamental concerns and aspirations of social reformers as well as various governments, and that numerous macro- and micro-level policy prescriptions are formulated on the basis of these overarching concepts, it appears essential to present a coherent framework elucidating the relationship between progress and justice. The “conceptual system of just progress”, developed through a re-examination of the ideas of Ayatollah Khamenei (as the originator of the phrase “progress and justice”), seeks not only to offer an interpretation aligned with his intellectual perspective but also to facilitate the convergence of diverse viewpoints and to address existing theoretical and practical challenges in this field.Methodology: This study was conducted using an exploratory qualitative approach. The primary research method is thematic analysis based on the six-stage framework proposed by Braun and Clarke. Texts and speeches by Ayatollah Khamenei concerning progress and justice were examined through an in-depth and systematic analysis, and the relevant concepts were extracted and organized into basic, organizing, and global themes. These themes were subsequently integrated and presented within a coherent and structured semantic network.Findings: Based on the analysis conducted, the relationship between these two concepts can be reconceptualized within a coherent conceptual system. The central core of the “conceptual system of just progress” posits that any conception of growth and progress inherently entails a corresponding definition of what is considered right and just; in other words, every form of progress implicitly adopts a particular understanding of justice.This system is structured across two interrelated layers. The first is the foundational and directional layer, in which the triad of spirituality, rationality, and justice (corresponding to the fourfold framework of thought, science, life, and spirituality) is identified as the guiding and governing principles of the process of just progress. The second is the teleological layer, encompassing ultimate ends and objectives. Within this layer, three core goals—the consolidation of governance, the sustainability of generations, and the consolidation of wealth—are articulated as the final aims of just progress.Conclusion: The present research demonstrates that, contrary to certain prevailing interpretations and readings, progress and justice are not two entirely separate or mutually conflicting concepts; rather, they are situated within a broader, overarching system. In this perspective, progress and justice are fully aligned and overlapping, such that “people-centered progress is defined as social justice itself.” Accordingly, the dimensions, criteria, and principles of social justice must constitute the core foundation and cornerstone of any model of progress. By simultaneously emphasizing spiritual–rational foundations and concrete, constitutive objectives, this conceptual system can function as a theoretical roadmap for overcoming conceptual disputes and policy-making fluctuations. Themes such as “criteria and indicators of just progress,” “the relationship between objectivity and subjectivity in just progress,” and “the dimensions and differentiations of just progress” may be regarded as significant and prospective research agendas for scholars interested in this field. https://www.jipas.ir/article_227797.html Purpose: Public policies represent governments’ responses to public and societal problems and play a fundamental role in shaping the performance of administrative systems and the overall quality of governance. Within the rational public policy cycle, the policy evaluation stage is of particular importance, as it enables systematic judgment regarding the extent to which policy objectives have been achieved, the identification of actual and unintended consequences, and the creation of opportunities for policy learning and improvement. In this context, policies related to the selection of government employees are among the most critical public policies, given their direct impact on the quality of human capital, the effectiveness of public organizations, and public trust in the administrative system. The primary objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of government employee selection policies in the Islamic Republic of Iran, focusing on three main components: examinations, interviews (assessment centers), and selection (screening) procedures. The study seeks to determine whether the policies implemented in this domain have succeeded in achieving policymakers’ intended goals and to identify their strengths and weaknesses across different stages of policy formulation and implementation.Methodology: This research is applied in terms of purpose and qualitative in nature, and it is grounded in the meta-positivist paradigm. To evaluate government employee selection policies, the study employs the CIPP evaluation model, encompassing four dimensions: Context, Input, Process, and Product. As a comprehensive and systematic framework, the CIPP model allows for the assessment of public policies throughout the entire policy cycle, from problem identification to policy implementation and outcomes. Research data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 experts and specialists in the fields of public policy and human resource management within the public sector. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis, and the results were presented in the form of thematic networks and an integrated analytical framework. One of the key methodological contributions of this study is the conceptual linkage established between the components of the CIPP model and the stages of the public policy cycle, applied specifically to the evaluation of a national public policy. In the final stage, a meta-evaluation was conducted to ensure the quality of the evaluation process, examining it in terms of utility, feasibility, propriety, and accuracy.Findings: The findings indicate that government employee selection policies have not been successful in fully achieving their intended objectives and face considerable challenges across all four dimensions of the CIPP model. In the context dimension, weaknesses were identified in accurate problem definition, alignment of policies with the actual needs of the administrative system, and clarity in defining required competencies. In the input dimension, major challenges included limited financial resources, shortages of specialized human resources, and inefficiencies in executive tools and infrastructures.In the process dimension, deficiencies such as the absence of unified standards for examinations and interviews, weak monitoring mechanisms, and the influence of informal and non-institutional factors on policy implementation were observed. Finally, in the product dimension, the results suggest that policy outcomes have not been satisfactory in terms of promoting meritocracy, ensuring administrative justice, and enhancing overall administrative efficiency. These shortcomings have led to undesirable consequences across structural, cultural, instrumental, human resource, and performance-related dimensions of the administrative system.Conclusion: The results of the study demonstrate that improving government employee selection policies requires a systematic, evidence-based, and policy-learning-oriented approach. The final framework proposed in this research, derived from the CIPP model, can serve as a practical tool for evaluating, revising, and improving public policies, thereby supporting policymakers in enhancing decision-making quality and strengthening administrative system effectiveness. https://www.jipas.ir/article_227326.html Purpose: This study aims to design a model for applying strategic thinking to the problem-solving system of border regions, with particular emphasis on entrepreneurship and employment, using Sistan and Baluchestan Province as a case study. In addition to developing the proposed model, the study seeks to identify its key components, prioritize and rank these components, and propose policy recommendations grounded in a strategic thinking framework for addressing border region challenges related to entrepreneurship and employment. By focusing on border regions as complex and multifaceted environments, the research emphasizes the necessity of adopting a strategic, problem-oriented approach to foster sustainable employment and entrepreneurial development.Methodology: From a philosophical perspective, this research adopts an interpretive approach. In terms of purpose, it is classified as applied developmental research, and with respect to time horizon, it is cross-sectional. Methodologically, the study follows a descriptive–analytical design and relies on library-based research methods, including systematic review and analysis of documents, records, and relevant sources. Data were collected from official documents, academic literature, and various specialized websites related to strategic thinking, border region issues, entrepreneurship, and employment, with specific consideration given to the regional context under study. In addition, the research employs a mixed-methods design with an exploratory orientation, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem.Findings:The findings derived from interview data, analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding processes, led to the development of a strategic thinking model for the problem-solving system of border regions with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and employment. The proposed model encompasses causal, contextual, and intervening conditions, as well as key structural elements that collectively explain the central phenomenon, strategic actions, and resulting outcomes.The axial category emerging from the analysis consists of three core dimensions: strategic thinking aimed at solving border region problems, strategic thinking with a focus on employment and entrepreneurship, and problem-oriented strategic thinking. The results indicate that effective strategic thinking in addressing employment and entrepreneurship challenges in border regions requires simultaneous attention to the geographical context, the specific problem under consideration, and a problem-centered analytical perspective.The emergence of such strategic thinking is influenced by conditions including fragmented and parallel institutional performance, unfavorable economic environments, informal trade practices, limited employment opportunities, ineffective management, lack of coherent planning, and low development indicators. The contextual foundations for strategic thinking are shaped by factors such as the allocation of financial facilities and resources, development of essential infrastructure, trust-building mechanisms, transformation of border provinces from security-oriented spaces into economically driven environments, and a focus on sustainable employment. Intervening factors include institutional alignment at the provincial level, promotion of intra-provincial investment combined with positive discrimination in favor of border residents, establishment of public and semi-public institutions in border provinces, expansion of skills-based training, and the promotion of an entrepreneurial culture and mindset.The formation of this strategic thinking framework leads to the adoption of strategies such as enhancing labor mobility, improving entrepreneurship management, formulating effective policies, fostering endogenous security, identifying local capacities, and providing targeted supportive assistance. The implementation of these strategies results in outcomes including social stability and persistence, increased national production, development of social capital, improved quality of life, and the transformation of border regions into active corridors for regional and national development.ConclusionThe findings of this study demonstrate that enhancing productivity and improving the living standards of border residents are among the key outcomes of applying strategic thinking to the problem-solving system of border regions with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and employment. The results further indicate that reducing social inequalities, strengthening social cohesion and stability, and protecting border provinces from future social crises—such as persistently high unemployment rates—are significant consequences of adopting such a strategic approach. Moreover, factors such as the allocation of employment-related facilities from the National Development Fund, prioritization of infrastructure development in less developed and border regions, and insufficient public and private investment in industrial sectors are identified as critical antecedents shaping strategic thinking in problem-solving systems. Overall, the study highlights the importance of infrastructure development, targeted investment, and the role of structural and managerial components in realizing strategic thinking for addressing economic challenges in border regions. https://www.jipas.ir/article_216558.html Purpose: Public policies, as the primary instruments of government, play a fundamental role in coordinating and governing society, and their success depends on a set of institutional, executive, and behavioral factors. One of the most important of these factors is the extent to which governments and policymakers attend to citizens’ preferences and how they respond to public expectations—an issue that has a direct impact on policy effectiveness, public trust, citizen participation, and the enhancement of governmental legitimacy. In recent years, with rising public awareness, the expansion of communication tools, and increased social demand-making, public preferences and the necessity of governmental responsiveness have become central concerns for scholars and practitioners in the field of public policymaking. From this perspective, policymakers’ behavior in confronting public demands and preferences cannot be regarded merely as a managerial or administrative action; rather, it constitutes a decisive element in shaping public cooperation and participation in governance processes. Accordingly, the objective of this article is to analyze and explain the framework of policymakers’ behavior in responding to public preferences from the citizens’ perspective. By identifying the dimensions of the salience of public issues among citizens, this study examines the type and behavioral patterns of policymakers’ responses to salient preferences from the viewpoint of citizens and proposes an analytical framework in this regard.Methodology: To address the research questions, this study adopts a qualitative research design, as understanding citizens’ preferences, their expectations of government, and their subjective perceptions of policymakers’ behavior requires in depth and interpretive methods. Data were generated through two main sources: semi structured interviews and a review of documents and scholarly articles related to policymakers’ behavior, issue salience, and types of governmental response. In order to identify the optimal level of governmental attention to public preferences and to gain a deeper understanding of citizens’ expectations, semi structured interviews were conducted with approximately 90 Iranian citizens with diverse social and experiential backgrounds. The interviews focused on themes such as identifying the importance of public issues, criteria for issue salience, and public expectations regarding the type, speed, and manner of governmental response. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis, supported by MAXQDA software, in order to extract and organize the main framework and underlying themes.Findings: The results of the thematic analysis of the interviews indicate that citizens’ expectations regarding the type of policymakers’ response are neither uniform nor constant; rather, they vary significantly depending on the degree of importance and the level of salience of public issues. Depending on whether an issue is perceived as highly important, widespread, or urgent, citizens hold different expectations of the government and policymakers. Accordingly, the framework of policymakers’ behavior in responding to citizens’ public preferences is examined through two main components: first, the salience or importance of the policy issue from the citizens’ perspective; and second, citizens’ expectations regarding the type of governmental response. The analysis led to the identification of two overarching themes, eight organizing themes, and twenty one basic themes, which together explain the various dimensions of citizens’ perceptions of issue salience and patterns of governmental responsiveness.Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study, the salience of issues from the citizens’ perspective is influenced by factors such as intensity of impact, scope of social influence, and urgency. The more intense, widespread, and urgent an issue is perceived to be, the greater citizens’ expectations for governmental intervention and responsiveness become. Moreover, citizens’ expectations regarding the type of governmental response depend on factors such as whether the government should intervene directly, the speed of response, the visibility and transparency of actions, the depth and seriousness of intervention, and the extent to which public opinions are consulted in the policymaking process. With regard to highly salient issues, citizens expect the government itself to act as the primary responding actor, to respond rapidly, to accompany its actions with transparent communication, and to take citizens’ views and preferences into account when determining the type of response. The findings of this study can assist policymakers in achieving policy objectives while simultaneously enhancing public satisfaction, trust, and participation, and ultimately contribute to improving the effectiveness and legitimacy of public policies. https://www.jipas.ir/article_183915.html Abstract The issue of morality in societies has always been controversial and ignoring it leads clubs to destruction. The lack of a correct and proper definition of moral principles and norms and sufficient attention to it in society has created problems in the relations between citizens and the government. The present research aims to find the ethical components in the relations between citizens and the government with a view to the Iranian constitution; The research method is thematic analysis. In the first stage, the principles and introduction of the body were examined. Finally, 228 themes were extracted, first categorized under sub-themes and then consolidated under 59 main themes, and formed the final model of the research by connecting to the overarching themes. The components identified in this research were validated using the Delphi technique. The results of this research show that the ethical features include the moral characteristics of rulers and their ethical behavior in the implementation of duties related to citizens; These ethical components include the individual parts of government agents and their responsibilities and are manifested in the functioning of institutions about citizens. https://www.jipas.ir/article_197713.html Policy coordination is a new specialized term but has a long history in the conceptual atlas of public policy making and governance. This is important based on paragraph 14 of the General upstream policies of the administrative system (31/01/1389) regarding "holism, alignment, coordination and effective interaction of administrative office", it is considered one of the basic goals of the governance and administrative system of the country. The present research, by studying multi cases and analyzing the congruence of two important and effective policies in the administrative system, including 1. The civil Service Management act (approved in 1386) and the roadmap and comprehensive programs for reforming the administrative system (1392 to 1400), aims to provide a policy coordination pattern in the administrative system of the Islamic Republic in Iran, and in this regard, it has interviewed with 23 experts in this field. By analyzing the congruency of the data of the conducted interviews, the consonant and semi-consonant Concepts of coordination are categorized into 5 main categories including central Concepts, process Concepts, driving and infrastructure Concepts, principles of coordination and finally the outcomes of coordination. Based on the presented framework, the central Concepts are the connection ring for other categories, and its realization depends on going through a repetitive cycle. https://www.jipas.ir/article_213901.html • One of the concepts that has attracted the attention of policymakers in the field of governance and administration of public affairs of the country in recent years is the concept of transparency. Transparency, along with the concepts of participation and accountability, is one of the key components of the concept of open government, which is defined as the interaction of the government and governance with the private sector and public groups. So that the function and performance of the governments are transparent and clear for the general public and social groups to find the capability of participatory evaluation. In recent years, in the Islamic Republic of Iran, various efforts and measures have been taken in the field of transparency, which have also been manifested in laws. In this regard, the aim of this research is to analyze the policies aimed at "transparency" in administrative structures and governance in Iran based on the Advocacy Coalition Framework. The research method was based on document study and in the findings section, as a result of this framework, the analysis of the Advocacy Coalition Framework from the perspective of the pro and opposition coalition, sub-systems and beliefs, relatively fixed parameters, events outside the sub-system, opportunity structures, limitations, coalition resources and change and learning are discussed. https://www.jipas.ir/article_216910.html Continuous feedback from service recipients enables public participation in improving the quality of service delivery and identifying systemic bottlenecks in administrative frameworks. This research aims to conceptualize participatory performance evaluation of service quality in executive agencies based on economic and social incentives. Drawing on the insights of 29 administrative system experts and employing Strauss’s grounded theory methodology, this research reached theoretical saturation that culminated in the formulation of this conceptual framework. Findings show that participatory performance evaluation, operationalized through feedback from service recipients, depends on addressing the motivations of key stakeholders: government, service recipients, and service provider organizations. Adherence to strategic implementation requirements facilitates continuous improvement of service delivery processes with feedback from recipients. For this process, considerations of survey design features and the specific roles being evaluated are crucial. The two main factors influencing this assessment are the government’s commitment to administrative transformation and the advancement of information and communication technology (ICT). When such assessments are anchored in social and economic drivers, they yield multifaceted results in the administrative-managerial, economic-financial, political-legal, and socio-cultural domains. This study emphasizes the need to integrate the identified causal, contextual, and intervening factors to improve service quality in the country’s executive agencies. These factors emphasize the interdependence of stakeholder incentives, technological advancement, and institutional commitment to systemic reform. https://www.jipas.ir/article_220433.html The growth and excellence of students in the context of the university requires an educational environment in addition to a scientific environment, so paying attention to cultural and social issues in universities is an inevitable necessity. However, until now, an efficient mechanism has not been designed to evaluate the cultural and social performance in Iranian universities, and until this research, the cultural issue did not have a place in the ranking of Iranian universities. For this reason, the aim of the upcoming research is to identify indicators of cultural and social performance of Iranian universities and provide a model for cultural ranking of universities. The present research method is mixed. In the qualitative part, the method of content analysis and document study was used, and in the quantitative part of the research, the expert panel method was used using a questionnaire and Kendall's correlation coefficient test. In this research, after reviewing and analyzing the relevant documents, interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was reached, and also during numerous meetings with a team of experts from the Ministry of Science and some selected universities from all over the country, finally 133 indicators, 45 components and 8 dimensions have been identified. The results of this research show that the identified cultural and social indicators can be used as a basis for ranking universities and adjusting the cultural budget of universities and have a significant impact on improving the cultural and social performance of universities in the country. https://www.jipas.ir/article_224545.html This study examines the factors influencing the enhancement of green culture among human resource managers in the energy industry. Given environmental challenges and the importance of sustainability, Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) is recognized as an effective tool for promoting sustainable behaviors within organizations. This qualitative research employs an interpretive phenomenological approach, analyzing the experiences of 17 HR managers through semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke (2006) identified 7 organizing themes, 21 basic themes, and 102 initial codes. Findings indicate that developing a green culture requires several key factors. Strong leadership and commitment from senior managers are crucial for the success of green policies. Additionally, employee training and empowerment through educational programs and awareness campaigns foster environmental consciousness. Resource management and optimization of energy and material consumption contribute to reducing the carbon footprint and enhancing organizational efficiency. Green incentive systems, including financial and non-financial rewards, significantly boost employee engagement in sustainability initiatives.Furthermore, implementing green policies, eliminating pollutants such as single-use plastics, and monitoring employees' environmental behaviors greatly impact organizational performance. Evaluating and reporting environmental actions enhance corporate transparency and accountability. Collaboration with local communities and environmental organizations, including participation in social green projects, strengthens corporate social responsibility (CSR). Ultimately, the study suggests that fostering a green culture is a fundamental driver of organizational success in achieving environmental sustainability. https://www.jipas.ir/article_226627.html Since the early 21st century, network governance has gained prominence in public administration, forming around public issues and service delivery. The miandaar—a central coordinating actor within public governance networks, referred to by various terms in the literature—plays a pivotal role in these systems. However, its roles and responsibilities are often unclear to other stakeholders, leading to coordination challenges at both national and local levels. This study, through a case study of Iran’s Ministry of Interior—as a representative example of the miandaar—aims to develop a theoretical model of this role in governance networks. Methodologically, the research adopts a case study design and follows Glaser’s emergent grounded theory approach. It includes analysis of official documents and regulations, along with 16 semi-structured interviews with senior managers across six policy areas: social affairs, political and electoral affairs, security and enforcement, economic policy, crisis management, and construction planning. The findings are structured into three dimensions: the concept of the miandaar (three categories), its process-oriented roles (five categories), and support-oriented roles (six categories). The miandaar is perceived as the coordinating and guiding actor—metaphorically described as the "thread of a tasbih" that ties the network together. Through roles such as issue assessment, policymaking, planning, coordination, and monitoring, it steers the public problem-solving cycle. Additionally, by supporting capacity building, data analysis, holistic follow-up, research, regulatory development, and training, the miandaar helps strengthen the governance network as a whol https://www.jipas.ir/article_232713.html 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 https://www.jipas.ir/article_235607.html The purpose of this study is to develop a conceptual framework for human resource management (HRM) strategies within the context of the gig economy using a meta-synthesis approach. The transformations driven by digitalization and the rise of platform-based organizations have redefined employment structures and reshaped the requirements of HRM. Accordingly, this research systematically analyzes and integrates the existing literature to identify and synthesize the dimensions, components, and interrelations of the most influential factors shaping HRM in the gig economy. The study focuses on exploring key HRM strategies in the domains of recruitment and selection, capability development, motivation, performance evaluation, and retention of project-based and independent workers, while explaining how these strategies align with the platform logic and decentralized nature of gig employment. The findings reveal that the gig economy emerges from the complex interplay among digital technologies, labor market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and evolving organizational cultures, requiring a profound reengineering of traditional HRM functions. The main contribution of this study lies in proposing an integrated conceptual model of HRM strategies tailored to the structural and behavioral characteristics of gig workers, providing a foundation for redesigning HRM systems in platform-oriented and digital organizations. https://www.jipas.ir/article_235610.html With the increasing expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in public services, the necessity of developing localized regulatory frameworks for the ethical use of this technology is increasingly evident. This research aims to present a comprehensive regulatory framework for the ethical use of AI in Iran's public services, designed by considering the conditions of developing countries and localizing international experiences. This study was implemented using a mixed-methods (quantitative-qualitative) methodology. In the qualitative phase, through thematic analysis of upstream policy documents and regulatory frameworks from 15 leading countries in AI published between 2018 and 2024, as well as interviews with 28 experts and policymakers, the main dimensions and components of the framework were extracted. In the quantitative phase, a questionnaire based on the qualitative findings was designed and distributed among 345 stakeholders, including government officials, technology specialists, and civil society representatives. The findings resulted in a seven-dimensional localized regulatory framework for AI comprising: algorithmic transparency, accountability and responsibility, privacy protection, fairness and non-discrimination, human oversight, security and resilience, and technological independence and sovereignty. The implementation mechanisms of this framework were explained at three levels: hard regulation (mandatory laws and regulations), soft regulation (guidelines and ethical codes), and self-regulation (internal organizational mechanisms). Model validation was conducted using confirmatory factor analysis. This research, by presenting the first comprehensive and localized AI regulatory framework for Iran, can serve as the foundation for formulating national laws, regulations, and standards in the Islamic Republic of Iran. https://www.jipas.ir/article_238402.html Purpose: Despite the long history and relatively appropriate institutional arrangements in the field of crisis management, this process has had many fluctuations in Iran. Therefore, considering the importance of the issue, in this research, we have attempted to diagnose the pathology of the country's crisis management system using the layered analysis of causes method as the main objective of the research. Methodology: The present study is applied in terms of its purpose and mixed in terms of its data collection method. In this research, the layered analysis of causes method was used to identify and organize the damages in the country's crisis management field. . In the first stage, the damages of the social factors layer were identified using the Delphi method and the Kendall agreement coefficient test. The experts in this stage consisted of ten people who were identified purposefully using the snowball method. In the next stage, using a similar method, six university professors were selected for semi-structured interviews regarding the third and fourth layers. The interviews of these individuals were analyzed and validated using the content analysis method and the interpretive validity method. Findings: Based on the research findings15 damages were ultimately identified as damages and shortcomings of the social causes layer. In the third layer, six dominant discourses and harms at the worldview level were identified. These harms include authoritarianism, individualism, present-day thinking, fatalism, tribalism, and belief in immortality.The results of this study confirm deep structural, institutional, and cultural damage in the country's crisis management system. https://www.jipas.ir/article_238404.html 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). https://www.jipas.ir/article_238405.html This study seeks to analyze the problematization of establishing new schools during the Qajar era as one of the key policies of Iran's central government, using Carol Bacchi's "What’s the Problem Represented to Be?" (WPR) framework. All questions of this framework have been addressed through a text-based policy analysis approach. To this end, five texts were selected as the primary evidence for analysis, and the policy contexts were examined using historical documents and historians' analyses. The findings reveal that the establishment of modern educational institutions in Iran was more of a political policy than a purely educational initiative. The education system in Iran is more politically charged than any other new institution. Its establishment was, above all, a political act. This policy disrupted the existing social order and altered the social and political roles of various social classes, leading to political instability and subsequent transformations. In other words, the establishment of new schools in Iran represents a governmental policy that impacted not only education but also the social and political dimensions of society.