Identification and Ranking of Key Factors in Managing Social Traps in Iranian Public Organizations
Keywords:
Organizational Culture, Ethical Values, Social Relationships, Public Organizations, Social TrapsAbstract
This study aimed to identify and rank the key factors influencing the management of social traps in Iranian public organizations. A mixed-methods design was employed. In the qualitative phase, thematic analysis was conducted on 22 semi-structured interviews with experts in management, human resources, sociology, and psychology to identify key factors. In the quantitative phase, the fuzzy DEMATEL method was applied using data from 12 of the same experts to rank the identified factors. Qualitative data were analyzed using MAXQDA 2020, and quantitative data were analyzed with MATLAB. Thematic analysis yielded 920 semantic units categorized into 122 initial codes, 21 sub-themes, and 7 main themes: social, ethical-value-based, organizational, psychological-emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and managerial. Fuzzy DEMATEL results revealed that the social factor (D+R=4.132) and the ethical-value-based factor (D+R=3.722) were the most influential, while the managerial factor (D+R=1.530) showed the least influence and interaction. This study proposes a conceptual, localized, and multidimensional model for managing social traps in Iranian public organizations. By emphasizing the strengthening of social relationships, ethical values, organizational reforms, and training programs for critical thinking, the model can help reduce inefficiencies, enhance public trust, and improve the quality of public services.
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