Designing a Political Intelligence Model for Managers: A Meta-Synthesis Study
Keywords:
intelligence, managers’ political intelligence, political behavior, meta-synthesis methodAbstract
The purpose of this study was to develop a comprehensive model of managerial political intelligence through the systematic identification, analysis, and synthesis of dimensions and components reported in previous studies. This qualitative study employed a meta-synthesis approach. Data were collected through a systematic review of Persian and English scientific literature published between 2005 and 2025. The research process followed the seven-step meta-synthesis framework proposed by Sandelowski and Barroso. Among 74 initially identified sources, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria after screening titles, abstracts, and full texts. The reliability of the synthesis process was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa coefficient, which yielded a value of 0.90, indicating excellent agreement. The synthesis of the selected studies revealed that managerial political intelligence has a multidimensional structure. A total of 37 components were identified and categorized into four major dimensions. The dimension of Political Analytical and Cognitive Intelligence included 11 components; Communication and Social Influence Intelligence comprised 11 components; Personality and Self-Management Intelligence contained 9 components; and Strategic and Operational Intelligence consisted of 6 components. Key components included power dynamics, information gathering and analysis, social influence, networking capability, emotional regulation, self-monitoring, strategic flexibility, and foresight. The findings suggest that effective political intelligence emerges from the integration of cognitive understanding, interpersonal influence, personal competencies, and strategic action. Managerial political intelligence is a multifaceted capability formed through the interaction of cognitive, communicative, personal, and strategic competencies. The proposed model provides a comprehensive framework for assessing, developing, and enhancing political intelligence among managers and may contribute to greater managerial effectiveness in complex organizational and political environments.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Reza Abdollahi (Author); Davood Kiakojouri; Reza Verij Kazemi (Author)
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