Identifying and Prioritizing Performance Management Challenges in Iran's Agricultural Extension and Education

Subject Areas : Agricultural Extension

Ali Aghaee Malekabadi ¹ , Ahmadreza Ommani ^{2 *} , Azadeh Noorollah Noorivandi ³ , Mohammad Sadegh Sabouri ⁴

1 - Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Shoushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran
2 - Associate Professor, Agricultural and Rural Development Management Research Center, Agricultural ManagementDepartment, Shoushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran
3 - Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Shoushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran
4 - Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Garmsar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Garmsar, Iran

Received: 2024-11-11 Accepted : 2025-03-05 Published : 2025-03-31

Keywords: Performance Management, Challenges, Agricultural Extension and Education, Iran,

Abstract :

In Tehran, surveys were used to identify and rank performance management challenges in agricultural extension and education.  To identify and evaluate the challenges, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted. Participants included 22 experts who had at least 10 years of management experience in extension activities. The number of study participants was determined based on theoretical saturation. This action was identified in the form of 3 steps of open coding, axial coding and selective coding using MAXqda₁₂ software. Then, the identified challenges were prioritized through Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with Expert Choice software. After the pairwise comparison of all the challenges based on each of the sub-criteria, the pairwise comparisons were combined and the result and final weight and priority of each of the challenges was determined based on the set of criteria using the software. The first 3 priorities were: lack of development of knowledge about strategic and operational performance and performance advancement (W=0.176.), lack of knowledge of continuous monitoring of the performance and process of doing work (W=0.148.), unfavorable attitude towards continuous performance monitoring, feedback and performance evaluation (W=0.132). Finally, applied recommendations to overcome challenges were expressed.