A Qualitative Analysis of the Causes of Yazd Province's Failure to Achieve the Economic Indicators of the Fifth Development Plan
Azad Moallem
1
(
)
Vajhollah Ghorbanizadeh
2
(
Associate professor, Faculty of Management and accounting, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.
)
Keywords: Development Management, Development, Planning, Fifth Development Plan,
Abstract :
This study aims to explore the underlying causes of Yazd Province’s failure to achieve key economic indicators set forth in Iran’s Fifth Five-Year Development Plan. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, the study employs semi-structured interviews with policymakers, senior provincial managers, and academic experts. The findings identify three major categories of factors contributing to this failure: structural, managerial, and environmental. Structurally, the absence of a unified understanding of development, inefficiencies in the planning process, and the weak institutional position of the Provincial Development Council were highlighted. In the managerial domain, the lack of meritocratic recruitment, fragmented decision-making, and inadequate knowledge management were found to be significant. Environmentally, constraints such as water scarcity, economic sanctions, and regional disparities further impeded effective implementation. Comparative analysis with international literature reveals that these issues reflect broader challenges observed in developing countries, particularly in contexts of centralized governance and low bureaucratic capacity. The study concludes that without institutional reforms at both the national and provincial levels—especially in planning systems, governance structures, and managerial competencies—future development plans are unlikely to succeed. The findings offer practical insights for policymakers aiming to promote sustainable and regionally balanced development in Iran.
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