Identifying the Components of Strategic Leadership in the Sports Federations of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Subject Areas : Sport Sciences Quarterly

Masome Tohidloo ¹ , Mehdi Kohandel ^{2 *} , Nemat Kalifeh ³ , Mahvasah Noorbabakhash ⁴

1 - Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Sport Sciences, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
2 - Associate Professor in Sports Management Department, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
3 - 3. Associate Professor of Sport Sciences, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran. Email: [e-mail]
4 - . Full Professor of Sport Sciences, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran. Email: [e-mail]

Received: 2023-09-20 Published : 2024-09-06

Keywords: : Strategic orientation, human resource development, learning strategies, team leadership,

Abstract :

Given the necessity of identifying the dimensions of strategic leadership appropriate to the specific context governing sports, the present study aimed to identify the components of strategic leadership in the sports federations of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This study employed qualitative exploratory research methods and utilized grounded theory analysis. The research population consisted of experts and key stakeholders in the field of sports organizations and federations who had experience and familiarity with the foundations of management and strategic leadership. In line with the nature of the research, a purposive sample of 14 individuals was selected as participants to achieve theoretical saturation and were interviewed accordingly. A semi-structured interview was used as the data collection tool. Intra-subject agreement was employed to ensure the reliability of the interviews, and validity was confirmed through expert opinions in the field of sports management and revision based on their feedback. The grounded theory analysis resulted in the extraction of 87 codes and 7 main components. Data analysis revealed that the components of strategic leadership in sports federations include seven factors: "strategic orientation", "human resource development", "learning strategies", "team leadership", "control strategies", "effective interaction culture", and "ethical strategies".