Identification of Managers' Political Skills Contributing to Ethical Decision-Making: Case study: Khuzestan Province Government Organizations

Subject Areas : human resource management

mehdi tamimi ¹ , Hamid Reza Mir Tavousi ^{2 *} , rasool aghadavood ³ , saeid sharifi ⁴

1 -
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Management,Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
3 - Assistant Professor, Faculty of Management, Islamic Azad University, Dehaghan Branch
4 - Department of Cultural Management and Planning, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

Received: 2025-04-28 Accepted : 2025-06-07 Published : 2025-08-06

Keywords: political skill, decision-making, ethical decision-making,

Abstract :

Introduction: Organizational managers encounter several challenges related to ethical decision-making. It has become increasingly evident that leaders must be equipped to integrate ethical principles into their organizational decision processes. Consequently, this study aims to propose a model of political skills possessed by managers to facilitate ethical decision-making within governmental organizations in Khuzestan Province.

Methodology: The methodology employed in this study was a content analysis grounded in the model established by Clark and Brown (2006). The primary data collection instrument comprised semi-structured, in-depth interviews, which were subjected to analysis through open and axial coding procedures. The research population consisted of experts and specialists within government organizations in Khuzestan Province, from whom a total of fifteen individuals were interviewed until data saturation was achieved. To ensure the validity of the findings, both respondent validation and external audits were conducted.

Findings: The results indicated that the political skills of managers pertinent to ethical decision-making, as an overarching theme, encompass thirteen subthemes: interpersonal communication management, political oversight and supervision, political navigation, individual-level skills, social-level skills, moral motivation, ethical culture, social competence, moral development, organizational ethics, social responsibility, individual accountability, and organizational accountability. These subthemes comprise a total of 236 components categorized as fundamental themes.

Conclusion: The political competencies of managers in ethical decision-making encompass various themes that enhance communication, supervision, and the social and individual responsibilities within governmental organizations.

 

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