Digital Transformation and Administration Innovation

One of the most important concerns for banks in achieving maximum efficiency is customer loyalty. On the other hand, social marketing, as the newest marketing philosophy emphasizing individual and societal benefits alongside the interests of banks, represents a valuable approach for motivating customers and altering their attitudes toward the bank. The aim of this study is to develop a model for enhancing customer loyalty in the banking industry using social marketing. This study is qualitative in method and developmental in purpose. It is based on in-depth interviews with experts in the banking industry and branch managers of banks in Tehran. A purposive sampling method was employed. Data collection was carried out through library research and in-depth interviews with 14 experts. For data analysis, after reviewing the existing literature and prior research, the MAXQDA software and coding methodology were used to analyze the interview data. The findings of the study indicate that the dimensions of social marketing are related to customer loyalty. Through selective coding results, it was shown that trust, commitment, price, tools and customer expectations, causal conditions, employee behavior, staff training, facilities and technology, contextual conditions, bank characteristics, society and customer, intervening conditions, loyalty, satisfaction, and the sense of value represent core conditions, while cultural development, facilitative regulations, government support, and advertising constitute the strategic conditions that form the proposed model.

Rapid urbanization and the excessive growth of metropolises have led to numerous consequences, including deficiencies in infrastructure and urban services, social disorders and disarray, housing shortages, and residence in vulnerable and deteriorated urban fabrics. These developments have also placed the environment at risk. Social and economic duality—and consequently, spatial duality—are outcomes of the interactive effects of various factors, which have become evident in Tehran due to rapid urban growth and inefficient urban management. In this context, the management of District 7 of Tehran Municipality, as the spatial focus of this study, has not operated in an integrated or coordinated manner. This has resulted in stark differences in the distribution of land uses between the eastern and western areas of District 7. The aim of this study is to identify the influential factors in the role of urban management in shaping spatial duality within District 7 of Tehran Municipality. This research is applied in purpose, analytical in nature, and employs a mixed-methods approach (qualitative-quantitative). The statistical population consists of 75 urban planning experts. A non-probability stratified sampling method was employed. Research data were collected through library methods, and the instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire with closed-ended questions. The TOPSIS model was used for data analysis. The results indicate that the integration factor, with a score of 0.967, ranks highest among the evaluated criteria. The spatial factor, with a score of 0.914, holds second place, followed by the security factor in third place. Other factors such as employment, participation, income, infrastructure, and services ranked lower accordingly.

The information revolution and the emergence of cyberspace have transformed the marketing landscape and the roles of traditional stakeholders, creating new opportunities for business owners. Easy access to information, the ability to quickly compare products, and many other features of the internet have significantly enhanced consumer power. Companies must better understand consumer buying behavior and attempt to incorporate these insights into their marketing strategies in order to remain competitive. This study evaluates the impact of various advertising methods and online social networks on the purchasing behavior of Iranian consumers. The research adopts a quantitative methodology. Initially, using Chaffey's model, the conceptual framework of the study was developed, and a questionnaire consisting of 37 items was designed, with each item assessing the influence of one advertising method on a specific stage of the purchasing process. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software, applying the non-parametric binomial test and Friedman test. The study spanned one year and was completed in June 2023. The results indicated that only websites and search engines affect the stages of the purchasing process, whereas other forms of advertising do not have a significant impact.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between users’ trust in media, digital infrastructure, demographic characteristics, and media consumption patterns among Iranian users over the age of 15. A quantitative and correlational research design was used to examine the relationships between multiple variables simultaneously. The statistical population included Iranian users aged 15 and above with access to cyberspace. Using Cochran’s formula, a sample of 384 participants was selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected via a researcher-made questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. The validity of the instrument was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was verified using Cronbach's alpha (α = 0.87). Variables measured included demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, residence), media consumption motives (information-seeking, entertainment, social interaction), trust in media (domestic and foreign), frequency of media use (official, domestic social, foreign social), and digital infrastructure (internet access, smart devices). The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between trust in domestic media and its consumption (Gamma = 0.42, p < 0.001). A one-way ANOVA showed that higher levels of digital infrastructure were associated with greater virtual media consumption (F = 6.52, p = 0.002). Chi-square tests indicated significant differences in media consumption based on age (X² = 18.73, p = 0.001), gender (X² = 5.54, p = 0.003), and education (X² = 21.65, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that all three motives—information (β = 0.34), social interaction (β = 0.26), and entertainment (β = 0.18)—significantly predicted the type of media used by respondents (p < 0.005 for all). The study confirms that trust in media, digital access, demographic factors, and motivational drivers all play critical roles in shaping users' media consumption behaviors in the digital landscape of Iran.

The objective of the present study was to propose a paradigmatic model of financial technology (FinTech) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This research employed a qualitative method and was applied in nature. The statistical population included scholarly articles and documentation as well as experts such as managers in financial and banking businesses, university faculty members, and information technology specialists. Participants were selected purposefully using the snowball sampling method. Accordingly, interviews were conducted with 17 experts. The research instrument consisted of semi-structured interviews, the validity of which was evaluated using face validity, and reliability was assessed through inter-coder agreement. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Findings revealed that the paradigmatic model comprises: Causal factors including marketing mix, strategic thinking, team characteristics, communication, and interactions; FinTech outcomes including efficiency and effectiveness; Intervening factors including investment risks, trust-building, and overcoming barriers to implementation; Strategies including attracting investors, securing financing, and enhancing financial and technical knowledge; FinTech consequences including achieving personal success, creating value for society, and generating value for businesses.

This study aims to examine the role of FIFA's disciplinary regulations in shaping behaviors associated with global football and to analyze their structural impacts on various stakeholders. The primary objective is to explore the interaction between legal language, institutional centralization, and procedural justice within the regulatory text. The research method is based on qualitative content analysis of 76 articles from FIFA’s 2023 regulations, with a focus on linguistic patterns, discursive structures, and enforcement mechanisms. Data were extracted through thematic coding, analysis of key vocabulary, and alignment with analytical frameworks from legal studies and critical discourse analysis. On one hand, FIFA regulations enable the uniform application of rules by clearly defining offenses and penalties. On the other hand, structural ambiguities in key concepts and the concentration of decision-making authority create the potential for subjective interpretation and undermine the rights of less influential countries. A clear contradiction is evident between the proclaimed commitment to justice and the reality of centralization. Although the regulations effectively address a broad range of infractions, they demonstrate shortcomings in protecting vulnerable groups, such as whistleblowers. A noticeable gap also exists between theoretical principles and practical challenges in areas such as financial transparency and institutional accountability. Despite its technical achievements, FIFA’s disciplinary framework requires a fundamental revision to reduce structural inequalities. Key recommendations include redefining ambiguous terms, expanding regulatory coverage to address emerging issues such as athletes’ psychological safety, decentralizing decision-making by involving independent bodies, and enhancing financial transparency through public reporting. Stakeholder education and the reinforcement of protective mechanisms will also help mitigate unintentional violations and strengthen procedural justice.

This study aimed to identify the components of a knowledge management-based talent management model specifically tailored for physical education teachers in Iraq. A qualitative research design using grounded theory methodology was employed. Participants included 15 experts selected through purposive and snowball sampling, comprising experienced physical education teachers, sports management faculty, and administrative personnel from the Iraqi Ministry of Education. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews and analyzed using Strauss and Corbin’s three-step coding approach: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. The interview transcripts were systematically examined to extract codes, categories, and conceptual linkages that formed the basis of the emerging model. The analysis resulted in six core elements of the model. Causal conditions included meritocracy, cultural development, compensation systems, professional development, legal requirements, and transparency. Contextual conditions involved organizational support, technology infrastructure, strategic alignment, job-person fit, and managerial attitudes. Intervening conditions were identified as political barriers, financial constraints, legal rigidity, and organizational adaptability. Strategic responses comprised in-service training, external training, talent retention, talent development, recruitment and deployment, and structured identification systems. Core strategies centered on conceptualizing talent and establishing management structures. The outcomes included enhanced teacher motivation, extra-role behavior, knowledge creation, knowledge transfer, organizational commitment, succession planning, and the formation of knowledge-centered educational institutions. The findings underscore the critical role of knowledge management in modernizing talent management practices for physical education teachers in Iraq. The resulting model offers a comprehensive and context-sensitive framework that addresses institutional, procedural, and human factors in the teacher development process, with potential implications for broader educational reform efforts in similar socio-political contexts.

This study aimed to develop a qualitative model of responsibility culture with a blame-free management approach in Iranian governmental organizations. The research method was qualitative, based on grounded theory. The statistical population included experts familiar with the subject, such as government managers, human resource specialists, academic researchers, and policymakers in the labor and civil service sectors, who were selected purposefully and through snowball sampling. Entry criteria included having executive or research experience relevant to the topic and familiarity with Iran’s bureaucratic challenges. In total, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted, each averaging 60 minutes in duration, and continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were recorded and documented with participants' consent. Data analysis was conducted using MAXQDA 2020 software in three stages: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. In the first stage, 455 conceptual statements were extracted, which were reduced to 132 initial codes, then to 35 axial codes, and finally to 8 core categories. These categories included: culture and trust, structure and technology, leadership and management, legal and regulatory, economic and resources, assessment and evaluation, environmental and contextual, and education and capacity building. The validity of the findings was assessed through the criteria of credibility, transferability, confirmability, and dependability. The average coding reliability was 84.57%. By explaining the key dimensions of responsibility culture and identifying its barriers and facilitators within governmental structures, this research can significantly contribute to the redesign of human resource policies, enhancement of accountability, and the development of blame-free management approaches in Iran’s public sector.