Identification of the Indicators, Components, and Dimensions of an Ethical Model for Managers in Public Organizations: A Case Study of the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify the indicators, components, and dimensions of an ethical model for managers in public organizations, with the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade serving as the case study. In terms of purpose, this study was applied-developmental, and in terms of methodology, it employed a qualitative thematic analysis approach. The study population consisted of managers, deputies, and expert professionals from the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, as well as university faculty members in Tehran with expertise in the field of managerial ethics. Purposive sampling was employed, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 experts until theoretical saturation was reached. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis based on the model proposed by Braun and Clarke (2006). The findings indicated that 124 initial codes were classified into 12 components and five main dimensions. The main dimensions included individual ethical competencies, ethical leadership and behavior, organizational ethical culture and structure, governance and public responsibility, and indigenous and Islamic values. The results indicate that managerial ethics is a multilevel phenomenon and that the proposed model can provide a basis for developing codes of ethics, designing ethics training programs, and evaluating managers’ ethical performance.