https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/ Religion, Management, & Governance en daily 1 Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0330 Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0330 https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_77911.html Background:Human decisions are influenced not only by rational elements but also by circumstances, feelings, and beliefs. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective decision-making.Objective:This study aims to design a participatory decision-making framework based on an Islamic approach.Methods: Data were collected using library resources and interviews with 48 experts. The Grounded Theory method was employed for analysis.Results and Conclusion:The study identified key dimensions of Islamic participatory decision-making, including effective factors (Consultation, Islamic brotherhood/sisterhood, beautiful patience, Self-Knowledge), contextual variables (Stress-Free Beliefs, Moderation, Divine precepts, DIKW pyramid), deterrent factors (Poor Culture, Arrogant Leadership, Fear of Mistakes, Parochialism), and outcomes (Facilitate Decision Implementation, Employee Growth, Culturalization, Al-Falah). A central concept of Optimal Distance was introduced, encompassing 12 types of distance across three axes and practical criteria for measurement. Attention to optimal distance can enhance participatory decision-making in various situations. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_77889.html Purpose:This study develops an Islamic framework for human motivation through a thematic analysis of Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli’s works, addressing gaps in Islamic management literature. It identifies core principles integrating spiritual and practical dimensions, offering insights for personal and organizational development within contemporary Islamic management contexts.Design/methodology/approach:Following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis, ~40,000 pages of Ayatollah Javadi Amoli’s writings were analyzed. The process included data familiarization, code generation, and theme identification, culminating in a holistic Islamic motivational model encompassing spiritual, ethical, and behavioral dimensions.Findings:Three central themes emerged: (1) flourishing (growth of elevated motivations), (2) regulation (balancing spiritual-worldly desires), and (3) adjustment (aligning actions with ethical outcomes). The study highlights ‘aql ‘amali (practical intellect) as pivotal in harmonizing internal conflicts and guiding behavior, proposing a framework that bridges spiritual awareness with organizational strategies.Originality/value:This research advances Islamic management literature by transcending needs-based models, introducing a tripartite motivational framework rooted in Ayatollah Javadi Amoli’s philosophy. It uniquely positions ‘aql ‘amali as a mediator of human desires, offering a scalable model for modern management while fostering spiritual-personal growth. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_77910.html Purpose:This study aims to identify the Iranian-Islamic indices of accreditation in the management discipline. While accreditation models are widely used as effective evaluation frameworks in academic contexts, their development must reflect cultural differences across countries and the specific characteristics of each discipline. This research seeks to determine the accreditation indices appropriate for management programs in Iran based on existing accreditation models and the Iranian-Islamic perspective.Design/Methodology/Approach:Conducted within the interpretivist paradigm, the study uses a multiple qualitative methodology. The research setting is library-based. In the first stage, thematic analysis was applied to 15 accreditation models in the management discipline in order to extract accreditation indices relevant to the field. In the second stage, Imam Khomeini’s collected works (Sahifeh-ye Imam) were thematically analyzed to identify university evaluation indicators from his viewpoint. The findings of the two analyses were then subjected to comparative analysis to integrate and align them within a unified Iranian-Islamic accreditation framework.Findings:From the examination of the 15 management accreditation models, the study identified 7 factors, 182 criteria, and 424 indicators. The thematic analysis of the Sahifeh-ye Imam produced 859 initial codes and 80 basic themes related to university evaluation. Following comparative analysis and integration of the results from the two sources, the final Iranian-Islamic model of accreditation for the management discipline was formulated, consisting of 7 factors, 195 criteria, and 496 indicators. These integrated indices reflect both international accreditation requirements and the Iranian-Islamic value system.Practical Implications:Using these Iranian-Islamic accreditation indices in management program evaluation provides a culturally grounded and value-based framework for ensuring academic quality. It can guide universities in designing, implementing, and improving management programs that cultivate competencies aligned with Iranian-Islamic principles.Originality/Value:This study is the first to synthesize existing management accreditation models with indicators derived from Imam Khomeini’s educational thought to produce an integrated Iranian-Islamic accreditation framework. By presenting a comprehensive set of discipline-specific indices, the research contributes to localized accreditation studies and supports the development of culturally relevant, value-based management education in Iran. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_77849.html Purpose:This study examines the role of values in policy process theories, addressing the central question of whether policy propositions are solely based on objective facts or whether values play an active role in policymaking.Design/Methodology/Approach:Using a systematic review of two authoritative volumes of Theories of the Policy Process (edited by Weible and Sabatier), the research analyzes eight theoretical frameworks and identifies 28 distinct influences of values in different stages of policymaking.Findings:The findings reveal that values are not merely background factors but active and decisive elements shaping all stages of the policy process, including agenda-setting, formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation. Even in seemingly objective frameworks such as the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) and policy diffusion, professional, ideological, and cultural values shape the selection and acceptance of solutions. The study also demonstrates that value conflicts among actors (e.g., policy entrepreneurs, bureaucrats, political elites, and target communities) significantly affect coalitions, decisions, and policy outcomes.Practical ImplicationsThe study suggests three implications for policymakers: (1) designing sustainable and effective policies requires integrating the value systems of society and stakeholders into all stages of policymaking; (2) policymakers must recognize, manage, and reconcile conflicts between competing values, such as individual vs. collective or professional vs. ideological values; and (3) understanding values can enhance civic engagement and align policies with religious and cultural foundations.Originality/Value:By highlighting 28 distinct ways in which values influence the policy process, this research challenges the positivist claim of value-free policy science and provides a post-positivist perspective that emphasizes the value-ladenness of policy theories. It contributes to both policy studies and axiology by offering a framework for understanding policymaking as a dynamic arena of value interaction, conflict, and redefinition. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_77932.html Purpose:This study aims to address a key gap in Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods—namely, their limited incorporation of social and cultural values. While MCDM is widely used for solving complex problems involving multiple, often conflicting criteria, most existing weighting techniques rely mainly on quantitative data or subjective judgments. This research seeks to develop a framework that integrates social values into the weighting process to enhance the alignment of decisions with societal expectations.Design/Methodology/Approach:The study proposes a new framework termed Social Value-Based Weighting (SVBW). In this approach, baseline weights are first derived using any classical weighting method (subjective, objective, or hybrid). These baseline weights are then adjusted through a Social Priority Index, which reflects the degree to which each criterion aligns with selected social values. Values incorporated into the index include justice, public interest, resource efficiency, harm prevention, and religious democracy. The model is designed to be compatible with any existing MCDM technique, and the strength of value-based adjustments can be customized using flexible parameters. A numerical example and sensitivity analysis are used to evaluate the model’s behavior and implications.Findings:Results from the numerical example and sensitivity analysis demonstrate that integrating a social value layer into the weighting process does not fundamentally change final rankings but significantly enhances the transparency of the decision-making logic. More importantly, it increases the social acceptability of outcomes by explicitly reflecting societal value priorities. The findings highlight the potential of SVBW to reconcile technical decision-making processes with normative public expectations.Practical Implications:The proposed framework offers wide applicability in areas such as public policy, resource management, investment decisions, and organizational planning. By embedding social values into traditional MCDM procedures, SVBW provides decision-makers with a more socially grounded and context-sensitive tool.Originality/Value:This study contributes a novel conceptual bridge between quantitative decision analysis and social value considerations. The SVBW framework lays the foundation for developing context-specific, socially embedded MCDM approaches that enhance both technical rigor and societal legitimacy. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_77999.html AbstractPurpose:This study provides a comprehensive overview of research on national production with an Islamic approach in the Islamic Republic of Iran. It aims to map existing scholarly work published over the past decade, identify dominant themes and methodological patterns, and highlight key weaknesses to clarify how this field has developed and where further improvement is needed.Design/Methodology/Approach:Using a scoping review methodology, the study examines all academic articles related to national production published between 2012 and 2025 (1391–1404). After applying screening criteria, 62 articles were selected for review. The analysis considers publication trends, disciplinary distribution, research methods, and the Islamic knowledge sources that scholars have relied upon.Findings:The review indicates that publication peaks coincide with years associated with national economic slogans, with journals in economics and management contributing the largest share. Qualitative and library-based methods dominate the studies, while field-based and quantitative approaches remain limited. In terms of Islamic sources, most research draws on the ideas of Islamic scholars, whereas primary sources such as the Qur’an, narrations, and the sīrah of the Infallibles are comparatively underutilized. The thematic review shows that most studies focus on conceptualizing national production and identifying its components—the “what” dimension—with considerably less attention given to the operational “how” dimension or the development of practical, actionable strategies.Practical Implications:The findings highlight several implications for researchers and policymakers: (1) enhancing the policy impact of research requires greater use of field-based, empirical, and quantitative methods; (2) strengthening the intellectual foundation of national production calls for deeper engagement with primary Islamic sources; and (3) future research should move beyond theoretical and strategic discussions to provide implementable and operational solutions that address real-world challenges.Originality/Value:As the first comprehensive scoping review of national production research grounded in an Islamic approach, this study synthesizes fragmented scholarly efforts and identifies major conceptual and methodological gaps. It offers a roadmap for future research and contributes to improving the practical relevance of studies aimed at supporting policymaking aligned with Islamic societal values. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_77930.html Purpose:This study develops an operational and empirically grounded model of strategic resilience for the Islamic Republic of Iran in the context of a short-term, high-intensity military crisis. Focusing on the 12-day war, it examines how resilience was constructed and exercised at the nation-state level and seeks to clarify whether resilience functioned merely as a capacity for endurance or as a proactive, leadership-driven strategic capability.Design/Methodology/Approach:The research adopts a qualitative approach based on Thematic Analysis. A total of 37 official statements and documents issued by senior political, military, and cultural-social actors during the crisis were systematically analyzed. Using an inductive, multi-stage coding process—including open coding, thematic categorization, and synthesis—382 semantic units were identified and organized into 17 basic themes, 6 organizing themes, and 3 overarching dimensions of strategic resilience.Findings:The analysis reveals that strategic resilience in this case is neither static nor reactive, but dynamic, hierarchical, and centered on strategic agency. The resulting model comprises three interrelated dimensions: Socio-Political Resilience (25.9%), which provides the enabling foundation through integrated leadership, unity of command, and national cohesion; Resilience in Strategic Agency (54.7%), identified as the core dimension, highlighting active deterrence, demonstration of response capability, strategic justification, and narrative management through public diplomacy; and Resilience in Foundational Dimensions (19.4%), which supports resilience through continuity of critical governmental and economic functions, support for affected populations, and the mobilization of semantic and psychological capital. Overall, resilience emerges as a capability activated by a central strategic actor that aligns leadership, hard power, soft power, and social capital into a coherent crisis response.Practical Implications:The findings suggest that effective national resilience in military crises depends on leadership-centered coordination, credible deterrence signaling, narrative control, and the maintenance of public trust and service continuity.Originality/Value:By deriving a strategic resilience model directly from real-time crisis discourse, this study offers a context-sensitive and empirically grounded contribution to resilience research, advancing analysis beyond abstract frameworks and organization-level perspectives.Keywords: Strategic Resilience, National Security, Strategic Leadership, Military Crisis Management, Strategic Agency, Discourse Analysis, Deterrence. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_78006.html Purpose:This study aims to construct an indigenous model of values-based strategic leadership derived from the testaments of commanders of the Sacred Defense. It addresses the core analytical question of how spiritual, ideological, operational, and social values function as strategic mechanisms in leadership under crisis. The study evaluates whether values act merely as ethical guidelines or constitute a comprehensive, action-oriented operating system for leadership.Design/Methodology/Approach:Employing a qualitative design grounded in Thematic Analysis, 30 authenticated testaments of IRGC and Army commanders were examined. Through an inductive multi-stage coding process—including open coding, thematic clustering, and synthesis—90 conceptual codes, 34 basic themes, 12 organizing themes, and 4 overarching thematic dimensions were identified.Findings:The findings demonstrate that values in this context are not background moral elements, but strategic drivers shaping leadership cognition, decision-making, mobilization, and organizational alignment. The resulting model comprises four dimensions: (1) Ontological-Spiritual Foundation (God-centricity, sincerity, Ashura-based meaning-making); (2) Political-Revolutionary Logic (loyalty to Velayat-e Faqih, preserving the Islamic Revolution, anti-arrogance logic); (3) Operational-Strategic Functions (duty-orientation, sacrifice, risk-taking, foresight, mission continuity); and (4) Human-Social Dimension (ethical guidance, family alignment, socio-moral responsibility). These values collectively redefine key strategic concepts such as victory, legitimacy, and resilience.Practical Implications:The study highlights three implications:(1) sustainable crisis leadership requires embedding values throughout strategic and operational processes;(2) leaders must navigate tensions between operational demands and ideological commitments;(3) value integration enhances societal cohesion, mobilization capacity, and intergenerational mission continuity.Originality/Value:By deriving a leadership model directly from firsthand wartime documents, this research introduces a culturally grounded, empirically informed framework. It challenges Western-centric leadership paradigms and positions values as a strategic advantage rather than purely moral attributes, contributing to leadership studies, crisis management, and Islamic management theory. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_78000.html Purpose:This article aims to typologize the theories discussed in the field of management in order to provide a foundation for evaluating and formulating theories categorized as Islamic management. Given the diverse reactions within Islamic societies to modern Western sciences—ranging from full acceptance based on the role of reason in religious epistemology to calls for transformation—the study argues that resolving this debate depends on a deeper understanding of the essence and nature of theory.Design/Methodology/Approach:To develop the typology, the study reviews the philosophical foundations of Aristotle, whose framework has been widely accepted and applied by many Muslim philosophers. Aristotle’s categorization of forms of wisdom serves as the conceptual basis for classifying theories. The article analyzes these philosophical premises to construct a classification system that differentiates theories according to their epistemic basis, criteria of validity, and content structure.Findings:The analysis identifies three types of theory or wisdom within the realm of sciences:Theoretical wisdom,Practical wisdomPoetic wisdomEach type differs in its mode of production, standards of validity, and thematic content. As an interdisciplinary field, management knowledge draws upon all three forms of wisdom, and each type entails its own requirements and conditions for being linked to the process of Islamization. Understanding these distinctions clarifies how management theories originate and operate within different epistemological layers.Practical Implications:Based on the typology, the article identifies the necessary implications for achieving Islamic management knowledge. Recognizing whether a given theory belongs to theoretical, practical, or poetic wisdom informs the appropriate strategies for evaluating its compatibility with Islamic teachings, modifying its components, or developing alternative theories rooted in Islamic epistemology.Originality/Value:By employing an Aristotelian typology to analyze management theories, this article introduces a novel and philosophically grounded basis for assessing and constructing Islamic management theories. It contributes to ongoing debates about the interaction between Islamic thought and Western sciences and provides a structured framework to guide future efforts toward the Islamization of management knowledge. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_78005.html Purpose:This article explores Islamic futures studies as a liberatory intellectual project rather than a new academic discipline. It aims to analyze and synthesize the conceptual frameworks proposed by prominent non-Iranian thinkers, particularly regarding how this project responds to the dual crisis in the Muslim world: “epistemological colonization” resulting in “used futures,” and “internal intellectual stagnation” rooted in the closure of the gates of ijtihād.Methodology:Using an interpretivist paradigm and the method of thematic analysis, the study critically examines foundational texts and key works in the field. Through interpretive reading and thematic synthesis, it distills the core strategies and conceptual elements presented by leading scholars.Findings:The analysis reveals that the liberatory project of Islamic futures studies is built upon a two-pronged strategy. The first is a critical movement toward the decolonization of the mind, facilitated by tools such as Causal Layered Analysis (CLA). The second is a constructive movement toward a dynamic re-reading of tradition, utilizing concepts such as transformation reform and the redefinition of Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah. Together, these strategies aim to resist imposed futures and instead create “pluralistic” and justice-oriented futures.Practical Implications:The approach encourages the formulation of alternative futures grounded in epistemic autonomy and renewed intellectual vitality. It also provides methodological guidance for scholars seeking to reconstruct future visions based on Islamic intellectual resources.Originality:The article highlights how this liberatory approach aspires to transcend inherited or externally imposed futures by generating diverse and justice-centered visions, such as a “Global Ummah” and “multi-civilizational worlds.” Its contribution lies in synthesizing dispersed conceptual frameworks into a coherent model for Islamic futures studies as a transformative intellectual project. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_77998.html Purpose:The rapid diffusion of algorithmic systems into public decision-making has fundamentally reshaped governance by reallocating moral and cognitive authority from human agents to automated systems. While algorithmic governance promises efficiency and neutrality, it simultaneously generates profound ethical concerns related to legitimacy, justice, accountability, and human responsibility. This study aims to reconstruct the ethical foundations of algorithmic governance through the lens of Islamic ethical philosophy.Methodology:The research employs a qualitative content analysis of primary Islamic sources, including selected Quranic verses and hadiths. Through systematic coding and thematic interpretation, core ethical principles relevant to governance and decision-making are extracted and analytically mapped onto contemporary challenges of algorithmic governance.Findings:The analysis identifies nine interrelated ethical principles—autonomy, dignity, justice, trust, honesty, caution, commitment, benevolence, and non-invasiveness—that together constitute a coherent moral framework for guiding algorithmic decision-making. These principles emphasize human moral agency, responsibility, and restraint, challenging purely technocratic or efficiency-driven models of governance.Contribution:The study demonstrates that Islamic ethics provides both a transcendental normative foundation and an applied moral logic capable of addressing ethical deficits in algorithmic governance. By conceptualizing algorithms as instruments of moral agency rather than substitutes for it, the article advances the notion of ethical stewardship as a corrective governance paradigm. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_77920.html Purpose:This study investigates the impact of Taqwa and Islamic ethical principles on employee mental health and organizational productivity. By examining virtues such as repentance, faith, and moderation, as well as prohibitions against vices like envy, despair, and deception, the research aims to clarify the ethical implications of Taqwa for individual well-being and workplace outcomes.Design/Methodology/Approach:Using a deliberative inquiry approach, the study analyzes Islamic texts (Quran and Shiite Hadiths) alongside contemporary empirical evidence. Through this dual-source analysis, the research identifies how Taqwa operates as an ethical and psychological regulator within organizational contexts.Findings:The findings indicate that Taqwa enhances psychological well-being by regulating emotions, strengthening interpersonal relationships, and promoting mental vitality. These improvements reduce workplace stress and burnout while simultaneously boosting organizational productivity. The study additionally shows that implementing Taqwa-driven ethical principles contributes to healthier work environments and more resilient employees.Practical Implications:Practical recommendations include developing Taqwa-based training programs, adopting supportive policies that reinforce marital and social bonds, and encouraging wholesome recreational activities within organizations. These measures can institutionalize ethical well-being and improve organizational effectiveness.Originality:This research proposes a divinely inspired ethical framework for management that contrasts with secular approaches to workplace mental health. By integrating Islamic values into organizational settings, the study offers novel and effective solutions for mental health management and outlines directions for future research to expand the application of Taqwa-based principles. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_78070.html abstract The Expansion of Ethical Challenges in the Accounting Profession and the Growing Societal Sensitivity to Unethical Behaviors Have Further Highlighted the Necessity of Investigating Factors Influencing Ethical Decision-Making. The present study aims to examine the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity, as well as peer influence, on the three stages of ethical decision-making: ethical recognition, ethical judgment, and ethical intention. Relying on Rest's (1986) ethical decision-making model, this research employs a quantitative methodology and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Data were collected by distributing a validated questionnaire among university faculty members in the field of accounting. The findings revealed that both intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity have a significant positive effect on ethical recognition, judgment, and intention. Within the Iranian cultural context, even extrinsic religiosity, due to the normative role of religion, strengthens ethical orientation. Furthermore, peer influence emerged as the strongest factor affecting all stages of ethical decision-making—a finding that underscores the importance of group structures and social norms in shaping ethical behavior. The internal pathways of Rest's model were also confirmed, demonstrating the effect of ethical recognition on ethical judgment and the effect of ethical judgment on ethical intention, with the mediating role of ethical judgment being substantiated. The results indicate that ethical decision-making is the product of the simultaneous interaction of individual religious inclinations and social forces stemming from the peer environment. These findings have significant implications for designing professional ethics training programs, enhancing ethical organizational cultures, and strengthening social mechanisms that support ethical behavior. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_78071.html This study aims to examine the religious imperatives in social security policymaking with a particular emphasis on the concept of Social Takaful. The research method is based on a systematic review of scholarly sources, including books, peer-reviewed articles, and academic theses published up to July 2024. A comprehensive search was conducted in reputable academic databases, followed by multi-stage screening based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality appraisal was carried out using the CASP tool, and finally, 51 sources were analyzed. The findings indicate that while numerous works address welfare, social justice, and Islamic perspectives on social security, there is no comprehensive study that systematically derives the religious imperatives of social security policymaking from the framework of Social Takaful. Content analysis of the selected studies revealed that the core dimensions of Islamic social policy include social and economic justice, mutual responsibility and solidarity, social welfare, spiritual growth, human dignity, duties of the Islamic state, public participation, universal coverage, empowerment, and adherence to religious principles. Accordingly, the Islamic state, beyond its direct supportive role, is tasked with responsibilities such as managing religious endowments (waqf), meeting the basic needs of the poor, raising orphans, supporting the disabled, and paying the debts of those unable to fulfill them. Moreover, informal institutions such as the family, kinship, community, and networks of brotherhood play a central role in realizing Social Takaful. The study concludes that a systematic review of Islamic sources can provide a solid foundation for identifying and reconstructing a conceptual framework for Islamic social policymaking. This can contribute to designing indigenous models of social security characterized by justice, ethics, and sustainability. https://rmg.isu.ac.ir/article_78072.html Purpose: This scientific note aims to examine the role of the people in Islamic governance—often conceptualized as religious democracy—from the viewpoint of Imam Khamenei. It seeks to clarify the relationship between divine authority and popular participation within Islamic political thought. Method/Approach: The study adopts a conceptual and analytical approach grounded in Islamic political theory, focusing on the intellectual framework articulated by Imam Khamenei regarding governance, legitimacy, and public participation. Findings: The analysis demonstrates that in Islamic political thought, divine authority and popular participation are not contradictory but complementary and mutually reinforcing. God-centered governance presupposes conscious faith, voluntary participation, and moral responsibility of the people. Public religiosity, social responsibility, ethical governance, and human vicegerency (khilāfah) constitute the conceptual foundations of Islamic political legitimacy. Furthermore, popular will is essential both in the establishment and continuity of an Islamic government, while elected officials bear profound moral and practical obligations toward society. Conclusion: Islamic governance is ultimately presented as a system in which human agency, divine law, justice, and ethical accountability converge, forming an integrated model of religious democracy rooted in both divine guidance and active public participation.