Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the benefits of institutionalizing strategic thinking in sport federations. Methodology: This research work was a qualitative exploratory study that was conducted through a thematic analysis. The statistical population included experts of Sports management with the experience of familiarity with the principles of futurology, and according to the research nature, 16 experts were interviewed through snowball sampling until reaching theoretical saturation. The tool used in the research work was a semi-structured interview. The intra-subject agreement method was used to ensure the reliability of the interviews, and the validity was confirmed by consulting sport management experts and reviewing based on their opinions. Results: The thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke’s (2006) method led to the extraction of 168 codes, 12 sub-themes, and 4 main themes. The findings demonstrated that "Sports Development", "Economic Development", "Organizational Excellence" and "Coping with Crisis" were different benefits of institutionalization of strategic thinking in Sports federations. Conclusion: Considering the special benefits that the institutionalization of strategic thinking brings for Sports federations, the focus of Sports management trustees on the development and strengthening of strategic thinking in sport federations, and Sports managers can be the source of significant changes in the field of Sports.

The purpose of this study was to design an organizational inertia model in the Iran Sports federations. The statistical population was all employees of Sports federations (N = 1852). In the qualitative part, purposive sampling method and snowball sampling technique were used and in the quantitative part, based on Morgan table, 350 people were selected as a sample by simple random sampling method. In order to study the objectives of the research, semi-structured interviews were used in the qualitative part and in the quantitative part, a researcher-made questionnaire of organizational inertia obtained from the qualitative part was used. In the opinion of Sports management professors and experts to confirm the face validity and structural equations and reliability of the questionnaire was performed experimentally on 30 members of the research community and the calculation of Cronbach's alpha coefficient was confirmed. SPSS and Amos version 23 statistical packages were used to analyze the data. The results showed that organizational inertia in Sports federations of the country consists of 7 dimensions, 18 components and 55 items and there is a significant difference between the observed and hypothetical means of organizational inertia (t = 11. 99), dimensions of organizational inertia and There are components of organizational inertia other than the component of mental models (P <0. 01). Finally, the findings showed that the obtained model of organizational inertia has a good fit. .

The purpose of this study was to introducing performance appraisal questionnaire for Sports federations. The research method was a mixed method that combines qualitative and quantitative methods. Population of study was experts assessing the performance of Sports federations at the Ministry of Sport (10 people), heads, evaluators and Secretaries of the Sports federation in Iran (100 people) and University elite who have done research in the field of management and performance evaluation in sport (50 people). The number of samples continued to reach the theoretical saturation for the interview (25people). In the quantitative phase, 130 questionnaires were collected. In order to analyze the data, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling using SmartPLS3 software were used. 124 questions were categorized into 32 sub-criteria and 9 criteria that included: Leadership (18 questions), Strategy (13 questions), Human resources (17 questions), Partnership and Resources (17 questions), Processes, Products and Services (18 questions), Customer Results (12 questions), Human resources Results (11 questions), Society Results (7 questions) and Key Results (11 questions). The results of this study showed that the performance appraisal (evaluation) questionnaire of Sports federations is an appropriate theoretical framework and tool for evaluating organizational performance in Sports federations. It is suggested that managers and researchers in sport management use this questionnaire to evaluate the performance of Sports federations.

The aim of the present study was to develop human capital measurement model in Iran Sports federations. This study was descriptive-correlation and an applied research.The statistical population included presidents, vice-presidents, general secretaries, committees' managers, coaches and experts in Sports federations of Islamic Republic of Iran. The study sample consisted of 312 subjects who were selected with stratified and purposive sampling method. In order to collect data, a researcher-made questionnaire was used and for data analysis, both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Exploratory factor analysis of human capital indicators showed that this concept consisted of seven factors named motivation, management and leadership, knowledge and skills, competencies, commitment, experience, and entrepreneurship.The reliability of the questionnaire was 0.90. The results of factorial structure and confirmatory factor analysis of human capital showed that the model had a good fit and its factorial structure was acceptable (RMSEA=0.043, GFI=0.90). Furthermore, the model also had good divergent and convergent validity. Model and tools derived from this study can be served as a supplement to the financial reporting system and macro decision makings in Sports federations.

Effective strategic leadership entails the implementation of diverse management strategies to develop a forward-looking perspective for the organization. Such a perspective enables the organization to adjust and remain competitive in a continuously changing economic and technological environment. This study aimed to design a strategic leadership model for Sports federations in Iran. This study was applied in terms of purpose and adopted a mixed method with an exploratory approach. The statistical population of the qualitative study consisted of experts in the field of Sports federations who were selected purposefully, and finally,  14 experts were selected as the research participants based on data saturation approach. The statistical population in the quantitative phase included 319 subjects (president, vice-president, secretary, and three members of the Board of Directors of Sports federations) selected through stratified random sampling. The research data collection tool in the qualitative phase was a semi-structured interview whereas, in the quantitative section, a researcher-made questionnaire was developed from interviews' data. Data in the qualitative phase were analyzed using experts’ points of view, and in the quantitative phase, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, divergent and convergent validity, and structural equation tests were used. Moreover, the face, content, and construct validity of the instrument were confirmed. Finally, the model of strategic leadership of sport federations was presented with seven factors including strategic orientation, human resources development, learning strategy, team leadership, strategic control, effective interaction culture, and ethical strategy.

Objective: This study conducted to recognize the obstacles and directions of quality management implementation in Iran Sport federations.Methodology: The method of research was mixed (qualitative & quantitative); in qualitative phase, the obstacles and direction have recognized through deep, solitary and semi structured interviews and content analysis of library studies, and in quantitative phase the  identified axis’s have priorised through paired comparison questionnaires and AHP. The participants in both phases were selected by targeted and snowball sampling among heads of federations, top national sport managers and experts of sport management and interviews have been done until reached to theoretical saturation.(17 Experts)Results: The result of open and axial coding of interviews and library studies, conducted to identifieng 59 abstacles that categorized therough Axial coding to 7 overall subjects;  Forthermore 63  efective solutions and intitutions also recognized and categorized in 7 overall subjects. Conclusion: The main identified subjects of obstacles orderly were organizational culture, human resources and managers, processes and innovation, society and athletic environment, management and planning, rules and organizational structure, IT and corresponding directions was SRM development system and process development and training and culture making. Like most other quality management models, identifying the needs and expectations of costumers, had highest priority in this research. 

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the goodness-of-fit and explanation of the 360-degree leadership model of Denison in Sports federations. Methodology: This research was applied in terms of purpose and in terms of data collection method, it was descriptive-survey. The statistical population of this research included all experts of the Iran’ s Sports federations that number was 320 people. Based on Morgan table, 171 people were selected by simple random sampling method as a research sample. The Denison's 360-degree leadership questionnaire (2007) was used for data collection. Reliability (Cronbach's alpha and combined reliability), convergent validity, and divergent validity of the questionnaires were verified and confirmed after content reliability, which was verified by 11 professors and experts. Additionally, the fitting of the general model was confirmed by the Confirmatory Factor Analysis and via Smart PLS 2 software. Results: The results of Factor Analysis show that all of 12 dimensions have a desirable level (above 0. 4). Also content validity, convergent validity (AVE) and divergent validity was at acceptable levels. Also, the general fitting value of the model was GOF = 0. 726 indicating its strong goodness-of-fit. Conclusion: Overall, the results of the study indicated that the Denison leadership model, which included four dimensions and 12 components, was approved its applicability in the Iranian Sports federations and could provide a valuable tool for the managers of these federations to establish an effective leadership.

The present study aimed to determine the productivity of Iranian Olympic federations in the professional dimension and it was a process research conducted as a survey under the influence of limited time domain. The research was conducted using a researcher-made questionnaire. The content, face, and criterion validity of questionnaire was examined and confirmed; and the tool reliability was tested using the Cronbach's alpha leading to the desirable coefficient of 0. 96. The statistical population consisted of senior managers of Iranian Olympic federations; and managers of all federations (26) were considered as statistical samples by the full enumeration due to the limited number of managers. Data was analyzed using the Paired-Samples T-Test (to compare the productivity indicators in financial, material and human components with an emphasis on the professional dimension in desired status, and identify gaps) and the effect severity (to evaluate the productivity). According to results of financial component and mean values, the mean desired status was higher than the current status in indexes namely the commemoration of heroes and pioneers; setting up local camps; development of infrastructures; and promoting local championship levels, but due to the significant t and high effect severity, the indices namely budgets for dispatch the knowledge application had the effect severity of less than 0. 05; and the mean difference of desired and current status was lower than other indices of financial components in the professional dimension. Finally, it was found that the productivity of Iranian Olympic federations was lower than the standard level in this dimension.

The current research was carried out in order to identify and explain the main and essential drivers affecting the professionalization of Sports federations in Iran. This research is one of mixed research (a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods) in terms of its implementation. In addition to the qualitative study with the theme analysis method using semi-structured interviews, in the quantitative part, the model arising from the research was tested with the confirmatory factor analysis method. The statistical population of this research in the qualitative part was made up of managers and officials of the National Olympic Committee and Sports federations, university professors, as well as specialists of organizations and organizational strategy (12 people). The interviewees were selected by purposeful sampling. In the quantitative section, employees of the National Olympic Committee, selected Sports federations and the Ministry of Sports and Youth were selected (210 complete and correct questionnaires). The results obtained from the research identified two endogenous and exogenous factors during the professionalization process with subcategories including the expectations of the subgroup members, the management department, the structure of the decision-making process, the specific characteristics of the federation, pressure from stakeholders, and the competitive environment. Confirmatory factor analysis data also showed a good and sufficient fit for the identified factors. In general, professionalization is known as a multifaceted and complex phenomenon various factors influence its formation and creation. In the meantime, Sports federations should be able to use the best solution in the face of professionalization in the Sports environment by knowing the factors.

The research was to study the effect of participative management on strategic thinking among selected Iranian Sports federations. Measuring instruments included Participative Management Questionnaire (Labaf and Ranjbar, 1381) and Strategical Thinking Standard Questionnaire (Liedtka, 1998) were Applied with validity through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Cronbach's Alpha Coefficients Participative Management Questionnaire (0.88) and Strategical Thinking Questionnaire was (0.96) determined. The statistical population of the research was including 900 directors and staff of Sports federations in Islamic Republic of Iran. Sample of 269 were chosen randomly sampling on the basis of the Krejcie and Morgan. The research method is Causal Research that using Structal Equation Models (Structal Equation & path diagram) was analyzed by using LISREL statistical software. Results indicated that there was positive significant impact on some components of Participative Management (goal setting, decision making, problem solving and change).Also, there was positive significant impact on some components of Strategical Thinking (System Perspective, Intent Focus, Hypothesis Driven, Intelligent Opportunism and Thinking in Time). Totally, Participative Management was of positive significant impact on Strategical Thinking. Those sequential model fitting procedures indicated impacted participative management on strategical thinking among selected Iranian Sports federations. Therefore, by setting goals and developing a cohesive participatory between managers and staffs of Sports federations can be identified improving strategical thinking in Sports federations on the future.