Identifying Praise Management Factors Using a Textual Content Analysis Approach

Abstract

This study aims to identify the key factors of praise management using a textual content analysis approach in order to develop a structured model for handling the phenomenon of flattery in governmental organizations. This is an applied, qualitative study conducted through textual content analysis. The research population included 31 Persian and 25 English-language academic articles related to management, organizational behavior, flattery, and impression management. Snowball sampling was employed, and data were collected through library research. The data were analyzed using MaxQDA software and coded into categories. Trustworthiness of the results was ensured using Holsti’s (2016) framework, which includes credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. The findings revealed six major criteria and thirty sub-criteria associated with praise management. These criteria are: 1) utilitarianism/hedonism, 2) opportunistic behavior, 3) glass barrier, 4) interpersonal influence, 5) ingratiation and flattery, and 6) impression construction. Each of these dimensions encompasses behavioral and cognitive indicators that clarify how praise-related behavior can create managerial traps and distort decision-making processes within organizations. The study emphasizes that excessive praise, opportunism, and exaggerated self-presentation, if left unmanaged, may erode organizational performance and misguide leadership. It is essential to educate stakeholders, train ethical leaders, and implement control mechanisms to curb excessive praise and ensure sound governance in public sector management.