Identifying and Ranking Key Factors in Managing Social Autism in Iranian Government Organizations
Keywords:
Social autism, government organizations, Leadership and management, communications and interactions, Organizational cultureAbstract
This study aimed to identify and rank the key factors in managing social autism in Iranian government organizations and to propose a localized, practical conceptual model. A mixed-methods approach was applied. In the qualitative phase, 17 experts—including senior and middle government managers, HR specialists, academic researchers, and organizational and autism psychologists—were interviewed using semi-structured questions. Thematic analysis with MAXQDA 2020 identified 151 semantic units grouped into 62 initial codes, 18 sub-themes, and 5 main themes. In the quantitative phase, the same experts evaluated and ranked the factors using a fuzzy DEMATEL questionnaire, with calculations performed in MATLAB. Five key dimensions were identified: leadership and management, communication and interactions, cultural and structural, individual and behavioral, and strategic and cognitive. Among them, leadership and management (D+R=7.133) and communication and interactions (D+R=6.798) were the most critical and influential dimensions for managing social autism. Other factors were of moderate but relevant importance. The study offers a culturally adapted model for managing organizational social autism, emphasizing trust and organizational support, strengthening communication skills, reforming rigid hierarchical structures, and implementing mentorship programs. Applying this framework can reduce organizational isolation, enhance inter-organizational cooperation, and improve public service quality. However, cultural resistance and limited resources may hinder implementation, requiring further research and tailored interventions.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Naghmeh Keyhanian (Author); Mehran Mokhtari Bayekolaei; Davood Kia Kojouri (Author)
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