Analyzing the Role of Organizational Agility and Technological Innovation in Improving Medal Acquisition of Iran's Olympic Sport Federations

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the role of organizational agility and technological innovation in enhancing the medal-winning performance of Iran’s Olympic sports federations, emphasizing the perspective of organizational isomorphism. The study was applied in nature and designed as qualitative research utilizing a sequential exploratory approach. Methodology: Initial themes were extracted through a systematic literature review; subsequently, a thematic network was developed using thematic analysis and semi-structured interviews with 15 experts (including federation managers and faculty members). These themes were subsequently validated via the fuzzy Delphi method with expert participation. Findings: The study identified 5 global themes, 20 organizing themes, and 60 basic themes, all of which were confirmed in the fuzzy Delphi analysis with a defuzzified value exceeding 0.70. The results indicated that organizational agility, technological innovation, organizational isomorphism, and the performance of Olympic athletes have a positive and significant impact on improving medal-winning performance. Among these, athlete performance emerged as the strongest predictor, while isomorphism and technological innovation were identified as the most critical infrastructural factors. Furthermore, the results indicated that the variable of Olympic athlete performance plays an effective mediating role in the relationship between organizational variables and the ultimate outcome (medal success). The findings suggest that sustained success in the Olympic arena stems from the synergistic interaction of organizational dynamic capabilities (agility), technological infrastructure development, alignment with institutional requirements (isomorphism), and the enhancement of athlete performance. The model presented in this study—which, for the first time, elucidates the systematic relationship among these four variables within the context of Iranian sports federations—can serve as a scientific framework for strategic planning by the Ministry of Sport and Youth and the National Olympic Committee to elevate the country's international standing.