Factor Analysis of the Components of Managers’ Soft Governance in Government Organizations

Masoumeh  Yousefi Ghasabsaraei; Masoud Yousefzadeh; Mohammad Reza  Bagherzadeh

Authors

Masoumeh Yousefi Ghasabsaraei Department of Public Administration, QaS.C., Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0552-7977
Masoud Yousefzadeh Department of Educational Sciences, QaS.C., Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5298-9904
Mohammad Reza Bagherzadeh Department of Public Administration, QaS.C., Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8270-181X

Keywords:

Soft Governance, Government Organizations, Iran

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to design and explain a model of managers’ soft governance in government organizations. In terms of its methodological nature, the present study employed a mixed-methods design integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches. The statistical sample in the qualitative phase consisted of 30 experts and specialists in the field of public administration, while the quantitative phase included 382 managers and employees of government organizations. In the qualitative phase, theoretical literature review and structured interviews with experts selected through snowball sampling were used to analyze the data and identify the relevant factors. In the quantitative phase, a questionnaire was first distributed using nonprobability sampling, and the required data were collected. Subsequently, the data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and PLS software to evaluate the model. Accordingly, eight dimensions of soft governance were identified: perceived support, organizational justice, trust, participation, organizational learning, communication, ethical leadership, and humility. The relationships among these dimensions were subsequently determined through statistical analysis.

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