Effect of Participative Management on Strategic Thinking among Selected Iranian Sports Federations

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.