Identifying the Management Skills of Operational Commanders Using Grounded Theory Method

This study aimed to identify the management skills of operational commanders of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Participants in the study were all managers and commanders of one of the units of the IRA Army who were selected using the snowball sampling method. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data. Based on the results obtained from data analysis, 127 open codes were identified which were classified into 29 sub-categories, 13 main categories and 6 main levels including causal conditions, axial phenomena, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, strategies and consequences. Based on this, the managerial skills of operational commanders were determined as follows: Technical skills with two components of job skills and consequentialism (performance management), human skills with four components of people management, social intelligence, change leadership and sustainability and responsiveness and perceptual skills with two components of decision-making capabilities and insight skills. The model presented in this research can be used to determine training needs, performance appraisal and appointment and promotion of operational commanders.