Presenting a mental model in the production sector of Iran's sports industry

The purpose of this study was present the mental model, identifying and ranking the mental model components of the sports companies managers in manufacturing sector of Iranian sports industry, using fuzzy Delphi technique. The present study is a combination (qualitative and quantitative), descriptive-analytic, and time-based research, which is applied in terms of purpose and is a field research, in terms of data collection. The statistical population of the study includes the managers of companies producing Iranian sports equipment, according to statistics announced through the official website of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade of the country, 255 people (236 men and 19 women). The statistical sample was selected purposefully in the qualitative part and in the quantitative part by the total number method. In the qualitative part, fuzzy Delphi method was used and in the quantitative part, exploratory factor analysis and structural equations were used. Findings showed that the components of mental ability, mental involvement, mental history and psychological characteristics have an explanatory role in shaping the mental model of managers. Other findings showed that the highest rank is related to mental ability and the lowest rank is related to mental conflict. Therefore, managers can use their mental ability to solve the company's problems.