Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license

Authors

• Mohammad Naghi Ebrahimzadeh ¹
• Ahmad Mahmoudi ²
• Amin Dehghan Ghahfarokhi ³
• Ebrahim Alidoust Ghahfarokhi ⁴

¹ PhD Student, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

³ Associate Professor, Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

⁴ Professor, Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the effective management of the Chess Federation of Iran with an emphasis on the adaptation of chess strategies.
Methodology: The study employed a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 elites of Iranian chess, including managers, coaches, referees, federation experts, and sports management professors. Sampling was conducted purposefully and theoretically, and the interview process continued until data adequacy was achieved. Data analysis was performed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-step thematic analysis approach.
Results: The findings led to the extraction of 41 concepts, 10 sub-themes, and 3 main themes. The main themes included: Manager's Intra-organizational Competencies (including managerial functions, ethical commitment, and contextual knowledge); Sustainable Resources, Structure, and Governance (including financial resources, infrastructure, managerial stability, and consensus); and Strategic Interactions with an Emphasis on Chess Strategies (including eight chess strategies such as thinking ahead and active defense, along with sports diplomacy and environmental requirements).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that the effective management of the Chess Federation of Iran requires the simultaneous realization of the manager's intra-organizational competencies, the establishment of a stable resource and structural foundation, and the application of chess strategies to cope with environmental requirements. This model can serve as a basis for developing strategic plans for the federation and evaluating managerial performance.

Keywords

• Chess strategy
• Effective Management
• Intra-Organizational Competencies of the Manager
• Chess Federation

Main Subjects

• Sport Governance and Policy-Making