Investigating the impact of strategic thinking on the performance of senior managers (study from the perspective of Ardabil Oil Company employees)

Dissertation for Master's Degree in Executive Management

Marketing and Export Orientation

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to know the relationship between strategic thinking and the performance of senior managers in Ardabil Province Oil Company. The statistical population of this research is all the official, contract and contractual employees of Ardabil Oil Company, according to Morgan's table, 118 people were selected as the sample size out of 170 people. To collect information, a questionnaire consisting of 39 questions was designed by the researcher and distributed among the sample members, and finally the questionnaires were completed and collected. The validity of the questionnaire was strengthened by taking advice from expert faculty members in this field and its reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data for classification, preparing graphs and frequency tables, and statistical operations were performed using SPSS software. In order to test the normality of the variables, the Smirnov-Kolmogorov test will be used. In order to test the hypotheses and test its significance, Pearson's correlation coefficient and also the multiple regression method were used in the last hypothesis. Then the research hypotheses were analyzed using inferential statistics. The results show that there is a positive and direct relationship between strategic thinking and task performance of senior managers. Finally, according to the test of hypotheses, suggestions were presented. Keywords: task performance, strategic thinking, synergy, foresight, philosophical attitude, creativity and entrepreneurship, excellence. be The variables of this research are strategic thinking as an independent variable and task performance as a dependent variable. The weakness of strategic thinking of senior managers of organizations deprives them of taking advantage of new opportunities, therefore equipping senior managers with strategic capabilities seems essential and vital. This research is descriptive and correlational in terms of applied purpose and nature. The indicators of strategic thinking have been examined in the form of five factors presented by Dr. Iraj Soltani in the form of a model. In this chapter, the statement of the basic problem of research and the importance of task performance and the models used for the research variables have been examined, and the importance and necessity of conducting research has been explained, and the review of the background of the research, its new aspect and innovation, and the goals of the research have been presented as ideal, general, special, and practical goals, and the research questions and used hypotheses have been stated. And finally, the conceptual and operational definition of research variables and the conceptual model of research are stated.

Statement of the problem

The most critical issue in any organization is its job performance. The importance of job performance has made researchers to research more and more about it (Sherkan, Nisi, Noami, and Mehrabizadeh Artman, 2010). In the field of job performance, they have identified two broad categories of employee behavior, task performance and contextual performance. Recent models of job performance consider performance as a function that emphasizes individual aspects of performance (Berman et al., 1997). Campbell et al. (1999) also proposed a multi-factor model of job performance based on specialized job skills, non-specialized job skills, oral and written communication skills, showing effort, maintaining individual discipline, facilitating performance evaluation of colleagues, supervision/leadership, management/administration, and technical performance with what Borman et al. Motowidlo (2000) calls it the technical core of the organization or job, and it includes activities that are directly or indirectly performed by converting resources into products in economic exchanges. Although the specific activities that create task performance are diversely different from one job to another, however, task performance can be presented in a more general class. Another way of classifying task performance is to consider the degree to which the content of a job is fixed or variable. Many organizations identify task performance behaviors by conducting job analysis. Job descriptions focus on task performance behaviors such as the activities, duties, and responsibilities that constitute the main part of the job.Many organizations identify task performance behaviors by conducting job analysis. The job description focuses on task performance behaviors such as activities, tasks and responsibilities that form the main part of the job. In other words, task performance is a set of specific obligations that the employee must perform in order to receive remuneration and continue his employment. Soltani has stated the dimensions of strategic thinking as follows (Strategic thinking of managers is the basis of organizational transformation and excellence, 2015). These dimensions are the basis of the hypotheses of this research.

Creation of synergy through the combination of material and spiritual talents, which causes synergy in work conscience, management, ethics, thrift and thinking.

Thinking and planning for the future: using the past and present to predict the future.

A strong philosophical attitude to realize long-term ideals.

Creativity and entrepreneurship: standing. Keeping the organization with new thoughts and ideas.

The spirit of seeking superiority for yourself and for the organization.

The dependent variable of this research is the duty performance of senior managers. One way of classifying job performance is to consider the degree to which the content of a job is fixed or variable. Fixed task performance includes specific and clear responses to demands that are normal, common and at least predictable. So procedures and instructions are repeated over and over again. (Kol Kuwait et al., translated by Faizi et al., 2013)

In-role activities such as data processing, working with people, adherence to order and managerial/administrative actions are considered indicators of fixed task performance. Contrary to fixed task performance, variable task performance (adaptive task performance) includes employees' responses to work demands that are novel, unusual, or at least unpredictable.

The purpose of this research is to identify The behaviors related to the duty performance of senior managers and its effectiveness are dimensions of strategic thinking. The question that is raised is:

What is the relationship between strategic thinking and the performance of senior managers of the organization? Strategic thinking is considered as an independent variable and task performance as a dependent variable in this question. The unknown aspect of this research is the existence of a relationship between these two independent and dependent variables. which should be answered in this research

The importance and necessity of conducting research:

Today, not only the world and the external environment are changing, but the country's economy and markets are also in transition. In this situation, many past opportunities are destroyed and new opportunities are created. The lack of strategic thinking in senior managers of companies and governmental and industrial organizations deprives us of exploiting new opportunities. Therefore, equipping senior managers with a strategy approach seems necessary and even vital. The problem of this research is the unclear status of the impact of strategic thinking on the task performance of senior managers.

The current research seeks to resolve this gap:

First, most studies are dedicated to identifying the factors of strategic thinking, while in this research, the impact of strategic thinking on the task performance of senior managers will be investigated, as the above performance is one of the main goals of senior managers in an organization. Secondly, the task performance and its relationship with the strategic thinking of senior managers encourages them to strengthen this thinking in themselves so as to lay the groundwork for more career success in their organization and ultimately lead to success in advancing the organization's goals. Conducting this research from a theoretical aspect leads to the enrichment of the theoretical framework, and also from a practical aspect, it also leads to the improvement of the task performance of senior managers of the organization. Strategic thinking enables the manager to understand what factors are effective in achieving the desired goals and what factors are not effective and why? This insight creates the power of discernment regarding the influencing factors in value creation. Without this recognition, spending the resources (material and non-material) of the organization to achieve success will be fruitless. The main function of strategic thinking is to create a vision. The vision determines the desired direction for the movement of the organization. Therefore, considering the advantages mentioned above and the lack of research in this regard and the need for more study and research in this field, it shows the necessity and importance of research.