Investigation of the Insight, Tendency, and Action Characteristics of Managers from the Perspective of the Nahj Al-Balagha: Metasynthesis of Texts

Introduction and Objectives: Management and leadership have always been recognized as key factors in the success or failure of organizations and societies. To effectively lead organizations, managers must possess specific traits and skills. These characteristics include deep insight, positive motivations, strong values, and effective behaviors that contribute to achieving organizational goals and advancing human ethics. A valuable resource in this context is Nahj al-Balaghah, which contains ethical and managerial teachings. However, implementing these teachings in practice poses challenges due to the need for precise interpretation and practical frameworks. Managers often struggle to effectively apply the rich and comprehensive teachings of Nahj al-Balaghah in workplace settings. By providing theoretical and practical frameworks for training managers who can integrate the values of Nahj al-Balaghah into management, these challenges can be addressed. Applied research in this area can enhance managerial performance by offering practical solutions. Such research should aim to bridge management science and religious teachings, providing effective strategies based on the principles of Nahj al-Balaghah for Islamic management. The outcomes of such research will not only aid in improving management policy-making but also strengthen public trust in managers and organizations, improving workplace relationships. Ultimately, these efforts can deepen the connection between theory and practice in the field of Islamic management. Therefore, this research seeks to answer this question: according to the perspective of Nahj al-Balaghah, what are the visionary, attitudinal, and behavioral characteristics of managers?
Method: The current research was conducted with a developmental approach and is based on qualitative data collected through library research and secondary documentation. This study aimed to enhance the quality of outcomes by employing document analysis and utilized metasynthesis as a comprehensive method for extracting findings. The statistical population included translations and interpretations of the sermons, letters, and wisdoms from Nahj al-Balaghah. Samples were purposefully selected through keyword searches, including “visionary characteristics,” “attitudinal,” “behavioral,” “Islamic management,” and “Islamic manager,” to achieve saturation of information and content. After identifying and selecting the initial texts, meta-synthesis was employed for coding, similarity analysis, and summarization of the texts, followed by evaluation and validation. The analysis of information was conducted in three stages: collecting relevant content, extracting and categorizing points, and synthesizing and summarizing key elements. The seven-step method by Sadowski and Barroso was utilized in this process, comprising the stages outlined in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Steps of metasynthesis method
The validity of the searches and keywords was examined and confirmed through face validity and a focus group consultation with ten experts in management and Islamic studies. To measure the reliability of the designed model, the Kappa index, with a value of 0.76, was used as a criterion for valid agreement. According to the results of the meta-synthesis, a total of 78 concepts and 22 categories (main traits of managers) based on Nahj al-Balaghah were identified across three domains: visionary, attitudinal, and behavioral.
Results: After validating the credibility and quality of the findings with expert consultation and enhancing the categorization of factors through the authors’ and experts’ experiences, the obtained information and the arrangement of components for each dimension were also subjected to contextual analysis. This was done to identify equivalent components and appropriately place them within their respective dimensions, following the method of Clark and Brown (2006). Ultimately, to achieve the research model, 22 categories of managerial traits based on the sermons, wisdoms, and letters of Nahj al-Balaghah were derived from the meta-synthesis of conducted studies, which are classified into three domains: visionary characteristics: this includes the ability to perceive and articulate realities from religious and philosophical perspectives, which helps managers examine issues with a strategic and holistic viewpoint. Attitudinal Characteristics: these involve the intrinsic tendencies and beliefs that guide managerial behavior. Behavioral Characteristics: this refers to actions and behaviors defined by religious values. The process of validating the findings was conducted through focus group sessions with experts, and the result of this consultation confirmed the final model without any new changes in the components. To measure the reliability of the designed model, the Kappa coefficient index was employed, yielding a value of 0.74, indicating a substantial level of agreement. This model has been presented and evaluated as a foundation for a deeper examination of managerial characteristics in Nahj al-Balaghah. In Figure (2), the final results of the meta-synthesis are presented in the model below.
Figure (2): Insightful, Attitudinal, and Action Characteristics of Managers Based on Nahjul-Balagha
Discussion and Conclusions: The present study examines the visionary, attitudinal, and behavioral characteristics of managers based on the teachings of Nahj al-Balaghah. The aim is to identify the characteristics that Imam Ali (AS) outlined for managers at various levels and to present these as guiding principles for improving management. Visionary characteristics include knowledge, rationality, reliance on God, and innovation, while attitudinal characteristics encompass piety, a quest for justice, and responsibility. Behavioral characteristics involve leadership, communication skills, and practical justice. The research model was designed based on the relationships among these dimensions and is distinguished from previous studies by its comprehensive examination of managerial traits derived from Nahj al-Balaghah. The findings indicated that visionary, attitudinal, and behavioral characteristics can influence management effectiveness both directly and indirectly. For example, reliance on God and faith helps managers make decisions with greater calmness and confidence. Additionally, piety and responsibility guide managers in the right direction, and practical justice enhances employee trust and satisfaction. These findings emphasize the necessity of understanding and adopting these characteristics in management. Based on the results, practical suggestions include establishing an organizational culture rooted in ethical and religious values and designing and implementing performance evaluation and feedback systems. Recommendations for future research in this area include conducting comparative studies of this research’s findings with other Islamic and management texts, case studies of these characteristics in organizations, and analyzing the results obtained. The limitations of this research include the presence of different views and interpretations in Nahj al-Balaghah and the difficulty of identifying the most accurate interpretations, as well as the scarcity of experts in this field and the challenges in identifying and coordinating with them.