The Role of the Supreme Leader’s Speech in the Development of Sports Businesses Based on Production, Knowledge-Based Economy, and Job Creation

Background and Purpose
The improvement of production and income remains a primary focus of economic plans across various countries, as achieving sustainable economic growth necessitates a thorough understanding and examination of the added value generated by different production sectors within a nation (Yousefi et al., 2016). In the context of the sports industry, recent analyses reveal that sports business activists in Iran have encountered numerous challenges, particularly in supporting domestic production over the past decade. A review of existing documents and studies confirms that the lack of competitiveness of domestic sports products is a fundamental issue hindering the development of sports businesses both domestically and internationally (Sharifian et al., 2016).
Several factors contribute to this lack of competitiveness. These include low product quality, insufficient knowledge and technological capabilities within the country’s sports businesses, inadequate allocation of facilities for production development, high costs and limited availability of raw materials, increased energy expenses—especially following subsidy targeting reforms—and a lack of specialized supervision over production processes. Furthermore, unclear policies regarding the excessive importation of low-quality foreign goods have exacerbated the problem, resulting in Iran’s sports markets holding a marginal and often unrecognized position compared to other active and leading countries in the sector (Dehghanpoori et al., 2020).
In response to these challenges, attention has turned to the concept of a resistance economy, which emphasizes the restoration of inefficient economic structures, reform of laws and institutions, and the formulation of scientific and expert strategies aimed at removing barriers to growth and development. This approach has successfully linked production booms with the knowledge-based economy, a connection that has been recognized and endorsed by the leadership of the country. Consequently, Iran has achieved a leading position in the knowledge-based economy within the region, particularly in the production sector.
Given this context, the present research aims to elucidate the role of production, knowledge-based economy principles, and job creation in the development of knowledge-based sports businesses. The study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these dimensions interact to foster the growth and competitiveness of sports enterprises grounded in knowledge and innovation.
 
Methodology
The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods in an exploratory sequential design. In the qualitative phase, a purposive sampling method was used to select a group of experts from the sports sector, including entrepreneurs, manufacturers, managers of manufacturing and service companies, university professors, and sports instructors affiliated with growth and technology centers. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with these experts until theoretical saturation was achieved.
The qualitative data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding techniques, resulting in the identification of forty-nine open codes, thirteen central codes, and three selective codes. These codes represented key themes and factors influencing the development of knowledge-based sports businesses.
In the quantitative phase, a sample of 187 individuals was randomly selected, comprising sports business owners in both production and service sectors, new sports business entrepreneurs, and sports researchers from growth and technology centers. The research instrument was a questionnaire developed based on the qualitative findings, encompassing constructs such as competitive product development, advancement of competitive technologies, institutional support, research-oriented production, innovation systems, efficient innovation mechanisms, information and communication infrastructures, development of knowledge-based companies, expert training, knowledge-based employment, economic incentives, growth in gross sports production, and assessment of international marketing needs.
Data analysis was conducted using SmartPLS software to perform structural equation modeling (SEM), with significance levels set at p ≥ 0.05.
 Results
The research model demonstrated good fit, as evidenced by combined reliability indices, average variance extracted, and Cronbach’s alpha values all exceeding accepted thresholds (0.7, 0.5, and 0.7 respectively). These indicators confirm the validity and reliability of the constructs and the overall model.
Path coefficient analysis revealed that production positively and significantly affects the development of knowledge-based sports businesses (β = 0.256, t = 3.523). This finding underscores the fundamental role of production capacity and efficiency in fostering business growth within the sports sector.
Furthermore, the knowledge-based dimension exhibited a strong positive and significant effect on the development of knowledge-based sports businesses (β = 0.695, t = 7.066). This highlights the critical importance of knowledge assets, innovation, and expertise in driving competitive advantage and sustainable growth.
The economy-based factor also demonstrated a positive and significant influence on sports business development (β = 0.477, t = 4.775), indicating that economic conditions, incentives, and market dynamics play a vital role in shaping the trajectory of knowledge-based sports enterprises.
In Table 1, the average scores of productions, knowledge base, economy base and sports business development are reported.
Conclusion
The findings of this study affirm that the three main dimensions encapsulated in the national slogan of the year—production, knowledge-based economy, and economy-based development—exert significant influence on the advancement of sports businesses. Among these, the knowledge-based factor, encompassing components such as establishing effective innovation systems, developing information and communication infrastructures, nurturing knowledge-based companies, and training expert personnel, had the highest path coefficient in promoting sports business development.
This result aligns with previous research by Entezarian et al. (2022), Dastum et al. (2020), Mohammadi et al. (2019), Kashef et al. (2015), and Fakhari et al., which collectively emphasize the pivotal role of knowledge-based companies. These companies, characterized by a concentration of skills, capabilities, and expert personnel, foster peak creativity and innovation, thereby significantly contributing to technological advancement and economic prosperity.
Managers of knowledge-based businesses recognize that intangible knowledge assets are crucial for the survival and competitiveness of their enterprises (Entezarian et al., 2022). This perspective resonates with the statements of the country's leadership, who have consistently underscored the value of knowledge-driven development.
Another critical component identified is the training of specialized personnel. Human capital development positively impacts economic growth, as the accumulation of workforce knowledge and skills leads to increase per capita income over time. Accordingly, formulating policies that strengthen sports start-ups, establish growth centers, and build managerial confidence in the knowledge and products developed by physical education graduates can introduce innovative values into the competitive market. These values are characterized by higher productivity and more affordable pricing (Taghavi et al., 2020).