Developing a strategy for the promotion and development of the meritocracy system of managers in sports organizations

The purpose of the current research was to develop a strategy for the promotion and development of the meritocracy system of managers in sports organizations in the country. This research is an exploratory type of research, and it is considered practical in terms of its purpose, in which the thematic analysis method is used. The research method is qualitative and the research community was formed by the senior managers of sports organizations and faculty members of the sports management field of the country's universities. Targeted non–probability sampling were used to select the interviewees. A semi-structured interview with experts was used to collect data, and the interviews continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Thus, the research sample included 21 sports management professors and senior managers of sports organizations in the country. MAXQDA20 software was used to analyze the interviews. Based on the research findings for the implementation and establishment of the meritocratic system, 88 open codes were identified, which were placed in 13 sub-themes. 6 main themes were obtained from the obtained sub-themes, which include: organizational strategies (management strategies, organizational structure, organizational culture, human resource management), political strategies (apolitical choice, political stability), process strategies (correction of processes), economic strategies (financial incentives, improving the economic conditions of society), legal strategies (legislation, rule of law) and cultural–social strategies (cultural strategies and social strategies). According to the research findings, organizational strategies play a much more prominent role in the promotion and development of the meritocratic system of managers in sports organizations.