Digital Transformation and Administration Innovation

Criminal Management for Protective Support of Free Access to Information with a Perspective on Filtering

Amin Amirian Farsani ^* iD

Criminal management aimed at protective support for free accessibility to information represents an emerging approach that links the domains of criminal justice and data-driven governance. Its purpose is to establish a balance between the security imperatives of the criminal justice system and the fundamental right of citizens to know and to exercise public oversight. Grounded in the principles of transparency, accountability, and public participation, this concept seeks to enhance public trust in criminal justice institutions through improving the level of information dissemination. Within this framework, criminal management evolves from a purely reactive and punishment-oriented structure toward an intelligent, restorative, and protective system. In protective criminal management, non-confidential criminal information (such as crime statistics, institutional performance measures, and prevention indicators) is employed as an instrument of soft deterrence and social supervision. This approach, in addition to promoting transparency and efficiency, remains committed to safeguarding the privacy rights of victims and defendants. The present study, using an analytical–comparative method, examines the theoretical foundations of the “right to free access to information” and its impact on criminal justice in international instruments and in Iran’s legal system. It further analyzes the existing structural deficiencies in the implementation of the Law on the Publication and Free Access to Information enacted in 2009. The findings indicate that achieving protective criminal management requires data integration among judicial and law-enforcement bodies, the formulation of judicial transparency regulations, and the institutionalization of a culture of accountability. Ultimately, such a model can provide an innovative framework for data-based, community-oriented criminal justice rooted in open governance within Iran’s legal system.

Understanding the Challenges of Blockchain Adoption in Supply Chains: Development and Validation of an Integrated Model Using a Mixed-Methods Approach

Mobin Sabbaghi Rostami iD , saber Khandan Alamdari ^* iD , Mohammad Hadi Asgari iD

This study aimed to identify the principal drivers underlying the challenges of blockchain adoption in Iran’s supply chains and to propose a conceptual model for overcoming these barriers. Global statistics have reported a 92% failure rate for blockchain projects, while Iranian organizations have largely confined their activities in this area to the theoretical level without progressing toward operational implementation. The study employed a mixed-methods qualitative–quantitative design. The qualitative phase was based on thematic analysis, drawing on Braun and Clarke’s approach, and the required data were collected through interviews with 12 experts from the automotive industry. The qualitative findings were validated using the content validity ratio and Holsti’s coefficient of agreement. In the quantitative phase, structural equation modeling using AMOS and a one-sample t test using SPSS were employed to assess model fit and evaluate the status of the study indicators. The data analysis yielded 133 initial codes, which were subsequently condensed into 20 subthemes and ultimately into five overarching themes. These five overarching themes were organizational and cultural factors, technological readiness and infrastructure, legal, regulatory, and juridical barriers, financial and economic factors, and perceived benefits. The highest factor loading was associated with legal and juridical barriers, at 0.64, whereas the lowest factor loading was related to organizational and cultural factors, at 0.57. The results of the mean comparison test indicated that organizational and cultural factors, with a mean of 2.125 and a negative t statistic of −3.25, were significantly below the moderate level. The model-fit indices—including RMSEA = 0.44, CFI = 0.94, GFI = 0.98, and CMIN/DF = 2.59—were all within the acceptable range. The proposed model demonstrates that blockchain adoption in supply chains results from the synergy among four components: technological readiness, legal clarity, economic stability, and a transformation in organizational and cultural perspectives. The significant gap between perceived benefits, with a value of 3.746, and technological readiness (3.24) and organizational and cultural factors (2.125) indicates that organizations have a strong understanding of blockchain’s benefits; however, during implementation, they encounter structural and cultural barriers that diminish their operational capacity.

Removing Barriers to the Implementation of E-Government: A Systematic Review

Amirreza Mozafari ^* iD

This study aimed to identify, classify, and synthesize the principal barriers to e-government implementation and the strategies proposed to eliminate or reduce them. This systematic review examined Persian- and English-language studies published between 2000 and 2025. Relevant publications were identified through searches of Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Emerald Insight, ProQuest, IEEE Xplore, Google Scholar, the Scientific Information Database, Magiran, Noormags, and IranDoc. Search terms addressed e-government, digital government, implementation, adoption, barriers, challenges, readiness, and facilitating strategies. After duplicate removal, title and abstract screening, full-text assessment, and methodological appraisal, 42 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. Data were extracted using a researcher-developed form covering study characteristics, implementation barriers, proposed solutions, and principal conclusions. The findings were analyzed through qualitative thematic synthesis and constant comparison. The synthesis showed that e-government implementation barriers formed an interconnected socio-technical and institutional system rather than a set of isolated problems. Technological and infrastructural deficiencies were the most recurrent barriers, followed by organizational and managerial weaknesses, limited human-resource competencies, incomplete legal and regulatory frameworks, cultural resistance, financial constraints, security and privacy concerns, political and institutional instability, digital inequality, and insufficient citizen participation. The findings further indicated that infrastructure investment alone was insufficient because weak leadership, fragmented governance, poor data quality, inadequate employee readiness, and low public trust frequently prevented technological resources from producing sustainable outcomes. The most consistently proposed solutions included interoperable digital infrastructure, administrative process redesign, accountable leadership, workforce development, comprehensive legislation, stronger cybersecurity and privacy protection, sustainable financing, citizen-centered service design, public awareness, and inclusive access. Successful e-government implementation requires a coordinated, context-sensitive strategy that integrates technological modernization with organizational reform, legal development, data governance, employee capacity building, public trust, and digital inclusion.

Evaluating National Media Convergence Strategies on Social Networks: The Role of Technology and Legal Challenges

Abolfazl Ahmady iD , Ruhallah Ahmadzadeh Kermani ^* iD , Firooz Dindar Farkoush iD

The present study aimed to design and explain a model of national media convergence strategies on social networks, with a particular focus on technological and legal variables. In terms of purpose, this study was applied research, and in terms of implementation method, it employed a mixed-methods qualitative–quantitative design. In the qualitative phase, a grounded theory approach was adopted. Accordingly, in-depth interviews were conducted through purposive sampling with 18 media experts and managers, communication scholars, and cyberspace specialists. In the quantitative phase, a structured questionnaire was distributed among 117 experts and professionals in the fields of media and cyberspace to test the model derived from the qualitative findings. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and SmartPLS software. The theoretical framework of the study was based on an integration of media convergence theory, network society theory, platform governance theory, and public sphere theory. The qualitative findings indicated that media convergence strategies are influenced by causal conditions, including emerging artificial intelligence technologies and platform infrastructures; contextual conditions, including legal and governance policies; and intervening conditions, including professional ethics and copyright regulations. The resulting outcome is the formation of an interactive news ecosystem. In the quantitative phase, hypothesis testing confirmed the significant effect of technological variables and platform governance indicators on convergence strategies (β = 0.881). Nevertheless, although filtering emerged as an important intervening variable in the qualitative analysis of the interviews, it did not exert a direct and statistically significant effect on media convergence strategies in the quantitative phase. Professional ethics challenges and legal monitoring mechanisms were also identified as key components affecting the formation of an interactive newsroom. To achieve successful convergence on social networks, national media organizations need to reconstruct their newsroom structures on the basis of artificial intelligence and develop dynamic legal and ethical frameworks. Such measures would enable them to move beyond technical and platform-related constraints and re-establish their authority as a trusted media reference.

Exposure to News Content in the Digital Communication Environment Through Social Media and Its Relationship with the Political and Cultural Behavior of University of Dhi Qar Students

Murtadha Mohammed Hussein Al-Nasiri iD , Asghar Mohammadi ^* iD , Hussein Ismail Haddad iD , Marzieh Sharafi iD

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between exposure to news content in the digital communication environment of social media and the political and cultural behavior of students at the University of Dhi Qar. The study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design. The statistical population consisted of 240 students from the College of Media at the University of Dhi Qar, and 100 complete responses were collected through an electronic questionnaire using non-probability voluntary/self-selection sampling. The instrument comprised demographic characteristics, patterns of news use, a news exposure index, and six items assessing political and cultural outcomes. The face and content validity of the instrument were confirmed through evaluation by five experts in media and communication studies. The overall reliability of the instrument was confirmed during the pilot stage with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89, while the internal consistency of the six outcome items was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.812. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, Spearman’s rank-order correlation, the Friedman test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank pairwise comparisons with Holm correction. The mean news exposure index was 3.14, and the mean political and cultural behavior score was 3.32. A positive and relatively strong relationship was observed between news exposure and overall behavior (rₛ = 0.592, p < 0.001). Exposure to political news was positively associated with political awareness (rₛ = 0.494), political engagement (rₛ = 0.396), and public/political participation (rₛ = 0.541). Exposure to cultural news was also associated with cultural awareness (rₛ = 0.362), cultural engagement (rₛ = 0.298), and changes in cultural interests or activities (rₛ = 0.377). The Friedman test indicated a statistically significant difference in the rankings of news types (χ² = 31.26, p < 0.001), although the effect size was small (W = 0.104). The findings indicate that, for these students, social media platforms are not merely channels for accessing news; rather, they are associated with reported patterns of awareness, discussion, and participation. Nevertheless, the cross-sectional design and voluntary sample do not permit causal inference or generalization to all university students in Iraq.

Achieving Sustainable Competitive Advantage Through Financial Technology (FinTech) Adoption: The Mediating Role of Employees’ Green Behavior

Elham Moghadamnia ^* iD , Hamidreza Dehghani iD , Mohammad Mehdi Azizi iD , Payam Naeini iD

With the rapid development of technology and growing concern about environmental issues, banks worldwide are increasingly adopting FinTech to maintain sustainable competitiveness. Employees’ green behavior can play an important role in the implementation of FinTech at both individual and organizational levels. The present study aimed to determine the effect of FinTech adoption and sustainability performance on employees’ green behavior and sustainable competitive advantage. A total of 278 employees of Bank Mellat completed the research questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling method. The results showed that FinTech adoption and sustainability performance affect employees’ green behavior in the financial industry. FinTech adoption, sustainability performance, and employees’ green behavior significantly affect the bank’s sustainable competitive advantage. FinTech adoption is the most important factor in achieving sustainable competitive advantage, followed by employees’ green behavior.

Designing a Data-Driven Digital Transformation Deployment Model for Iranian Public Organizations: An Empirical Investigation

Milad Salimi ^* iD

This study aimed to design and structurally explain a data-driven digital transformation deployment model for Iranian public organizations using expert judgment and interpretive structural modeling. This applied and exploratory study was conducted using a mixed-methods design with an interpretive structural modeling approach. The study population consisted of senior managers, digital transformation specialists, data governance experts, information technology managers, public administration scholars, and consultants familiar with digital transformation in Iranian public organizations. A purposive sample of 21 experts from Tehran participated in the study. Data were collected through literature review, semi-structured expert interviews, and an ISM questionnaire based on pairwise comparison of the finalized components. The extracted components were refined through expert review, and the contextual relationships among them were determined using the structural self-interaction matrix. The initial and final reachability matrices were then developed, transitivity was applied, hierarchical levels were identified, and MICMAC analysis was used to classify the components according to driving power and dependence power. The ISM results revealed a seven-level hierarchical model. Digital leadership and strategic commitment were positioned at the deepest level and had the highest driving power, indicating their foundational role in the deployment process. Data governance and regulatory alignment, together with inter-organizational coordination and ecosystem collaboration, formed the next driving layer. Integrated digital infrastructure and interoperability and human resource digital competence were identified as key enabling components. Data quality, security, and privacy management emerged as a central linkage variable. Process redesign and organizational agility and evidence-based decision-making culture were placed at the intermediate transformation level. Citizen-centric digital service design and performance monitoring and accountability were identified as highly dependent outcome components. The findings indicate that data-driven digital transformation in Iranian public organizations is a systemic, hierarchical, and interdependent process that should begin with leadership commitment, governance alignment, coordination, infrastructure development, and human capability building before progressing toward service redesign, evidence-based decision-making, and accountability.

Examining the Effect of Digital Capability on Organizational Performance with the Mediating Role of Digital Culture and Digital Transformation Strategy

Majid Yousefpour ^* iD

Digital technologies, including social networks, mobile technologies, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things, have compelled companies to undergo digital transformation in order to survive or maintain dominance in the market. Digital transformation refers to the integration of digital technologies into all areas of business; therefore, this integration leads to fundamental changes in performance. Since digital transformation requires digital fit, meaning the alignment of culture, strategy, and capabilities, this study seeks to examine the relationship among three key variables in the field of digital transformation: digital transformation strategy, digital culture, and digital capabilities. It also investigates the relationship of these three variables with organizational performance. This study adopts a deductive approach and is quantitative in nature. Data were collected using an electronic questionnaire. The statistical population of the study consisted of information technology companies in the country. The research hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling with AMOS software. Based on the results, it can be stated that hardware companies had the lowest mean organizational performance, whereas software companies had the highest organizational performance. The results of the hypothesis testing indicated the positive effect of digital capability on organizational performance, digital culture, and digital strategy; the positive effect of digital culture on digital transformation strategy and organizational performance; and the positive effect of digital transformation strategy on organizational performance. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the companies under study can improve their organizational performance by employing digital capabilities, enhancing digital culture, and adopting an appropriate digital transformation strategy.

Digital Transformation and Administration Innovation

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Behavioral Pattern Analysis of Customers in Value Co-Creation Processes in the Omnichannel Retail Industry

Design and Testing of a Culturally-Excellence-Based Ethical Leadership Model in the Petrochemical Industry Using Structural Equation Modeling

The Mediating Role of Perceived Enjoyment and Social Presence in Chatbot Commerce: Emphasizing the Effect of Anthropomorphism on Generation Z Consumers’ Purchase Intention

The Impact of Fear of Failure, Entrepreneurial Resilience, and Ambiguity Tolerance on Entrepreneurial Intention among Generation Z

Predicting Digital Marketing Performance Based on Content Quality, Engagement Rate, and Targeting Precision Using Artificial Intelligence

Design and Explanation of a Human Capital Management Model in the Department of Education of Khuzestan Province Based on the Seventh Development Plan Approach

Model for Reducing High-Risk Behaviors Among Accountants: A Study Using Multiple Grounded Theory

Agile Risk Management Model Based on the Internet of Things Using a System Dynamics Approach

Identifying the Factors Affecting Virtual Media Literacy Education and Presenting a Qualitative Framework

Applications of Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Digital Twin, and Edge Computing in Smart Urban Resource Management, Waste Management, and Transportation

A Systemic Analysis of the Health Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Improving the Performance of Knowledge-Based Startups: Applying Soft Systems Methodology

Predicting E-Leadership Effectiveness Through Emotional Intelligence, Virtual Communication Quality, and Innovation Capability Using Artificial Intelligence

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