Unveiling Factors Promoting Patronage and the Spoils System in Iran’s Public Organizations: A Phenomenological Study

Aim: This phenomenological study explores factors driving the spoils system in Iran’s public organizations. Background: The spoils system, favoring political loyalty over merit, weakens governance, especially in Iran’s post-election administrative reshuffles. Method: Employing Colaizzi’s method, 17 employees from a municipality, a provincial ministry, and two state-owned enterprises in Isfahan were interviewed, following COREQ guidelines. Results: Five themes emerged: unchecked discretionary authority, weak human resource management, ineffective oversight, prevalence of anti-values, and external influences like political interference, economic sanctions, and regional disparities, highlighting systemic, cultural, and psychological roots of patronage. Conclusion: The findings enhance principal-agent theory by integrating Iran-specific dynamics, confirming patronage’s entrenched nature. Implications: Conducted as a master’s thesis, this study proposes reforms—merit-based recruitment, digital transparency tools, and ethical training—offering innovative governance solutions for developing countries facing similar challenges.