Developing a Managerial Competency Model with an Executive Succession Planning Program in State-Owned Banks (Case Study: Bank Sepah, Iran)
Keywords:
Managerial competencies, succession planning, structural equation modeling , meta-synthesis, Iranian state-owned banks, Bank SepahAbstract
This study aimed to develop and validate an integrated managerial competency model for senior executives of Iranian state-owned banks, with a specific focus on succession planning programs, using Bank Sepah as a case study. The research was applied in nature and employed a mixed-methods approach. In the qualitative phase, the key dimensions and components of the model were extracted through a meta-synthesis of 120 selected scholarly articles. In the quantitative phase, the proposed model was tested using a researcher-developed questionnaire distributed among 340 managers and branch directors of Bank Sepah in the northwestern region of Iran. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS software. The findings led to the identification and confirmation of a five-dimensional managerial competency model consisting of: talent assessment aligned with succession planning, interpersonal interactions, transformational leadership, strategic thinking, and knowledge-based organizational management. All model fit indices confirmed the adequacy of the model. Construct reliability and validity were also supported through the calculation of Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability, and average variance extracted (AVE). By addressing an existing gap in the literature, this study presents an integrated and context-specific model that simultaneously incorporates managerial competencies and succession planning requirements. The application of a mixed methodological framework (meta-synthesis and structural modeling) further enhances the credibility and robustness of the findings. The proposed model can serve as a scientific framework for the design of managerial development programs and succession planning systems in Iranian state-owned banks.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Zaher Hatami (Author); Kamaladin Rahmani Yoshanlouei; Nasser Fegh-hi Farahmand (Author)

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