Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The aim of the research is to identify and analyze the challenges of policy implementation in the licensing process in the petrochemical industry using a mixed method. In the qualitative phase, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 6 experts consisting of managers and specialists with at least 5 years of direct experience in obtaining licenses in the petrochemical industry, who were selected using a snowball sampling method, and thematic analysis led to the identification of 4 organizing themes and 15 basic themes. In the quantitative phase, the themes were agreed upon after two rounds of expert surveys and quantitative analysis using the Fuzzy Delphi method. The most important challenge identified was “insular performance and conflict of interest among relevant institutions”. The findings reveal structural and process challenges affecting the efficiency of licensing policies in the implementation phase and provide solutions based on the findings to improve licensing and development in the petrochemical industry.
Keywords
- Bojadziev, G., & Bojadziev, M. (2007). Fuzzy Logic for Business, Finance, and Management (Vol. 23). WORLD SCIENTIFIC. https://doi.org/10.1142/6451
- Braun, Virginia., & Clarke, Victoria. (2022). Thematic analysis : a practical guide. SAGE.
- Chen, S., Jiang, W., & Zhou, C. (2023). Development of Permit-to-Work Management System Based on POP Model for Petrochemical Construction Safety. Journal of Intelligent Construction, 1(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.26599/JIC.2023.9180012
- Cillari, A., Stephens, S., & Werner, A. (2021). Best practice in license allocation in the oil and gas industry: A review of five countries. Resources Policy, 74, 102296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102296
- Creswell, J. W. . (2009). Research design : qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage.
- Ergas, H. (1987). The importance of technology policy. In Economic Policy and Technological Performance (pp. 51–96). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511559938.005
- Geroski, P. A. (1990). Procurement policy as a tool of industrial policy. International Review of Applied Economics, 4(2), 182–198. https://doi.org/10.1080/758523673
- Habibi, A., Jahantigh, F. F., & Sarafrazi, A. (2015). Fuzzy Delphi Technique for Forecasting and Screening Items. Asian Journal of Research in Business Economics and Management, 5, 130–143. https://doi.org/10.5958/2249-7307.2015.00036.5
- Kastelli, I., Mamica, L., & Lee, K. (2023). New perspectives and issues in industrial policy for sustainable development: from developmental and entrepreneurial to environmental state. Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, 4(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43253-023-00100-2
- Kusmaryono, I., Wijayanti, D., & Maharani, H. R. (2022). Number of Response Options, Reliability, Validity, and Potential Bias in the Use of the Likert Scale Education and Social Science Research: A Literature Review. International Journal of Educational Methodology, 8(4), 625–637. https://doi.org/10.12973/ijem.8.4.625
- McDonald, F., Tsagdis, D., & Huang, Q. (2006). The development of industrial clusters and public policy. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 18(6), 525–542. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985620600884636
- Olufemi Obasa, S., & Olurotimi Olurin, E. (2025). The Nexus Between Public Bureaucrats And Policy Implementation Failures In Nigeria: Examining Challenges And Implications. International Journal Of Innovation, Management And Social Sciences, 1(1).
- Owen, G. (2012). Industrial policy in Europe since the Second World War: what has been learnt?
- Parker, C., Scott, S., & Geddes, A. (2019). Snowball Sampling. SAGE Publications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781526421036831710
- Porter, M. E. (1998, November). Clusters and the New Economics of Competition. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/1998/11/clusters-and-the-new-economics-of-competition
- Saunders, M. N. K. ., Lewis, Philip., & Thornhill, Adrian. (2023). Research methods for business students. Pearson.
- Steinebach, Y., Knill, C., & Casula, M. (2025). Policy Growth and Its Impacts on Policy Implementation: Changes, Challenges and Chances. Regulation & Governance, 19(3), 601–606. https://doi.org/10.1111/rego.70041
- Yamawaki, H. (2002). The Evolution and Structure of Industrial Clusters in Japan. Small Business Economics, 18(1–3), 121–140. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015134028335
- Yusof, N., Hashim, N. L., & Hussain, A. (2022). A review of fuzzy Delphi method application in human-computer interaction studies. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2472). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0094417
- Arani, S. A. S. (2024). The impact of the law on facilitating the issuance of business licenses approved in 1401 on the nature of the mission (duties) of the notary and its characteristics. Journal of Economic and Commercial Law Research, 2(1), 73–102. https://www.magiran.com/paper/2782654[In Persian]
- Ahmadian, M. (2022). Designing supervisory indicators of the performance of responsible institutions in reforming the business licensing system in Iran. [In Persian]
- Ahmadian, M., & Sepehriyan, A. (2021). Report on monitoring the implementation of legal provisions on business licenses 2. Business Licenses Information Base. https://civilica.com/doc/1332098[In Persian]
- Ahmadian, M., & Honrour, R. (2021). Supervisory report on Article (22) of the Law on the Sixth Development Program of the Islamic Republic of Iran: Improving Iran's ranking in the World Bank's Doing Business Report. https://civilica.com/doc/1332668[In Persian]
- Beigi, Milad, & Mohammadian, Mohammad Sadeq. (2023). The risks of facilitating licensing in businesses requiring research and development. Expert Reports (Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly), 163(31), 658–699. https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/2124849 [In Persian]
- Rahimdoost, A. (2023). Strategies for supporting domestic production of key equipment and components in the oil and gas industry. Monthly Scientific Journal "Economic Security", 10(3), 4–10. https://es.tesrc.ac.ir/article_252542.html[In Persian]
- Sarhadi, Kazem, & Abrishmi-Rad, Mohammad Amin. (2024). Pathology of the Structure and Competencies of the Deregulation and Business Environment Improvement Board. Administrative Law, 38(11), 156–175. https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/2168800[In Persian]
- Sayah, S. (2021). Supervisory Report on Legal Provisions of Business Licenses 4. About the Phenomenon of Selling Business Licenses. https://civilica.com/doc/1331768[In Persian]
- Shafiee, Saeedah. (2012). Challenges Facing the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Sectors with Respect to the Goals of the Vision Document. Energy Economics, 151–152(1), 31–35. https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/961690[In Persian]
- Shokoohi, M. R., Mohtashamipour, R., & Hosseini Mehr, S. H. (2010). Examining the challenges of Iran's petrochemical industry within the framework of general policies of the resistance economy. Parliament and Strategy, 27(102), 295–330. https://nashr.majles.ir/article_372.html[In Persian]
- Abbasi, Zahra, & Rezaei-Harihet, Khadija. (2011). Identifying procedures for issuing national import licenses and compliance with WTO agreements. Economics and Modern Trade, 27–28(7), 175–200. https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/1048819[In Persian]
- Fatemi, S., & Ahmadian, M. (2021). Report on monitoring the implementation of legal provisions on business licenses 5. Field verification of conditions and documents included in the business license information database. https://civilica.com/doc/1331626[In Persian]
- Golverdi, M., Hossein Pourchaijani, S., & Rastegari Kalachaei, F. (2022). A scoping study of scientific articles published in the field of public policy implementation in Iran. Iranian Public Administration Studies, 4(2), 103–131. https://doi.org/10.22034/jipas.2022.301492.1225[In Persian]
- Mohammadi, Ahmad. (2016). Analysis of the reaction of the petrochemical and petroleum products market to the price ceiling policy and its removal from the market. Economic Research of Iran, 66(21), 151–183. https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/1166821[In Persian]
- Markazmalmiri, A. (2019). Obstacles to Facilitating Business Licensing in Iran: Supervisory Report on the Performance of the Board for Deregulation and Facilitating Business Licensing. https://civilica.com/doc/1159817[In Persian]
- Markazmalmiri, A. (2018). Requirements for amending and upgrading the database of laws and regulations related to the business environment (subject of Article (2) of the Law on Facilitating Business Licensing). Monthly Expert Reports of the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, 30(12). https://report.mrc.ir/article_9330.html[In Persian]
- Mousavi, Seyed Ali Asghar, Shirjian, Manouchehr, & Khoshmanzhar, Javad. (2022). Investigating the problems of the business licensing system and ways out of it. Economic Journal, 239(22), 133–168. https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/2183647[In Persian]
- Najafi Rastaghi, H., & Zolfagharzadeh, M. M. (2024). Challenges and solutions for making the public policy process intelligent; suggestions for the development planning system in Iran. Governance and Development, 3(2), 3–36. https://doi.org/10.22111/jipaa.2023.412719.1131[In Persian]
- Nargesian, A., & Yousefi Rad, M. (2023). The Stationarity of Public Policies: Understanding the Abandonment of Public Policies in the Private Sector of Iran (Industrial Sector). Governance and Development, 2(4), 41–74. https://doi.org/10.22111/jipaa.2023.388902.1105[In Persian]
- Naeemvafa, Sajjad, & Etemad, Seyedeh Maryam. (2021). A Study of the Legal System Governing Licensing for Internet Businesses in Iran. New Technologies Law, 3(2), 221–246. https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/1904396[In Persian]
- Yarahmadi, Mohammad, & Sadeghi Shahedani, Mehdi. (2024). Analysis of the components of industrial policy based on a systematic study of the general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran with emphasis on the petrochemical industry. Strategic and Macro Policies, 47(12), 620–654. https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/2264185[In Persian]
)