Investigating the causal relationships of factors affecting the culture of strategic thinking in the Social Security Organization

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the causal relationships of factors affecting the culture of strategic thinking in the Social Security Organization. Research method in terms of purpose, applied, in terms of data type, mixed (qualitative-quantitative) of exploratory type; In terms of data collection time, it is cross-sectional and in terms of data collection method or the nature and method of research, it is a survey. The statistical population of the qualitative part included experts and knowledgeable individuals in the field of strategic thinking (university professors and managers of the Social Security Organization), and the quantitative part included all managers and employees of the central headquarters of Social Security Organization of Tehran Province. The quantitative stage of the research includes a questionnaire consists of two parts: demographic information and a researcher-made questionnaire of managers' strategic thinking. The questionnaire consists of 72 items with a range of five Likert options that have been compiled by reviewing the theoretical foundations as well as the results of exploratory interviews (with open and central coding of exploratory interview texts). In the inferential section, to answer the research questions, tests such as Pearson correlation, one-sample t-test, structural equation modeling (confirmatory factor analysis) and exploratory factor analysis using SPSS-v21, Smart Pls-v3 software and Lisrel-v8.8 was also used. According to the results, among the factors affecting strategic thinking; Philosophical attitude and environment of the organization are in average condition and other components are in favorable condition.