Thesis:

Title : Identifying the Antecedents and Consequences of Organizational Cronyism in the Education System and Providing Solutions

Organizational cronyism, as one of the forms of unprofessional behavior in organizations, occurs when personal relationships and closeness to individuals in positions of power replace merit, expertise, and performance criteria in the allocation of organizational opportunities. This phenomenon can have negative consequences for organizational justice, employee motivation, and organizational effectiveness. The present study was conducted to identify the antecedents, consequences, and strategies for addressing organizational cronyism in educational organizations. The research employed a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. The research participants consisted of experts, managers, and scholars in the field of educational management who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and, following transcription, were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated that organizational cronyism consists of four main dimensions: the nature of organizational cronyism, contextual factors and antecedents, consequences, and strategies for addressing cronyism. The contextual factors included weaknesses in managerial merit-based selection, concentration of power, lack of organizational transparency, ineffective performance appraisal systems, and a relationship-oriented organizational culture. The consequences of organizational cronyism included decreased employee motivation, a sense of injustice, reduced organizational trust, weakened human capital, and decreased organizational productivity. The study also proposed strategies such as establishing a merit-based management system, increasing transparency, strengthening monitoring and oversight mechanisms, promoting organizational justice, and enhancing employee participation. The findings suggest that addressing organizational cronyism in educational organizations requires simultaneous reforms in managerial structures, human resource processes, and organizational culture. Keywords: Organizational cronyism, antecedents, consequences, solutions, education and training

Keywords: Keywords: Organizational cronyism, antecedents, consequences, solutions, education and training