Identification and Assessment of Environmental Factors (External and Internal) of Political and Cultural Sphere of Cyberspace for Islamic Republic of Iran

This paper is aimed at identifying and assessing the environmental factors (external and internal) of political and cultural sphere of Islamic Republic of Iran's cyberspace via SWOT pattern. In terms of purpose, this research is applied and in terms of methodology, it falls into descriptive-analytical researches family. The data have collected through a Delphi technique-based questionnaire. After studying and identifying factors and classifying them in the form of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, the questionnaires of the first and second stages were compiled based on a four-choice scale and distributed among experts and scholars of the fields. Content validity of instrument was affirmed by experts and its reliability was calculated regarding Cronbach's alpha of 0.747. After collecting data through questionnaire, they were analyzed by SPSS and descriptive and inferential statistics methods. Mean of components related to each of research's four variables was tested by single variable T test. Additionally, all of research's variables were ranked via Friedman test. Five components of each of four variables (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) were assessed by Fred R. David's analytical pattern. Finally, summation ofstrengths and weaknesses points yielded a positive score (2.1) and also, summation of opportunities and threats points yielded a positive score (3). With regard to the fact that two means stand in a middle level, the status of Islamic Republic Iran's cyberspace is posited in a middle region (Cell 5 of Fred R. David's 9-cell matrix). The results indicate that the status of Islamic Republic Iran's cyberspace is totally located in first region of coordinate system or first quarter of Fred R. David's coordinates. In viewpoint of strategic analysis, this area is referred to as the area of aggressive strategy or SO region (region of strengths and opportunities).