A Reflection Upon Imam Ali’s Management and Leadership Behavior based on His Assertions in Nahj-Al-Balagheh on Their Comparison with Managerial Insights and Principles of Holy Quran

The current study intends to explore Imam Alis’s management and leadership behaviors by analyzing his assertions in Nahj-al-Balagheh, investigating his words and conduct and also matching the resultant style with the organizational management principles in Holy Quran.

This research can be categorized as a theoretical research in terms of its nature and a qualitative study in terms of data collection procedures employed; in fact, a qualitative content analysis of Nahj-al-Balagheh is performed which provide the required data for the current study.

In this analysis, 430 propositions in line with the objectives of the study were selected and explored. Totally, 216 indexes, 34 concepts, 8 variables and four aspects were identified. The results of this analysis indicated that Imam Ali’s managerial conduct is influenced by four main aspects: Principles (attitudinal and legislative), Objectives (mediational and optimal), Values (dos and don’ts) Frameworks/Grounds (human resources and structural strategies) with a frequency of 36%, 4%, 26% and 34%, respectively.

Generally, the findings revealed that attitudinal and legislative principles form the basis of all his behaviors and he has always considered them as fundamental beliefs and fixed guidelines. Leadership and management objectives in the society, which are indicative of motivations for accepting responsibility, and also the dos and don’ts of leadership (values) are the results of these principles. Accordingly, the objectives and values of the management (similar to an umbrella) overshadow and govern the development of strategies and determination of methods, policies, laws and regulations to the extent that the aforementioned fundamental principles, which are considered as strategic principles, regulate the management behaviors in the society. Based on the findings of this study it can be maintained that the principles derived from Imam Ali’s conduct and behavior are in line and consistent with the principles (i.e., attitudinal and behavioral principles) of Holy Quran.