Developing a Working Capital Management Model

Working capital management is a vital part of corporates' financial management, which is also related to profitability and reflects the financial health of the company. Since Iran's business environment, as well as its prevailing economic and political conditions, are different from some other countries, it was decided to specifically examine how to manage working capital in Iran qualitatively.

In this study, a qualitative content analysis method and in-depth interview tools were used and for this purpose, 26 board members, managers, deputies and financial advisors of companies in 10 listed industries of Tehran Stock Exchange were interviewed.

In this study, in addition to the factors affecting working capital management (external factors including: global commodity prices, macroeconomic factors, political conditions, the role of government, suppliers, industry; and internal factors including: financial factors, corporate governance mechanisms, board of directors, Company credibility, type of goods, type of sales, dividends policy, production volume, company's credit policy, non-systematic risk, company's life, geographical location) and consequences of optimal working capital management  (improving liquidity, increasing profitability, developing  market share, improving Company's credibility, company's survival), some factors such as background conditions (economic structures, cultural structures and state's actions) and strategies to improve optimal working capital management (management, board structure, establishing risk committee , budget forecasting, financial regulation for each Industry, conducting internal audits and operational audits, industry's partnerships with universities and scientific centers, and conducting analytical work) are provided. Obstacles and problems that industries and companies encounter in Iran for the optimal implementation of working capital management are also presented.

According to the research findings, the most influential factor on working capital management is made by the economic and political conditions of the country and the role of the government, which can be provided by developing long-term economic plans according to the political and economic conditions of the country. Besides, research findings also provide managers and financial deputies with a broader perspective for optimal working capital management.