Determining the effective factors on developing entrepreneurial managers in the Iranian health system: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Entrepreneurship is the engine of economic growth and a main symbol of innovation in any country. The health system of the country needs entrepreneur managers to eradicate the problems and provide better services. The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting the nurturing of entrepreneurial managers in the Iran's health system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out qualitatively with the grounded theory method and through semi-structured interviews with six questions. The data sources were 22 key informants who were purposefully selected from healthcare organizations and other entrepreneurship-related institutions. Data were analyzed and interpreted using the framework analysis. Data were managed and analyzed using MAXQDA software. RESULTS: Findings of this study indicated 6 main themes and 46 subthemes. The six factors affecting the development of entrepreneurial managers in the Iran's health system were determined as individual, family, social, economic, organizational, and educational. CONCLUSION: Iranian health organizations need to nurture entrepreneurial managers to tackle the challenges of the health system, compete internationally, and have successful performance. Hence, delivering the health industry to entrepreneurial managers in the long run will bring back positive results of growth and development to the body of the health system. Therefore, paying attention to the identified themes and subthemes and the solutions presented in this study can help nurture entrepreneurial managers’ and successful performance of the Iran's health sector.