Management Studies in Development and Evolution

The Lived Experience of Members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of the Annual Budget Approval Process

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mehdi Azar 1
Davood Hosseinpour 2
Zahra Alipourdarvishi 3
Mohsen Mohammadiansaravy 4

1 PhD Student in Public Administration, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University ,Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/jmsd.2025.81679.4521
Abstract
The budget bill, which reflects the government's public resources and financial programs, is the result of a technical, political, and negotiation process between various institutions that are interested in the budget. The legislature, as the core of legislation, plays a major role in this field. This research aims to explore the dominant phenomenon experienced by representatives of the eras by using a qualitative research method and a descriptive phenomenological approach with the participation of fifteen representatives. The sampling method was purposeful and continued until data saturation and identification of different dimensions of the phenomenon. To collect data, semi-structured interviews were used. Data analysis using the Dickelman method ultimately led to the identification of eight main themes, including; Lack of transparency, inefficiency of the electoral system, insufficient competence of representatives in reviewing the budget, loss of hope of representatives in securing national interests, partiality of representatives, unequal marathon of seeking public budget shares, excessive interference in budget figures, and lack of indicators in budget allocation. Thus, by continuously and comparatively examining the interview transcripts, initial codes, sub-themes, and main themes, "conflict of interest" was identified as the main theme of the participants' experiences. Although the emergence of "conflicts of interest" in the legislature as a symbol of pluralism is inevitable and has positive consequences such as dynamism and flexibility in lawmaking, it also has consequences such as the sacrifice of national interests, the diversion of representatives towards securing local interests, and the unequal and unbalanced distribution and allocation of the budget. It paves the way for continuing the cycle of lack of transparency and illegal interference and appropriation of public resources in favor of individual interests, special institutions, and influential groups.

Keywords

Budgeting
lived experience
conflict of interest
legislation
parliament representatives
Subjects
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Management Studies in Development and Evolution
Volume 34, Issue 116
Summer 2025
Pages 1-50

  • Receive Date 13 September 2024
  • Revise Date 14 February 2025
  • Accept Date 02 February 2025

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