Management Studies in Development and Evolution

Typology of fear among government managers and its consequences

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

mojtaba farokhi 1
mohammad shaker ardakani 1
tahmineh bavaghar zaemi 2

1 Assistant Professor Department of Management, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran

2 Master’s Student in Public Administration, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/jmsd.2025.88392.4698
Abstract
Fear in organizational environments is a complex phenomenon that has important effects on decision-making, leadership style, and performance of managers. This study aimed to identify the typology of fear among managers and examine its individual, organizational, and supra-organizational consequences. The research method was qualitative and presented on semi-structured interviews with administrative managers in Hormozgan province. Sampling was done using the snowball method and data analysis was done using thematic analysis. The findings showed that managers' fears fall into five main categories: fear of judgment and social relationships, fear of failure and poor performance, fear of change and uncertainty, fear of control and power, and fear of responsibility and accountability. These fears lead to negative consequences such as psychological burnout, reduced innovation, weakening trust in employees, and economic recession. Also, factors that exacerbate (such as ambiguity in policies and environmental pressures) and inhibit (such as team support and clear communication) fear were identified. The results showed that proper fear management can turn it into a factor for individual and organizational growth. This research provides practical solutions to help organizations improve their productivity and performance by reducing the negative effects of fear.

Keywords

Managerial fear
typology of fear
organizational consequences
content analysis
fear management
Subjects
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Management Studies in Development and Evolution
Volume 34, Issue 118
Winter 2026
Pages 231-267

  • Receive Date 23 September 2025
  • Revise Date 01 December 2025
  • Accept Date 10 December 2025

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