Management Studies in Development and Evolution

Representation and Explanation of the Factors Shaping Career Mist Among Government Organization Employees.

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

mohammad yazdani ziarat 1
mahdi yazdaniziarat 2

1 Organizational Affiliation: Researcher Assistant, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd Branch, Bojnourd, Iran.

2 2. PhD Student in Human Resource Management, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd Branch, Bojnourd, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/jmsd.2026.90941.4761
Abstract
The phenomenon of "career mist," denoting ambiguity in the future career path, is among the emerging challenges within government organizations. This study was conducted to explain the formation process of this phenomenon among employees of government organizations. Utilizing the grounded theory method, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 employees of the North Khorasan Governor's Office. Sampling was performed purposefully and theoretically, and the data were analyzed through three stages of open, axial, and selective coding. The findings culminated in the presentation of a paradigmatic model, indicating that causal conditions (politicization, heavy bureaucracy, influence of ethnic structures) within a specific contextual setting (centralized structure and conservative culture) lead to the core phenomenon of "career mist." Influenced by intervening conditions (psychological capital, material limitations), employees adopt strategies ranging from self-development to psychological withdrawal. The consequences of this process extend beyond the individual and organizational levels, ultimately undermining local governance. This study demonstrates that "career mist" is not merely a human resource challenge but a risk to governance efficiency, positioning the revision of career development mechanisms and the establishment of transparency as governance imperatives.

Keywords

Human Resource Management
Career Path
Career Mist
Government Employees
Grounded Theory
Subjects

  • Receive Date 06 January 2026
  • Revise Date 14 February 2026
  • Accept Date 21 February 2026

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