تحلیل میزان شفافیت عملکردی مدیران محلی و نقش آن در افزایش مشارکت و رضایت روستاییان از عملکرد مدیران (منطقه مورد مطالعه: دهستان عربخانه بخش سرداران شهرستان نهبندان)

Analysis of the Functional Transparency of Local Managers and Its Role in Increasing Participation and Satisfaction of Villagers with Managers’ Performance

(Study Area: Arabkhaneh Rural District, Sardaran District, Nehbandan County)

Introduction

Rural areas throughout their history have always been subjected to various forms of management, ranging from traditional methods to modern systems. However, experience has shown that what can help rural communities achieve sustainable development goals goes beyond classical management—it is a concept known as good rural governance; a concept that in recent decades has gained a prominent place in global development literature. Good governance means the effective administration of public affairs based on principles such as legitimacy, justice, transparency, accountability, and public participation. It is essentially the product of comprehensive interaction and cooperation between the government and the local community. In our country, due to the lack of an efficient model for good rural governance, most programs are designed and implemented in a top-down manner. This not only reduces public participation but also leads to consequences such as weakness in the implementation of justice, lack of transparency, absence of public oversight, and reduced accountability of managers. Under these conditions, the transition from traditional management to rural governance is an inevitable necessity for achieving sustainable development. One of the key components of good governance is transparency, which can improve the quality of rural management by reducing corruption, enhancing accountability, increasing awareness, and strengthening social participation. The importance of this issue is especially pronounced in deprived and peripheral areas of the country. Arabkhaneh Rural District, located in the Sardaran District of Nehbandan County, is a prime example of such areas facing challenges like dry climatic conditions, scattered population, dependence on traditional agriculture and livestock, and limited access to development infrastructures. Accordingly, this study seeks to answer the following questions: What is the level of functional transparency of rural managers in the study area from the villagers’ perspective? What factors increase the transparency of rural managers’ activities, and to what extent does this affect villagers’ satisfaction with their performance and participation in village-related activities?

Research Methodology

This study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of nature and method. To achieve the research objectives, data were collected through two main approaches: first, documentary and library studies to review the theoretical and research background related to transparency, good governance, and rural management; and second, field studies where the main tool was a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included items in three main sections: the level of functional transparency of managers, social participation of villagers, and their satisfaction with local managers’ performance. Items were designed based on a five-point Likert scale (from very low to very high). The statistical population comprised villages with rural councils in Arabkhaneh Rural District. Based on research criteria, ten villages were selected as samples to cover geographic diversity and ensure the presence of an official local management institution (rural council) in the sample community. The sample size was estimated at 163 people using Cochran’s formula and was proportionally distributed among the villages. The questionnaire’s validity was confirmed by experts and professors in geography and rural planning, and its reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics involved the use of mean and frequency percentage, and inferential statistics included the one-sample T-test to assess variable status, Pearson correlation to examine relationships between variables, and multiple regression to analyze the impact of transparency dimensions on satisfaction and participation. Additionally, part of the questionnaire was open-ended to extract qualitative dimensions of non-transparency.

Discussion and Findings

The study findings showed that the level of functional transparency of local managers in Arabkhaneh Rural District is below average, with a mean score of 2.21 compared to the theoretical midpoint of 3, indicating a serious weakness in this area. Also, the average satisfaction with managers’ performance (2.20) and villagers’ participation (2.33) were lower than expected. Pearson correlation results indicated a positive and significant relationship between transparency and satisfaction (0.830), as well as between transparency and participation (0.684); meaning that increasing transparency can directly lead to higher satisfaction and participation levels. Conversely, “clarity of information” and “financial transparency” did not show significant effects, and in some cases, clarity of information had a negative effect on participation. Qualitative analysis of villagers’ responses revealed six main categories of non-transparency: financial and credit weakness, lack of managerial experience and knowledge, lack of manager accountability, neglect of infrastructure services, irregular presence of managers in villages, and internal council conflicts. These results indicate that the issue of transparency in local management is multidimensional and, beyond information scarcity, the quality of presentation, accountability, institutional mechanisms, and social trust also play important roles. The findings align with previous national and international studies and emphasize the need to revise local management approaches.

Conclusion

This study showed that weak functional transparency of local managers in Arabkhaneh Rural District is the main factor reducing villagers’ satisfaction and social participation. Ultimately, this leads to weakening social capital and public distrust, posing a serious challenge to sustainable development. On the other hand, weaknesses in clarity of information and financial transparency indicate that merely providing reports is insufficient; the manner of presentation, simplicity of language, and oversight mechanisms must also be considered. Therefore, it is recommended that rural councils strengthen communication channels, publish regular and understandable reports, hold public meetings and Q&A sessions, and effectively use social networks to enhance transparency. Training local managers in participatory management and accountability can also play an effective role in improving their performance. From a macro-policy perspective. Ultimately, transparency is not only a managerial indicator but an essential necessity for achieving good governance and sustainable rural development. Attention to this issue in less privileged areas like Arabkhaneh can pave the way for future planning and serve as a foundation for increasing public trust and effective community participation in local affairs.