@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2008-2630    Iranian Journal of War & Public Health 2018;10(3):133-142

Background
... [1-5]. Veterans and disabled people have physical restrictions on the one hand due to physical disabilities, and on the other hand, the type of disability prevents them from engaging in some sporting activities. Thus, the category of sports activities for veterans and disabled people is important from the two aspects of health care the purpose of which is health care and the prevention of secondary illness [6].
Previous Studies
... [7, 8]. Fry and Stoner, as well as David, define strategic planning as an empowering management tool designed to help small organizations compete to adapt themselves to predicted environments. Hence, the survival of organizations depends on the power of their reconstruction. This reconstruction is done by coordinating the goals with the state of the day and improving the methods for achieving these goals [9]. Sport managers are no exception to this category. To formulate programs and strategies for successful management and optimal use of resources, reviewing the status quo and identifying weaknesses, strengths, opportunities and threats is essential [10, 11].
Aim(s)
The purpose of this study was to determine the strategic planning for veterans of Mazandaran province.
Research type
The current applied research is descriptive-survey and strategic (quantitatively and qualitatively by mixed method).
Research society, place and time
This research was conducted among all directors and deputies in the field of establishing and designing veterans' sport at the General Directorate of the Foundation of the Veterans and Martyrs Affairs of Mazandaran Province and 21 suburbs of Mazandaran province in 2017.
Sampling method and number
Due to the limited research community (58 people), all members of the community were considered as a sample as a whole.
Used devices&materials
The research tool was compiled in two parts; the first part was related to the demographic characteristics of the respondents including gender, age group, organizational status, level of education and work experience, and the second part included 74 closed-answer questions related to strengths (17 items), weaknesses (25 items), Opportunities (13 items) and threats (19 items) of veterans' sport in Mazandaran province, which was adjusted according to the four-ranged spectrum. The face validity and content validity of the questionnaire were confirmed by 10 physical education and sport sciences specialists. In order to determine the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was used using 25 responses in a pilot study. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.88 in the strengths and weaknesses and 0.88 in the opportunities and threats section. Also for determining the validity of construct validity, all members of the statistical society were used. Factor construct validity method was used to determine validity. In determining the validity of the factor structure, two exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis methods were used that the calculated coefficient of test showed the suitability of the questionnaire data (kmo=0.88). The significance level of Bartlett's Spree test was statistically significant (p = 0.0002) and the data were suitable for performing factor analysis. Four strategies based on SWOT analysis included 1) defensive strategy (minimum-minimum strategy), 2) adjust strategy (minimum-maximal strategy), 3) survival strategy (maximum-minimum), and 4) offensive strategy (maximum-maximal) (Figure 1). The questionnaires were completed by individuals. After determining and rating the effective factors in the field of veterans' sport, the external factors assessment matrix and internal factors evaluation matrix were used to determine the strategic position of veterans of Mazandaran province. After obtaining the strategic position of veterans in the SWOT matrix, as well as forming the matrix of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, planning strategies were made. The results were analyzed by SWOT, QSPM and SPSS 18 software, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for determining the normal distribution of data and Friedman test for ranking the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of veterans' sport.
Findings by Text
The results showed 17 strong points, 25 weak points, 13 points of opportunity and 19 points of threat in the field of veterans. Among all the items mentioned in the opportunities for veterans in the province, the "proper ranking of provinces in sport between the provinces and the province's sport pole, having prestigious people and heroes to increase the quality of veterans 'sport and the presence of high-level sports in the veterans' community" had the highest importance from the respondents' point of view, and the least significant importance were the "opportunity to take advantage of natural resources and the proper environment for open activities" (Table 1). In the threats section, "the lack of spending and the diminished financial budget, the high cost of renting sports halls, budget fluctuations, and the allocation of credits for the sports in the Foundation of the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, and the lack of standards and low-level sports facilities for the veterans," were the highest threats and the items of “differences among the sport managers in the Foundation of the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs” was the lowest threat devoted to the veterans of Mazandaran (table 2). "The use of players and forces interested in sports, the continuous formation and purposeful gathering of the Foundation of the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, and attention to the expansion of the veterans' sport in the Foundation of Veterans and Martyrs Veterans" had the highest importance. The items “the presence of specialized and experienced experts in the field Coaching and arbitration "had the least importance in the strengths of veterans' sport (Table 3)."Inadequate funding for maintenance of sports facilities, lack of funds and lack of funds from other government agencies and people, low quality and quantity of some sports equipment," are the highest point of weaknesses, and the items of "the presence of inefficient people at the head of sports affairs of the Martyr Foundation of the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, The lack of attention to the increase in the level of veterans' health and two businesses and the nomination of the provincial delegation was "the least important" (Table 4).After placing the final score of the internal matrix and external factors in the SWOT matrix, it was determined that the strategic position of veterans of Mazandaran province was located in the defensive zone (WT) (Figures 1 and 2).
Main comparison to the similar studies
.... [12]. 1) Strategies for introducing a strategic plan and continuous monitoring and evaluation of community sports and championship programs by veterans' sports unit were consistent with research by Ghofrani et al. [13] Abbasi et al. [11] Ghareh and Kalhor [7], and Asefi et al. [14]. 2) The strategy of creating a reward system for attracting veterans in sports activities was consistent with the researches of Ghareh and Kolhar [7], Shojaee et al. [15], Abbasi et al. [11], Ghofrani et al. [13], Javadipour and Samieinia [16], Safania [17] Sadeghian et al. [18] and Winter [19]. 3) The strategy of creating a coherent voluntary system, NGOs and creativity and innovation in veterans' sport activities was consistent with the findings of researches by Qhareh and Kolhar [7], Shojaei et al. [15], Abbasi et al. [11], Javadipour and Samienia [16], and Sadeghian et al. [18], but it was not consistent with the research by Ghofrani et al. [13] and Momtazbakhsh [20]. ... [21-23]. 4) The strategy of organizing regular sport competitions in the province and cities with the purpose of inducing motivation necessary for the veterans to participate in sports activities was consistent with the researches of Ghareh and Kolhar [7], Seifpanahi et al. [24], Ghofrani et al. [13], Javadipour [16] Sadeghian et al. [18], Winter [19], Singbom and Patrick [25], Mahdizadeh et al. [23], Khazaei et al. [21] and Choghajerdi et al. [22], but it was not consistent with the findings of Shojaei et al. [15] and Momtazbakhsh [20]. ... [25]. 5) The strategy of activating the marketing sector and attracting financial resources in support of public sport and veterans' championship was consistent with the research by Ghofrani et al. [13], Seifpanahi et al. [24], Ghareh and Kolhar [7], and Asefi et al. [14].
Suggestions
It is suggested to researchers in the field of veterans' sports to do more research on how to devote veteran sports strategies and how to attract sponsors for investment and marketing in the veterans' sport, as well as about the facilities and infrastructure needed for veterans' sport to boost the development of veterans' sports.
Limitations
Among the limitations of the present study, lack of familiarity of some managers with the concepts of strategic management due to lack of sport management expertise can be mentioned. Moreover, considering that the subjects of this study were all the directors and deputies of the General Directorate of the Mazandaran Foundation of the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, in order to observe ethical considerations in the research, the psychological pressure created by the research questions was not under the control of the researcher, and this could be considered as one limitation which should be dealt with in the future research by the researchers who seek to fully control the variables affecting the results of the research.
Conclusions
The most important strategic plans for the development of veterans' sports in Mazandaran province include "the adoption of a strategic plan, the continuous monitoring and evaluation of sports and championship programs, the creation of a reward system for the attraction of veterans and devotees in sports activities, the creation of a voluntary system, NGOs and creativity, and Innovations in the sports activities of devotees and veterans, organizing regular sport competitions in the provincial and urban districts with inducing the motivation necessary for participating in sport activities and activating the marketing sector and attracting financial resources in support of public sport and championship".
Acknowledgments
Thanks to the efforts of the Director General of the Mazandaran Province Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs and all the deputies of this office as well as the honorable principals of the offices of Foundation of the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs in the cities of Mazandaran province and their deputies who spent their precious time in this study.
Conflict of interest
Non-declared
Ethical Permissions
In order to participate in the research, the presentation of the Islamic Azad University of Sari Branch was submitted to the General Directorate of the Foundation of the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs of Mazandaran Province. Prior to collecting field research information, the participants were assured that the results of the research were confidential.
Funding Sources
The funding of this research is personalized.

TABLES and CHARTS

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