Shahid Beheshti University Public Administration Perspective 2251-6069 13 2 2022 06 22 Discourse Analysis of Succession Planning in a Governmental Organization with Critical Approach Discourse Analysis of Succession Planning in a Governmental Organization with Critical Approach 117 139 101753 10.52547/jpap.2021.220481.1060 FA Maryam Mohammadi Dayani Business Management, Allameh Tabataba`i University, Tehran. Iran Vahid Khashei Associate Professor.Department of Business Management.Allameh Tabataba`i University.Tehran. Iran Morteza Zahedi Rad Department of Administrative Management, Islamci Azad University. North Tehran Branch. Tehran. Iran Journal Article 2021 05 08 <strong>Purpose:</strong> To analyze the discourses about the succession planning in a governmental organization.<br /><strong>Design/ Methodology/ Approach</strong>: The present study has been qualitative in terms of approach; The sampling method was purposeful and the data collection method was mainly a semi-structured interview with 13 managers of the studied organization. Data analysis has been done by critical discourse analysis method using the Fairclough's Model in three stages of description, interpretation and explanation.<br /><strong>Research Findings:</strong> The most important findings of the description section were the extraction of (416) positive codes and (222) negative codes, which were defined after classifying (68) positive focal words and (53) negative focal words. In the interpretation phase, it was found that the type of attitude towards appointments and key jobs is the source of succession planning or succession phobia, which includes two main discourses of strategic and political approach to appointments and key jobs. In the explanation stage, it was found that at a higher level, issues related to the political, economic, cultural, legal and administrative system overshadowed the lack of succession and in the current situation (non-succession), the dominance of the political system over other social systems and related processes (political attitude) is the factor that can most of all change the subject of appointments and succession planning in the studied organization and governmental organizations.<br /><strong>Limitations & Consequences: </strong>Difference in background knowledge of individuals in discourse analysis and its effect on the reliability of results<strong>.</strong><br /><strong>Practical implications</strong>: The results of the present study, help to identify obstacles of succession planning in studied organization and similar government organizations.<br /><strong>Innovation or Value of the Study:</strong> Using the method of critical discourse analysis to identify issues related to the subject of succession planning.<br /><strong>Keywords: </strong><br /><strong>Paper type:</strong> Research Article <strong>Purpose:</strong> To analyze the discourses about the succession planning in a governmental organization.<br /><strong>Design/ Methodology/ Approach</strong>: The present study has been qualitative in terms of approach; The sampling method was purposeful and the data collection method was mainly a semi-structured interview with 13 managers of the studied organization. Data analysis has been done by critical discourse analysis method using the Fairclough's Model in three stages of description, interpretation and explanation.<br /><strong>Research Findings:</strong> The most important findings of the description section were the extraction of (416) positive codes and (222) negative codes, which were defined after classifying (68) positive focal words and (53) negative focal words. In the interpretation phase, it was found that the type of attitude towards appointments and key jobs is the source of succession planning or succession phobia, which includes two main discourses of strategic and political approach to appointments and key jobs. In the explanation stage, it was found that at a higher level, issues related to the political, economic, cultural, legal and administrative system overshadowed the lack of succession and in the current situation (non-succession), the dominance of the political system over other social systems and related processes (political attitude) is the factor that can most of all change the subject of appointments and succession planning in the studied organization and governmental organizations.<br /><strong>Limitations & Consequences: </strong>Difference in background knowledge of individuals in discourse analysis and its effect on the reliability of results<strong>.</strong><br /><strong>Practical implications</strong>: The results of the present study, help to identify obstacles of succession planning in studied organization and similar government organizations.<br /><strong>Innovation or Value of the Study:</strong> Using the method of critical discourse analysis to identify issues related to the subject of succession planning.<br /><strong>Keywords: </strong><br /><strong>Paper type:</strong> Research Article https://jpap.sbu.ac.ir/article_101753_985cb6b81403e1def255098735c6ef09.pdf