Qualitative Research in Behavioral Sciences

Qualitative Research in Behavioral Sciences

Identifying the Factors that form Organizational Pride in the Fire Department with an Emphasis On Social Responsibility and External Interaction

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Hadi Ghane 1
AMANE MALMIR 2
ZAHRA SHIRAZIAN 3
VAMBISE HAMIDI 4
hajieh rajabi farjad 5
1 Department of Management, Ha.C., Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Management, Far.C., Islamic Azad University, Farahan, Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Mal.C., Islamic Azad University, Malayer, Iran.
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Ha.C., Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran.
5 Associate Professor of Human Resource Management Department Faculty of Organizational Resources, University of Police Sciences
10.22077/qrbs.2026.10368.1132
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Despite numerous studies on the impact of social responsibility on commitment, motivation, sustainability culture, and even organizational pride, none have specifically addressed the mechanisms of organizational pride formation in high risk relief organizations, such as fire departments.
Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying the factors of organizational pride formation in fire departments with an emphasis on social responsibility and external interaction.
Method: The present research method was qualitative with a content analysis approach that the researcher conducted during a semi-structured interview with experts from the Shiraz Fire Department (2024). The research participants included all experts from the Shiraz Fire Department who were selected purposefully in such a way that theoretical saturation was achieved in the thirteenth interview; to validate the data, the interview process continued up to 15 people. The information obtained from the interview was analyzed using the Kleiser theory foundational method and MAXQDA software.
Results: Analysis of the interviews conducted in the form of open, axial and selective coding led to the identification of 180 statements. The codes obtained from the interviews in the form of 9 selective codes (commitment to society, environmental protection, compliance with organizational ethics and transparency, employee development, justice and equality, social accountability, communication with the local community, communication with government and non-government institutions, communication with the media and public opinion, and communication with stakeholders and specialized groups) and 36 axial codes were identified as factors in the formation of organizational pride in the fire department with an emphasis on social responsibility and external interaction.
Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that organizational pride in the fire department is a multidimensional concept that stems from the constructive interaction between social responsibility and external communication. These two areas, by strengthening human, ethical and professional values, promote organizational identity, increase productivity, job satisfaction and create a positive image of the organization in society.
Keywords
organizational pride
social responsibility
external engagement
fire department
Subjects

References

Ali, F., Nawaz, Z., & Kumar, N. (2024). Internal corporate social responsibility as a strategic tool for employee engagement in public organizations: Role of empathy and organizational pride. Human Systems Management, 43(3), 391-406. https://doi.org/10.3233/HSM-230118

Bharadwaj, S., & Yameen, M. (2021). Analyzing the mediating effect of organizational identification on the relationship between CSR employer branding and employee retention. Management Research Review, 44(5), 718-737. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-05-2020-0298

Boğan, E., & Dedeoğlu, B. B. (2020). Hotel employees' corporate social responsibility perception and organizational citizenship behavior: Perceived external prestige and pride in organization as serial mediators. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 27(5), 2342-2353. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1996

Dazeh, N., Sotoudeh, R., Haghparast, A., & Hirad, A. (2024). Identifying and ranking behavioral health indicators of auditors of the court of accounts of the republic of iran. Qualitative Research in Behavioral Sciences, 4(1), 1-16. https://qrbs.birjand.ac.ir/article_3449.html

Foroughi, M., & Hosseini, S. S. (2025). Investigating the impact of social responsibility on employee commitment through intrinsic motivation and trust (a case study of hospitals in tabriz). Dynamic Management and Business Analysis, 4(4), 1-16. https://www.dmbaj.com/index.php/dmba/article/view/197

Hameed, Z., Khan, I. U., Islam, T., Sheikh, Z., & Khan, S. U. (2019). Corporate social responsibility and employee pro- environmental behaviors: The role of perceived organizational support and organizational pride. South Asian Journal of Business Studies, 8(3), 246-265. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAJBS-10-2018-0117

Hamzehlou Pak, H., & Hasani, R. (2021). The effect of organizational voice on organizational health with the mediating role of naja social responsibility. Supervision & Inspection, 15(57), 13-45. https://www.magiran.com/paper/citation?ids=2372662

Hayat, A., & Afshari, L. (2022). CSR and employee well- being in hospitality industry: A mediation model of job satisfaction and affective commitment. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 51, 387-396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2022.04.008

Kim, H., & Lee, M. (2022). Employee perception of corporate social responsibility authenticity: A multilevel approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 948363. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.948363

Kim, H., Woo, E., Uysal, M., & Kwon, N. (2018). The effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on employee well-being in the hospitality industry. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 30(3), 1584-1600. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-03-2016-0166

Lee, S., Hameduddin, T., & Lee, G. R. (2023). Organizational image and employee engagement: Exploring the inter-relationships between construed external image and perceived organizational identity. The American Review of Public Administration, 53(2), 82-96. https://doi.org/10.1177/02750740221147573

Mohebbi, M. M., Zandi, K., & Kiani Futwat, H. (2022). The relationship between managerial leadership and nurses' caring behaviors: The mediating role of organizational pride. Ibn Sina Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Care, 30(4), 297-306. https://nmj.umsha.ac.ir/article-1-2469-en.html

Niazi, A., Rashidi, Z., & Mohammadi, E. (2025). Identifying the components of sustainable organizational culture with a social responsibility approach. Personal Development and Organizational Transformation, 1-15. https://journalpdot.com/index.php/jpdot/article/view/192

Prado- Roman, C., Diez-Martin, F., & Blanco- Gonzalez, A. (2020). The effect of communication on the legitimacy and performance of organizations. Revista Brasileira de Gestão de Negócios, 22(3), 565-581. https://doi.org/10.7819/rbgn.v22i3.4071

Rahimian, A., Najari, R., Zare, R., & Taj Mohammad Alinejad, Z. (2024). Designing a human resources management model in data-based education in municipalities of hormozgan province. Qualitative Research in Behavioral Sciences, 4(1), 141-160. https://qrbs.birjand.ac.ir/article_3865.html?lang=en

Raza, A., Farrukh, M., Iqbal, M. K., Farhan, M., & Wu, Y. (2021). Corporate social responsibility and employees' voluntary pro‐environmental behavior: The role of organizational pride and employee engagement. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 28(3), 1104-1116. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2109

Schaefer, S. D., Cunningham, P., Diehl, S., & Terlutter, R. (2024). Employees' positive perceptions of corporate social responsibility create beneficial outcomes for firms and their employees: Organizational pride as a mediator. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 31(3), 2574-2587. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2699

Selgi, M., Gol Afshani, S. A., & Farhani, A. A. (2025). Designing a model for promoting the social responsibility of employees of public organizations (case study: Tehran municipality). Individual Development and Organizational Development, 3(9), 15-30. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jpdot.182

Turker, D. (2009). How corporate social responsibility influences organizational commitment. Journal of Business ethics, 89(2), 189-204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9993-8

Yang, T., Jiang, X., & Cheng, H. (2022). Employee recognition, task performance, and ocb: Mediated and moderated by pride. Sustainability, 14(3), 1631. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031631

References
Ali, F., Nawaz, Z., & Kumar, N. (2024). Internal corporate social responsibility as a strategic tool for employee engagement in public organizations: Role of empathy and organizational pride. Human Systems Management, 43(3), 391-406. https://doi.org/10.3233/HSM-230118
Bharadwaj, S., & Yameen, M. (2021). Analyzing the mediating effect of organizational identification on the relationship between CSR employer branding and employee retention. Management Research Review, 44(5), 718-737. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-05-2020-0298
Boğan, E., & Dedeoğlu, B. B. (2020). Hotel employees' corporate social responsibility perception and organizational citizenship behavior: Perceived external prestige and pride in organization as serial mediators. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 27(5), 2342-2353. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1996
Dazeh, N., Sotoudeh, R., Haghparast, A., & Hirad, A. (2024). Identifying and ranking behavioral health indicators of auditors of the court of accounts of the republic of iran. Qualitative Research in Behavioral Sciences, 4(1), 1-16. https://qrbs.birjand.ac.ir/article_3449.html
Foroughi, M., & Hosseini, S. S. (2025). Investigating the impact of social responsibility on employee commitment through intrinsic motivation and trust (a case study of hospitals in tabriz). Dynamic Management and Business Analysis, 4(4), 1-16. https://www.dmbaj.com/index.php/dmba/article/view/197
Hameed, Z., Khan, I. U., Islam, T., Sheikh, Z., & Khan, S. U. (2019). Corporate social responsibility and employee pro- environmental behaviors: The role of perceived organizational support and organizational pride. South Asian Journal of Business Studies, 8(3), 246-265. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAJBS-10-2018-0117
Hamzehlou Pak, H., & Hasani, R. (2021). The effect of organizational voice on organizational health with the mediating role of naja social responsibility. Supervision & Inspection, 15(57), 13-45. https://www.magiran.com/paper/citation?ids=2372662
Hayat, A., & Afshari, L. (2022). CSR and employee well- being in hospitality industry: A mediation model of job satisfaction and affective commitment. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 51, 387-396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2022.04.008
Kim, H., & Lee, M. (2022). Employee perception of corporate social responsibility authenticity: A multilevel approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 948363. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.948363
Kim, H., Woo, E., Uysal, M., & Kwon, N. (2018). The effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on employee well-being in the hospitality industry. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 30(3), 1584-1600. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-03-2016-0166
Lee, S., Hameduddin, T., & Lee, G. R. (2023). Organizational image and employee engagement: Exploring the inter-relationships between construed external image and perceived organizational identity. The American Review of Public Administration, 53(2), 82-96. https://doi.org/10.1177/02750740221147573
Mohebbi, M. M., Zandi, K., & Kiani Futwat, H. (2022). The relationship between managerial leadership and nurses' caring behaviors: The mediating role of organizational pride. Ibn Sina Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Care, 30(4), 297-306. https://nmj.umsha.ac.ir/article-1-2469-en.html
Niazi, A., Rashidi, Z., & Mohammadi, E. (2025). Identifying the components of sustainable organizational culture with a social responsibility approach. Personal Development and Organizational Transformation, 1-15. https://journalpdot.com/index.php/jpdot/article/view/192
Prado- Roman, C., Diez-Martin, F., & Blanco- Gonzalez, A. (2020). The effect of communication on the legitimacy and performance of organizations. Revista Brasileira de Gestão de Negócios, 22(3), 565-581. https://doi.org/10.7819/rbgn.v22i3.4071
Rahimian, A., Najari, R., Zare, R., & Taj Mohammad Alinejad, Z. (2024). Designing a human resources management model in data-based education in municipalities of hormozgan province. Qualitative Research in Behavioral Sciences, 4(1), 141-160. https://qrbs.birjand.ac.ir/article_3865.html?lang=en
Raza, A., Farrukh, M., Iqbal, M. K., Farhan, M., & Wu, Y. (2021). Corporate social responsibility and employees' voluntary pro‐environmental behavior: The role of organizational pride and employee engagement. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 28(3), 1104-1116. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2109
Schaefer, S. D., Cunningham, P., Diehl, S., & Terlutter, R. (2024). Employees' positive perceptions of corporate social responsibility create beneficial outcomes for firms and their employees: Organizational pride as a mediator. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 31(3), 2574-2587. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2699
Selgi, M., Gol Afshani, S. A., & Farhani, A. A. (2025). Designing a model for promoting the social responsibility of employees of public organizations (case study: Tehran municipality). Individual Development and Organizational Development, 3(9), 15-30. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jpdot.182
Turker, D. (2009). How corporate social responsibility influences organizational commitment. Journal of Business ethics, 89(2), 189-204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9993-8
Yang, T., Jiang, X., & Cheng, H. (2022). Employee recognition, task performance, and ocb: Mediated and moderated by pride. Sustainability, 14(3), 1631. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031631

  • Receive Date 03 September 2025
  • Revise Date 20 December 2025
  • Accept Date 05 January 2026