Performance Coaching; A Strategic Tool for Managing Overqualified Employees in Public Sector

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD student in Public Administration, Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management and Economics, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Governance, Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding author) SM.Allameh@ut.ac.ir

3 Associate Professor, Department of Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Imam Ali University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

This study develops and validates a performance coaching model tailored to managing overqualified employees in the public sector, with a focus on Iran’s electricity industry. Employing a mixed-methods design, the qualitative phase used grounded theory and semi-structured interviews with 16 management experts, analyzed via MaxQDA, yielding 131 components and 18 constructs organized into six conceptual categories. Validity and reliability were ensured using Content Validity Ratio, Content Validity Index, and reliability coefficients. The quantitative phase surveyed 384 employees via cluster sampling, with model validation conducted using Structural Equation Modeling in SmartPLS. Findings reveal a multi-layered framework in which individual, organizational, and environmental causal conditions—mediated by political, legal, and organizational constraints—interact with contextual factors such as leadership style, organizational climate, and coaching environment to shape individual and organizational competencies. These competencies drive strategic initiatives including organizational development, talent management, continuous learning, and performance management, leading to improved outcomes at team, organizational, and individual levels. The model introduces novel competencies and contextual conditions critical for effective coaching of overqualified employees and highlights the need to address both internal and external constraints to create an enabling environment. While developed in the public electricity sector, the model offers adaptable, data-driven strategies for enhancing productivity, employee engagement, and organizational learning across industries. This research contributes to human resource development literature by filling a gap in coaching models for overqualified employees, offering a rigorous, scalable framework that aligns employee capabilities with organizational

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 12 April 2025
  • Revise Date: 22 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 11 June 2025
  • First Publish Date: 22 June 2025
  • Publish Date: 22 June 2025

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