Transformation Management Journal

Exploring the meaning of callings in the light of the experiences of an Iranian public organization’s employees: The usage of empirical phenomenological psychological (EPP) method

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mostafa Hadavinejad 1
Saeideh Nakhaei 2

1 Associate professor, Department of Management, Faculty of Administrative Sciences & Economy, Vali-e-Asr University, Rafsanjan, Iran

2 MSc, Department of Management, Faculty of Administrative Sciences & Economy, Vali-e-Asr University, Rafsanjan, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/tmj.2025.92262.1683
Abstract
Calling is a behavioral phenomenon to find one's identity through serving to others. The present study has attempted to explore the types of this phenomenon according to the lived experiences of employees of an Iranian public organization (Vali-Asr University of Rafsanjan) based on the empirical phenomenological psychological (EPP) method. The participants were 30 employees of this university who were selected through a typical sampling method and invited to the research. The data collection tool was in-depth semi-structured interviews with participants. According to the research findings, based on the three criteria of consciousness, will and intention, eight types were identified for calling in the studied organization, which were: consciousness divine callings, consciousness mundane callings, unconsciousness divine callings, unconsciousness mundane callings, consciousness divine be-called, consciousness mundane be-called, unconsciousness divine be-called, unconsciousness mundane be-called. In addition, three other twins were identified for fulfilled callings in the organization: failed call, fake callings, and non-callings.

Keywords

Callings
Typology
Phenomenology
Empirical Phenomenological Psychological (EPP) Method
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  • Receive Date 20 February 2025
  • Revise Date 11 July 2025
  • Accept Date 25 August 2025

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