Presenting a Model of Technology-Based Businesses in the Sustainable ‎Development of Villages ‎in Kermanshah Province Using a Grounded Theory ‎Approach

Introduction: Technology-based businesses, by offering innovative solutions, play a key role ‎in the sustainable development of villages through increased productivity, job creation, and ‎improved quality of life. Achieving sustainable development in the villages of Kermanshah ‎Province is a strategic imperative, contingent upon creating innovative business models that ‎can simultaneously ensure economic, social, and environmental sustainability. In this regard, ‎technology-based businesses, with their capacity for job creation, productivity enhancement, ‎and access to new markets, play a pivotal role. This study, utilizing a grounded theory ‎approach, is designed to discover and present a comprehensive and indigenous model for such ‎businesses. By relying on field data extracted from the specific context of the villages in this ‎province, it aims to provide an operational framework for policymakers and entrepreneurs.‎

Research Method: This study is applied in purpose and qualitative and exploratory in ‎approach. It was conducted inductively using the grounded theory research method. The study ‎population consisted of experts, including professors from the Entrepreneurship and ‎Information and Communication Technology departments of Razi University and Islamic Azad ‎University in Kermanshah Province, key informants knowledgeable in the management of ‎technology-based businesses, entrepreneurs, and heads of rural cooperatives. Theoretical, non-‎probability, judgmental, and purposive sampling was used to select the study samples. The ‎criterion for determining the sample size was achieving theoretical saturation, which was ‎reached after 17 interviews; however, three additional interviews were conducted to increase ‎confidence. Data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with experts and ‎key informants who had the necessary experience, expertise, knowledge, and sufficient ‎familiarity with the subject. The interviews lasted between 40 and 65 minutes. Based on the ‎rule of theoretical saturation, data collection continued until the information related to the ‎research categories was complete, and no new information relevant to the research topic was ‎obtained in the final interviews. This indicated the achievement of theoretical saturation; in ‎other words, the newly collected data did not differ from the data obtained from previous ‎interviews and became repetitive. The interview data were analyzed using a three-stage coding ‎process (open, axial, and selective) based on the Strauss and Corbin approach, and the initial ‎model was developed. To ensure the validity and reliability of the interview questions and ‎collected data, member checking and intra-subject agreement methods were used to ensure that ‎the findings accurately represented the existing realities. These approaches helped increase the ‎validity and reliability of the research, leading to the presentation of a comprehensive and ‎practical model in the field of technology-based businesses for sustainable rural development. ‎This research was conducted during a specific period, from April to June 2024. The theoretical ‎and empirical foundations of this research served as the intellectual framework and were used ‎in all stages of design, implementation, and data analysis.‎

Findings: The findings indicate that in the resulting paradigmatic model, economic factors, ‎socio-cultural factors, infrastructural and technological factors, political and governmental ‎factors, environmental and geographical factors, educational and research factors, technical and ‎innovative factors, and communicative and network factors were identified as "causal ‎conditions." These factors make technology-based businesses essential and inevitable for the ‎sustainable development of villages in Kermanshah Province. "Contextual conditions" include ‎the physical and structural conditions of the villages, legal and ownership conditions, ‎knowledge and information infrastructures, and historical backgrounds and past experiences. ‎Factors such as the specific conditions of the innovation ecosystem, institutional-organizational ‎conditions, cognitive-behavioral conditions, adaptive conditions, and transformative conditions ‎act as "intervening conditions." The core phenomenon is "Technology-Based Businesses in ‎Sustainable Village Development." The "strategies" for technology-based businesses in the ‎sustainable development of villages in Kermanshah Province include human empowerment ‎strategies, market and sales development strategies, and technology-based product and service ‎development strategies. Finally, the consequences of technology-based businesses in ‎sustainable village development include transformations in livelihood patterns, emerging ‎institutional consequences, digital health outcomes, and educational transformations.‎

Conclusion: Technology-based businesses, by combining innovation and modern technologies, ‎have high potential for the sustainable transformation of villages. By improving access to ‎digital markets, increasing agricultural productivity, developing clean energy, and creating new ‎job opportunities, these businesses not only strengthen the local economy but also help reduce ‎rural migration and preserve the environment. Consequently, strengthening these businesses ‎can be considered a key strategy towards balanced and comprehensive development of rural ‎areas.‎

Keywords: Business, Technology, Innovation, Village, Grounded Theory.‎