Designing an Exploitation-Oriented Digital Innovation Model Based on the Maximum Functional Performance of Mining Industries

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to design an exploitation-oriented digital innovation model for Iran’s mining industries, with an emphasis on improving performance, sustainability, and competitiveness. The research adopted a mixed-methods qualitative–quantitative grounded theory approach. The literature review indicated that international models, due to infrastructural and cultural differences, do not fully meet the needs of Iran’s mining industry, highlighting the need for an indigenous model. The statistical population of the qualitative phase consisted of 15 experts and managers in the mining industry, who were selected through purposive sampling based on the criteria of expertise, experience, and diversity. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using grounded theory analysis. In the quantitative phase, data from 220 questionnaires distributed among managers and experts of mines across the country were collected through stratified sampling and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The qualitative results identified weak technological infrastructures, the absence of an innovation culture, and the lack of data-driven governance frameworks as key barriers. The key factors identified included managerial support, transformational leadership, technology localization, and the integration of managerial software systems. The results of this study show that strengthening human capital, data-driven decision-making, and macro-level policymaking can provide the foundation for achieving the highest level of exploitation, profitability, and sustainability across the entire mining value chain. The quantitative findings confirmed the validity and fit of the proposed model and extracted operational strategies for developing digital innovation. This study provides a novel basis for policymaking and the development of an indigenous digital transformation model in Iran’s mining industry.