Designing a Digital Innovation Model for Exploitation Based on Maximum Operational Performance in the Mining Industry
Keywords:
Digital Innovation, Digital Transformation, Exploitation, Mining IndustryAbstract
The purpose of this study was to design a digital innovation model for mining operations in Iran, with an emphasis on enhancing performance, sustainability, and competitiveness. The research adopted a mixed-methods grounded theory approach (qualitative–quantitative). A review of the literature indicated that existing international models are unable to fully address the needs of Iran’s mining sector due to infrastructural and cultural differences, highlighting the necessity of a localized model. The qualitative sample consisted of 15 experts and managers from the mining industry who were selected through purposive sampling based on expertise, experience, and diversity criteria. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using grounded theory. In the quantitative phase, data from 220 questionnaires completed by mining managers and specialists across the country were collected through stratified sampling and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Qualitative findings identified weak technological infrastructures, the absence of an innovation-oriented culture, and the lack of data-driven governance frameworks as key barriers. Critical factors included managerial support, transformational leadership, technology localization, and the integration of management software systems. The results indicate that strengthening human capital, promoting data-driven decision-making, and implementing macro-level policy interventions can facilitate maximum operational efficiency, profitability, and sustainability throughout the mining value chain. Quantitative findings confirmed the validity and goodness-of-fit of the proposed model and provided practical strategies for advancing digital innovation. This study offers a novel foundation for policymaking and the development of a localized digital transformation model in Iran’s mining industry.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mahyar Amin Forghani (Author); Sohail Dadkhah; Mohsen Dadras (Author)
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