the present study aimed at the evaluation of the role of the rural managers (dehyars) in the process of sustainable rural development from different aspects such as social, economic, environmental, health and physical dimensions. the study was an applied research, descriptive-analytical and practical in terms of the purpose. data collection was performed using the field questionnaires as well as face-to-face completion of the research questionnaires . the statistical sample size was estimated as 356 using morgan's table . in order to evaluate the performance of dehyars in the sustainable rural development process, a number of 52 indicators in five main dimensions of staff, social, economic, environmental, health and physical were selected based on the governmental assigned tasks. the likert scale was used in the questionnaire. for data analysis, after entering the information in spss software, one-sample t-test and hierarchical cluster analysis were used and the villages were classified into three categories. the results of the one sampeling t test, showed that the level of villagers' satisfaction dehyars performance in all five dimensions of staff, social, economic, environmental-health and physical is positive and moderate. according to the findings, the villagers had the lowest level of satisfaction from rural managers' economic performance with an average of 3.17 and had the highest satisfaction from dehyars staff performance with an average of 3.85. according to the cluster analysis method, 31.81% of the studied villages in buin miandasht city are in un- sustainable, 40.90% of the villages are in semi-sustainable and 27.27% of the villages are in sustainable conditions.
extended abstract
introduction
rural management (dehyari) as an executive part of the government plays a key role in implementing, monitoring and organizing development programs in order to achieve a good level of sustainable rural development. rural management has now become one of the most important pillars of sustainable development in rural communities in iran. since the main goal of development programs is the prosperity of rural residents, their satisfaction from managers and officials is one of the critical points that should be considered in the development of various programs. therefore, the present study aimed at the evaluation of the role of rural managers (dehyars) in the process of sustainable rural development from different aspects such as social, economic, environmental, health and physical dimensions.
methodology
the study was considered as an applied kind of research, descriptive-analytical and practical in terms of the purpose. the data collection was performed using the field questionnaires as well as face-to-face completion of the research instrument . the survey was conducted by covering the villagers' population of buin miandasht, which consisted of 22 villages, with a population of over 8,000 people living in two central and karchmbu districts. the statistical sample size was estimated as 356 using morgan's table . a simple random sampling method was used to adhere with the principle of equal opportunity (chance). a questionnaire was designed to evaluate the performance of rural manages' offices (dehyaris) in sustainable rural development and was defined based on staff performance (9 indicators), social performance (11 indicators), economic performance (11 indicators), environmental-health performance (11 indicators) and physical performance (10 indicators) of the rural management offices.
in order to appraise the performance of rural managers (dehyars) in sustainable rural development process, a number of 52 indicators in five main dimensions of staff, social, economic, environmental, health and physical were selected based on the governmental assigned tasks. the likert scale was taken in designing the questionnaire. in order to determine the validity of the desired items of the questionnare, the opinion of 30 experts and academic experts were investigated. moreover, the reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using cronbach's alpha coefficient for 52 indicators of the questionnare, which was equal with 0.96 and indicated acceptable and high reliability of the research questionnaire. for data analysis, a one-sample t-test was used after entering the information into the spss software and hierarchical cluster analysis were used and the villages were classified into three categories.
results and discussion
the results of one sampeling t test showed that the level of villagers' satisfaction from rural managers' (dehyars) performance in all five dimensions of staff, social, economic, environmental-health and physical is positive and moderate. according to villagers' opinions, the average performance of rural managers (dehyars) in staff indicator was 3.38, in infrustructural indicator was 3.55, in social indicator was 3.45, in environmental dimention was 3.39 and in economic dimention was 3.17. according to the cluster analysis method, in staff dimension 9.09% of the studied villages in buin miandasht city are in un-sustainable, 54.4% of the villages are in semi—sustainable and 36.6% of the villages are in sustainable conditions. in social dimension 36.6% of villages are in un-sustainable, 27.7% of the villages in semi—sustainable and 36.6% of the villages in sustainable conditions. in economic and environmental-health dimensions 31.81% of villages are in un-sustainable, 27.7% of the villages in semi—sustainable and 40.90% in sustainable conditions. in physical dimension 22.72% of villages are in un-sustainable, of the villages 54.54% of the villages in semi—sustainable and 22.72% of the villages in sustainable conditions.
the average performance of the dehyars in all five dimensions was higher than the theoretical average of three, which indicates villagers' average satisfaction with the managers' (dehyars) performance in studied villages. therefore, the performance of dehyars was in all five dimensions of sustainable development and was obtained above the average. in more detail, the villagers' highest satisfaction with dehyars' performance was in the staff dimension and villagers' lowest satisfaction level was related todehyars' economic performance. the respondents pointed out the dehyars' lack of education in the field of economics and marketing as the factors negatively intervening in their performance. also, according to villagers, the average performance of dehyars in sustainable rural development was 3.43, which was evaluated as the average level. the above results indicate the fact that despite the average situation of rural areas and relative satisfaction of the people with them, there is still a long way for them to reach their expected position. therefore, greater attention is needed to the main reasons of this gap and strategies which could be taken to achieve superior position of rural managers (dehyars) from different dimensions. this should be included in the program of the ministry of jihad- agriculture and existing challenges should be examined by further researchers.
conclusion
according to findings, the villagers had the lowest level of satisfaction from rural managers' economic performance with an average of 3.17 and revealed their highest satisfaction from them in terms of staff performance with the average of 3.85. this fact would highlightes the crucial importance of economic aspects of the rural managers' activities. in a wider perspective, economcal conditions are major problems of iranian society as a whole and particularly for the villagers. this phenomenon was also discovered in current research. consequently, rural managers (dehyars) need higher capabilities in fund preparation, loanes' acquiring, assisting villagers in doing cost-effective agriculture and enabling them to produce more added values out of their products and successfully perform in local, riogenal, national and eventually international markects. according to the cluster analysis method, 31.81% of the studied villages in buin miandasht city are in un-sustainable, 40.90% of the villages are in semi-sustainable and 27.27% of the villages are in sustainable conditions. according to the cluster analysis method, sustainable villages in this study include the following: baltaq, noghan, batlicheh, takhmaghlu, hezar jarib and ghaemabad.
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