Nedasadat Jafari, Nabi Omidi, Mohammad Saraei Talab, Mohammadreza Kermani, Elham Khosravi,
Volume 13, Issue 4 (1-2026)
Objectives: This research aimed to design and validate an integrated model for soft skills development, integrating technology-driven empowerment with cognitive ergonomics principles.
Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods approach with a sequential exploratory design. In the qualitative phase, in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 academic experts and senior bank managers selected through purposive sampling, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. In the quantitative phase, which employed a descriptive-survey design, the conceptual model derived from the qualitative phase was tested using a researcher-developed questionnaire on a sample of 395 employees from the headquarters and branches of Bank Refah Kargaran. Data analysis and model evaluation were performed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in AMOS (version 26).
Results: The qualitative analysis led to the identification of four main themes and twenty‑eight sub‑themes, forming the model's dimensions: technology-based empowerment, cognitive ergonomics considerations, contextual and organizational factors, and integrated soft skills development. The quantitative results indicated a good model fit, with all three predictors exerting positive and significant effects on soft skills development. Among them, contextual and organizational factors had the most substantial impact (β = 0.45).
Conclusion: These findings highlight the necessity of adopting a systemic perspective that recognizes the interplay among humans, technology, and organizational structures. They demonstrate that successful employee empowerment requires simultaneous attention to technological tools and cognitive ergonomics principles.
