Public Policy Requirements for Enhancing the Resilience of Iran’s Electricity Grid Against Multiple Crises: A Targeted and Integrated Literature Review Using ISM and MICMAC Analysis

Hadi Abbasabadi¹

1) Ph.D. in Public Administration, specialization in Decision Making and Public Policy Making, Kerman Regional Electric Company, Iran,

IOI Code : ACZF-ACABHG
Publication : 6th.International Congress on Management, Economy, Humanities, Education and Business Development(6icmba.ir)
Abstract :
    The electricity grid, as critical infrastructure, is vulnerable to a wide range of natural, climatic, and cyber hazards. Despite the growing attention of the global literature to resilience, existing approaches have focused mainly on technical and engineering dimensions, while the institutional and policy context enabling resilience has received less attention. This study aims to identify, validate, and analyze public policy requirements for enhancing the resilience of Iran’s electricity grid. Sixteen key components across governance and institutional, policy, economic and financial, technical capability, and social and cultural domains were identified. Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) was used to explain the structural relationships among these components, while Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification (MICMAC) was employed to determine their driving power and dependence. The findings indicate that “national leadership and interinstitutional coordination,” “proactive policy,” “multi-hazard risk assessment,” and “mandatory regulations and standards” have the highest driving power and function as the principal drivers of the policy system. Conversely, components such as “strategic energy reserves” and “social acceptance and public trust” fall within the dependent cluster, meaning that their realization requires strengthening the key drivers. The MICMAC results show that most components are located in the linkage cluster and are highly sensitive to changes within the system. Therefore, policy interventions should adopt a systemic perspective and begin by prioritizing strategic drivers. By presenting a structural hierarchy of policy requirements, this study recommends that energy policymakers initially strengthen influential and driving components so that their effects can cascade through other components and ultimately enhance the resilience of Iran’s electricity grid.

Keywords : electricity grid resilience public policy interpretive structural modeling (ism) micmac analysis energy security