University of Tehran Press Interdisciplinary Journal of Management Studies 2981-0795 19 2 2026 02 20 Deciphering Dropout Factors: Using Fishbone Diagram (a Longitudinal Qualitative Research in the Faculty of Management at the University of Tehran) 379 399 104245 10.22059/ijms.2025.392635.677513 EN Ahmad Keykha Assistant Professor of Educational Administration, Department of Educational Administration, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Karaj, Iran Fereshteh Mohammadi Department of Curriculum Development & Instruction Methods, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Masoumeh Asefi Department of Learning, Education and Technology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland Malihe Keykha Department of Engineering, Project Management, Department of Civil Engineering. Payam Noor University, Zahedan, Iran Journal Article 2025 04 08 This study investigates the underlying factors contributing to student dropout at the Faculty of Management, University of Tehran, over a seven-year period (2018–2024). Employing a longitudinal qualitative research design, the study focuses on all students who discontinued their studies during this timeframe. Data collection was conducted in two stages: Initially, through a comprehensive census of all dropout cases, followed by purposive random sampling to select a diverse group of students across different academic years. Semi-structured interviews were held with 23 former students, serving as the primary data source. The interviews were analyzed through qualitative content analysis, guided by the Push, Pull, and Falling Out theoretical framework. Findings revealed two overarching categories of dropout factors: individual and non-individual. Individual factors encompassed four main themes and ten subthemes, while non-individual factors were divided into four main themes and eight subthemes. A fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram was employed to visually map the interrelations among these factors. Notably, socio-cultural norms and structural constraints emerged as the most deeply rooted and influential causes. The study concludes with policy and practical recommendations aimed at mitigating the dropout phenomenon within higher education institutions. https://ijms.ut.ac.ir/article_104245_61b2e29fd26b5219a3ac822621a04c2a.pdf