Sediqeh Khazaei, the deputy oil minister for management development and human capital, said the committee seeks to institutionalize a values-based organizational culture and move toward a healthier administrative system.

Speaking Monday at a conference on administrative health in the oil industry, Khazaei marked Administrative Health Week, calling it an opportunity to refocus managers, organizations and the public on principles such as integrity and transparency and to renew commitment to sound governance.

She said the Committee for the Development of Organizational Culture and Promotion of Professional Ethics in the Oil Industry has been established with the participation of human resources units from the ministry’s four main companies, as well as inspection, performance oversight and complaints offices, public relations departments, and bodies coordinating the review of administrative violations.

Khazaei said the committee’s core mission is to set policy, design programs and oversee implementation related to organizational culture development and professional ethics, uphold behavioral standards, and ensure adherence to organizational values across the oil sector.

Other objectives include monitoring the outcomes of implemented programs, fostering a healthier and more collegial work environment, and aligning organizational behavior with a defined professional values framework, she said.

Khazaei described the committee’s formation as part of the Oil Ministry’s broader management approach to improving organizational performance, adding that enhancing internal cohesion and administrative health are among its key goals. She said results will be evaluated and used to inform future decision-making.

Framework for organizational values and professional ethics

Khazaei also announced progress on identifying and defining organizational values and professional ethics codes for the oil industry, calling it a central pillar of human capital development and organizational culture.

She said the initiative, aligned with the ministry’s overarching policies and the government’s current priorities, is being implemented with the active participation of managers, experts and specialists across the oil sector.

Following assessments and needs analysis, six core values have been defined: organizational commitment, prioritizing operations, results orientation, teamwork and collaboration, compliance with laws and regulations, and transparency and accountability, she said.

Based on these values, a code of conduct and professional ethics for the oil industry has been drafted, with ethical standards to be defined for 19 job families to provide a clear framework for professional and organizational behavior in the workplace.

Khazaei said the goal is to create a shared values-based language among employees, strengthen organizational cohesion, and lay the groundwork for improved performance, transparency and accountability, noting that implementation outcomes will be continuously evaluated.