1. |
A study on the effect of teleworking on quality of work life
, Pages: 1063-1068 Amir Azarbouyeh and Seyed Gholamreza Jalali Naini PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Nowadays teleworking has become a useful technique for business development and improving employees’ quality of life. Many people are now able to stay at home and do their daily job activities without bothering to wear formal closes. This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the effect of teleworking on quality of life using Walton (1976) method [Walton, R. E. (1973). Quality of working life-what is it. Sloan Management Review, 15(1), 11-21.]. The variables of quality of working-life according to Walton Model are: “Adequate and fair compensation”, “Safe and Healthy Working conditions”, “Opportunity for Continued Growth and Security”, “The Social Relevance of Work Life”, “Total Life Space”, “Social Integration in the Work”, “Constitutionalism in the work Organization”, “Human Progress Capabilities”. Using different statistical tests, the study indicate that teleworking had significant positive relationship with Quality of Working-Life components. The study also reports that different personal characteristics such as age, gender had no meaningful impact on teleworking. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.027 Keywords: Teleworking; Quality of Working-Life; Productivity |
|
2. |
An extension of compromise ranking method with interval numbers for the evaluation of renewable energy sources
, 1069-1076 M. Mousavi and R. Tavakkoli-Moghaddam PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Evaluating and prioritizing appropriate renewable energy sources is inevitably a complex decision process. Various information and conflicting attributes should be taken into account. For this purpose, multi-attribute decision making (MADM) methods can assist managers or decision makers in formulating renewable energy sources priorities by considering important objective and attributes. In this paper, a new extension of compromise ranking method with interval numbers is presented for the prioritization of renewable energy sources that is based on the performance similarity of alternatives to ideal solutions. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed decision method, an application example is provided and the computational results are analyzed. Results illustrate that the presented method is viable in solving the evaluation and prioritization problem of renewable energy sources. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.026 Keywords: Renewable energy source; Evaluation problem; Multi-attribute decision making; Compromise ranking |
|
3. |
The role of management’s tendency and personnel’s motivation in fulfillment of brand promise
, Pages: 1077-1084 Mahmoud Samiei Nasr, Seyed Mohsen Mahmoudzadeh Seyed Shahab Mousavi and Azadeh Boostani PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Fulfillment of the promises or brand promise plays essential role for the success of organizations. This paper presents an empirical investigation to evaluate the rate of management’s interest and personnel’s motivation in an Iranian firm named TAM Iran Khodro. The study reviews its relationship with fulfillment of corporative promises for customers. The study selects a sample of 206 employees of TAM Iran Khodro Company including managers and employees. Questionnaire is a tool for gathering information designed by the researchers. With respect to primary sample group including 40 participants, Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient was calculated as 0.905 for reliability value of this questionnaire, which validates the questionnaire. Spearman’s correlation coefficient and multiple regressions have been adopted to test different hypotheses. Research findings indicate that management’s tendency and personnel’s motivation were positively and significantly associated with fulfillment of corporative promises to customers (Brand Promise) with correlation coefficient 0.427. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.025 Keywords: Brand Promise; Personnel’s Will and Interest Motivation; TAM Iran Khodro |
|
4. |
Strategic planning for national knowledge-based development using the SWOT strategic model
, Pages: 1085-1098 Mehdi Jamalinejad, Ali Zangiabadi and Hamid Reza Varesi PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Industrialized and rich nations owe much of their development to advances and achievements they have made in science and technology. These assets have not only served as engines powering their advanced economies but have also led to their exponential social growth. Thus, advancements in science and technology may be regarded as indicators of fundamental development in any modern society as it is the knowledge-based society that is in a superior position to address and resolve its basic problems. While Iran has also been taking drastic steps towards its scientific and technological development, decisive measures are yet to be taken toward developing a strategic plan for these development objectives and gaining a comprehensive understanding of its different aspects. Employing an analytic-descriptive approach, the present study aims to develop fundamental strategies for the national scientific and technological development using the SWOT strategic model. The results indicate that the development of infrastructure for access to information networks with a weight of 0.56 ranks first among the strengths while absence of a strategic development plan with a weight of 0.372 ranks first among the weaknesses. IT infrastructure with a weight of 0.608 is found to have the highest weight among the opportunities while the low relevance between educational programs (at both levels of general and higher education) and scientific and innovation requirements is found to rank first with a weight of 0.46 among the threats. Among the most essential strategies that need to be adopted, one can refer to the development of a basic framework for the uniform and need-oriented connectivity and access to IT and the Internet across the nation; creation and development of such knowledge-based systems and facilities as business and technology incubators, science parks, science a& technology corridors, and innovation clusters aiming at a knowledge-based, dynamic, and developed society; directing efforts at striking a balance between the number of university graduates and the market demands for young educated work force; and maximum involvement of the educated youths in the realization of national development objectives. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.024 Keywords: Science; Technology; Innovation; Knowledge-based; SWOT |
|
5. |
A study on the effects of different factors influencing on customer loyalty, profitability and word of mouth advertisement for gaining competitive advantage in tourism industry
, Pages: 1099-1102 Naser Azad, Maryam Safaei and Mahdieh Shahrabi Farahani PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the effects of various factors influencing on customer loyalty, profitability and word of mouth advertisement for gaining competitive advantage in tourism industry. The study designs a questionnaire in Likert scale and distributes it among a random sample of 500 people who purchased some tours from travel agencies. Using structural equation modeling, the study has determined a positive and meaningful impact of pricing strategy, amenity, tourism services, content of trip, marketing mix elements, brand equity, competitive advantage and being exclusive on gaining competitive advantage. In addition, being exclusive and value creation influence positively on word of mouth advertisement. Finally, value creation influences on profitability, positively. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.023 Keywords: Customer loyalty; Tourism industry; Word of mouth; Competitive advantage |
|
6. |
A study on the relationship between emotional intelligence, organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior
, Pages: 1103-1106 Saman Chehrazi, Mehrdad Hoseini Shakib and Mohammad Hosein Askari Azad PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents a casual structure model between emotional intelligence and organizational citizenship behavior by using organizational commitment as mediator variable. The study is accomplished among 324 employees of united bus company in city of Tehran, Iran. Using structural equation modeling, the study has confirmed that emotional intelligence influenced on organizational citizenship behavior and commitment. The study also confirms that organizational commitment influenced on organizational citizenship behavior. Finally, the study has confirmed that there were significant relationships between emotional intelligence and its dimensions with organizational citizenship behavior and organizational commitment of employees. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.022 Keywords: Emotional intelligence; Organizational citizenship behavior; Organizational commitment |
|
7. |
A framework for online social networking features
, Pages: 1107-1116 Mohsen Shafiei Nikabadi and Fatemeh Maleki PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Social networks form a basis for maintaining social contacts, finding users with common interests, creating local content and sharing information. Recently networks have created a fundamental framework for analyzing and modeling the complex systems. Users' behavior studies and evaluates the system performance and leads to better planning and implementation of advertising policies on the web sites. Therefore, this study offers a framework for online social networks' characteristics. In terms of objective, this survey is practical descriptive. Sampling has been done among 384 of graduate students who have good experiences of membership in online social network. Confirmatory factor analysis is used to evaluate the validity of variables in research model. Characteristics of online social networks are defined based on six components and framework's indexes are analyzed through factor analysis. The reliability is calculated separately for each dimension and since they are all above 0.7, the reliability of the study can be confirmed. According to our research results, in terms of size, the number of people who apply for membership in various online social networking is an important index. In terms of individual preference to connect with, people who are relative play essential role in social network development. In terms of homogeneity variable, the number of people who visit their friends’ pages is important for measuring frequency variable. In terms of frequency, the use of entertainment and recreation services is more important index. In terms of proximity, being in the same city is a more important index and index of creating a sense of belonging and confidence is more important for measuring reciprocity variable. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.021 Keywords: Online social network; Social network; Websites |
|
8. |
The effects of corporate governance on stock liquidity: Evidence from Tehran Stock Exchange
, Pages: 1117-1122 Aboubakr Arazpour and Mohammad Esmaeil Fadaeinejad PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This study examines the relationship between corporate governance’s mechanisms and liquidity of stocks on 66 selected firms listed on Tehran Stock Exchange over the period 2005-2009. Board composition and ownership structure are used as corporate governance’s mechanisms and illiquidity measure proposed by Amihud (2002) [Amihud, Y. (2002). Illiquidity and stock returns: cross-section and time-series effects. Journal of financial markets, 5(1), 31-56.] is used to measure stock liquidity. The results show that an increase on the number of independent boards is associated with higher liquidity. In addition, the results show that there was a significant relationship between liquidity and ownership structure. In other words, the relationships between liquidity and individual investors and five biggest investors are positive and the relationships between liquidity and institutional ownership and the biggest investor ownership are negative. In addition, there is not a significant relationship between liquidity and duality of managers. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.020 Keywords: Corporate Governance; Liquidity; Ownership structure; Board independence; Tehran Securities Exchange |
|
9. |
An improved energy consumption method for wireless sensor networks
, Pages: 1123-1132 Seyedeh Zahra Yazdanpanah, Yousef Abbasnejad Varzi, Ali Haronabadi and Seyed Javad Mirabedini PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents a new basic clustering algorithm to increase the wireless sensor networks energy and longevity, efficiently. In each period, cluster heads are selected based on the maximum energy and the minimum distance through the nodes. Therefore, the protocol to obtain good performance in terms of longevity is achieved by balancing the energy load among all nodes. The simulation results obtained from the MATLAB software indicate that the suggested approach is effective in prolonging the network longevity. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.019 Keywords: Energy efficiency; Network longevity; Heterogeneous network |
|
10. |
A study on the effects of state ownership on auditing cost
, Pages: 1133-1138 Mohammad Reza Asgari and Iraj Mirhosseini PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper investigates the relationship between state ownership and auditing expenses of 141 Iranian firms from Tehran Stock Exchange over the period 2008-2012. Using stepwise regression technique, the study has detected a negative and meaningful relationship between state ownership and auditing costs. In addition, the study has determined a positive and meaningful relationship between auditing firm size and auditing expenses. Finally, state ownership has negative impact on relationship between auditing firm size and auditing expenses such that with an increase on state ownership, the effects of auditing firm and auditing expenses will be reduced. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.018 Keywords: State ownership; Auditing cost; Firm size; Tehran Stock Exchange |
|
11. |
A study on the effects of productivity of human resources in banking network and work ethics
, Pages: 1139-1146 Zahra Vazifeh and Masomeh Kiani Ghaleh Nou PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Today, human resources are considered as the most important assets of any organization. Generally, human being has specific ethical features on personality characteristics forming the attitude, speech and behavior. It is possible that some factors create different attitudes, speech and behavior among people who are in one particular position. These human characteristics influence the efficiency and effectiveness of organization. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between work ethics and human resources productivity in banking network of city of Zahedan, Iran. The study chooses a sample of 236 employees who worked for different banks in city of Zahedan, Iran in 2013. To analyze the data, Pearson correlation test, Friedman ranking and independent t-test were used. The results show that there was a significant association between work ethics components and productivity (efficiency and effectiveness) of human resources. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.017 Keywords: Dependability; Work ethics Human resources productivity; Effectiveness; Efficiency |
|
12. |
Investigating the role of government trade policies and regulations on smuggling cosmetic products
, Pages: 1147-1152 Sahar Seifpoor and Reza Agha Mousa PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper investigates the effects of government trade policies as well as the rules and regulations on smuggling cosmetic products in Iran. The study considers the effects of five important factors including high tariffs and bureaucratic procedures, registration process, size and expire date, lack of accurate monitoring of distribution channels and government recent regulation failure on growth of smuggling cosmetic products in Iran. The proposed study uses structural equation modeling to examine the effects of these five components. The results indicate a positive and meaningful relationships between four variables including registration process (β = 0.84, P-value = 0.000), size and expire date (β = 0.86, P-value = 0.000), high rate of tariff (β = 0.88, P-value = 0.000) and government recent regulation failure (β = 0.97, P-value = 0.000) on growth of smuggling cosmetic products in Iran. In addition, the study has detected a negative and meaningful relationship between lack of accurate monitoring of distribution channels and growth of smuggling cosmetic products in Iran (β = -0.18, P-value = 0.000). DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.016 Keywords: Smuggling; Cosmetic; Tariff |
|
13. |
A study to determine the dimensions of job satisfaction, job turnover tendency, individual personalities and psychological well-being in Tehran City Hall
, Pages: 1153-1160 Seyed Morteza Gholami AliAbadi Seyed Mohsen Seyed AliAkbar and Kiamars Fathi PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Among various indices of job attitudes, job satisfaction has gained especial attention by researchers and employers. Its measurement dates back to older times and the investigation of the influential factors on it are newer. Furthermore, because of its influences on organizations and people, job satisfaction has gained an increasing importance. Among various influential factors on job satisfaction and job turn over, the effect of individual personalities and psychological Well-Being is undeniable. In this article, we identify and categorize the significant factors in the four elements of job turnover, job satisfaction, individual traits and psychological Well-Being. We investigate nine factors of job satisfaction with 36 questions, two factors of the field of job turnover with seven questions, individual personalities with forty four questions and psychological Well-Being with eighteen questions and categorize them after doing a factor analysis. In this categorization, the dimensions of job satisfaction are reduced to seven dimensions. Job turnover is provided into two new dimensions. Individual personalities are categorized in eight main dimensions and the dimensions of psychological Well-Being are reduced to four dimensions. The data of this research has been gathered from 199 employees of Tehran city hall. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.015 Keywords: Factor Analysis; Job Satisfaction; Turnover; Well-Being; Personality trait; Locking-in |
|
14. |
The effect of firm characteristics and the propensity to export decision in food industry
, Pages: 1161-1166 Seyed Hamid Khodadad Hosseini, Ali Hamedani and Mohammad Javad Nikbakht PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the effects of firm and management team’s characteristics to develop food industry. The proposed study considers four factors associated with firms and 9 factors, which are related to management team’s characteristics. There were 50 firms in food industry in province of Tehran, Iran and the study has been accomplished among all 50 existing firms. For each firm, between 2-3 questionnaires were distributed among experts in each firm. Cronbach alpha has been calculated as 0.879, which is well above the minimum acceptable level. The results indicate that management knowledge about export market was number one important factor followed by the level of technology used, competitive advantage, believe in being profitable. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.014 Keywords: Export; Social work study; Family pattern |
|
15. |
A social work study on family patterns and street children
, Pages: 1167-1170 Mohammad Reza Iravani, Samaneh Salimi, Seyed Mohsen Khalifeh Soltani and Shahram Basity PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents a social work study on relationship between various family characteristics and street children in rural area as well as city of Esfahan, Iran. The proposed study selects a sample of 150 street children, 75 from city and 75 from rural area, and using some statistical tests verifies the effects of three factors including family income, place of residency and family size on street children. The results indicate that the city residence had more street children than rural residence did. In addition, there was a meaningful difference between the number of street children in low-income families and high-income families. Finally, the survey results indicate that big size families more likely suffered from street children than low size families did. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.013 Keywords: Street children; Social work study; Family pattern |
|
16. |
The role of brand image congruity in Iranian consumers’ demand for auto parts
, Pages: 1171-1176 Naser Azad Maryam Safaei and Mahdieh Shahrabi Farahani PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: One of the primary issues in handling demands for auto parts in the world is to build a mutual trust between consumers and vendors. When people trust a brand, they purchase more easily and it is possible to develop market. In Iran, there is a growing interest in demand for auto parts and each year, tens of millions of auto parts are getting sold. This paper presents an empirical investigation to detect the effects of brand image on demand for auto parts. Using a sample of 202 randomly selected people who buy/sell auto parts in city of Tehran, Iran, the study determines three variables including brand strength, brand attributes and consumer trust through the implementation of structural equation modeling. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.012 Keywords: Auto part; Consumer demand; Brand image |
|
17. |
Sport promotion and sales management
, Pages: 1177-1180 Zahra Aminiroshan Esmaiel Sharifian and Seyed Mostafa Siyadat PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: At the beginning of third millennium, the world of sport has been experiencing new marketing techniques to introduce products and services. The purpose of this study was to compare advertising and sales promotion strategies, the effects of different strategies in sport production companies to retain or to gain market share among selected firms, which were active in Iran. The method of survey was descriptive – analytical and some questionnaires were used for collecting data in Likert scale. The validity of the questionnaire were estimated by interview with professors and exports in marketing and sport marketing and the reliability was assessed by using Cronbach's alpha (α= 0.89). Statistical population of the study includes Sport Goods-Producing companies in Iran (N= 180) and 122 firms formed the study sample. For testing the hypothesis, we have used Paired Samples T-Test. The analysis of findings showed that there was a meaningful difference between using advertising and sales promotion strategies. In general, we can say, there are some limited applications of using techniques and methods of sales promotion strategies in Iranian sport industry and methods of advertising. Consequently, regarding the intense competition among companies as well as fast growth of markets and fast changes in consumer’s behavior, identifying the best methods for corresponding relationship to customer would be required. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.011 Keywords: Advertising; Sale promotion; Product sector; Sport industry |
|
18. |
A social work study on family patterns and child abuse
, Pages: 1181-1184 Mohammad Reza Iravani Hossein Ebrahimzadeh Asmin, Shahram Basity and Seyed Mohsen Khalifeh Soltani PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents a social work study on relationship between different family characteristics and child abuse in city of Jarghooye located in province of Esfahan, Iran. The proposed study selects a sample of 50 people and using some statistical tests verifies the effects of three factors including family income, family educational background and family size on child abuse. The results indicate that while there were some meaningful relationships between family income and family educational background, there was not any statistical evidence to believe on such relationship between family size and child abuse. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.010 Keywords: Child abuse; Family patterns; Social work study |
|
19. |
The agile village: building well-being and wealth in an era of demand change
, Pages: 1185-1190 Faraz Pouyandeh and Mojtaba Hosseinalipour PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: During the past few years, there have been tremendous changes on customer preferences on the architectures and design perspectives. There are many cases where there are big differences between what originally a plan is designed for and what it comes in final stage. Obviously, this may create significant amount of rework, waste and it can increase the cost of building a house, significantly. This paper presents an empirical investigation on factors influencing change in architecture of buildings. The proposed study designs a questionnaire in Likert scale and distributes it among some experts at difference universities in Iran. The study categorizes different factors in terms of “factors reducing change in clients’ request”, “methods on predicting clients’ request”, “methods on presenting plans for clients”, “Effective parameters on change in plan” and finally “Important actions on change prevention”. Using experts’ insight, the study ranks various factors in each category. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.009 Keywords: Agile; Architecture; Village |
|
20. |
Crisis management: Planning for the inevitable
, Pages: 1191-1196 Niyaz Aboudzadeh, Abdolhamid Hajipoor Shoshtari and Shahram Hashemnia PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: The aim of this study is to identify important factors influencing organizational readiness to deal with the crisis in business organizations. The study designs a questionnaire in Likert scale and distributes it among some experts who work for Mapna company in Iran. The study uses the method developed by Mitroff (2005) [Mitroff, I. I. (2005). Why some companies emerge stronger and better from a crisis: 7 essential lessons for surviving disaster. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn.], which investigates the effects of four factors including job satisfaction, increase in income, cost reduction and change in strategies on crisis management. Using Pearson correlation ratio, the study has confirmed a positive and meaningful relationship between crisis management and three factors including increase in income, cost reduction and change in strategies. However, the study did not find any evidence to support the relationship between job satisfaction and crisis management. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.008 Keywords: Crisis management; Mapna; Strategy |
|
21. |
A study on relationship between employees’ psychological empowerment and organizational commitment
, Pages: 1197-1200 Mahmoud Bani, Mehdi Yasoureini and Abolfazl Mesgarpour PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the relationship between employees’ psychological empowerment and organizational commitment in revenue agency of city of Semnan, Iran. The study uses two questionnaires, one for measuring the effects of psychological empowerment developed by Mishra and Spreitzer (1998) [Mishra, A. K., & Spreitzer, G. M. (1998). Explaining how survivors respond to downsizing: The roles of trust, empowerment, justice, and work redesign. Academy of management Review, 23(3), 567-588.] and the other for measuring organizational commitment developed by Meyer and Allen (1991) [Meyer, J. P., & Allen, N. J. (1991). A three-component conceptualization of organizational commitment. Human resource management review, 1(1), 61-89.]. Cronbach alphas for psychological empowerment and organizational commitment are calculated as 0.81 and 0.92, respectively, which are well above the minimum acceptable levels. The results of our survey have indicated that there were positive and meaningful relationships between psychological empowerment and organizational commitment components including Sense of efficacy (r = 0.414, Sig. =0.000), meaningful (r = 0.481, Sig. =0.000), having a choice (r = 0.341, Sig. = 0.000) and trust (r = 0.736, Sig. =0.000). However, the survey does not support any relationship between Competency and organizational commitment. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.007 Keywords: Organizational commitment; Psychological empowerment; Revenue agency |
|
22. |
Factors influencing social shopping behavior of fashion in Tehran apparel market
, Pages: 1201-1210 Mohammad Rahim Esfidani, Mohsen Nazari and Maryam Karimi Davijani PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Social shopping behavior of fashion embraces various activities, direct/indirect complex and dynamic interpersonal happening during the process of buying fashion and causes customers’ pleasure and satisfaction from purchasing intention, which in long-term helps sales improvement. This study has taken place in city of Tehran, Iran in order to assess the social purchase behavior of consumers and drivers in the field of fashion garments. Data analysis was performed using partial least squares. Research findings indicate a significant positive relationship between obsessed with fashion garments and the five dimensions of social shopping behavior. On the other hand, there is a positive and meaningful relationship between materialism and the need for uniqueness by consumers’ involvement toward fashion apparel. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.006 Keywords: Social shopping behavior of fashion; Obsessed with fashion apparel; Materialism |
|
23. |
The relationship between psychological well-being and empathy quotient
, Pages: 1211-1214 Amirhesam Khajeh Ghafar Baharloo and Fatemeh Soliemani PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper investigates the relationship between psychological well-being and empathy quotient among 200 married students, 100 female and 100 make, in city of Najafabad, Iran. The study uses a questionnaire with 84 questions for measuring psychological well-being, which consists of six parts including Autonomy, Environmental mastery, Personal growth, Positive relation with others, Purpose in life and Self-acceptance, each with 14 questions. Cronbach alphas for these six items were calculated as 0.83, 0.86, 0.85, 0.88, 0.88 and 0.91, respectively. In order to measure empathy quotient (EQ), the study uses EQ-short form, which consists of 22 questions. Cronbach alpha has been calculated as 0.93, which is well above the minimum acceptable level of 0.70. Using stepwise regression technique, the study determines a positive and meaningful relationship between EQ and psychological well-being. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.005 Keywords: Psychological well-being; Empathy quotient; Autonomy; Environmental mastery; Personal growth |
|
24. |
Investigating the role of commercialization on purchase intention
, Pages: 1215-1218 Naser Azad Maryam Safaee and Mahdieh Shahrabi Farahani PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents a study to determine the role of commercialization on purchase intention in auto industry. The study designs a questionnaire in Likert scale and distributes it among some randomly selected people who lived in city of Tehran, Iran. The study investigates the effects of four factors including competitive condition, product development strategy, competitive advantage and economic growth on customers’ intention to purchase. Using structural equation modeling the study has determined a positive and meaningful relationship between each four components and purchase intention. In our study, the highest impact belongs to competitive condition followed by product development strategy. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.004 Keywords: Commercialization; Purchase intention; Factor analysis |
|
25. |
Evaluation of training courses’ efficiency in Tehran municipality based on Kirkpatrick model
, Pages: 1219-1222 Zahra Gharli Ronizi, Nahid Gharli Ronizi and Fateme Bahmani PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to determine the training courses’ efficiency in Tehran municipality based on Kirkpatrick’s model. The population of the research includes all training courses performed in Tehran municipality in 2008. Using a simple random sampling method, one training period was chosen, which includes 206 participants, 103 financial managers and rest their direct supervisors. For gathering relevant data in first level (reaction), third level (skill), fourth level (objective) and fifth level (rate of investment return), closed-ended questionnaire based on the Likert scale was used. For the second level (learning), we employed scores obtaining from masters in charge of training course (post-test). Our results show that in terms of the mayors’ point of view, training courses in all levels except the second level had significant impact while financial managers saw these courses insignificant in all levels. Furthermore, it is found that both the mayors and financial managers were pessimistic about the second level. Results of present research can have significant implications for educational policymakers in order to improve the training courses. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.003 Keywords: Evaluation; Efficiency; Kirkpatrick evaluation model; Rate of investment return model |
|
26. |
An investigation on the effects of organizational memory and human capital on innovation and absorptive capacity
, 1223-1228 Zahra Mansouri,Touran Razmavar and Mohamad Reza Nour Ali PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Innovation is considered as an enabling tool for creating value and sustainable competitive advantage for organizations in dynamic environment of our times along with its ever-increasing complexities. Until innovation in developing countries needs more capital and talent, human capital (HC) is a key factor in innovative performance. People are the most important factor of exploitation of foreign knowledge; and knowledge focus in business environment is highly dependent on external information sources in order to develop innovation and improve performance of the company. Studies have shown that although importance level of knowledge is increased, but only 30 percent of existing knowledge is being used in organizations. Expensive but evitable mistakes take place due to information blockage; and the risk of losing knowledge is exceptionally higher when people leave the organization. This study is among the field research. The population includes large manufacturing firms across Khuzestan Province having been active throughout 2013. The data collection tool was a structured questionnaire and sampling is convenience method. The research questionnaire was distributed among a sample of 331 R&D and Human resources Experts selected using simple random sampling. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and Amos statistical programs. The results indicate that organizational memory had significant impact on ACAP and innovation. Results also showed a significant positive effect of HC on ACAP, but did not support the effect of HC on innovation. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.002 Keywords: Organizational memory; Absorptive capacity; Human capital and Innovation |
|
27. |
Measuring the performance of accepted investment companies in Tehran’s stock exchange by value efficiency analysis
, Pages: 1229-1232 Maryam Shabani and Naser Shams PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Measuring the relative performance of firms plays an important role for investment decisions. This research presents a systematic method to evaluate the performance of accepted investment companies listed on Tehran Stock Exchange. The analysis is based on a set of criteria that are determined by experts and the values of criteria’s are extracted from the actual data reported to stock exchange. The efficiency measurement carried out by value efficiency analysis, which is an extension of data Envelopment Analysis. Finally, according to the model’s results, the efficient investment companies are introduced and they are ranked based on the defined criteria. The preliminary results indicate that both methods are capable of providing appropriate rankings for different financial firms. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.5.001 Keywords: Value efficiency analysis; Data Envelopment Analysis; Investment companies; VEA |
|
28. |
A study on relationship between cultural intelligence and cross-cultural adjustment in tour management
, Pages: 1233-1244 Mahdi Karroubi, Arghavan Hadinejad and Seyed Mojtaba Mahmoudzadeh PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of cultural intelligence (CQ) and emotional intelligence (EI) on a tour leader’s adjustment in a different cultural environment. Data were collected from 330 outgoing tour leaders in Tehran, Iran. The construct validity was confirmed by using confirmatory factor analysis. The data were analyzed using correlation analysis and path analysis to test the effect of CQ on cross-cultural adjustment, and the moderating effect of EI on the relationship between CQ and cross-cultural adjustment. The results showed that CQ had a positive effect on cross-cultural adjustment. In addition, we found that CQ had a positive effect on EI. The findings of the research showed that emotional intelligence in not significantly the mediator variable. Emotional intelligence has a positive and significant effect on cross-cultural adjustment. The findings of this study contribute to the body of knowledge in the field of CQ and cross-cultural research, and it provides practical implications for individuals seeking to improve their cross-cultural effectiveness, enhancing their cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence, specifically in tourism industry. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.021 Keywords: Cultural intelligence; Cross-cultural adjustment; Emotional intelligence; Tour guide |
|
29. |
Investigating brand personality of state-owned and private airlines: Maham Versus Iran Air
, Pages: 1245-1254 Mahdi Karoubi and Seyed Ahmad Taghavian Noghan PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Today, companies need to create exclusion not in the market but in their own capabilities and features in order to gain distinction. The creation and maintenance of distinction through functional features is nearly impossible anymore. Thus, apart from the functional features, companies need to consider their intangible properties, among which brand is one of the most important ones. One of components researchers have detected for brand is personality, which can enhance the preference and loyalty of the customers and influence their decision process. In the service section, due to its specific features, the impacts of brand personality are more important and more complicated and airline companies, as service industries, which provide one of the most intangible products, are no exception. In the current study, using Aaker's Five-Dimension Model for brand personality, brand personality of a state-owned airline company (Iran Air) and a private one (Mahan) are compared from the perspective of technical directors of travel agencies. The population includes 233 technical directors whose views regarding brand personality of airline companies are studied following the distribution of questionnaires. The results of the data analysis indicate Mahan Airline is superior to Iran Air in all the five dimensions. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.020 Keywords: Brand; Brand Personality; Airlines; Aaker's Model |
|
30. |
An investigation on different factors influencing on competitive advantage
, Pages: 1255-1258 Yasaman Ramezan and Ali Alikhani PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to determine important factors influencing on getting competitive advantage on two construction firms, namely Keyson and Sazeh consultants in Iran. In this study, four variables of internal resources, personal characteristics of decision makers, demand conditions and market strategies/services are investigated. The study prepares a questionnaire consists of 19 questions in Likert scale and distributes it among 145 regular employees who work for these two firms. Cronbach alpha was calculated as 0.93, which was well above the minimum acceptable limit. The results of the survey have confirmed that while four issues influence on the success of the firms on getting competitive advantage, there were some meaningful difference between the effects of the factors. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.019 Keywords: Competitive advantage; Keyson; Sazeh firm |
|
31. |
A study on relationship between electronic banking and liquidity management on Iranian banks
, Pages: 1259-1270 Hassan Ghodrati and Masoumeh Soleimani khah PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: E-banking has been extensively developed in recent decades and most banks need to have such services in their daily activities. Therefore, it is necessary that banks do a better management on banks’ liquidity risks. Electronic banking and the expansion of its scale from POSs and ATMs to telephone banking, mobile banking and internet banking have increased banking transactions, significantly. The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the relationship between the development of e-banking and liquidity management using liquidity ratios. The focus of this investigation has been on the amounts of transaction of ATM machines, POSs and PIN PADs as the most important means of electronic banking. In this respect, the data obtained from 14 private and public bank representatives of banking system over the period 2007-2012 are considered. Our survey indicates that the characteristics of electronic banking significantly influence on liquidity. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.018 Keywords: Electronic Banking; Liquidity Management; Liquidity Risk; Liquidity ratios |
|
32. |
A study on prioritizing typical women’s entrepreneur characteristics
, Pages: 1271-1278 Ebrahim Ramezani, Mohadese Montazeri and Zinalabidin Montazeri PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Entrepreneurship is one of the main pivot of progress and growth of every country. The spread of entrepreneurship particularly the role of women in this category has speeded up today more than any other times. Many of researchers believe that attention to women entrepreneurship plays remarkable role in soundness and safety of nation’s economy. Maybe in Iran less attention has been paid to this matter in proportion to other countries and due to various reasons, there are not many entrepreneur woman. However, employing typical entrepreneur women in various fields of productivity, industrial, commercial, social and cultural and even higher than these, in country’s political issue proves that women’s role is magnificent and in many cases they enjoy higher abilities in portion to men. In this paper, using additive ratio assessment (ARAS) as a prioritizing method, eleven entrepreneur women were chosen for prioritizing criteria for measuring a typical women’s entrepreneurship characteristics. The results show that the balance between work and family among criteria are propounded as the highest weight and fulfilling different jobs simultaneously as the lowest weight. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.017 Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Iranian women’s entrepreneurship; ARAS technique; Prioritizing |
|
33. |
A study on effect of big five personality traits on emotional intelligence
, Pages: 1279-1284 Hamed Dehghanan, Hadi abdollahi and Mohammad Rezaei PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents a study to investigate the effects of big five personal traits on emotional intelligence on some Iranian firms located in city of Tehran, Iran. The proposed study uses two questionnaires, one, which is originally developed by McCare and Costa (1992) [McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T., Jr. (1992). Discriminant validity of NEO-PI-R facet scales. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 52, 229-237.] for measuring personality traits and the other, which is used for measuring emotional intelligence . The first questionnaire consists of five personal categories including extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability versus neuroticism, and openness. Using structural equation modeling and stepwise regression model, the study has detected a positive and meaningful relationship between four components namely, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness as well as openness and emotional intelligence. In addition, the study detects a negative and meaningful relationship between neuroticism and emotional intelligence. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.016 Keywords: Personality; Big Five personality trait; Emotional intelligence |
|
34. |
Estimation of Iranian price elasticities of residential electricity demand
, Pages: 1285-1288 Yeganeh Mousavi Jahromi, Mostafa Heidari Haratemeh, Morteza Mahmodi Meymand and Mohsen Ameri Shahrabi PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents a study to determine demand for electricity in city of Yazd, Iran over the period of 1998-2008. Using vector error correction model (VECM) based on seasonal information, the study determines that electricity has no elasticity in short term in household expenditure. Therefore, government policy on increasing price of electricity will not influence demand. However, electricity maintains elasticity over the long-term period and an increase on price of electricity could motivate consumers to reduce their consumption by purchasing energy efficient facilities. Therefore, any governmental strategy to increase price may have positive impact on economy. The study also detects a positive and meaningful relationship between temperature and electricity consumption. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.015 Keywords: Demand for electricity; VECM; Energy price |
|
35. |
Facility layout planning for educational systems: An application of fuzzy GIS and AHP
, Pages: 1289-1292 Hossein Ebrhaimzadeh Asmin, Fereydoun Agdam Bibabaie, Majid Davodi and Mojtaba Omrani Dourbash PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: One of the most important issues in urban planning programs is to allocate necessary spaces for educational applications. Selecting appropriate locations for training centers increases students' mental capabilities. Suitable location for the establishment of educational facilities is the first fundamental step for development of educational systems. The selection of optimal sites for educational facilities involves numerous parameters and it is essential to use multiple criteria decision making approaches to make wise decisions. This paper presents an empirical investigation on facility layout planning for educational systems in city of Birjand, Iran. Using fuzzy GIS as well as analytical hierarchy process (AHP), the study determines the most appropriate candidates for training centers. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.014 Keywords: Analytical hierarch process; AHP; Fuzzy GIS; |
|
36. |
An investigation on different factors influencing on target market selection in petrochemical industry
, Pages: 1293-1298 Saeedeh Koohi and Ali Alikhani PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to determine important factors influencing on selection of petrochemical market. The survey has accomplished among 97 randomly selected experts in petrochemical industry in Iran. The survey designs a questionnaire and distributes it among some experts and using binomial test; it has confirmed that except one factor, cultural affairs, other issues including political, cultural, regulations, economic, infrastructure, market potential, buyers’ potentials and buyer’s positions influence on market development. The implementation of Freedman test has indicated that Buyers’ positions are number one priority followed by buyers’ potentials, rules and regulations. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.013 Keywords: Petrochemical industry; Target market; Buyers’ position |
|
37. |
A study on relationship between earning conservatism with investment elasticity on Iranian firms
, Pages: 1299-1308 Hassan Ghordati and Mohammad Golestani Rad PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to see whether or not there is any relationship between profit conservatism and investment sensitivity and efficiency of investments in listed companies of Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). Using regression analysis, the study investigates whether there is any relationship between conservatism and sensitivity of investments, between profit conservatism and efficiency of company’s investments and between conservatism ability to create profit and cash in accepted TSE firms. The study chooses a sample of 102 firms from TSE market over the period 2005-2011 and the results confirmed that there were positive and meaningful relationship between all variables of the survey (α = 5%). DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.012 Keywords: Profit conservatism; Investment Elasticity; Cash flow |
|
38. |
Asset management using an extended Markowitz theorem
, Pages: 1309-1314 Reza Raei and Paria Karimi PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Markowitz theorem is one of the most popular techniques for asset management. The method has been widely used to solve many applications, successfully. In this paper, we present a multi objective Markowitz model to determine asset allocation by considering cardinality constraints. The resulted model is an NP-Hard problem and the proposed study uses two metaheuristics, namely genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) to find efficient solutions. The proposed study has been applied on some data collected from Tehran Stock Exchange over the period 2009-2011. The study considers four objectives including cash return, 12-month return, 36-month return and Lower Partial Moment (LPM). The results indicate that there was no statistical difference between the implementation of PSO and GA methods. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.011 Keywords: Markowitz Theorem; Tehran Stock Exchange; Genetic algorithm; Particle Swarm optimization |
|
39. |
An investigation on the effect of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on job satisfaction
, Pages: 1315-1324 Somayeh Shahba, Seyed Mehdi Alvani, Shams Alsadat Zahedi and Gholamreza Memarzadeh PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper examined the effects of cognitive emotion regulation on employees’ job satisfaction. In this survey, Questionnaire and the questions were divided into two categories of cognitive emotion regulation and job satisfaction. To measure cognitive emotion regulation, including unadjusted emotion regulation strategies and adjusted strategies, 36 items questionnaire was used originally developed by Garnefski et al. (2001) [Garnefski, N., Kraaij, V., & Spinhoven, P. (2001). Negative life events, cognitive emotion regulation, and emotional problems. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 1311–1327.]. The questionnaires were distributed among 340 staff employee of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration. The results revealed that the adjusted cognitive emotion regulation strategies increase job satisfaction of employees. However, unadjusted cognitive emotion regulation strategies reduce employees' job satisfaction. Moreover, among adjusted emotion regulation strategies, put in perspective strategy did not have significant effect on job satisfaction and rumination, had no significant effect on job satisfaction, which was one of the unadjusted strategies of cognitive emotion regulation. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.010 Keywords: Adjusted strategy; Unadjusted strategy; Cognitive emotion regulation; Job satisfaction |
|
40. |
Identifying program critical success factors in construction industry
, Pages: 1325-1334 Sarmad Kiani, Vahidreza Yousefi, Siamak Haji Yakhchali and Aghil Mellatdust PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: In project management literature, the concept of program is a group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits not available from managing them individually. This paper attempts to identify program critical success factors focusing on Iran’s construction industry so that the level of relative importance of various factors could be determined for key stakeholders. Furthermore, since a program includes a set of projects, another objective of this study is to find out whether the projects of program are accomplished, successfully or not. Therefore, to run this study, first literature of topic based on research keywords is reviewed. Then a conceptual model including all the aspects of program success factors is presented. Next, critical success factors are quantitatively analyzed by performing an empirical investigation on active organizations and firms of Iran’s construction industry. The study employs questionnaire and performs interview surveys with construction program professionals and experts. Finally, the critical success factors of program are sorted according to their ranks. The results show that program-related factors maintain the highest effects on program success followed by organization-related and project-related issues. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.009 Keywords: Construction industry; Program; Critical Success Factors |
|
41. |
A study on relationship between attracting deposits and granting facilities on growth of banks’ deposits
, Pages: 1335-1340 Masoud Saeidian, Seyed Ali Nabavi Chashmi and Morteza Valiollahpur PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: Banking industry plays essential role for development of macro economy by giving loans to growing business plans and helping economy grow, properly. A bank normally pays a low interest to people who deposit their money into banks and collects interest from people who receive funds. When there is a healthy growth on banks’ deposit, banks’ managers hope to attract business owners to finance their projects through banks and pay interests. The proposed study of this paper investigates the relationship between lending facility and bank deposits. In addition, the study tries to find out about the possible methods for increasing bank deposits and consequently social investment. Based on the results of our survey, increasing facilities, by assuming all other conditions was remained constant, which increased banks’ deposit. In fact, people worked more with banks and branches and conveyed their resources to the banks that granted more deposits. The role of location was so effective to attract deposits so that we must consider the relationship between deposit and the amount of facility payment with location. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.008 Keywords: Attracting deposits; Granting facilities; Mobilizing resources; Bank industry; Scoring |
|
42. |
A study on relationship between assets’ objectivity, ROA, ROE and ownership ratio with liquidity cycle
, Pages: 1341-1352 Hassan Ghodrati, Hosein Jabbari and Mohammad Javad Esfandyari PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper studies the effects of cash conversion cycle (CCC) and size of selected firms listed on Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) on four variables including return of assets, return of equities, tangible assets and equity multiplier. The study selects a sample of 105 firms listed on TSE and divides them into two groups of big and small sized companies over the period 2008-2012. Using a regression analysis, the study confirmed a meaningful relationship between different variables. In other words, in our survey, CCC and size negatively influence on tangible assets, they positively influence on equity multiplier as well as ROA but the effects of CCC and size on ROE for small and big firms are mixed. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.4.007 Keywords: Tehran Stock Exchange; Assets objectivity; ROA; ROE |
|
43. |
An investigation on the relationship between TQM and ICT in revenue agency organizations
, Pages: 1353-1356 Mahmoud Bani, Somayeh abdollahzadeh and Abolfazl Bani PDF (296 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the effects of information and communication technology (ICT) on total quality management (TQM). The study is applied for a case study of revenue agency in city of Damghan, Iran. The proposed study consists of 33 questions in five categories including leadership and commitment of top management team, customer satisfaction, empowering employees and their partnership, organizational design perspective and quality of information system. Cronbach alpha has been calculated as 0.95, which validates the overall questionnaire. Using Pearson correlation ratio as well as t-student test, the study has determined that there was a positive and meaningful relationship between ICT and TQM components. DOI: 10.5267/j.msl.2014.2.033 Keywords: TQM; ICT; Revenue agency; Empowering organization |
|
® 2010 GrowingScience.Com