Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the effects of different factors influencing on marketing in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in city of Tehran, Iran. The study has been accomplished among 57 SMEs out of 70 active business units who were involved in hand made carpet. The survey uses a questionnaire originally developed by Merrilees et al. (2011) [Merrilees, B., Rundle-Thiele, S., & Lye, A. (2011). Marketing capabilities: Antecedents and implications for B2B SME performance. Industrial Marketing Management, 40(3), 368-375.] to determine the factors influencing on marketing SMEs. Using structural equation modeling, the results of survey indicate that market orientation, management capability, innovation capability and brand capability of SME's marketing performance influence on development of marketing, positively.

Abstract: The growing interest in mutual funds in Ghana has been tremendous over the last decade as evidenced by the continuous increases in number and total funds under management. However, no empirical work has been done on the selectivity and timing ability of the mutual fund managers. Using monthly returns data hand-collected from the reports of the mutual fund managers for the period January 2007-December 2012, this paper examines the market timing and selectivity ability of mutual fund managers in Ghana using the classic Treynor-Mazuy (1966) model and Henriksson- Merton (1981) model. The results suggest that, in general mutual fund managers in Ghana are not able to effectively select stocks and also are not able to predict both the magnitude and direction of future market returns. More specifically, all of the sample mutual fund managers attain significant negative selectivity coefficients and also most of them attain insignificant negative timing coefficients.

Abstract: The boom of Internet usage and the significant funding dynamism in electronic banking have attracted the attention of researchers towards Internet banking. In the past, the traditional focus of Internet banking research has been on technological development, but it is now switching to user-focused research. This paper presents an empirical investigation to determine determinants of user acceptance of internet banking. The proposed study uses Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique to measure the relationships between different factors in a case study of Iranian firm. The results indicate that trust is the most important factor for development of internet banking.

Abstract: In this study, we provide six complementary models of data envelopment analysis to analyze the financial efficiency of chosen decision-making units for firms listed on Tehran Stock Exchange. For this purpose, we consider tapered modeling, the concept of accounting costs and economic costs and divide the whole process into the two sub-processes in modeling. After the modeling process, we choose the seventeen companies and thereby, provide a new method for analyzing the financial efficiency. The proposed method seems to be more appropriate than the methods proposed in the past and it can deliver better understanding of real-world cases. Finally, we understand that how this method works for analyzing the financial efficiency of organizations.

Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the effects of different factors influencing empowering employees in banking industry. The proposed study designs a questionnaire in Likert scale, which contains three components of individual, job related and organizational related factors. Cronbach alpha is calculated as 0.88, which is well above the minimum acceptable level of 0.7. Using stepwise regression analysis, the study has detected a positive and meaningful relationship between employee performance and three individual, job related and organizational issues. In addition, the implementation of Freedman test indicates that organizational based factors were number one priority on employee performance followed by job related factors and individual factors.

Abstract: This paper studies the relationship between transcendental leadership and organizational citizenship behavior by investigating the role of spirituality in the workplace as a mediator. The study is executed for a case study of an Iranian insurance firm located in city of Tehran, Iran. The survey uses three questionnaires for transcendental leadership, spirituality in the workplace and organizational citizenship behavior. The results indicate that there were some meaningful relationships between the components of transcendental leadership and organizational citizenship behavior and element of spirituality in the workplace and organizational citizenship behavior. In addition, the study indicates that there were positive and meaningful relationships between vision/hope/faith and spiritual traditions, between components of transcendental and spiritual rituals, between oriented leadership and ultimately transcendent and spiritual components of oriented leadership. However, the study does not find any relationship between the two components of love, friendship and leaders’ spiritual growth and its subordinates and variable of oriented tradition of spirituality.

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to determine and prioritize factors influencing on brand equity in consumer’s point of view for a case study of Samsung appliance consumers in city of Tehran, Iran. The study investigates the effects of four factors in terms of the customer's perspective, price, advertisement, family and brand image, by dimensions of brand equity, perceived quality, brand awareness, brand association, brand loyalty, on brand equity. The research method is based on a descriptive-survey research. The questionnaire includes Samsung consumers in city of Tehran, Iran. To test the hypotheses, SPSS and LISREL software packages are used. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and inferential statistical tests including structural equation modeling and path analysis are used. The results of the survey have indicated that family and brand image influence positively on brand equity but the effects of advertisement and price on brand equity were not confirmed.

Abstract: Flight interruption is one of the most important issues in today’s airline industry. Every year, most airlines spend significant amount of money to compensate flight delays. Therefore, it is important to detect important factors influencing on flight delays. This paper presents an empirical investigation to determine important factors on this issue. The study also asks some decision makers to make pairwise comparison and ranks various factors using the art of analytical hierarchy process. The study determines that technical defects and delayed entry were among the most important factors to blame for flight delays. In addition, announcing the postponement, replacement aircraft and path replacement are among the most important decisions facing managers in the aviation industry during the disruption of the flight.

Abstract: This paper studies the effect of the ratios of P/E and PEG on stock returns of the firms accepted on Tehran Stock Exchange. The study uses regression and Pearson Correlation Coefficient based on the performance of 138 firms over the period 2004- 2009 according to the Iranian calendar to investigate the effects of P/E and PEG on stock returns. The study also uses the models originally proposed by Chahin and Choudhry (2010) [Chahin, S., & Choudhry, T. (2010). Price to earnings, growth radio and value growth based strategies. Social Science Research Network, 19(4).] to discuss the strategies of investing on stocks. The results show that the ratio of P/E had more effect on stock returns than the ratio of PEG and stocks returns had a direct relationship with P/E and an inverse relationship with PEG. In addition, the returns of growth stock were more than value stock.

Abstract: Auditor independence is associated with the independence of the internal/external auditor from various parties who may have some financial interest in the business being audited. Many countries have set up different rules forcing firms to change their auditors every few years. This helps business retain healthy business. This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the effect of change in auditing system on 90 selected firms from Tehran Stock Exchange over the period 2007-2011. Using a regression model developed earlier by Demerjian et al. (2012a) [Demerjian, P. R., Lev, B., Lewis, M. F., & McVay, S. E. (2012a). Managerial ability and earnings quality. The Accounting Review, 88(2), 463-498.], the study determines a positive impact of change in auditor system on business development.

Abstract: Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) is one of the needed concepts in competitive edge. IMC is defined as a cross functional process for creating and nourishing profitable relationships with customers and other stakeholders by strategically controlling or impacting all messages sent to these groups. It ensures that all forms of communications and messages are carefully linked together. This study investigates the effectiveness of marketing communication in an Iranian automaker named Khodro using IMC system. The study tries to audit the rate of marketing relationship integrity and its outcome on organization performance. The study designs a questionnaire and distributes it among 384 randomly selected people who use this firm’s services and Cronbach alpha has been calculated as 0.974. Hypotheses of this survey are exanimated by Pearson correlation test as well as pairwise t-student tests. The results show the effects of integrated marketing Communication on organization performance. In addition, there is a significant positive correlation relationship between integrated marketing communication with mission marketing, Cross functional Strategic Planning and Interactivity. Finally, there is a significant positive correlation relationship between dimensions of IMC.

Abstract: The present study examines the effect of organizational learning culture on organizational performance by considering the role of dynamic capacity as a mediator in an Iranian bank named Refah Bank. The study uses a questionnaire, which was originally developed by Hung et al. (2010) [Hung, R. Y. Y., Yang, B., Lien, B. Y. H., McLean, G. N., & Kuo, Y. M. (2010). Dynamic capability: Impact of process alignment and organizational learning culture on performance. Journal of World Business, 45(3), 285-294.] and examines different hypotheses using SPSS software package with the help of LISREL method. The results show that organizational learning culture and dynamic capacity positively influenced on organizational performance. In addition, organizational learning culture had a significant positive effect on dynamic capacity and dynamic capacity variable played the mediator role to the organizational learning culture as well as organizational performance.

Abstract: In competitive markets, various businesses compete with other competitors for preservation and development of their positions. This effort and competition can be demonstrated under various criteria (component), which represent the position of company in business environment. There are different tools to demonstrate accurate position of company or firm in a specific (target) market and mentioned tools have been developed in strategic management and marketing. One of these quantitative tools is Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM), which represents the position of company compared with other competitors. CPM is based on scoring various criteria (components) in target market of the company. The study proposes weighting in CPM matrix based on the implementation of Fuzzy DEMATEL technique. The proposed model considers uncertainty of weighting using fuzzy logic and the implementation of the proposed model is demonstrated using a simple example.

Abstract: Winners of the future competition are managers who communicate their human resources in an effective and rewarding way. In this respect, emotional intelligence is an advanced form of focusing on humans in organizational environment and it is a new and suitable instrument for business managers and market theoreticians to direct and satisfy organizational employees and external customers. This paper investigates the relationship between emotional intelligence dimensions and components including self-awareness, self-management, self-motivation, social awareness and relation management and sales promotion activities in Iranian business enterprises. Present research was an applied one with respect to its purpose and a correlational descriptive-survey one with respect to data collection method. Statistical population of the study comprised of 534 managers operating at firms located at West Azarbaijan province in food industry. Among them 225 managers were selected using random sampling procedure based on Krejcie and Morgan’s table. Data on emotional intelligence variable were collected using Goleman’s Emotional Competence Inventory. In addition, sales promotion variable was evaluated using an author-developed questionnaire and reliabilities of these two scales were respectively 0.92 and 0.89. Given the normality of data according to Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Pearson’s correlation test was used to identify the type of relationship between variables and results suggested a direct significant relationship between all emotional intelligence components including self-awareness, self-management, self- motivation, social awareness and relation management and sales promotion activities at significance level of p ≤0.05.

Abstract: A flat organization is a firm that has an organizational structure with few or no levels of middle management between employee and executives. The idea is to take advantage of well-trained workers when they are more directly involved in the decision making process, rather than closely supervised by various layers of management. This paper presents an empirical investigation to determine critical success factors on building information technology (IT) based flat organization in a case study of banking industry. Using principal component analysis, the study applies factor analysis for two internal and external factors. In terms of internal factors, there are three factors including Processes and the electronic decision making, Teaching and Electronic Learning and Work in IT. In addition, the study has detected four factors including Electronic Supply, IT structure, Appropriate IT usage and Electronic Communication.

Abstract: Strategic planning is one of the most popular methods for setting up long-term objectives, which normally deals with various criteria. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is a multi-criteria decision analysis method for ranking different alternatives based on various criteria. The method has been widely used among practitioners in different industries. This paper presents an empirical investigation to rank different business development strategies for information technology improvement. The study considers five different strategies including Critical Success Factors Analysis, Business Systems Planning, Porter's forces model, SWOT analysis, Value chain Analysis and MIN and rank them based on TOPSIS technique. The results of the implementation of TOPSIS has indicated that MIN method is ranked first as the most important factor followed by Business Systems Planning, Porter's forces model, Value chain Analysis, SWOT and CSF for development of strategic planning for information technology in municipality organization.

Abstract: This paper studies the relationship between emotional intelligence and its components, self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness and relationship-management, with managers’ innovative work behavior. The research statistical population includes 100 managers of private bank branches in the city of Tehran selected with the random sampling method. The research type is descriptive-correlation. The tool for data aggregation is comprised of two questionnaires of emotional intelligence by Bradberry and Greaves (2006) [Bradberry, T., & Greaves, J. (2006). The emotional intelligence quick book: Everything you need to know to put your EQ to work. Simon and Schuster.] and innovative work behavior based on the studies of Janssen (2000) [Janssen, O. (2000). Job demands, perceptions of effort‐reward fairness and innovative work behaviour. Journal of Occupational and organizational psychology, 73(3), 287-302.]. The Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis have been used for data analysis. The results indicated that there was a positive and significant relationship between emotional intelligence and its components with innovative work behavior of managers. In addition, regression analysis showed that the self-management variable had the highest effect in estimating the managers’ innovative work behavior followed by relationship-management, self-awareness and social-awareness.

Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation on new product development (NPD) using a hybrid of quality function deployment (QFD) and analytical network process (ANP). The study is accomplished in one of the biggest auto producers in Iran named Saipa. The study examines whether or not NDP influences positively on critical success factors (CSF) and knowledge management (KM). The study also examines whether KM influences on success of NPD. Using some statistical tests, the study confirms that NDP influences on CSF and KM and there is a positive and meaningful relationship between KM and success of NPD. In addition, the study has prioritized various factors for development of new product development and determined that “technology application consistent with customer’s needs” as well as “Having various meetings with different departments” are the most important factors for the success of new product development.

Abstract: Measuring the value of inventory and cashable assets is one of the issues, which influences on total revenue as well as the amount of tax paid to government. This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the relationship between lower of cost or market (LCM) and tax on 708 selected firms listed on Tehran Stock Exchange over the period 2008-2011. The study uses some statistical tests and determines that the tax can be affected by different methods used to calculate the inventory. In other words, The study applies regression analysis as well as Pearson correlation test and confirms that LCM method influences positively on Tax. This helps revenue agencies pay special attention to various methods used in official financial reports.

Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the relationship between organizational culture and organization commitment. The study uses two questionnaires, one for measuring organizational commitment originally 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.] and the other one for organizational culture developed by Denison and Spreitzer (1991) [Denison, D. R., & Spreitzer, G. M. (1991). Organizational culture and organizational development: A competing values approach. Research in organizational change and development, 5(1), 1-21.]. The study is accomplished among selected full time employees who work for an Iranian bank named Bank Saderat Iran. Using Pearson correlation test as well as linear regression methods, the study has determined that there were some positive and meaningful relationship between all components of organizational commitment and organizational culture.

Abstract: This study evaluated the relationship between cost and performance yield investment opportunities, cash and financial flexibility bank pays. For this study, a sample of 94 companies from companies that are part of corporate clients BSI was selected using random sampling technique. In addition, to measure the performance, three measures of economic value added, return on assets and return on equity were used. The study evaluated the relationship between cash and the opportunity cost efficiency as well as financial flexibility to invest in BSI over the period 2007-2012. Statistical methods used in this study were panel data regression. Four hypotheses were proposed to achieve the goals and the results showed that the opportunity cost of holding cash investments with financial flexibility and efficiency were inversely associated with financial performance.

Abstract: Liquidity management in banks is a conflict between risk and return. On the one hand, the lack of liquidity, in addition to imposing heavy costs of providing resources (including borrowings from the central bank at elevated rates), may also lead banks to face with bankruptcy. On the other hand, the maintenance of excessive liquidity than needed will destroy investment opportunities and potential profitability. Therefore, for proper liquidity management, it is necessary to understand the factors affecting this sector to be able to exert control on each of the elements, and to prevent the incidence of problems or even crisis thereby optimize the bank profitability as far as possible. This study aimed to analyze the resources, expenses, and liquidity operating as the main activity parameters in Bank Shahr. During the study timeframe (2010 until the end of 2012), every 15 days was selected as the sample community, which were selected due to a 15-day trend analysis using census method and not by random sampling. The related data concerning each of the items, i.e. resources, expenses, and liquidity were collected and analyzed by linear regression based on time or periods of time. The above items were compared through analysis of the relative contribution to the total ratio and correlation analysis. The results showed that the growing trends of resources and expenses almost coincide and followed a specific trend and, in general, the growing trend of the resources was rising with a higher slope compared with those of expenses and liquidity. In addition, the growing trend of liquidity was almost identical throughout the entire period of study and no unusual trend was observed.

Abstract: Nowadays with the growth of organizations and their affiliates, the importance of information systems has increased. Functional and non-functional requirements of information systems in an organization are supported. There are literally several techniques to support the functional requirements in terms of software methodologies, but support for the second set of requirements has received little attention. Software Performance Engineering (SPE) forum tries to address this issue by presenting software methodologies to support both types of requirements. In this paper, we present a formal model for the evaluation of system performance based on a pragmatic model. Because of supporting the concurrency concepts, petri net has a higher priority than queuing system. For mapping UML to colored Petri net diagram, we use an intermediate graph. The preliminary results indicate that the proposed model may save significant amount of computations.

Abstract: This paper examines the effects of big Five factors including openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism on creativity and innovation among selected employees of municipality in city of Tehran, Iran. The proposed study uses a standard questionnaire developed by Costa and McCrae (1980) [Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1980). Influence of extraversion and neuroticism on subjective well-being: happy and unhappy people. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 38(4), 668.] to measure the effects of five personality characteristics. In addition, the study has adopted a questionnaire developed by Torrents et al. (2010) [Torrents, C., Castaner, M., DINUŠOVÁ, M., & Anguera, M. T. (2010). Discovering new ways of moving: Observational analysis of motor creativity while dancing contact improvisation and the influence of the partner. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 44(1), 53-69.] for measuring creativity. Using a simple regression analysis, the study has detected negative and meaningful relationship between neuroticism and creativity and innovation (β = -0.229, t-value = -3.196), a positive and meaningful relationship between extraversion and creativity and innovation (β = 0.209, t-value = 3.204) and finally a positive and meaningful relationship between openness and creativity and innovation (β = 0.225, t-value = 3.717). However, the study did not confirm any relationship between agreeableness as well as conscientiousness and creativity & innovation.

Abstract: This study examines the relationship between the returns of two value and growth portfolios and the return of market on 15 selected firms on Tehran Stock Exchange over the period 2008-2011. The study divides the firms into two groups in terms of the ratios of price on earning as well as price on book value into two groups of value and growth portfolios. Using some regression analysis, the study has determined a positive and meaningful relationship between value portfolio and market return when the market is on the upside but this relationship is not meaningful during the bear session. The results indicate that during the bull sessions, value portfolios provide better investment opportunities than growth ones do.

Abstract: This study examines the male and female employee’s ideas about the organizational barriers to women's occupational promotion to management level in the organization of Education and Training in Khuzestan province. In this regard, with study of identified population, hypothesis was formulated and questionnaires with a five-item Likert scale and method of Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient were adjusted. Questionnaires were distributed among 300 of employees, whose educations were beyond associate degree, including teaching and administrative staff. Due to incomplete or non-completion of questionnaires, statistical operations have been carried out on 288 questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. The research method in this survey was descriptive in which all hypotheses, that had 0.05 level of significance, were confirmed. Finally, the results showed that there were relationships between institutional barriers and women's occupational promotion to management’s levels. Furthermore, female staff had higher evaluation of the effect of organizational barriers to women's occupational promotion to management’s levels than other group. Finally, practical suggestions and recommendations to promote women's occupation to management’s levels were presented in this paper.

Abstract: Profit distribution is one of the most debatable subjects in financial field. Opposite theoretical models that sometimes, do not have a strong empirical support look for the explanation of corporate dividend policy. In this paper, the relationship between profit sharing policy and auditor`s and managers’ expected profit is studied. The study gathers the necessary information of 99 firms listed on Tehran Stock Exchange over the period 2002-2011. The implementation of regression analysis shows that there was more explanatory power of auditors’ expected profit than managers’ expected profit in dividends. The results also show that there was no meaningful difference between auditors` expected profit and managers` expected profit.

Abstract: Knowledge management plays essential role for the success of organizations. Strategy formulation is one of the modern environmental requirements in the field of knowledge management and it helps and supports different parts of the organization to identify opportunities. The primary objective of this research is to evaluate the relationship between strategic knowledge management and value creation as well as opportunities abduction. Statistical population of our study is small and medium businesses in Shams Abad, Tehran. The survey is accomplished in three industries including textiles, drinking and edible. The study investigates different hypotheses on knowledge management and the results indicate that the strategies of business and saving knowledge did not have any direct effect on opportunity abduction.

Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the effects of sales related factors on brand equity. The study designs a questionnaire and distributes it among all 353 sales representatives who work for a dairy producer in province of Mazandaran, Iran. Using principal component analysis, seven variables including qualification criteria, motivation, personality, empowering sales representative, information size, personal characteristics and sales interest in job on brand equity are extracted. The implementation of structural equation modeling has confirmed that there were positive and meaningful relationships between seven factors and brand equity. The highest impact belongs to empowering sales representative followed by qualification criteria, quantity of information, personality and sales motivation.

Abstract: Nowadays, the electronic insurance (EI) is one the electronic services, which is used in most countries, and that is one effective factor in developing the exporting products and services. On the other hand, the incurrence industry and very especially EI represent their importance both domestically and internationally. One of the ways for transferring the exporting risks is to transfer the risks to the insurer. This paper examines the characteristics of EI and the effects of decreasing the exporting risk charges. The proposed study designs a questionnaire in the form of Likert scale, the validity of the questionnaire is validated by some the experts' viewpoints and the Cronbach' alpha is measure as 0.794. The results of applying Freedman test have disclosed that facilitating export activities was the most important factor followed by access to target export market information.

Abstract: Society welfare plays essential role on supporting poor and low income deciles governments normally pay subsidies on different goods to decrease the prices and as a result, increase purchasing power. However, due to lack of a good target, the relatively rich and high income deciles benefit more than the poor from subsidies do. Therefore, it seems necessary to design self-targeted safety-net programs and targeted subsidies. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the welfare consequences of self-targeted subsidies. In other words, this study tries to find out whether or not transferring one unit of subsidies paid on the subsidized goods mostly used by the rich to the nonsubsidized goods mostly used by the poor improves social welfare. For this purpose, using Atkinson social welfare function, we calculated the change in social welfare caused by self-targeted subsidies. The results show that self-targeted subsidies increase social welfare. The extent of this increase is negatively related to inequality aversion parameter, while positively related to the share of nonsubsidized goods in low income deciles budget.

Abstract: Measuring the relative efficiency of employee plays essential role on the success of any organization including universities. In this paper, we present a survey to detect and to prioritize important factors influencing on the productivity of employees who work for one of Iranian universities located in city of Tehran, Iran. The study also uses analytical network process to prioritize the factors. Based on the results of our survey, we have categorized effective productivity factors into three groups of research, educational and administration groups. In our survey, coherence and unity with no dispersion of the employee's duties, systematic job rotation and correct design communication job are among the most important factors influencing on employees’ productivity.

Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the effects of information management (IT) on senior IT executives. The population of the survey includes all senior IT executives who work for different banks in Iran. The study adopts a questionnaire developed by Chen and Wu (2011) [Chen, Y. C., & Wu, J. H. (2011). IT management capability and its impact on the performance of a CIO. Information & Management, 48(4), 145-156.]. The study investigates whether CIOs’ superior IT competency and CIO's superior management are positively associated with IT management activity effectiveness. In addition, the study investigates whether a higher level of IT management activity effectiveness is positively associated with CIO role performance. Using structural equation modeling, the study has confirmed three hypotheses of the survey.

Abstract: Quality has always been one of the most important topics in the competitiveness of organizations’ service activities and it influences on brands, significantly. This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the effects of service quality on brand personality in hotel industry. The study uses two questionnaires, one for measuring brand personality by using Aaker’s questionnaire (Aaker, 1997) [Aaker, J. L. (1997). Dimensions of brand personality. Journal of Marketing Research, 34(3), 347-356.] and the other one for measuring service quality. The study chooses a hotel chain in city of Mashad, Iran named Sadr Hotel and examines the effects of five-brand personality on service quality by choosing a sample of 384 customers. Using structural equation modeling, the study has determined that all five factors could influence on service quality of the case study, positively.

Abstract: Performance measurement in managerial accounting is normally associated with cash flow and it is executed based on different figures such as testing information content abuse and accounting figures. However, increasing the information content in accrual components of earning and internal performance measurement provides additional informative insights. This paper studies the relationship between operating cash flows and earnings along with total shareholder returns. The study chooses the information of 54 firms from Tehran Stock Exchange. The results show that there were some meaningful relationship between the operating cash flow, profitability and the returns of all stakeholders. However, this happens by increasing profitability and cash flow of information asymmetry proportion to their correlation with the economic efficiency of shareholders’ returns.

Abstract: Brand loyalty is one of the most important concepts in brand literature. Customer’s loyalty toward brand can increase firm’s share price. In addition, firms’ market share maintains close relationship with net profit and capital used return. Company efforts to motivate customers to switch from competitive brands to their own or to induce them to repurchase their own brands are very important in their marketing activities. Therefore, investigating customer variety-seeking orientation and level of involvement in decision-making plays essential role in explaining customers’ product selection activities. This study intends to examine interrelationships among customer satisfaction, loyalty, and switching intent in industrial food suppliers and verifies the moderating effect of customer variety-seeking orientation and purchase decision involvement. The findings indicate that, the impact of purchase involvement was lower than variety seeking and the satisfaction had the highest negative impact on switching intent of customers.

Abstract: This paper presents a social work study to investigate the effects of employees’ income and age on their mental health. The study has accomplished among a sample of 150 randomly selected employees who worked for Esfahan steel company located in city of Esfahan, Iran. The study uses a standard questionnaire, which is adopted from Goldberg and Williams (2000) [Goldberg, D., & Williams, P. (2000). General health questionnaire (GHQ). Swindon, Wiltshire, UK: NFER Nelson.]. The results of the implementation of ANOVA test have revealed that while there was a significant and positive relationship between employees’ salary and mental health, there was not any meaningful relationship between employees’ age and mental health.

Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to identify important factors influencing integrated marketing planning using information technology. The proposed study designs a questionnaire for measuring integrated marketing planning, which consists of three categories of structural factors, behavioral factors and background factors. There are 40 questions associated with the proposed study in Likert scale. Cronbach alphas have been calculated for structural factors, behavioral factors and background factors as 0.89, 0.86 and 0.83, respectively. Using some statistical test, the study has confirmed the effects of three factors on integrated marketing. In addition, the implementation of Freedman test has revealed that structural factors were the most important factor followed by background factors and behavioral factors.

Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the effect of working capital management on profitability on Cement and Petrochemical industries. The study uses the information of 24 firms from Cement industry and 19 firms from Petrochemical industry listed on Tehran Stock Exchange. There are two independent variables including the ratio of current assets on total assets as well as the ratio of current liabilities on total assets in this survey. In addition, there are two dependent variables including return on assets (ROA) and Tobin’s Q. The study also considers firm size, sales’ growth, financial leverage, gross domestic product growth as control variables. Using stepwise regression technique, the study confirms a positive and meaningful relationship between working capital criteria and profitability. In addition, the study confirms that as the ratio of current assets to total assets increases, ROA and Tobin’s Q will be reduced, which means lower profitability would be resulted. In addition, as financial leverage increases, ROA in both industries will reduce while Tobin’s Q will increase in Cement industry and will reduce in Petrochemical industry.

Abstract: Human resources management plays essential role for the success of organizations. This paper presents an empirical investigation to determine human resource management main criteria and sub-criteria based on a survey on the existing literatures and theoretical principles. The study has been applied in a municipality organization in Iran. The study uses analytical hierarchy process as well as fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) for prioritizing decision tree criteria. The results indicate job design and human resource planning criteria are ranked as the highest ones. In addition, employee recruitment and selection, employee health and hygiene, training and development and compensation system criteria are other important criteria.

Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the impact of the implementations of the recent advances on technology on total factor productivity improvement (TFP) of some Iranian insurance firms over the period 2008-2012. The study considers the number of information and communication technology (ICT) employees, insurance treaty and the number of computers used together with online users as technology advancement. Using generalized least square technique, the study has determined a positive and meaningful impact of the number of research and development employees as well as the number of personal computers together with online users on TFP improvement. However, the numbers of ICT employees and insurance treaty have no significant impact on TFP improvement.

Abstract: In this study, staff job satisfaction were evaluated according to their personality differences by assessing five personality factors, based on NEO-FFI scoring and those components, which are directly associated with job satisfaction. In this regard, three data collection tools including communication satisfaction questionnaires, job descriptions index and five personality trait questionnaire were used. Based on the findings there was a positive and significant relationship between job satisfaction and personality traits (r = 0.97), and job satisfaction was depended on communication satisfaction. This research showed that communication satisfaction and job satisfaction could be predicted based on the five personality traits, which are nervousness, extraversion, empiricism, responsibility, and compatibility with others.