فصلنامه علوم مدیریت ایران
پیاپی 42 (تابستان 1395)

Logistics outsourcing is considered to be an excellent source of competitive advantage for companies. Therefore, systematic outsourcing decision making is an important issue. The purpose of this study is to obtain the factors influencing the logistics outsourcing decisions in order to propose a model based on interpretive structural modeling in distribution firms. To this end the author reviewed extensive literature and extracted the pertinent factors. A fuzzy screening method was used to reduce the number of these factors from 32 to 17. Then, according to the interpretive structural modeling, a questionnaire was completed by experts participating in a panel of food distribution Industry. The MICMAC analysis was used to categorize and classify the collected data. The implications of this research might lead to a better perception of the subject issue and decision making process.

We are living in a world that is increasingly faced with dynamic, complex and unpredictable business environment. In this situation, creating and sustaining competitive advantage depends on continuous businesses innovativeness and technological improvement that is basically done by R& D organizations. There are a vast literature on the positive relationship between leadership and performance, but very few researches are found that study the mediating role of organizational culture in fostering this relationship. The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of organizational culture in improving organizational performance. Data was collected by a survey sample in which 476 of research managers and experts of R&D departments of NIOC completed the questionnaires. Structural equation models were used for data analysis. Findings show that although there is a positive relationship between leadership and performance improvement, the performance of R&D departments has been also influenced by organizational culture. This result may suggest that leaders of innovative organizations by creating and strengthening an appropriate organizational climate in their organizations could nurture creativity and facilitate innovation as well.

Virtual communities have penetrated todays people life with astonishing speed through smart devices. The communities’ facilities have provided opportunities for businesses to create better brand image and motivating consumers to repurchase their products and services. Therefore, there is a dense competition between virtual communities to raise more consumer. This, in turn, requires a better understanding of consumer behavior. The aim of this research is to identify the virtual communities’ service factors that affect consumers’ behavior. We reviewed literature and designed a primary model. Then, we interviewed 14 experts who were selected on a judgmental sampling basis to design final model. Lastly, the model was tested by 384 university students who were among virtual communities consumers. Results show the exploratory factors that affect consumer behavior most are; design, security, filtering, content and guidance.

In survey research, defining the unit of analysis and consequently the level of analysis has to be observed accurately. The unit of analysis reflects the level of analysis that can be Micro (individual level), Meso (group or organization level) and Macro (society level). Thus, choosing a wrong unit of analysis, affect both the input and output of research and leads to its invalidity. The aim of this study is pathology of level of analysis in survey researches that were published in Iranian scientific journals in 92-93 period. The sample included nine management journals that were chosen on a purposive sampling. We selected eighty survey articles in which the unit of analysis was thought to be at Meso level that is higher than individual level. Content analysis and ratio comparison test were used for data analysis in several assimilate population. We also investigated the type and journal’s compliance/non-compliance. Based on the research results, we found that the overall percentage of non-compliance of selected journals is 47.5%, One of journals with 75% and another one with 0% had the highest and lowest non-compliance respectively.

The issue of performance improvement, is among the major challenges of human resource development. In response to this problem, human performance technology - which is also known as Performance Engineering or Human Performance Improvement Knowledge presents systematic ways, to identify the barriers to individual and organizational performance and how to deal with them .The present study is an attempt to design a model for implementation of human performance technology in SAPCO. This study is an applied research as to its user, and was carried out through a survey. The qualitative and quantitative data was collected from managers of SAPCO. Qualitative analysis was performed using content analysis and for quantitative analysis t-test and friedman test were used. The qualitative phase included 7 interview (saturation level) and the quantitative phase included 58 participants. The participants were selected through census method. The findings show that nine key elements were explored for implementation of human resource performance technology in SAPCO. These are: perception analysis, strategic consistency, performance analysis, performance implementer analysis, intervention selection, feasibility analysis, designing, development and implementation of interventions, change management, and assessment.

Strategy Map is a comprehensive tool for an organization to see things right and determine the exact path of progress toward the excellence. Having formulated a well-designed strategy map the implementation phase of strategy will be done in a satisfactory manner. The purpose of this paper is to design a strategy map for a company active in an power plant industry. At the first phase we examined the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats and strategic themes in order to determines the company's strategic goals. Then, the strategic objectives were prioritized using SIR and DEMATEL. We expect that the designed strategic map could assist the company to implement its proposed strategies with the help of Quality Function Deployment.