The role of personal and social characteristics on acceptance of new telephone banking services

For over two decades, telephone banking has steadily become a useful feature and all banks have tried to provide this feature as part of their services. In this paper, we present an empirical investigation to study the role of personal and social characteristics on acceptance of new telephone banking services. The proposed study designs two questionnaires and distributes them among 384 randomly selected people who use telephone banking in city of Tehran, Iran. Using structural equation modeling, the study examines various hypotheses and the results of our survey indicate that there were some positive and meaningful relationships between perception usefulness and users’ attitude, perception and ease of use, perception and intention to use as well as perception and intention to use. In addition, the study has detected a negative and meaningful relationship between personal risk and intention to use and perception of personal time and intention to use among mobile users

Response of sunflower to organic and chemical fertilizers in different drought stress conditions

The main objectives of this research were to determine the effects of applying organic and chemical fertilizers under different irrigation regimes on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) morphological traits, yield components, grain yield and grain quality. The experiment was conducted as spilt plots based on a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Irrigation treatments at three levels (well-irrigated, mild and severe drought stress) were allocated to main plots and eight fertilizer treatments (urea (F1), urea + composted cattle manure (F2), zeocompost (F3), vermicompost (F4), zeolite-amended chicken manure (Z-ACM) (F5), zeocompost + vermicompost (F6), zeocompost + Z-ACM (F7) and vermicompost + Z-ACM (F8)) were randomized in sub-plots. The results showed that irrespective of the drought stress intensity, organic fertilizer treatments produced more dry matter, heavier and greater grain than did chemical treatments. In well-irrigated plots, the highest grain yield was obtained from F6, F7 and F8 treatments. Under drought stress conditions, the highest grain yield was obtained from the high zeolite content organic fertilizers i.e. F3, F5 and F7. We concluded that amending soil with organic fertilizers in combination with zeolite can be a beneficial approach for decreasing chemical fertilizer application rates and improving the sustainability of agricultural systems.</p

A Comparison Analysis Between Pre-departure and Transitioned Expat-Preneurs

This paper contributes to the understanding on the reasons that lead to entrepreneurship in other countries. We focus on expat-preneurs, those who decided to undertake business opportunities in other countries (before or after settling there). Using comparison analysis and logistic regression, we examine pre-departure and transitioned expat-preneurs’ demographic characteristics and push-pull factors that lead them to expatriate. From a survey conducted in 2015-2016 of 5,532 Lithuanians expatriated in 24 countries, a sample of 308 respondents with their own businesses abroad was selected. This research contributes to the literature on expat-preneurs, with empirical evidence on pre-departure and transitioned self-initiated (SI) expat-preneurs. The results revealed that demographic features matter when studying such global entrepreneurs. It is a process experienced differently by males and females and, as such, it can be considered as gender selective. Thus, more pre-departure expat-preneurs are male than female, but there is a growing number of female transitioned expat-preneurs. Pre-departure expat-preneurs are older and less educated than transitioned ones and have been pushed to move abroad by issues such as political corruption or a nonsupportive tax system, and are attracted by a higher possibility of self-realisation as well as the prestige of the host country. Meanwhile, transitioned expat-preneurs have been pushed to emigrate due to family reasons or too few employment opportunities in their home country.Lithuanian Council of Science S-MIP-17-11

Adjustment in international work contexts: Insights from self-initiated expatriates in academia

This article uses an international sample of self‐initiated academics (SIAs) in a Danish business school to explore the stance of SIAs in international work contexts towards adjustment. Building on longitudinal data this contextualized case study gives insights into the specific case of SIAs' perception and perceived relevance of adjustment processes. We present the findings regarding definitions, domains and relevance of adjustment, the temporality and subjectivity of adjustment and the specificities of adjustment in the academic context. The findings show that adjustment was relevant to all of the respondents but with a clear focus on the work domain. Furthermore, we found that subjective adjustment pressure increased over time and that the decision to go abroad was clearly related to the necessities of the occupational context. Based on the qualitative findings, a set of propositions for future research is developed that can be investigated in future studies in order to enhance the understanding of adjustment in today's diverse global mobility contexts

Effect of density and planting pattern on yield and yield

In order to evaluate competition ability of Grain maize (Zea mays L.) against redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) a field experiment was conducted at Esfahan on 2003. In this research the effect of corn spatial arrangement on yield and yield components of corn (647 Three Way Cross hybrids) under different levels of redroot pigweed infestation was investigated. Treatments were arranged in a factorial split experiment based on RCBD with three replications. Factorial arrangement of corn densities (74000 and 111000 plant ha-1) and planting patterns (single row, rectangular twin row and zigzag twin row) formed the main plots. Split-plots referred to pigweed densities (0, 4, 8 and 12 plant m-1). Results showed that both grain and biological yield of corn increased as corn density rates increased but rows number per cob, number of grains per row of cob and 1000 grains weight decreased. The effects of planting arrangement on yield and yield components despite rows grain in cob, 1000 seeds weight and harvest index were statistically significant. Corn grain yield and yield components decreased significantly by increasing pigweed density. The effect of redroot pigweed density on corn grain and biological yield loss was predicted using Cousence hyperbolic yield equation. It showed that maximum grain yield loss and biological yield loss happened in single row arrangement and low corn density. Rows number per cob and grain numbers per row in higher corn density treatment showed lower reduction slopes under pigweed competition. In addition, grain rows numbers per cob and corn harvest index in twin arrangement treatments decreased lower than single row treatment under pigweed competition. The results of this research indicated that corn competition ability against redroot pigweed could be increased using dense population (1/5 fold of general density) and zigzag twin row arrangement

Investigating the effect of different green marketing on brand loyalty

Green marketing plays important role on developing different business plans without harming environment. Green marketing may also help us find more loyal customers since many people do care about taking care of environment and prefer purchasing only green products and services. In this paper, we present an empirical investigation to find the effect of different green strategies on brand loyalty. The proposed study designs a questionnaire and distributes it among 384 randomly selected people who purchase various brands in city of Tehran, Iran. The gathered data are analyzed using structural equation modeling and the results indicate that different green marketing strategies including green pricing, green promotion, green distribution positively influence brand loyalty

Management Science Letters An investigation on the effects of emotional intelligence in development of brand equity

This paper presents an investigation on the effects of various components of emotional intelligence including self-awareness, emotional management, sympathy, social skills and selfmotivation on building brand equity in telecommunication industry. The proposed study of this paper uses two questionnaires, one for measuring emotional intelligence and the other for measuring brand equity. The study was performed among 384 people who had used telecommunication industry services in city of Tehran, Iran. Using Spearman correlation test, as well as structural equation modeling, the study has confirmed the positive effects of four emotional components, including self-awareness, emotional management, social skills and selfmotivation influence on building brand equity in telecommunication industry