The Relationship between Agility Capabilities and Organizational Performance: a Case Study among Home Appliance Factories in Iran

Agility capabilities are considered as inescapable features of today’s forward-looking organizations. Those organizations which possess such characteristic would be able to achieve competitive advantage and gain an edge over competitors. In this regard, this paper seeks to explore the agility capabilities of manufacturing firms and its’ impact on organizational performance. Moreover, this study investigates the key principles and features of the agile manufacturing companies and agile manufacturing dimensions. Given the importance of agility capabilities compared to other features of manufacturing companies, this component is selected for the study and its effect on corporate performance is also examined. This study adopts the descriptive survey method and uses questionnaire for the purpose of data collection. Also, the inferential statistical technique is applied in order to data analysis. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient is used to test the hypotheses and the key informants are the managers and employees of manufacturing companies in Iran. The data analysis reveals that there is a significant positive relationship between agility capabilities and performance of the company in the confidence level of 0.99. Keywords: Agility, Agility Capabilities, Organizational performance, Organizational agilit

INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY INTELLIGENCE AND BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

Abstract Changes in technology, which is induced by constant innovations, influence everyone' business. Intelligent organizations do not wait for change; rather they actively monitor and keep track of changing environment and new innovations to take advantage of them. Technology (Competitive) intelligence pursues the following objectives: becoming timely aware of the technological events, identifying new products and processes, and understanding trends and events relevant to competitive environment. Companies that use this method meticulously, they can be optimist about making firmer decisions, and moving ahead alongside the changing environment. In this study the effect of technology intelligence on business performance was examined. The statistical population of this research study involved the companies of industrial city of Ardabil. This study was based on the data collected from a sample of the managers and engineers in the late 2012 and early 2013. The data required for evaluation was gathered through questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS. The results showed a significant relationship between technology intelligence and four aspects of business performance

The Effect of Tourism Risk Dimensions on Foreign Tourists Satisfaction and Loyalty: Mediating Role of Destination Image (Case Study Ardabil City)

Generally speaking, tourists avoid traveling to risky tourism destinations and, instead, choose destinations with lower perceived risk. Therefore, the perceived risks of travel to tourism destinations can be considered as one of the most important deterrents to travel to tourism destinations which can affect tourists' behavior. This research intends to examine the impact of tourism risk dimensions on the consequences of the behavior of tourists, namely their satisfaction and loyalty, and analyze the mediating role of destination image in this relationship. Statistical population of the research consists of foreign tourists who have traveled to Ardabil and, owing to the limited number of foreign tourists, 186 subjects have been selected as the sample based on the Morgan table. Standard questionnaire is used to measure all variables and data analysis is performed based on structural equation modeling and LISREL software. The results show that tourism risk indicators including financial, economic, social and cultural, psychological, environmental, health, political and technological risks influence foreign tourists' mental image of tourism destination in Iran. Moreover, the mediating role of destination University of Mohaghegh Ardabilimage was confirmed in the relationship between all aspects of tourism risk and the satisfaction and loyalty of foreign tourists in Iran. The findings of this research can provide policy makers and planners of tourism industry in Iran with appropriate strategies in order to reduce tourism risk and improve destination image, satisfaction and loyalty of foreign tourists

Social Intelligence and Business Performance of Managers at Agriculture Banks in Ardabil province

Abstract The study has been done in order to determine the relationship betweenrelationship social intelligence dimensions (social information processing, social skills, social awareness, and social desirability) as independent variables and business performance (behavioral performance, in-role performance, extra-role performance, results-based performance) of managers asdependent variable. This has done Agriculture Bank in Ardabil province. We determined the amount of the sample size with the used of Cochran sampling method which the statistical sample is 102 of this Bank managers which have been selected through the simple random sampling method. To gathering of data, we used questionnaires with 43 items. Questionnaires reliability was estimated by calculating Cronbach's Alpha. In order to analyze the data resulted from collected questionnaires deductive and descriptive statistical methods are used. The results KolmogorovSmirnov Test shows the test distribution is Normal. So we can use Pearson Correlation coefficients to test the hypothesis of the research. In order to determine the relationship between the variables of the study, the SPSS tool has been used. Findings show that relationship betweenrelationship social intelligence dimensions and business performance of managers atAgriculture Bank in Ardabil province

Measuring progress from 1990 to 2017 and projecting attainment to 2030 of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals for 195 countries and territories: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background: Efforts to establish the 2015 baseline and monitor early implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight both great potential for and threats to improving health by 2030. To fully deliver on the SDG aim of “leaving no one behind”, it is increasingly important to examine the health-related SDGs beyond national-level estimates. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD 2017), we measured progress on 41 of 52 health-related SDG indicators and estimated the health-related SDG index for 195 countries and territories for the period 1990–2017, projected indicators to 2030, and analysed global attainment. Methods: We measured progress on 41 health-related SDG indicators from 1990 to 2017, an increase of four indicators since GBD 2016 (new indicators were health worker density, sexual violence by non-intimate partners, population census status, and prevalence of physical and sexual violence [reported separately]). We also improved the measurement of several previously reported indicators. We constructed national-level estimates and, for a subset of health-related SDGs, examined indicator-level differences by sex and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile. We also did subnational assessments of performance for selected countries. To construct the health-related SDG index, we transformed the value for each indicator on a scale of 0–100, with 0 as the 2\ub75th percentile and 100 as the 97\ub75th percentile of 1000 draws calculated from 1990 to 2030, and took the geometric mean of the scaled indicators by target. To generate projections through 2030, we used a forecasting framework that drew estimates from the broader GBD study and used weighted averages of indicator-specific and country-specific annualised rates of change from 1990 to 2017 to inform future estimates. We assessed attainment of indicators with defined targets in two ways: first, using mean values projected for 2030, and then using the probability of attainment in 2030 calculated from 1000 draws. We also did a global attainment analysis of the feasibility of attaining SDG targets on the basis of past trends. Using 2015 global averages of indicators with defined SDG targets, we calculated the global annualised rates of change required from 2015 to 2030 to meet these targets, and then identified in what percentiles the required global annualised rates of change fell in the distribution of country-level rates of change from 1990 to 2015. We took the mean of these global percentile values across indicators and applied the past rate of change at this mean global percentile to all health-related SDG indicators, irrespective of target definition, to estimate the equivalent 2030 global average value and percentage change from 2015 to 2030 for each indicator. Findings: The global median health-related SDG index in 2017 was 59\ub74 (IQR 35\ub74–67\ub73), ranging from a low of 11\ub76 (95% uncertainty interval 9\ub76–14\ub70) to a high of 84\ub79 (83\ub71–86\ub77). SDG index values in countries assessed at the subnational level varied substantially, particularly in China and India, although scores in Japan and the UK were more homogeneous. Indicators also varied by SDI quintile and sex, with males having worse outcomes than females for non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality, alcohol use, and smoking, among others. Most countries were projected to have a higher health-related SDG index in 2030 than in 2017, while country-level probabilities of attainment by 2030 varied widely by indicator. Under-5 mortality, neonatal mortality, maternal mortality ratio, and malaria indicators had the most countries with at least 95% probability of target attainment. Other indicators, including NCD mortality and suicide mortality, had no countries projected to meet corresponding SDG targets on the basis of projected mean values for 2030 but showed some probability of attainment by 2030. For some indicators, including child malnutrition, several infectious diseases, and most violence measures, the annualised rates of change required to meet SDG targets far exceeded the pace of progress achieved by any country in the recent past. We found that applying the mean global annualised rate of change to indicators without defined targets would equate to about 19% and 22% reductions in global smoking and alcohol consumption, respectively; a 47% decline in adolescent birth rates; and a more than 85% increase in health worker density per 1000 population by 2030. Interpretation: The GBD study offers a unique, robust platform for monitoring the health-related SDGs across demographic and geographic dimensions. Our findings underscore the importance of increased collection and analysis of disaggregated data and highlight where more deliberate design or targeting of interventions could accelerate progress in attaining the SDGs. Current projections show that many health-related SDG indicators, NCDs, NCD-related risks, and violence-related indicators will require a concerted shift away from what might have driven past gains—curative interventions in the case of NCDs—towards multisectoral, prevention-oriented policy action and investments to achieve SDG aims. Notably, several targets, if they are to be met by 2030, demand a pace of progress that no country has achieved in the recent past. The future is fundamentally uncertain, and no model can fully predict what breakthroughs or events might alter the course of the SDGs. What is clear is that our actions—or inaction—today will ultimately dictate how close the world, collectively, can get to leaving no one behind by 2030

Measuring progress from 1990 to 2017 and projecting attainment to 2030 of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals for 195 countries and territories: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

BACKGROUND: Efforts to establish the 2015 baseline and monitor early implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight both great potential for and threats to improving health by 2030. To fully deliver on the SDG aim of 'leaving no one behind', it is increasingly important to examine the health-related SDGs beyond national-level estimates. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD 2017), we measured progress on 41 of 52 health-related SDG indicators and estimated the health-related SDG index for 195 countries and territories for the period 1990-2017, projected indicators to 2030, and analysed global attainment. METHODS: We measured progress on 41 health-related SDG indicators from 1990 to 2017, an increase of four indicators since GBD 2016 (new indicators were health worker density, sexual violence by non-intimate partners, population census status, and prevalence of physical and sexual violence [reported separately]). We also improved the measurement of several previously reported indicators. We constructed national-level estimates and, for a subset of health-related SDGs, examined indicator-level differences by sex and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile. We also did subnational assessments of performance for selected countries. To construct the health-related SDG index, we transformed the value for each indicator on a scale of 0-100, with 0 as the 2·5th percentile and 100 as the 97·5th percentile of 1000 draws calculated from 1990 to 2030, and took the geometric mean of the scaled indicators by target. To generate projections through 2030, we used a forecasting framework that drew estimates from the broader GBD study and used weighted averages of indicator-specific and country-specific annualised rates of change from 1990 to 2017 to inform future estimates. We assessed attainment of indicators with defined targets in two ways: first, using mean values projected for 2030, and then using the probability of attainment in 2030 calculated from 1000 draws. We also did a global attainment analysis of the feasibility of attaining SDG targets on the basis of past trends. Using 2015 global averages of indicators with defined SDG targets, we calculated the global annualised rates of change required from 2015 to 2030 to meet these targets, and then identified in what percentiles the required global annualised rates of change fell in the distribution of country-level rates of change from 1990 to 2015. We took the mean of these global percentile values across indicators and applied the past rate of change at this mean global percentile to all health-related SDG indicators, irrespective of target definition, to estimate the equivalent 2030 global average value and percentage change from 2015 to 2030 for each indicator

Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality and life expectancy, 1950–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

© 2018 The Author(s). Background: Assessments of age-specifc mortality and life expectancy have been done by the UN Population Division, Department of Economics and Social Afairs (UNPOP), the United States Census Bureau, WHO, and as part of previous iterations of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD). Previous iterations of the GBD used population estimates from UNPOP, which were not derived in a way that was internally consistent with the estimates of the numbers of deaths in the GBD. The present iteration of the GBD, GBD 2017, improves on previous assessments and provides timely estimates of the mortality experience of populations globally. Methods: The GBD uses all available data to produce estimates of mortality rates between 1950 and 2017 for 23 age groups, both sexes, and 918 locations, including 195 countries and territories and subnational locations for 16 countries. Data used include vital registration systems, sample registration systems, household surveys (complete birth histories, summary birth histories, sibling histories), censuses (summary birth histories, household deaths), and Demographic Surveillance Sites. In total, this analysis used 8259 data sources. Estimates of the probability of death between birth and the age of 5 years and between ages 15 and 60 years are generated and then input into a model life table system to produce complete life tables for all locations and years. Fatal discontinuities and mortality due to HIV/AIDS are analysed separately and then incorporated into the estimation. We analyse the relationship between age-specifc mortality and development status using the Socio-demographic Index, a composite measure based on fertility under the age of 25 years, education, and income. There are four main methodological improvements in GBD 2017 compared with GBD 2016: 622 additional data sources have been incorporated; new estimates of population, generated by the GBD study, are used; statistical methods used in diferent components of the analysis have been further standardised and improved; and the analysis has been extended backwards in time by two decades to start in 1950. Findings: Globally, 18·7% (95% uncertainty interval 18·4-19·0) of deaths were registered in 1950 and that proportion has been steadily increasing since, with 58·8% (58·2-59·3) of all deaths being registered in 2015. At the global level, between 1950 and 2017, life expectancy increased from 48·1 years (46·5-49·6) to 70·5 years (70·1-70·8) for men and from 52·9 years (51·7-54·0) to 75·6 years (75·3-75·9) for women. Despite this overall progress, there remains substantial variation in life expectancy at birth in 2017, which ranges from 49·1 years (46·5-51·7) for men in the Central African Republic to 87·6 years (86·9-88·1) among women in Singapore. The greatest progress across age groups was for children younger than 5 years; under-5 mortality dropped from 216·0 deaths (196·3-238·1) per 1000 livebirths in 1950 to 38·9 deaths (35·6-42·83) per 1000 livebirths in 2017, with huge reductions across countries. Nevertheless, there were still 5·4 million (5·2-5·6) deaths among children younger than 5 years in the world in 2017. Progress has been less pronounced and more variable for adults, especially for adult males, who had stagnant or increasing mortality rates in several countries. The gap between male and female life expectancy between 1950 and 2017, while relatively stable at the global level, shows distinctive patterns across super-regions and has consistently been the largest in central Europe, eastern Europe, and central Asia, and smallest in south Asia. Performance was also variable across countries and time in observed mortality rates compared with those expected on the basis of development. Interpretation: This analysis of age-sex-specifc mortality shows that there are remarkably complex patterns in population mortality across countries. The fndings of this study highlight global successes, such as the large decline in under-5 mortality, which refects signifcant local, national, and global commitment and investment over several decades. However, they also bring attention to mortality patterns that are a cause for concern, particularly among adult men and, to a lesser extent, women, whose mortality rates have stagnated in many countries over the time period of this study, and in some cases are increasing

A Survay of Factors Influencing on ‎Tourism based on Expects and Conceptions and Gap Analysis (Case Study: Sareien Tourism City in Ardabili)

Positive effects of tourism due to social, cultural and economic interest in becoming the first industry in the world, so that many countries and areas are by creating suitable infrastructure exploitation of the benefits sought the industry. For most of these countries an important source of tourism business, income, job creation and foreign exchange is considered. For this reason, to achieve the tourism development strategies, has consented of two factors affecting tourists in the region of Sarein. The aim of the research, has been done application and with correlation method. Questionnaire is used as the main tool in gathering information. Statistical Society of tourists to the region in August had Travel to Sarein. According to the unknown number of tourists (Statistical Society), sampling was available. The correlation coefficient was used to analyze questions to rule out or confirm theories. These reviews evaluate the quality of services component was satisfactory tourism services. Reviewing Prime Theoretical factors were studied in identifying and satisfying the two-story institutional and environmental factors. Using the gap analysis model to review expectations and perceptions of tourists’ gap was paid. Findings showed that there is a positive relationship between organizational factors and satisfaction(R= 0/577) and environmental factors and satisfaction(R= 0/34) of tourists. Indices based on these factors, the priority of the gap analysis model based on the suggestions were provided for corrective action

Implementing Customer ‎ Relationship Management (CRM) in the Framework of Electronic- Government

Electronic government is a new concept that governments according to level of development implement in different ways. Utilizing informational systems in business sections has created potential context for developing electronic government. Customer relationship ‎management (CRM) is an important system in management that helps to develop electronic government and promote citizenship-based in organizations. There are a few studies about implementing customer ‎ relationship management in framework of electronic government. However, this article surveys electronic government in technical approach and supply chain, then it develops graphical model for implementing customer ‎relationship management in framework of electronic government. This survey is done with Delphi method and presents electronic-government model based on customer ‎ relationship management. It is surveyed with modular factors, flexibility and criterion definition. Finally, it develops suggestions for implementing customer ‎ relationship management in framework of electronic- government

SURVEYING THE IMPACT OF INFERENTIAL ORGANIZATIONAL JUSTICE ON INNOVATIVE WORK BEHAVIOR

Abstract This is correlational descriptive-analytical study in which we are investigating effect of inferential organizational justice on innovative job behavior. Therefore, independent variable is employees' perception from organizational justice and dependent variable is innovative job behavior. Data are cross-sectional and quantitative. Standard questionnaires were used for gathering data. In order to determine validity and reliability the questionnaire was distributed among 30 employees. Findings showed that questionnaire is valid (0.855). Asghrnejad et.al (2006) had implemented this scale on 344 graduate students in Shahid Beheshti University. They used factor analysis and criteria validity (0.0001) which both had high validity (Khushkalam, 2010). Descriptive statistics (frequency, percent, mean and standard deviation) were used for summing data and inferential statistics was used to study relationships between variables including Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression modeling. Statistical population was all Social Security Organization employees in Ardabil (500) and sample was 217. Simple random sampling was used for selecting research samples. Results of hypotheses testing show that all six hypotheses are confirmed