The Creation of Small and Medium-Sized Sport Enterprises and the Environmental Factors Affecting It

Small and medium-sized enterprises are very basic solutions for the development of a country; therefore, it is important to understand the factors involved in their creation. Hence, this study sought to examine the relationship between environmental factors and creation of Small and medium-sized sport enterprises. The research population was small and medium-sized sport enterprises (1500 companies); their owners / managers were selected as the research sample (n = 258) by simple random sampling. Data were gathered using environmental factors (α=0.77) and enterprises creation qualification (α=0.81) questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient, Kolmogrof - Smirnov test, and multivariate regression analysis) with SPSS16 software was used for data analysis. The results showed that in addition to positive and significant relationship with business, environmental factors could predict 6% of the creation variance; Also, except for the political dimension, all environmental aspects established a significant relationship with enterprise creation( p\u3c0.01). Regression analysis showed that of environmental dimensions, economics and technology dimensions could explain 7 percent of Sports enterprise creation variance. According to path analysis method, this prediction ability is presented in a model. The findings suggested a diminished role of environment and its dimensions in explaining the process of SMEs creation

Relationship between lower extremity muscle strength and dynamic balance in women with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Introduction: The balance and postural control impairments are current problems in people with multiple sclerosis, so much that the risk of fracture from falls in MS patients is 2 to 3 times higher than healthy subjects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between lower extremity muscle strength and dynamic balance in women with Multiple Sclerosis. Materials and Methods: Thirty three female individuals with MS recruited in this study. Dynamic balance was assessed by the Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, and Functional Reach Test. Also bilateral lower extremity muscle strength was measured by dynamometer and 30 seconds sit to stand test. Data was analyzed by SPSS, version 16. Results: There was a good correlation between lower extremity muscle strength and the FRT (P < 0.05). Also the TUG test had a correlation with flexors and extensors muscles of knee strength (P < 0.05) and 30 seconds sit to stand test (r = 0.60, P < 0.05).The correlation between BBS and extensors of knee muscle strength (Right: r = 0.47 and left: r = 0.46, P < 0.05) and flexor of knee muscle strength was significant (Right: r = 0.45, P < 0.05 and left: r = 0.37, P < 0.05). While the correlation between this balance scale and 30 seconds sit to stand test was prominently significant (r = 0.63, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Generally the results of this study indicated that the loss of lower extremity muscle strength can influence on dynamic balance in subjects with multiple sclerosis. These results are beneficial to assess modality of rehabilitation program for patients with MS. It is recommended that increasing lower extremity muscle strength must be considered particularly to improve balance and reduce falls risk in these patients. Keywords: Lower extremity muscle strength, Dynamic balance, Multiple sclerosi

Developing capabilities underlying to Industry 4.0 design principles within the manufacturing context

PurposeUsing a dynamic capabilities approach, the present study aims to identify and assess the effects of organizational determinants on capabilities underlying Industry 4.0 design principles, such as integration, virtualization, real-time, automation and servitization.Design/methodology/approachPLS-SEM enables a two-stage hierarchical latent variable reflective-formative model which was used for assessing the effect of organizational determinants on Industry 4.0 design principles. Five hundred six manufacturing companies constitute the effective sample, representing a population of manufacturing companies in an industrialized country.FindingsThe findings reveal that Industry 4.0 design principles extensively depend on digitalization resource availability. At the same time, companies that possess digitalization and change management capabilities tend to devote more resources to digitalization. Finally, the paper reveals that networking and partnership capability is the critical enabler for change management and digitalization capabilities.Practical implicationsThe paper provides empirical evidence that the successful development of Industry 4.0 design principles and their underlying integration, virtualization, real-time, automation and servitization capabilities are resource dependent, requiring significant upfront investment and continuous resource allocation. Further, the study implies that companies with networking and partnership, change management and digitalization capabilities tend to allocate more resources for Industry 4.0 transformation.Originality/valueExclusively focusing on empirical research that reported applied insights into determinants of Industry 4.0 design principles, the study offers unique implications for promoting Industry 4.0 digital transformation among manufacturing companies