Clustering of Grape Producers in the Zanjan Province, According to Their Information Seeking Behavior

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting grape producer's information seeking behavior in the Zanjan province. The research was a descriptive and correlational study that was conducted by using a survey method. The statistical population consisted of all grape producers in 2014 cropping seasons (N =32871) in the Zanjan province. Using Krejcie and Morgan's (1970) sample-size Tale, 379 grape producers were selected as the sample population (n =379). The samples were selected through convenience sampling method. Data were collected by using a questionnaire, which was validated by a panel of agricultural extension and education and horticulture experts and the reliability was gained through a pilot test with Cronbach's alpha coefficient between 0.73 and 0.86. The data were analyzed by using the SPSS software. The results of the research showed that about 80 percent of farmers had weak to moderate information seeking behavior. Among the cities, Khoramdeh had the highest percentage of grape producers in the moderate seeking behavior cluster and the other cities had the highest percentage of grape producers in the low seeking behavior clusters. Although the grape producers in different clusters had a high level of access to the agricultural management experts, this information source was not one of the highly usable sources. In contrast, family members and other farmers play an important role in meeting their information needs. Grape producers in different clusters of information seeking behavior had different individual, professional and management characteristic

Presenting a Conceptual Framework for Identifying the Typology of Customer Knowledge: A Case Study

Regarding the critical role of knowledge in gaining competitive advantages, businesses experts are focusing on customer's knowledge more than before according to recent global advancements. Identification and management of customer`s knowledge is one of the most challenging issues for researchers and experts in the field of knowledge management and customer relationship management. The purpose of this study is to provide a conceptual framework for identifying the typology of customer knowledge. To achieve this goal, a three-stage research strategy including “designing conceptual framework of research", "validation of conceptual framework“ and "evaluation of selected company (Hamkaran System) using the framework designed" is developed. In the first stage, a conceptual framework (the cluster of grapes), including 30 customer`s knowledge in the following three major categories of knowledge "for“, "From" and "about" the client was designed using literature review. Then the proposed framework is validated and approved by experts. Grape cluster framework can be considered as the most comprehensive typology framework of customer`s knowledge. Finally, the amount of customer knowledge management in Hamkaran System was evaluated based on the research framework. Results indicate that Hamkaran System has focused on "customer knowledge" more than other types of customer`s knowledge

Effect of Through-the-Thickness Yarn Fineness and Distanceon Damage Behavior of Carbon-Phenolic 3D Composites

The effects of through-the-thickness yarn fineness and distance on the damage behavior of vacuum resin infused 3D carbon-phenolic composites were investigated. For this purpose, the carbon/phenolic composites with different tufting thread fineness (count) and distance ranging from 5.5 mm to 16.5 mm were produced to determine an optimum distance and count in the composites. Three-point bending test results show that the flexural strength of tufting composites may drop 17% to 34 % while through thickness reinforcements set up a mechanical connection between the plies and bridge over delamination cracks to avoid their penetration. The weakness is attributed to damaging effect of tufting method, misallignments of X-Y fibers in presence of Z direction reinforcement and stress concentration effect of produced holes for tufting. On the other hands, Z direction reinforcements prevent fibers delamination. Therefore, the laminate strength was increased and failure mechanism was changed from brittle to ductile fracture. In addition at the same through-thickness yarn count of tufting composites, with the increase in tufting distance, the flexural strength is reduced. But i in the case of samples with tufting distance of 5.5 mm, the flexural strength reduced with increase in thorough-the-thickness yarn count, but for samples with tufting distance of 16 mm, showed some increases with the same count variations. After the failure stress in stress-displacement curve was increased for specimens with Z direction reinforcements