The role of internet and satellite channels in cultural and political changes in developing countries: A review of research findings

Media like internet and satellites have significantly changed the political and cultural interactions of political groups, so that it overshadows the concept of border as one of the element of governments and nations. Therefore, this research report focuses on awareness – based on indices like education, income, employment, etc. among others – in selection of the programs and contents of the above-mentioned media and their effects. It also clarifies the range of influences from these media and their power which can clear the way for a realistic approach in dealing with their consequences in Iran and in programming for meeting challenges like cultural invasion. The results show that political-cultural changes in developing countries cannot be clarified focusing on a single factor, since they do not have causal relationship with media like internet and satellite and should be studied taking into account other influential factors. Therefore, the functionality of these media can be noticed taking into account the environmental conditions and considering them as medium factors

Crafting decision options and alternatives for designing cultural observation system using general morphological modelling

According to connoisseurs, cultural system is encountering a fully new space in future decades and cultural indicators will be exposed by some dangers; for the same reason, cultural observation activities in management dialogue of Iran are emphasized; the concept of “observation” in Iran is facing with challenges including being far from the concepts of futures studies and the focus on “cultural indicators monitoring” while cultural engineering needs foresight and identification of affecting progressive and deterring factors on the culture. The present study aims at providing alternatives to design an observation system by considering the monitoring and scanning simultaneously to bring out strategic and futurist vision for cultural organizations. To this end, the solution space and morphological field of observation (parameters and values) by using MA/Carma Viewer software package is designed based on the literature review and forming a five-member expert group and specialized conversations. Upon Internal Consistency Assessment of parameters and by considering some values as drivers, Parameters Activity Check was conducted to study the reactions by other parameters and values. After sense-making and proper understanding of the model behavior, an Inference and “What-If” model were devised; some configurations were studied and provided in order to aware a part of proper alternatives for designing a cultural observation system (two scenarios). Scenario selection is different due to contingencies and conditions of executing the process as well as the users’ needs and goals in cultural observation system and cultural organizations can make decisions and design detailed observation systems by using morphological models, solution space and alternatives provided in the present study and depended on their goals and needs