Management and Development Process
Year:2011 | Volume:24 | Issue:75|Papers Count:7

Economists have paid ever-growing attention to the significant role of social capital in the development process of societies in the recent years and consider it as a development indicator. But there is no consensus on the definitions and theoretical concepts of social capital, and neither on the amount of its effectiveness on the growth and development process of the societies. Needless to mention, planning and policy-making in any field, including social capital, need scales and measurement though it would be difficult and complicated to formulate an indicator for social capital. Therefore, one of the trickiest shortcomings regarding the concept of social capital is the lack of consensus on how to measure it. Regardless of such limitations, this paper tries to survey the trend and status of social capital in Iran during the previous years through studying its evidences and effects on the society instead of trying to evaluate and measure the social capital indicators. In this way, firstly social capital in Iran is studied in within 1986-2004 by the use of Fukuyama's alternative method. According to the results, it is estimated that social capital in Iran decreased within 1986-2002 and it increased during. 2002-2004 Later, the extent of Iran’s social capital in 2000 was studied using data gathered by Iranian Survey Project conducted by the National Projects Bureau of Iran's Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry in the same year. Considering some assumptions, the social capital in that year was estimated to be in the average level. In the end, assuming the results of the study on the social capital trend in Iran to be correct, the amount of social capital was calculated for each year within 1986-2002 in proportion to that of 2000.

Needless to say, one of the outstanding areas in training activities is that of gaining skills, knowledge and minors needed for performing or improving job duties. Therefore, senior managers working in the governmental sector need to be trained as well though their training principles are different from that of other managerial levels. This paper tries to study and assess the training needs of senior managers in Iran's governmental sector. Its findings could be used in formulating an ideal training model for such managers. Considering the results of this study, one may categorize major activities of the governmental sector’s senior managers into five following areas: 1) environmental analysis and strategic orientation; 2) future studies and deepening Islamic governance; 3) organizational architecture and securing beneficiaries’ participation; 4) planning, organizing and supervisin; and finally 5) directing and leading the concerned organization. senior managers’ training needs for these activities and recognized into the three levels of "sovereign, divisional and occupational".

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) adoption and its extensive application by great and medium-size firm and organizations are described as ERP revolution. Numerous firms have substituted their old information systems with newer ones, i.e. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems as an integrated response to extensive information needs of firms. ERP is a unique data base system that integrates and consolidates raw data, turns them into information and finally delivers its output to information system users. Such system makes firm users able to coordinate and develop firm plans and programs in spite of geographical limits. ERP enhance automation and cooperation among firm segments like sale, marketing, production, operation, and administration. Certainly a better understanding of critical success factors will enable practitioners and academics to improve the chance of success in the implementation ERP projects. Considering this motivation, this study tries to examine the critical success factors for implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems using the framework of classical management theory.

Today, the fast changes and developments of environmental factors have augmented the complexity and ambiguity of the situations; so the old paradigms would not be suitable to tackle the problems. This paper tries to use a new approach that encompasses a set of concepts to face the new complex situations. It is a combination of behavioral and managerial concepts that has not yet been published in any conceptual models. In order to formulate a conceptual model, the theories and models related to the issues as well as the previous studies were reviewed; the resulting model was composed of psychological empowerment concept (independent variable), organizational commitment (dependent variable), and organizational trust and learning (moderator variable). Meanwhile the relationship between these three variables was analyzed and studied. The main question of the study is to what extent the organizational trust and learning affect psychological empowerment and organizational commitment. The research was of descriptive type, making use of correlation covariance matrix. To this end 125 persons were selected by random sampling method from among the experts of Mellat Bank’s Human Resources Administration General Department. The collected data was analyzed by LISREL and SPSS softwares by statistical techniques such as regression and confirmatory factor analysis in order to confirm the proper indicators and eliminate the weak ones as well as by path analysis to finFinally, the weak indicators were eliminated and the optimal path among the variables was determined.d the optimal path among the variables.

Iran Post Bank as an Iranian governmental bank, in a competition, has started a new business, known as micro-banking in the framework of banking service offices. In order to study the feasibility of the reasonable development of this business, we need to formulate a strategic plan. Using the present data in the Post Bank and scientific analysis of strategic planning models, this paper tries to study the feasibility of the bank’s development. Therefore, SWOT model, comparisons and other tools are used to make optimal decisions. Firstly, the literature related to Iran Post Bank besides other prestigious scientific sources are reviewed. Then, the significance and models of the research are mentioned. The data are collected from the existing information sources including managers and experts of rural ICT offices of Iran Post Bank as well as some other staff and executive units before being statistically analyzed. The results of the data processing are analyzed and tested through statistical tools and explained in SWOT matrix. Then, the resulted strategies are determined according to the analysis and priorities. In conclusion, according to SWOT analysis, the weakness indicators are the most important items from the viewpoints of the answerers and Post Bank managers should do their best to remove the weaknesses.

Speedy changes in today's world have brought about different challenges for organization. Yet, there are successful organizations that make use of updated managerial tools and technologies to turn the newly created opportunities for the benefit of their interests. Intellectual capital is one of those tools. Moreover, organizations could influence positive mutual understanding on the quality of services and as a result, would be able to reach more profitability through better identifying intellectual capital elements as well as through formulating solutions to strengthen them. Therefore, this paper tries to study the relationship between intellectual capitals and the quality of public services in Kerman province’s Organization of Finance and Economic Affairs. The research is of descriptive and correlation type, conducted through survey method. The statistical population of the research is all the employees of the organization mentioned in. 2010 Sampling in this research has been done through most-error method and 240 persons were selected. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used in order to analyze the data. Meanwhile, two questionnaires were used for collecting the data. The findings show that there is a significant relationship between of intellectual capitals variable and the quality of public services.

Medical equipment industry is very extensive and enjoys a unique appeal in terms of products scope and consumer markets. Therefore, it is vital for the activists in this industry to gain competitive advantages and the appropriate status among the competitors. This study has tried to use some quantitative techniques to develop competitive strategies for Gohar Shafa Medical Equipment Company. In this context with the use of External and Internal Factors Evaluation matrixes (EFE & IFE) SWOT and the Internal and External (IE), the most important key factors have been identified and while determining strategic direction of company, possible options are specified. Then by using quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM), different options have been evaluated and among them the most appropriate option is chosen. The findings of this research suggest "market development strategy" for Gohar Shafa Company.