Iranian Journal of Trade Studies
Year:2009 | Volume:13 | Issue:49|Papers Count:16

Productivity is defined as optimal allocation of facilities and resources to achieving maximum production. In general, there are two methods including parametric and nonparametric to calculate total factor productivity. In this paper, total factor productivity growth in commerce sector is evaluated by using liner programming model, which is a nonparametric method, as well as the Tronquist index. The results show that the average changes of technological and technical efficiency are 0.885 and 0.915 percent in the investigated period, respectively. In addition, total factor productivity growth is 0.8 percent for periods 1369-1385.

Analysis of ICT impacts on the economic performance has been started since 1990s. Researchers have found different results about ICT outcomes in different countries at macro level. The aim of this paper is to investigate the impacts of ICT on the EG in developing countries using the steady state growth theory in the period of 1995-2003 for a sample of 51 developing countries and different sub samples. This paper uses three types of variables for ICT; fixed line phone penetration and network index (ICT infrastructure), internet penetration and ICT-use index (ICT usage), and ICT expenditure (spillover effect) to estimate the benefits of ICT. Findings state that non-ICT capital, fixed line phone and internet penetration, network index, ICT-use index, ICT/GDP, ICT per capita and trade openness have positive effects, while inflation rate and population growth rate have negative effects on the EG in developing countries. The effect of human capital on the EG isn't stable. In addition, the economic convergency is confirmed in the mentioned countries.The paper concludes that ICT affects the EG in three ways: ICT as a sector, ICT usage, and ICT diffusion throughout the economy. So, it seems that the "Productivity Paradox" does not appear in developing countries.

Marketing new findings demonstrate that country of origin has an important role in costumer behavior as marketing mix 5thP. On the other hand, if the costumer knows about the brand country of origin, the perceived image of country of origin have effects on costumers concept of trademarks related to the producer country.These evidences show that one of the major objects in international marketing comes from above subjects. So the basic subject of research is: What is the relationship between brand country of origin knowledge and country of origin image and how much is it? According to that the franchise is one of the common strategies for entering to emerging markets; the research variables in these contracts were studied. Basic variables of research include: Brand country of origin knowledge, country of origin image, brand country of origin knowledge competitive product, country of origin familiarity, and demographic factors like education level, income level, aboard traveling history, and free zone traveling history.For this purpose, sampling and questionnaire in metropolitan Iranian families and to analysis of gathered data were done.Results of current research show that there is a direct relationship between brand of country of origin knowledge and country of origin image. Also there are direct relationship between brand country of origin knowledge and brand country of origin knowledge of competitive product, country of origin familiarity, and income level. In spite of other researches findings, there is no relationship between brand country of origin knowledge and education level, aboard travel history, and free zone travel history.

The issues of redistribution of income and economic growth have been debatable In economics. This paper shows in a simple model if we redistribute income correctly (i.e. tax the rich who have lower marginal propensity to consume and pay to the poor who have higher marginal propensity to consume), income equality and economic growth will improve.But according to the result of this paper, there is an inverse trend in fiscal policy of government in Iran during 1338-86. In other words, most resources of government income have been taken from the poor and most government expenditures have been attracted by the rich. This process has increased income inequality and diminished the economic growth rate.

After the conclusion of sale contract, whenever we desire to perform the contract perfectly we have to deliver the intact goods which is in conformity whit the contract and receive the contractual consideration in recognition of it. In some cases the performance of the contract is done incompletely by the seller. In that case he delivers goods which are not in conformity to the contract and its conditions.In the convention on international sale of goods (Vienna-1980), this kind of delivery is measured as breach of breach of contract, and by virtue of (Art. 46, part. 3), the buyer with some conditions can request goods repair from the seller, if the breach is not fundamental.In Islamic law, the buyer can terminate the contract or reduce the price (Arsh) in such cases and so is Iranian law (Art. 422 of civil code). But by taking into consideration of some Islamic jurisconsults and lawyers opinions and by reference to some Arts of statute, it is possible to grant the right of defect removed to the buyer.

The quality of a product or service is key for customer satisfaction. The level of satisfaction is ultimately dependent on the fulfillment of customer needs. Quality Function Deployment (QFD) has been an important tool in the translation of the voice of the customer (VOC) into product's specification. Since the impact on customer satisfaction is different for each customer requirement, it is very important to determine which attributes of a product or service bring more satisfaction than others. The Kano Model of customer satisfaction can determine attractive, must be requirements and performance needs, and can be used in the QFD matrix to assure that the most critical needs are translated into the next phases of product development. But, integrating these two models, causes that analysis, classification and priority of customer needs to improve.In this article, we are going to provide an integrating model kano in qfd to analysis and rank customer needs. Finally, we show a case study to be sure about the accuracy of the proposed model.

According to theoretical foundation of strategic management, three perspectives have been detected to reach competitive advantage. Environmental perspective, organizational capability and resources perspective, and competitive intelligence perspective, which combines sights and analysis, of the two former perspectives. Regarding the globalization of world markets, extension of competition domain, comprehensiveness of information systems, and the significance of inter-corporation competencies, this study tends to develop theories concerning competitive intelligence and offers a comprehensive model of the components of competitive intelligence to achieve competitive advantage. The researches made previously have shown three types of intelligence: strategic-social intelligence, technological intelligence, and market intelligence to attain competitive advantage. However, there has been no study exploring competitive intelligence about structural-organizational intelligence. To access persistent competitive intelligence, informational infrastructures, flexible and efficient linkage, and placement of these features in one strategic framework are necessary. Therefore, this study is to fill this research gap, and proposes a comprehensive model of competitive intelligence for the purpose of reaching competitive advantage. For this reason, first we have explored research literature and similar models and identified a set of indexes for structural organizational intelligence. Second, with use of factor analysis technique, we have reconsidered and classified important indexes in three batches. Then, with the contribution of structural equation modeling technique, we have examined the 8 Iranian Journal of Trade Studies relationships of new element with existing intelligence trinity and the synergism intelligence quartet to gain competitive intelligence and competitive advantage, and we have determined with structural-organizational intelligence it will be possible to attain competitive intelligence, and competitive advantage will be more stable.

This paper presents a discrete simulation model of the auto spare parts supply chain based on the system dynamics approach. The studied chain has two levels and consists of two firms: a retailer (central repair shop) and a wholesaler (Isaco). This chain model is simulated in order to develop the order policies based on reorder point on two levels of central repair shop and Isaco. The developed model is a nonlinear mathematical model which is simulated by the vensim software. The purpose of simulation exercise is to analyze performance of the auto spare parts' distribution system and to predict chains' performance improvements with proposed strategies.