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Innovation and technology development policy-making naturally encounters numerous uncertainties and complexities, especially in developing countries, for the sake of the prevailing prospect of decision makers focusing on hard evidences, and neglecting key and effective social ones; in this research, a context-based method by means of Q-methodology was designed to facilitate policy-making for complex systems by bridging between policy and practices (latent in viewpoints) through providing context-based evidences.

Due to the nature of knowledge-based systems, the performance of Innovation and Technology Development (ITD) systems is highly dependent on the standpoints of key players/stakeholders of the system. In consideration of Iran’s economy characteristics, Upstream Oil and Gas (UOG) Industry, which is one of the complex Large Technical Systems (LTS), was selected as a case study. Regarding the features of LTSs, the designed model was completed by adding hierarchical clustering method, as well as using the framework of innovation and technology learning transition model to analyze the results.

The results showed the capability of the model in providing credible evidences to inform policy-making processes.

This study is one of the first real experiences which used Q-method for providing evidence-based policy-making model in a complex Large Technical System, namely, Upstream Oil and Gas (UOG) Industry.

This paper aims to identify and examine the internal and external factors that e-business communities in Iran grapple with within value proposition design.

Although the world and global economy have been vastly affected by the financial crisis and the competitive market, most businesses and trade lines are growing significantly by the power of online marketing and e-trades. However, this process is somehow different in the Iranian market. Using literature review and combining it with the casual-comparative method, this study first reviews the literature on the business model and value proposition design and then shows the main challenges Iranian entrepreneurs face in starting their e-business, especially at the time of severe economic, political sanction.

This paper attests to two categories of external and internal obstacles to entrepreneurs in the country. Some internal challenges point to obstacles and problems such as poor infrastructure in technology and network equipment, the security of personal data exchanges, improper infrastructure, including the speed of the internet and its bandwidth limit and lack of programming expertise. In the case of external barriers, this paper addresses the economic sanctions and restrictions that have been imposed on internet businesses.

In this study, the authors intend to identify the challenges of internet businesses in Iran and provide effective solutions for creating new value propositions resulting in rapid and sustainable economic growth.

With respect to two new subjects, i.e. nanofluids and microchannels, in heat transfer systems and modern techniques used for building them, this paper aims to study on effect of using aluminum oxide nanoparticles in non-Newtonian fluid of aqueous solution of carboxy-methyl cellulose in microtube and through application of different slip coefficients to achieve various qualities on surface of microtube.

Simultaneously, the effect of presence of nanoparticles and phenomenon of slip and temperature jump has been explored in non-Newtonian nanofluid in this essay. The assumption of homogeneity of nanofluid and fixed temperature of wall in microtube has been used in modeling processes.

The results have been presented as diagrams of velocity, temperature and Nusselt Number and the investigations have indicated that addition of nanoparticles to the base fluid and increase in microtube slip coefficient might improve rate of heat transfer in microtube.

The flow of non-Newtonian nanofluid of aqueous solution of carboxy methyl cellulose-aluminum oxide has been determined in a microtube for the first time.

This study investigates the relationship between medical tourism and city branding as the main purpose. To this end, two measurement scales (questionnaires) were designed and validated. The data obtained through the questionnaires was analyzed using descriptive statistics, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses as well as structural equation modeling via SPSS and LISREL. The study was done in the city of Shiraz which is a famous tourist destination worldwide and has high capacities in medical tourism as well. Participants included scholars and managerial staff in the fields of medical tourism and city branding. The results confirmed that the four underlying factors of medical tourism include medical facilities and services, doctors and staff, tourism factors and costs. Furthermore, city branding was confirmed to be comprised of three underlying factors including place and facilities, opportunities, and residents and culture. Finally, according to the findings from Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) method of assessment branding in shiraz it was found that medical tourism affects directly on city branding.

The purpose of this study is the identification of the best method to apply the body force in the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). In the simulation of mixed convection, especially for large Richardson number flows in a square cavity.

First, three methods for applying the body force were compared to each other in the LBM. Then, an LBM-based code was written in the FORTRAN language using these three methods. Next, that code was used to simulate natural/mixed convection in a two-dimensional cavity to evaluate the methods for applying the body force. Finally, the optimum way for applying the body force was used for the simulation of free convection heat transfer in a concentric annulus with Rayleigh number in a range of 1,000 to 50,000, and mixed convection heat transfer in a concentric annulus with Rayleigh number in a range of 10,000 to 50,000 and Reynolds number in a range of 100 to 400.

Mixed convection heat transfer was simulated in a two-dimensional cavity with Richardson number in a range of 0.0001 to 100. The results which were obtained in low Richardson number flows have shown good adaptation to the available data. However, the results of large Richardson number flows, for example, Ri = 100, have shown a significant difference to the available data. Investigations revealed that this difference was due to the method of applying the body force. Therefore, the choice of the best way to apply the body force was investigated. Finally, for the large Richardson number flows, the best method to apply the body force has been identified among the several techniques.

To the authors’ knowledge, the effects of methods for applying the body force were not investigated in the cavities mixed convection, even though there are numerous investigations conducted on mixed convection with the LBM. In this study, the effects of techniques to apply the body force were investigated in large Richardson number flows. Finally, the best method to apply the body force is distinguished between several techniques for the large Richardson number mixed convection flows.

The paper aims to present an innovative method for identification of flight modes in the spin maneuver, which is highly nonlinear and coupled dynamic.

To fix the mode mixing problem which is mostly happen in the EMD algorithm, the authors focused on the proposal of an optimized ensemble empirical mode decomposition (OEEMD) algorithm for processing of the flight complex signals that originate from FDR. There are two improvements with the OEEMD respect to the EEMD. First, this algorithm is able to make a precise reconstruction of the original signal. The second improvement is that the OEEMD performs the task of signal decomposition with fewer iterations and so with less complexity order rather than the competitor approaches.

By applying the OEEMD algorithm to the spin flight parameter signals, flight modes extracted, then with using systematic technique, flight modes characteristics are obtained. The results indicate that there are some non-standard modes in the nonlinear region due to couplings between the longitudinal and lateral motions.

Application of the proposed method to the spin flight test data may result accurate identification of nonlinear dynamics with high coupling in this regime.

First, to fix the mode mixing problem in EMD, an optimized ensemble empirical mode decomposition algorithm is introduced, which disturbed the original signal with a sort of white Gaussian noise, and by using white noise statistical characteristics the OEEMD fix the mode mixing problem with high precision and fewer calculations. Second, by applying the OEEMD to the flight output signals and with using the systematic method, flight mode characteristics which is very important in the simulation and controller designing are obtained.

Understanding generational differences are important because generational diversity can affect work relationships and the effectiveness of communication, engagement and performance management strategies. On the other hand, organizations should be concerned about employee engagement, considering all the positive outcomes that engaged employees could bring to the workplace. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

The purpose of this study is to examine employee engagement of different generations in Iran. Four hypotheses were proposed regarding job engagement and its constructs: vigor, dedication and absorption. The study utilized ANOVA tests to detect statistically significant differences between generations.

The results revealed not only a number of significant differences among generations, but also some similarities. The study shows the value of generational analysis as a useful segmentation criterion in organizational behavior researches.

To distinguish between different generations in relation to job engagement, also better understanding the behavior of generational cohorts that affect the success of organizations. It helps managers to find and resolve the conflict among persons and groups in the organization and also to achieve the benefits of diversity, creativity and energy of generations.

Science and technology diplomacy (STD) is an emerging area in the field of public policy and technology management. The purpose of this study is to overview the concept of STD based on the two approaches “Science and Technology” and “Diplomacy” to explain its necessity for Non-Aligned Movement member countries.

To design the work, principal domains and sub-domains of STD are identified based on the thematic analysis. By using MAXQDA software, the initial codes are analyzed and validated for the case study. Then, six areas and 29 sub-areas are identified based on the fuzzy Delphi and the framework is designed.

STD is defined from six scopes, including political, economics, law and legal issues, social sciences, philosophy and science and technology. Each scope has its own mechanism that is discussed in the article.

This work is one of the first in the literature of science and technology policy making.

This study aims to provide a novel method for sport places site selection, although instead of using decision-making methods, the focus is on analytic functions in geographic information systems (GIS).

Researchers today have combined site selection science to a large extent with GIS and different decision-making methods to provide methods with higher confidence coefficients, however, it seems that there is a long way left to the best result.

After making a study database including data related to uses and urban elements, sports places, population density in study territory and drawing map of the region, by exporting data to GIS environment this database was prepared to use as separate layers. In the next step, the final map was made by shared overlapping of layer resulted from combining determining factors in sport places site selection and a layer of the sphere of influence of sport places available.

As with other research studies done for site selection, the region determined as high value in the final map was wide, a method of minimizing the difference of maximum and minimum standard deviation of polygons was used to minimize these lands. This method made it possible to plan to construct multiple sport places in succession.

This study aims to investigate drivers of co-branding, and the relative strength of these drivers within the Persian Gulf Pro League (PGPL). The study examines sport sponsorship, and specifically the relationship between professional football teams and on-field apparel sponsors.

Sixteen experts participated in semi-structured interviews and ranked the co-branding drivers. The expert opinions were organized into estimates and triangular fuzzy numbers were established before the Mamdani Fuzzy Inference System converted the fuzzy outputs into crisp output values using the Centroid method. Next, the rankings of the drivers by the same 16 participants were analyzed using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP).

The study identified four main factors with 19 indicators: brand management (i.e. enhancing brand value, utilizing the knowledge and experience of partner brands, brand position, brand identity, brand equity and brand image), partner relationships (i.e. satisfaction, mutual trust, commitment, common interest, product reliability and innovative strategies), marketing factors (i.e. marketing mix, market position, competitive advantage and entry into new domestic markets) and supporting factors (i.e. copyright, contracts and social media law). The AHP identified the most influential factors as marketing, partner relationships, brand management and support.

Based on the study’s findings, the authors recommend that PGPL teams adopt a partnership mindset, seek alignment of values and recognize the plurality of stakeholders to a sponsorship and their relationships to each other. The study highlights the challenges of co-branding activities in a developing country where trademark laws are not well developed.