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Showing 19 results for Barriers
Volume 1, Issue 3 (12-2013)
Abstract
Aim: Promotion of oral health in schools is one of the recommended polices of WHO. The aim of this study was to determine the role of Oral Hygiene Beliefs according to the Health Belief Model in regular brushing behavior, among the 9-10 years old female students. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on the female students of Rasht-Iran in 2012. Applying the statistical estimation, the sample population was determined 265 who were selected from 22 schools using systematic sampling method. Nearly 12 students were selected from each school using simple randomized method. Data collection instrument was a questionnaire and the results were analyzed using descriptive methods, and analytical methods including Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U test and Logistic regression. Finding: Among the samples, 17.4% brushed at least twice a day. The logistic regression analysis indicated that perceived severity (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.27- 0.86, P = 0.014), perceived barriers (OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.29- 3.02, P = 0.002) and mothers' educational level (OR = 4.78, 95% CI = 1.24- 18.46, P = 0.023) were the significant predicting factors for tooth brushing twice a day or more. There are significant statistical correlations among the perceived severity of loosing good eating and good speaking, and perceived barriers of tiredness, laziness and impatience with desirable behavior. Overall 66.5% agreed with one of the two physical barriers: painful tooth brushing and gums bleeding. Conclusion: Promoting educational level and educational programs for Iranian women are recommended. Planning useful educational interventions for the students of concrete operational stage is required attention to the application of Piaget’s Theory of cognitive development. Educational interventions should focus on items of beliefs named above. At least 70 percent of Iranian people need to learn the correct ways of brushing teeth.
Volume 2, Issue 1 (3-2014)
Abstract
Aim: Regarding the high prevalence of breast cancer among the Iranian women and lack of attention to mammography screening, planning the behavior promotion interventions would be practicable through determining the barriers of conducting mammography screening behavior. The purpose of this study was determining the barriers of conducting breast cancer mammography screening among the women over 40 years. Methods: The participants of this crass-sectional study consisted of 294 over 40-years old women in Arak-Iran who completed the questionnaire of mammography barriers. The questionnaire used was based on Champion's revised Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS). Sampling was based on the population. All hygiene officers of the Health and Cure Centers of Arak were asked to randomly select some samples among the women over 40 years. In this way, all the city's areas were covered. Inclusion criteria were women over 40 years, not already suffering from breast cancer, or having a family member (mother or sister) affected by the disease. Findings: The findings revealed that the high cost is the main barrier (20.1%) of mammography screening among the population. Among the other reasons, one may point to fear of discovering a cancer mass (9.5%), painful procedures of mammography (7.1%), not knowing the mammography centers (6.5%), and shame of undressing for mammography (5.1%). Comparing the mean scores of the barriers based on the individual characteristics showed that the barriers of mammography screening according to education level (p=0.0001), insurance status (p=0.02), and economic status (p=0.0001) have significant difference. Conclusions: Regarding the barriers of mammography screening among the Iranian women, it is necessary that authorities apply solutions to reduce costs, and promote women's knowledge about the importance of early diagnosis of breast diseases through screening plans, especially mammography screening.
Volume 2, Issue 3 (11-2012)
Abstract
Nowadays, knowledge is one of the most important organizational assets; therefore effective management and employing of this asset has vital role in the organizational success. The present research identifies knowledge sharing barriers in the Isfahan Oil Refining Company and analyzes these barriers to create a suitable context for the implementation of knowledge management and to facilitate movement of the organization into the learning organization. This study is applied and qualitative-phenomenology. The research population includes official employees of Isfahan Oil Refining Company’s operational unit with at least one year of work experience.The data are collected by semi-structured Interview with 24 of the employees who have been selected by purposeful sampling. Also, the Colizzi’s seven- step method for information analysis is employed. Results indicate that the knowledge sharing barriers include individual, organizational, cultural and technologic barriers .Finally solutions for removing these barriers to the managers of the organization are presented.
Volume 6, Issue 2 (9-2016)
Abstract
Public policy making process simply includes three main phase: Formulation, implementation and evaluation. Since 1970, the implementation processes have been a center to the research and theory building. The literature review reveals that there exist some barriers and issues in the process of implementation, which this study intends to elaborate on. This study in terms of goal is practical and in terms of data type is descriptive and survey based. To investigate the barriers and issues, the literature was reviewed and the main criteria were identified. Considering availability of the data, the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare was chosen for case analysis. The field study was performed and based on collected data, the questionnaire was designed and distributed within 306 respondents. The results indicate that the conceptual framework of the research conforms to the collected field data. The issues associated with could state as policy makers, implementation executives, the content of the policies, the executives or all the actions, pressure groups and the context is related to policy implementation. In other words, all the hypotheses are confirmed.
Volume 7, Issue 1 (5-2017)
Abstract
The Iranian organizations high tendency for the establishment of total quality management (TQM) system has caused the researchers also do significant research in recent years in this area. But the lack of attention to basic obstacles and challenges in the successful implementation of quality management systems in Iranian organizations has made does not provide the necessary settings for the full realization of this system. Identifying barriers of TQM using in organizations can be considered the first step in implementing these systems, because as long as the managers and staff have not action is to overcome these obstacles, failure of this project seems inevitable. In this study, after identifying the key barriers to successful implementation of TQM in the gas industry through literature review and interviews with experts, 5 main obstacles detected. Then the communication and sequence of barriers were determined with Fuzzy Interpretive Structural Modeling. Given that intensity of relationships between some obstacles was not clear in FISM method, therefor intensity of the relationship between barriers was determined by using of fuzzy Dematel. The results showed that human resources barriers and conceptual obstacles that must influential barriers be a lot of attention to them. The proposed model can provide a plan to tackle barriers to successful implementation of TQM in the gas industry.
Volume 7, Issue 1 (3-2019)
Abstract
Aims: Schools health education can ensure the health of society and encourage health behaviors among the students. This study was carried out to explain the barriers of health education from the viewpoint of the school health trainers, using qualitative content analysis.
Participants & Methods: This qualitative study was conducted at the schools of Sanandaj, located in the west of Iran in 2016. Using purposive sampling, 15 school health trainers with health education experience were included in the study. The data were collected through individual interview, group discussion, observation, and field notes, and were analyzed by conventional content analysis. To ensure the accuracy and consistency of data, the acceptability, confirmability, and transferability parameters were taken into account.
Findings: The results yielded 5 major categories, including “shortage of educational facilities”, “poor educational planning”, “student’s challenges”, “trainer’s problems,” and “poor administrative system”.
Conclusion: Considering the barriers to health education programs at schools, authorities are required to pay more attention to promotion of health and inter-sectoral and extra-sectoral collaboration, as well as emphasizing the close relationship of home and school.
Volume 10, Issue 20 (6-2006)
Abstract
This research is designed to identify challenges and barriers of women for promotion to managerial positions in public and state owned organizations. Recent studies have showed that the total number of women have gained managerial positions has increased. But they still have little share of managerial positions. Therefore the objectives of this research are: 1. Identifying characteristics of women appointed to managerial positions, 2. Recognizing influential variables in promotion to managerial positions or the way they have obtained and promoted to these positions, 3. Identifying skills and competencies that could be thought to woman managers in order to easily accept the responsibilities, 4. Identifying restrictional factors or barriers of further promotion of woman to senior managerial levels. The data were collected through a questionnaire completed by 257 women managers in public and stated owned organizations and minsitries. The results showed that: - Most women managers have university degrees in humanities disciplines, average 40 years age, and 5-10 years tenure. - The main influential factors in obtaining the position were: reliable performance, track record, higher education, experience and following the organizational rules. - The skills and competencies that they learned during the first management related skills are self - assurance, correct judgement, etc. - Women managers suffer many problems including community and public attitudes toward women, as well as subordinates, unfair and unequal incentives or opportunities. The major promotion barriers are decision making biases and traditional attitudes toward role of women in the society. According to factor analysis done, socio-cultural factors are mentioned more than organizational and personnal, factors. On the basis of these findings, the study offers few suggestions to women managers, decision makers in organizations, as well as policy makers in government.
Volume 11, Issue 2 (9-2021)
Abstract
Implementing social responsibility has created a positive outlook and competitive advantage for companies. They are under constant pressure from employees, suppliers, community groups, NGOs and the government to increase their participation in the legal activities of the community. In this regard, companies operate beyond economic and social responsibilities. However, companies face barriers to implementing social responsibility, and improper implementation and disregard for these barriers not only do not create a competitive advantage for companies, but also waste resources. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to rank and model barriers to the implementation of social responsibility. The research was conducted in four steps. In the first and second steps, the barriers to the implementation of social responsibility were identified using a study of research literature. In the third step, these barriers were ranked using the best-worst technique, which the findings show that lack of communication between stakeholders is the most important barriers to the implementation of social responsibility and in the fourth step, using a fuzzy cognitive map, the framework of barriers to the implementation of social responsibility was presented. Finally, according to the framework designed for barriers to the implementation of social responsibility, the scenarios was written. By examining different scenarios, the results showed that as the impact of company culture increases, other factors also increase; However, reducing the impact of lack of top management support makes the relationship between cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-effectiveness negative.
Volume 11, Issue 3 (12-2021)
Abstract
Medical centers consume large amounts of electricity, water, food and building materials to provide high quality care. Among the medical centers, hospitals consume more energy and water than many industries and produce more waste. Medical centers should look for programs to reduce energy consumption, reduce environmental impact, and manage waste disposal and medical waste. Green innovation makes this possible for these centers. Green Innovation is a set of changes in production products and processes aimed at managing waste, environmentally friendly productivity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, environmentally friendly design, and reducing environmental impact.In order to create a green innovation culture in the organization, in the first step, it is necessary to identify and prioritize the barriers to innovation in order to eliminate them.In this study, by examining the research literature and consulting experts, 15 sub-obstacles were identified in the form of 4 main management barriers, green suppliers, human and financial resources for medical centers.Then, using BWM method, their livelihood and ranking were considered according to 12 experts, and the results showed that managerial barriers and especially lack of management commitment are the most important obstacles for green innovation in medical centers. Therefore, first of all, this concept and its advantages and disadvantages should be explained to the managers, and then other obstacles should be removed.
Volume 15, Issue 1 (5-2015)
Abstract
Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes, commonly referred to as BTEX, are critical monoaromatic environmental contaminants around the World, of which the major aromatic contaminants in gasoline pose serious environmental health problems. Leaking tanks or ruptured pipelines pollute soil and groundwater with these compounds. Because of their polarity and very soluble characteristics, these compounds will be able to enter the soil and groundwater systems and cause serious contamination problems and threats to the public safety and environment. One of the most promising ground water remediation technologies is the use of permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) packed with reactive material to intercept and decontaminate plumes in the subsurface. The concept of PRBs is rather simple. Reactive material is placed in the subsurface to intercept a plume of contaminated groundwater which must move through it as it flows, typically under its natural gradient. As the contaminant moves through the Reactive material, reactions occur that alter it to less harmful or immobile species. The PRB is not a barrier to the groundwater, but it is a barrier to the contaminant. The key advantage of a reactive barrier is the passive nature of the treatment. That is, for the most part, its operation does not depend on any external labor or energy inputs. Once installed, the barrier takes advantage of the in situ groundwater flow to bring the pollutants in contact with the reactive material. The reactive material used in the barrier may vary depending on the type of contaminants being treated. The most common reactive agent used to date has been granular iron. For contaminants of unknown treatability or media of unknown reactivity, addressing these issues will involve laboratory studies using both batch and column techniques. As for any remedial technology, it is imperative to fully understand the factors that can result in either effective implementation and successful remediation or failure to achieve the remedial design objectives. Iron nanoparticles are increasingly being applied in soil and grounwater remediation and hazardous waste treatment. Nearly two decades after iron nanoparticle was first proposed, the iron nanoparticle technology is at a critical point of its development process. Extensive laboratory studies have verified that nanoscale iron particles are effective for the treatment of a wide range of common groundwater pollutants such as chlorinated organic solvents, organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organic dyes, and various inorganic compounds. Numerous field trials have also demonstrated the favorable prospective for in situ remediation. Nonetheless, there are still substantial knowledge gaps on many fundamental scientific issues. In this Experimental study, A series of laboratory experiments in various temperatures and contaminant concentrations were conducted on Nano sized zero-valet iron (nZVI) to determine its removal efficiency as PRB reactive materials against BTEX compounds in saturated Kaolinite clays, And the initial Concentration of BTEX is reduced to 60%. Obtained results may provide required data in groundwater remediation PRB systems design.
Volume 16, Issue 1 (5-2012)
Abstract
Evaluating and prioritizing the barriers of implementing the Public Services Management Law Countries Administration implement through basic and public policies. Policies should be proven by Parliament to become laws. After that, implementation phase is one of the most important stages in policy making process. However, there are many barriers in the implementation phase. So, public administrator should recognize these barriers and try to overcome them. This research uses the descriptive, survey, and applies research method to Evaluate and prioritize the barriers of implementing the Public Services Management Law. Considering goal, it is an applied research. Population of the study includes are senior managers engaged in Public Services Management Law implementation. The suitable sample of managers is selected at random. There are four main barriers (factors) in implementation phase: Law quality (law's form and content), executive branch of government, controlling part, and tools and requirements. The findings of the present research illustrate that all factors, unless public quality, have high negative impacts on implementing the law. In addition, this research shows three barriers including executive branch of government, controlling part, and tools and requirements are in the same situation regarding to avoid implementing the law, but law quality is in the lower priority. Key words: policy implementation, policy implementation barriers, Public Services Management Law
Volume 16, Issue 6 (11-2014)
Abstract
Since women hold a small share in Iranian agricultural extension administration, it is necessary to seriously facilitate women's participation in development programs and improve the policy of job opportunities and educational equity. The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges of women's career advancement in Iranian Agricultural Extension Organization (AEO). Survey study was applied as the methodology of research. The statistical sample consisted of 135 female agricultural field officers in AEO. Statistical sample was selected through stratified random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used as the research instrument. The face validity of the instrument was confirmed by a panel of specialists. Questionnaire reliability was estimated by calculating Cronbach's Alpha (α= 0.92). The results showed that: "giving key positions to men", "offering routine and simple tasks to women", " limited willingness of male colleagues toward women career advancement "," administrators’ weak belief in female experts' competencies ", and" limitation to visit villages" were recognized as the first five preventive variables by respondents. Also,based on factor analysis, attitudinal aspects, male-dominated organizational structure, time limitation, and adaptive factors were recognized. Under a collection of preventative challenges such as managerial discrimination, negative attitudes and norms regarding women’s role and abilities, severe conflict between work and family duties and personal willing, the female experts have low share in managerial positions in AEO. Therefore, the empowering plans must be focused on these areas.
Volume 22, Issue 1 (3-2018)
Abstract
Considering the pivotal importance of Tehran metropolis as capital of Iran, researchers have always criticized inadequate practices adopted for the management and governance of the capital. In all its various fields, management conducted by various institutions has led to disruption, lack of coordination and other problems in the status of this metropolis. For the future of Tehran’s metropolis, it will be difficult to move out of all these complexities and obstacles. Talking about the future requires a comprehensive and holistic approach, because governance structure in Tehran metropolis is hugely complicated with regard to all its various dimensions – economic, political, social and environmental – and interference on the part of numerous institutions and agents with diverse interests at different levels – spatial and functional, among others. Along with rapid unpredictable developments in the contemporary world, this complex situation makes it extremely difficult to make a decision about the future of governance in Tehran metropolis. Using a futuristic approach, the present study aims to identify and discuss the most challenging barriers affecting the future of Tehran metropolis. The present study is an exploratory analysis conducted via descriptive and analytical procedures. After studying the theoretical literature and explaining the theoretical framework, we conducted document reviews and content analyses in order to identify governance obstacles in Tehran metropolis. We used the Real Time Delphi (RTD) method to complete the list of barriers to the sustainable development of Tehran metropolis. Afterward, in order to identify the key barriers and conduct a systematic analysis of the barriers, we used the Cross Impact Balance Analysis process with the aim of investigating the relationships between the factors and the effects of the factors on one another, which is a method known as structural analysis in the literature on futures studies. Structural analysis is used to identify key variables (explicit or implicit) by collecting feedback from experts and stakeholders about the complex and unpredictable aspects of a system. This method is applicable for the qualitative analysis of highly variable systems. We used the Micmac software product for conducting a structural analysis. The results of this study indicate that, despite the emphasis in numerous articles (See Table in the Appendix) on the existence of functional divergence as the main obstacle to the governance of Tehran metropolis for achieving an appropriate management system and sustainable development (Akhundi and Dejgar, 2007; Kazemian and Mirabedini, 2011; Azizi et al, 2012; Sayami and Vakili, 2015; and Basirat et al, 2012), this factor was not listed among the 12 main factors based on the Cross Impact Balance Analysis process. The results of the relationship analysis show that functional divergence in its various dimensions is influenced by two factors: “the effect of government and government institutions on the legitimacy of Tehran metropolis’ management structure” and “a legal weakness in providing a clear definition of the relationships between institutions,” which highlights the importance of legal and political dimensions and the resulting issues. The main issue is that the change of either of these two essential factors is not in the legal sphere of the municipality. Higher levels of decision-making on the national level and, to a lesser extent, on the regional level, will have the power to make changes in these factors. Therefore, in order to achieve reforms and change the current situation, changes must be made to factors that can be modified as fast as possible and that can help overcome as many barriers as possible (factors in the two-part region of the graph). Based on the results, the key barriers to the governance and sustainable development of Tehran metropolis in the future can be divided into two categories. The first category includes factors that are relevant to the municipality, the city council and a set of urban management institutions in the metropolitan area and which can be corrected and eliminated through the current structure of Tehran metropolis. These factors include: 1. Lack of a shared vision and consensus among metropolitan agents, 2. Lack of expertise or not using expert workforce in appropriate organizational post, 3- A compartmental attitude and lack of a systemic attitude to the management of Tehran metropolis and 4. Lack of coherence in management and decision-making within the municipality. The second category of factors require macro-level changes and cannot be modified by Tehran municipality itself. In addition, considering the current situation, no major changes are possible. These factors include: 1. a highly politicized city council and urban management system, 2.The domination of government and government institutions over stakeholders and the public and 3. The effect of government and government institutions on the legitimacy of Tehran metropolis’ management structure.
Volume 22, Issue 2 (9-2018)
Abstract
Innovation is recognized as a key factor in nations and firms competition and innovative firms are one of the perquisites for a dynamic and competitive economy. But firms face challenges and obstacles in path of innovation which different categories of these obstacles are presented. The purpose of this paper is studing innovation barrieers and determining the effects of them on different types of innovation in renewable energy firms. In this regard, innovation obstacles are identified and examined in terms of two categories of internal and external obstacles. Innovations are also divided into four categories of product, process, organizational and marketing. The research has been carried out among 154 renewable energy companies. In order to achieve these goals, at first, the research model was analyzed using factor analysis and path analysis technique and after assessing the fitting of structural models, the research hypotheses test was performed. The research results confirm six factors as internal barriers and six factors as external barriers. Among these factors, the lack of proper market identification and the lack of external resources to finance innovative activities have the greatest effect on the creation of each of the internal and external barriers respectively. Also, eight research hypotheses have all been accepted, indicating the impact of these two categories of barriers on all types of innovation in renewable companies.
Volume 22, Issue 2 (6-2022)
Abstract
Asadollah Kordnaeij, Ghasem Bagherzadeh, Hossein Mombeini, Alireza Bakhshizadeh,
Volume 22, Issue 4 (10-2015)
Volume 22, Issue 4 (10-2015)
Abstract
The costs of retaining an existing customer are one fifth of the costs of acquiring a new customer for a firm. This statement is considered as a predominant notion in marketing. According to this notion, existing customers switching of a firm leads to create lots of costs for that firm. Therefore, the present study has been conducted with the aim of finding the causes of the switching intentions and influential factors on the customers switching intentions in Iran Banking Industry.
This study is a descriptive-survey research carried out on Iran Banking Industry. 397 customers from five selected banks in Tehran were chosen for this research. In order to examine and analyze the [R1] data, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) have been used.
“Satisfaction”, “trust”, “loyalty” and “switching barriers” are considered as the main factors weakening “switching intention”. The findings confirmed that the variables of satisfaction, trust and loyalty have significant negative impacts on the switching intention, but the impact of the switching barriers on the switching intention in Iran banking was not significant. The present research has been conducted only on banking services industry and only in Tehran which reduces the generalizing effect of the study. Moreover, quantitative analysis methods were used in order to evaluate the subjective factors such as customer switching behavior.
[R1]Not Of
Volume 24, Issue 2 (1-2024)
Abstract
Deficiency of potable water has created many problems for human and human society, Therefore, The production of fresh water from saline water is an important issue. One of the method of production fresh water from saline water is the use of solar stills. This paper is the numerical simulation of the conventional solar stills with setting Rectangular, Triangular, Wavy barriers on the left and right walls inside the solar still. Setting barriers causes a change in the pattern of humid airflow in the solar still that it affect water productivity and convective heat transfer rate. Also, changes in the size and number of barriers cause changes it will be in the result. The continuity, momentum, energy and concentration equations are discretized by finite volume method and the results are presented as flow function and concentration and temperature contours. The simulation results show that setting wavy barriers with A=0.01(m) and N=2 at left wall and A=0.075(m) and N=5 at right wall water productivity and convective heat transfer rate can be increased by about 31% and 31.34%.
Volume 24, Issue 3 (8-2024)
Abstract
Nitrates and sulfates are commonly present as common pollutants in most natural waters. Sometimes, human activities such as excessive use of chemical fertilizers, lack of proper control over water sources, and improper treatment of industrial wastewater cause an increase in the concentration of these types of pollutants in surface and groundwater. This study focuses on the efficient removal of nitrates and sulfates from contaminated water using a combination of permeable reactive barriers (PRB) containing zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) and an electrokinetic (EK) process. In this research, which was carried out on a laboratory scale, by using the PRB system, the nitrate, and sulfate in the polluted groundwater were removed, and simultaneously, with the help of the EK process, the early saturation of the bed was prevented and system performance time is increased. To check the system efficiency, various parameters on the system performance were investigated, and the optimal conditions were determined to grow the system performance time. Additionally, the experiments were repeated using PRB containing granular activated carbon for comparison. The results reveal that the substrate containing nZVI exhibited superior performance in removing nitrates and sulfates from groundwater compared to the modified activated carbon. According to the results, the best system performance was obtained at pH 7, initial nitrate concentration of 200 mg/L, initial sulfate concentration of 450 mg/L, 2.14 gr of nZVI per Kg of sand, and a potential difference of 20 volts. Under these conditions, the use of the PRB containing nZVI not only extended the system operation time by 35 hours for sulfate removal and 30 hours for nitrate removal but also increased the system's removal efficiency by 13% for sulfate and 10% for nitrate after 80 consecutive hours of use, compared to the PRB containing modified activated carbon. Overall, this research contributes to the development of more effective strategies for the simultaneous removal of nitrate and sulfate from contaminated groundwater, using a combination of PRB with nZVI and the EK process.
Firouzeh Azizi, Fahimeh Moradi,
Volume 29, Issue 3 (7-2022)
Volume 29, Issue 3 (7-2022)
Abstract
It is important to investigate the status of women's presence in different economic sectors and formal and informal economies. Also, considering the special situation of Iran in terms of increasing number of women with higher education and economic sanctions, identifying the effective factors for recognizing barriers to women's presence in economic, social, and cultural dimensions and providing solutions for removing those barriers is the need of the present time to obtain practical results for the field of employment policy. Accordingly, this study, after identifying the effect of these barriers on women's economic participation, intends to provide solutions to eliminate and reduce the effect of barriers and suggest appropriate solutions for creating opportunities and increasing women's economic participation. Based on the results, using a correlation test and multivariate regression, it was shown that three of them, economic, social, and occupational barriers had a negative and significant effect on women's economic participation in Iran's labor market, while the effect of institutional barriers was not statistically confirmed.
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