Management Research in Iran

Abstract The modern business environment is constantly changing, and manage this change to adapt to a future of uncertainties is a challenge that necessitates supply chain flexibility. We introduce a method for measuring flexibility based on gray system. For this purpose, the flexibility of Alpha Automobile Company that operates in Iran's automobile industry has been measured. The results suggested that sourcing limitations and Distribution problems are the most serious vulnerabilities that threaten Alpha Automobile Company. Therefore, the company must plan to improve its flexibility by selecting the appropriate set of capabilities. Moreover, effectiveness , supply flexibility and flexibility in order fulfillment were identified as three important capabilities of Alpha Automobile Company. Keywords: Flexibility; Gray system; Vulnerabilities; Capabilities The modern business environment is constantly changing, and manage this change to adapt to a future of uncertainties is a challenge that necessitates supply chain flexibility. We introduce a method for measuring flexibility based on gray system. For this purpose, the flexibility of Alpha Automobile Company that operates in Iran's automobile industry has been measured. The results suggested that sourcing limitations and Distribution problems are the most serious vulnerabilities that threaten Alpha Automobile Company. Therefore, the company must plan to improve its flexibility by selecting the appropriate set of capabilities. Moreover, effectiveness , supply flexibility and flexibility in order fulfillment were identified as three important capabilities of Alpha Automobile Company. Keywords: Flexibility; Gray system; Vulnerabilities; Capabilities

Abstract  Scheduling plays an important role in the development and success of the project; this has always been one of the main issues considered in operations and management science researches. Another reason for the focus of much research into it is the difficult nature of this problem. Therefore, special techniques and methods have been proposed to solve this problem. On the other hand, in order to intensify sanctions on foreign delaying projects, timely completion of projects has been accelerated. Therefore, attention to project robustness subject to project managements. In this article, a real issue is scheduled for a robust scheduling model of a refinery project. Since project scheduling has resource constraints such NP-Hard problems, simulated annealing algorithm was proposed to solve this problem. In order to validate the model, 4 problems with small size were chosen and the solutions obtained by the proposed algorithms were compared with the exact solution obtained by Lingo8 software. The results showed that the proposed algorithm is efficient and convergent to the optimal solution.

Abstract Firms in many industries rely on knowledge generated outside of the firm as an input to their own research and development. The ability to exploit knowledge that exists outside the boundary of the firm is calld Absorptive Capacity. Cohen and Levinthal defined AC as ‘‘the ability of a firm to recognize the value of new and external knowledge, assimilate it, and apply it to commercial ends’’. They argued that AC is an organizational learning concept and the cumulative effect of continuous learning. However, this definition deals primarily with external knowledge. Implicit in the definition is the notion that firms are aware of internal information and have access to it. In some cases, organizations may not be aware or have access to their existing knowledge, especially tacit knowledge that can only be communicated by direct social interaction.Thus, a network of formal and informal communication linkages are necessary for the internal diffusion of new knowledge and technology. We employed a social theory of absorptive capacity and investigated its affect on innovaton and fliexibility in firm. On the other hand, we investigated the effect of intersubjectivity on absorptive capacity . To illustrate the links, the present study tested the hypothesis by structural equation, applied to a large sample (n=619). The results indicated a strong, positive and direct relation among intersubjectivity, absorptive capacity innovation and flexibility.