Articles
Energy Strategy Reviews (2211467X)51
The energy market integration in the Middle East is assessed by comparing the acting institutions in the Levant and Persian Gulf sub-regions. Pami Aalto's regional institution's theoretical framework and the case-oriented comparative research method are adopted for this purpose. Changes in the Levant region coincided with the Arab League's establishment. This league did not develop due to inappropriate bi-lateral energy relationships and a lack of effort among the inter-state trade institutions. Regional institutions, lacking order creation, next to the Arab League members' sovereignty disturb gas transmission, transit, and environmental protection regulations. The Arab League has recognized Israel as an energy-producing member and has reduced the political conflicts' intensity to improve Arabic leadership in the Levant integration. The Persian Gulf states' unilateral trade negotiations, sanctions imposed by the US and EU on Iran's energy sector, and political disputes between Iran and some Arab states prevent coherent regional integration, liberalization, and the launch of joint energy projects. In bi-lateral energy diplomacy competition between the regional great energy powers, Iran and Saudi Arabia outside the region is evident. Though the environmental stewardship institution supports green energy, the profit-interest has priority in these regions. The outcome of this article reveals the existence of constraints imposed on energy market integration in these sub-regions. © 2023 The Author(s)
TQM Journal (17542731)29(1)pp. 37-54
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to revise the Kano evaluation table and separating indifference attributes in order to develop satisfaction and dissatisfaction indexes. Design/methodology/approach: The indifference requirements have been separated and reclassified, and after revising Kano satisfaction and dissatisfaction indexes based on the new evaluation table, the developed Kano model has been examined in the city of Isfahan regarding attributes of candidates in the presidential election of 2013. Findings: According to the new classification, the indifference attributes can be separated into seven types. The results of the case study also show that among 20 priorities of the presidential candidates, payment of subsidy, offering loan and financial facilities are must-be attributes; protecting investment and national production, export incentives and increasing national unity are attractive attributes; and the remaining are one-dimensional attributes. Practical implications: The case study implies that the findings are dependent on the cultural and social context of the respondents. On the other hand, the findings of Kano model analysis are limited to shorttime periods. Originality/value: This research is typically unique in separating indifference attributes and in revising the satisfaction and dissatisfaction indexes of the Kano model. Practically, the application of the Kano model in the presidential election is also a new subject. © Emerald Publishing Limited 1754-2731.
Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences (discontinued) (20392117)5(23)pp. 2296-2304
The purpose of present study is to represent how the transactional methodology in social sciences is developed by using qualitative approach of grounded theory, setting up focus group workshops and conducting semi-structured interviews with some Iranian professors in the methodology of social sciences. This study used the qualitative approach of the grounded theory. In 2014, focus group workshops were set up, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with the professors of methodology in several groups. It is necessary to use qualitative methods in this research due to the recognition of grounded factors. Findings of this study on the basis of data analysis suggests that causal and structural conditions, confusion in choosing the type of methodologies, and imperfection of each methodology in social sciences lead to the different combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, and conducting transaction among the existing methodologies that is affected by the intervening conditions like mutual impacts of methodology and subject on each other as well as considering everything in its own context resulting in the transactional methodology. To conclude, developing transactional methodology paves the way for producing theories, conducting research to solve problems, fulfilling the local and global needs, and developing human knowledge. Finally, the transactional methodology is proposed as an alternative methodology to study a social phenomenon. © 2014 Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved.
