درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose- This study examined the effects of non-revenue water (NRW) on organisation running costs and customer satisfaction. The intention was to describe the NRW's effects on the MUWASA's performance as a case study. Specifically, it identified factors prompting non-revenue water; described the NRW effects on organisation running costs; and examined the level of customer satisfaction towards service provision.Design/methodology/approach- A purposive sampling technique was used to pick respondents for the household survey and key informant interview. The study included 100 respondents (70 connected customers and 30 employees of the authority). MUWASA serves 5 zones of the municipality; therefore, the study obtained 70 connected customers from the five zones of the authority. The household survey and the key informant interviews (KII) were the main data collection methods, the survey technique was used to collect data from 100 respondents and seven were involved in key informant interviews.  Descriptive and inferential statistics and content analysis were used in data analysis.Findings- The findings have indicated that NRW affects the water utility revenue collection, and organisation running costs, which jeopardizes customer satisfaction with the organizational service delivery. Originality/value- Based on the National Water Policy of 2002 which aims at achieving sustainable, effective, and efficient development and management of Water Supply and Sanitation one of its objectives is to create an enabling environment and appropriate incentives for the delivery of reliable, sustainable, and affordable water supply and sanitation services. Therefore, the findings of this study are a catalyst for the improvement of the set policy objectives and enhance interventions where necessary.

Purpose- The model of sustainable human development goes beyond sustainable development and has been adopted as the global development charter for the twenty-first century. Development should consider the needs of the current generation in addition to being sustainable. The impact of empowering members of society, particularly educated youth, can be significant. Skills-oriented and applied scientific training deals with aspects of human resource capabilities that are developed based on knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The implementation of applied scientific education in a way that is useful in the direction of economic development is critical. Assessing the need of society for a type of education that can be useful is important, but so is the method of providing that education.  Design/methodology/approach- One of the research's key questions is whether graduates of applied scientific education were successful in achieving their goals of economic development and job acquisition. The students at the Applied Science University are the focus of this research. The challenges of a lack of suitable businesses, as well as the existence of skill training centers that operate in the three sectors of agriculture, services, and industry, are the reasons for choosing this province. They can help the people. A questionnaire-based survey is the research method used in this study. Students from scientific research centers and theoretical foundations were asked to answer questions on a questionnaire designed to achieve the research objectives. Finding- According to the surveys conducted, only 3.24% believe that the current skill education system is adjusted and designed with the characteristics of the rural community, as well as improving skills and improving social life conditions, respectively 4.04 and 3.99% of the most important motivations for studying in applied scientific universities based on the results of the analysis were based on the information collected from supplementary questionnaires. In addition to that, the examination of the efficiency and performance of the skill training system in different dimensions (curriculum and content, facilities and equipment) shows that "attachment and sense of belonging", "strengthening of urban behavior" and "desire of young people to transform from village to city" are three It is a case where the respondents believe that applied science education contributed to their improvement.

Purpose- The widespread use of virtual platforms has become a common practice in present management, and rural areas are identified as a sector that can greatly benefit from this technology. Statistic data in the field of communication and information technology exhibit a significant increase in internet access in rural areas, a trend that is on the rise globally. The successful implementation of smart village initiatives in Asia shows a promising way to improve life in rural areas, overcome existing challenges, prevent the collapse of social structures, and counteract the problem of rural exodus. It can be argued that by advancing information technology and smart village initiatives, life quality in rural areas can be positively impacted.Design/methodology/approach- The research population comprised the entire statistical community of four districts in Kalar County. Three villages were randomly selected from each district, resulting in a total of 150 samples from 262 households, using the Cochran formula with a 5% error rate. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed through content validity and Cronbach's alpha.Finding- The results of this study indicated that the existing infrastructure for smart village development in the rural areas of Kalar County is in an unsatisfactory condition. Additionally, the level of knowledge and information of residents regarding the smartification process in the study area is insufficient. Moreover, the effectiveness of this emerging process in improving the life quality for the local population was not as impactful as expected. The driving and inhibiting factors affecting the development of smart villages in Kalar County do not align with optimistic expectations hindering the desired outcomes.

Purpose-Various factors influence changes in rural lifestyles, with one of the most important being rural-urban linkages. The aim of this paper is to examine the role of rural-urban linkages in changing the lifestyle of rural households across three dimensions: social, economic, and cultural. Design/methodology/approach- The research method is descriptive-analytical, and data collection was conducted through library research for theoretical studies and via questionnaires for the field study. The statistical population includes the villages of the Lasht Nesha district in Rasht County. A sample of 360 respondents was selected using Cochran's formula and a simple random sampling method. Data were analyzed using linear regression and multivariate regression tests. Finding- The research findings regarding the linear relationship between rural-urban linkages and changes in rural household lifestyles revealed a significant relationship between these two variables. Additionally, the results showed that the most significant impacts of rural-urban linkages were in the cultural, social, and economic dimensions, respectively. Specifically, in the cultural dimension, consumerism and cultural and linguistic changes were most prominent; in the social dimension, changes in clothing and behavior; and in the economic dimension, materialism, wealth accumulation, and income generation experienced the greatest changes.