Positioning

The unprecedented growth of English and arrival of English as an International Language (EIL) has generated a new fledged argument about English language teachers’ role and status around the world. To date, much of the debate on the native/non-native distinction in EIL settings and factors contributing to sharpen distinctions has remained unsettled. This gap motivated this study on the English teachers’ grasp of their role and their stance in the EIL setting of Iran. For this purpose, this study adopted both quantitative and qualitative approaches to explore the nature of the English teachers’ attitudes through an EIL scale and teachers’ narrative accounts through Telegram groups. The three-level positioning analysis (Bamberg, 1997) of English teachers’ narrative accounts contradicted their perceptive evaluations of their status, as non-native English teachers. The results proved that, despite highlights of blurred distinctions, English teachers in Iran still believe that English belongs to the native speakers and position native speaker teachers as better models for pedagogical practices. The results have implications for teachers’ beliefs and the role of teacher education programs

Considering students expectations and rivalry among higher education institutions, novel practical ways through adaptation of market-oriented mechanisms as well as business mechanisms in higher education are required. The present paper, therefore, aims to examine mechanisms for positioning in Iranian higher education. In doing so, phenomenological approach was applied. A purposive sample of 10 informants consisting of higher education experts and deans was selected. To analyze data, open, axial, and selective coding system was applied and the findings were organized under mechanisms for positioning in higher education. With regard to target market in higher education, attracting factors and success factors were yielded. With regard to positioning in higher education, 4 categories were identified including emphasis on relative advantage, emphasis on Basic resource, emphasis on marketing techniques, and emphasis on customers’ perception. Barriers and constraints were categorized under 6 main categories: political, administrative, institutional, cultural and social, economic, and academic. Based on literature and findings, conceptual framework on mechanisms for positioning in higher education was developed. Considering students expectations and rivalry among higher education institutions, novel practical ways through adaptation of market-oriented mechanisms as well as business mechanisms in higher education are required. The present paper, therefore, aims to examine mechanisms for positioning in Iranian higher education. In doing so, phenomenological approach was applied. A purposive sample of 10 informants consisting of higher education experts and deans was selected. To analyze data, open, axial, and selective coding system was applied and the findings were organized under mechanisms for positioning in higher education. With regard to target market in higher education, attracting factors and success factors were yielded. With regard to positioning in higher education, 4 categories were identified including emphasis on relative advantage, emphasis on Basic resource, emphasis on marketing techniques, and emphasis on customers’ perception. Barriers and constraints were categorized under 6 main categories: political, administrative, institutional, cultural and social, economic, and academic. Based on literature and findings, conceptual framework on mechanisms for positioning in higher education was developed.

State banks must find a way to adopt a different strategy from other banks in providing customer service. An important and key way to create a competitive position is to differentiate services from other competitors that create a good image of the bank and its services in the minds of customers. A topic that has been addressed in the present study is the necessity for state banks, like other companies and businesses, to follow a suitable model in order to achieve a suitable position in the banking industry. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to design a model for positioning the services of state-owned banks and its validation. The data for qualitative stage were obtained from Keshavarzi, Melli, and Maskan branches' managers of Khorasan Razavi province and university professors in the field of management. The quantitative sample were also the customers of aforementioned banks, that due to their large number, 384 people from each bank were selected as a sample size by simple random method and Cochran's formula. In order to collect data in the qualitative part, Deleted part, the interview was used and in the quantitative part, a researcher-made questionnaire was used, which obtained validity with expert opinions and reliability with Cronbach's alpha of 0.77. In order to analyze the data in the qualitative part, grounded theory and the method of Strauss and Corbin and Maxquda software were used, and in the quantitative part, the structural equation technique and PLS2 software were used. The results showed that the model presented in 6 dimensions of causal factors,contextual, intervening, pivotal, strategies an consequences has a good fit.

Concerning the population growth and urban development, significant growth in the rate of personal car usage has caused more transportation and thus growth in occupying the street areas for parking vehicles. This has caused much transporting problems and traffic. Hence concerning the parking issue is crucial in traffic and municipal management.The important issue is the suitable place for the parking areas. If there would not be any demand for assessment and evaluation of the traffic and municipal criteria, the constructed parking area would not be much usable and cause some difficulties in transferring lines,thus the expenses paid for building the parking will be wasted.Hence, in this article, the influential indexes for parking place in three different areas of Qazvin are introduced and discussed. Regarding the qualitative municipal criteria, we have used the multi-criteria linear assignment method for comparing and considering the indexes and region, and finally rating these regions for parking.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to design an internal positioning model of state-owned banking services and accreditation. Method: The present study was applied and exploratory. The statistical population of the qualitative stage were the managers of the branches of agricultural, national and housing banks of Khorasan Razavi province and university professors in the field of management who were selected as the sample size by theoretical saturation method. According to Morgan's table, 284 people were selected by simple random sampling as the sample size. For data collection in the qualitative part of the interview and in the quantitative part of the researcher-made questionnaire was used. In order to analyze the data in the qualitative part, the theory of grounded theory and the method of Strauss and Corbin and Maxquda software and in the quantitative part, the technique of structural equations and PLS2 software have been used. Results: The results showed that the model presented in 6 dimensions of causal factors, contextual, intervening, pivotal, strategies and consequences has a good fit. Conclusion: Based on the research findings, they should pay attention to social and personal interactions in order to strengthen their relationships with customers.