A Systemic Framework for Business Model Design and Development -Part A: Theorizing Perspective

Developing innovative business models is one of the complicated issues. Owing to the multiplicity of stakeholders with diverse worldviews about value creation and dynamic markets, the development of innovative business models has turned out to be a complex issue. Therefore, this research seeks to: (1) examine the complicated nature of the development of business model problem and, (2) provide a holistic and systemic framework for the development of business models. The proposed framework employs the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM). This framework is composed of 18 phases, which ranges from the phase of finding out the problem of developing a business model to the phase of its implementation. This methodology is characterized by taking into account the considerations of rational positioning views, evolutionary views, and cognitive views in designing and developing business models.     

The Application of Fuzzy Cognitive Map in Soft System Methodology

Facing the issues of structural complexity, on which stakeholders have different views, has increasingly led to the use of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) in solving managerial problems. Moreover, the weaknesses of this methodology in considering all point of views and ensuring the effectiveness of the proposed changes have provided the motivation for applying Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) in SSM. Using FCM as a modeling tool makes it possible to combine the views of different experts and form group FCM (GFCM). GFCM has the potential to be applied as a useful decision support tool in the stage of offering recommendations and changes. The methodology proposed in this article is applied to ticketing system of Raja passenger train company. This system, influenced by various policies and views, is analyzed with the recommended methodology and then the solutions for developing the system are suggested in a prioritized manner.     

A Systemic Framework for Business Model Design and Development -Part B: Practical Perspective

Systemic Practice and Action Research - Profit-making requires innovation in the design of a successful business model that brings about sustainable competitive advantage for the organization....     

Formation kinetics of austenite in pearlitic ductile iron

This work evaluated the isothermal transformation of austenite in unalloyed pearlitic ductile iron and drew the isothermal phase diagram of austenitization in the ductile iron. Austenite forms at grain boundaries and then grows up to graphite regions during austenitization. The formation kinetics of austenite complies with the Avrami equation, in which the parameter (n) ranges from 4.71 to 4.99. The start time and finish time of transformation can be calculated at each temperature using the Avrami equation.     

Elicitation of Tacit Knowledge Using Soft Systems Methodology

Systemic Practice and Action Research - Elicitation of tacit knowledge is of paramount importance in organizations for novice people’s use of experts’ knowledge. One of the shortcomings...     

Application of SSM in tackling problematical situations from academicians’ viewpoints

In recent years, a wide variety of studies have applied soft systems methodology (SSM) to address the complexities of the messy situations. This paper seeks to identify 1) application areas and 2) application levels of the use of SSM in dealing with problematical situations. To do so, 149 articles published between 2000 and 2015 were studied. The findings revealed the application of SSM in new application areas such as sustainable development, knowledge management and project management. The results of this study also indicated that researchers applied SSM at three levels: SSM as a process of inquiry, SSM as an action-oriented methodology, and the hybrid use of SSM. Based on the findings, SSM at the level of a single methodology for bringing out changes has been less welcomed by researchers, but the application levels of inquiry processes and hybrid approaches have been more utilized. This suggests that in the correspondence of SSM with the nature or situation of problems, a sort of incommensurability is witnessed. Factors arising from the nature of the problem, inadequate mastery of the researcher over SSM or the limitations of SSM can exert an influence on this incommensurability.     

Process mineralogy as a key factor affecting the flotation kinetics of copper sulfide minerals

The aim of this study is to apply process mineralogy as a practical tool for further understanding and predicting the flotation kinetics of the copper sulfide minerals. The minerals' composition and association, grain distribution, and liberation within the ore samples were analyzed in the feed, concentrate, and the tailings of the flotation processes with two pulp densities of 25 wt% and 30 wt%. The major copper-bearing minerals identified by microscopic analysis of the concentrate samples included chalcopyrite(56.2 wt%), chalcocite(29.1 wt%),covellite(6.4 wt%), and bornite(4.7 wt%). Pyrite was the main sulfide gangue mineral(3.6 wt%) in the concentrates. A 95% degree of liberation with d_(80) 80 μm was obtained for chalcopyrite as the main copper mineral in the ore sample. The recovery rate and the grade in the concentrates were enhanced with increasing chalcopyrite particle size. Chalcopyrite particles with a d_(80) of approximately 100 μm were recovered at the early stages of the flotation process. The kinetic studies showed that the kinetic second-order rectangular distribution model perfectly fit the flotation test data. Characterization of the kinetic parameters indicated that the optimum granulation distribution range for achieving a maximum flotation rate for chalcopyrite particles was between the sizes 50 and 55 μm.     

应变诱导熔体活化处理对Zn牺牲阳极组织和性能的影响

The microstructural properties and electrochemical performance of zinc (Zn) sacrificial anodes during strain-induced melt activation (SIMA) were investigated in this study. The samples were subjected to a compressive ratio of 20%–50% at various temperatures (425–435°C) and durations (5–30 min). Short-term electrochemical tests (anode tests) based on DNV-RP-B401 and potentiodynamic polarization tests were performed in 3.5wt% NaCl solution to evaluate the electrochemical efficiency and corrosion behavior of the samples, respectively. The electrochemical test results for the optimum sample confirmed that the corrosion current density declined by 90% and the anode efficiency slightly decreased relative to that of the raw sample. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, metallographic images, and microhardness profiles showed the accumulation of alloying elements on the boundary and the conversion of uniform corrosion into localized corrosion, hence the decrease of the Zn sacrificial anode’s efficiency after the SIMA process.