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The present paper aimed to study the relationship between usage rate of information and communication technology by faculty members of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and motivation rate, updating of lesson content and attractiveness of classroom in academic year of 2008-2009 and to study the ability to use information and communication technology in the classroom effectively, its effects on motivation of teachers and learners and updating of lesson content and to investigate possible difficulties and challenges in its usage and to suggest a course of action. Statistical universe studied was selected 274 members of faculty of Ferdowsi University using random-stratified sampling with proper assignment. Considering purpose of the paper, it was applied research and descriptive survey and concerning methodology it was correlation research. A researcher-built questionnaire was filled as face to face and precisely an interview in which professors expressed their problems in usage of information and communication technologies were used as a data collection tool. The results showed that the relationship between usage rate of information and communication technology by faculty members of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and updating lesson content, attractiveness of class and their motivation level (low, medium, high) according to one-sided variance analysis, the assumption of average equality of usage rate of information and communication technology by faculty members was rejected in all three cases. In other words, there was a significant difference (positive) between them, in ascending order were as low, medium and high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to examine knowledge sharing infrastructure of "Iran Tax Administration Reform Program". The qualitative approach by using case study method was applied in this research. In order to meet the research goal, four infrastructural dimensions of knowledge sharing were studied: leadership & strategy, culture, structure, and information technology. To the authors' knowledge, this was maybe the first paper which examined knowledge sharing infrastructure in programs environment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is used in numerous applications and offers a plethora of interesting potential new applications. However, this potential raises issues that require addressing to achieve its widespread acceptance by consumers. This paper investigated the factors that affect consumer acceptance of RFID technology using the technology acceptance model (TAM). To this end, a questionnaire was prepared and distributed among Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) students and gathered data were analyzed using multivariable linear regression method. The results proposed that convenience, culture, and regulation were the principal factors influencing the consumers' acceptance of RFID. The results of the paper can provide insight to organizations in providing RFID enabled products to their customers and also facilitated its development in the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usage of electronic journals in Ferdowsi University, Iran based on e-metrics. The paper also aimed to emphasize the analysis of cost-benefit and the correlation between the journal impact factors and the usage data. In this study experiences of Ferdowsi University library on licensing and usage of electronic resources was evaluated by providing a cost-benefit analysis based on the cost and usage statistics of electronic resources. Vendor-provided data were also compared with local usage data. The usage data were collected by tracking web-based access locally, and by collecting vender-provided usage data. The data sources were one-year of vendor-supplied e-resource usage data such as Ebsco, Elsevier, Proquest, Emerald, Oxford and Springer and local usage data collected from the Ferdowsi university web server. The study found that actual usage values differ for vendor-provided data and local usage data. Elsevier has got the highest usage degree in searches, sessions and downloads. Statistics also showed that a small number of journals satisfy significant amount of use while the majority of journals were used less frequent and some were never used at all. The users preferred the PDF rather than HTML format. The data in subject profile suggested that the provided e-resources were best suited to certain subjects. There was no correlation between IF and electronic journal use. Monitoring the usage of e-resources gained increasing importance for acquisition policy and budget decisions. The article provided information about local metrics for the six surveyed vendors/publishers, e.g. usage trends, requests per package, cost per use as related to the scientific specialty of the university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated scientific outputs status of faculty members of Humanities, Art and Social Sciences faculties of state universities of Iran that indexed in A&HCI and SSCI during 2000 to 2008. Descriptive and analytical method was used to conduct this research. Findings showed that Tehran University with 38/73% and then Shiraz University with 15.65% had the greatest value of scientific outputs, while in other universities the status of scientific outputs was not satisfying. Article with 76.42% was the most published format and then meeting abstract, book review, proceeding paper are next in rank 65.65% of scientific outputs were collective and 34.34% individual. Scientific outputs development process in universities during the investigated period was ascending. Scientific outputs of Humanities, Art and Social Sciences faculties of state universities were published inl67 titles and through these 135 titles (80.83%) were indexed in Journal Citation Reports and among these the impact factor of 74 journals (54.81%) range from 0 to 1 and the other 61 (45.18%) journals' impact factors value more than one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presented a model on developing information literacy for Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. This model was based on three sides: formulating rules and regulations, content production, and communication among the activists. In each of these sides, while referring to noting-worthy points, the top possible actions were mentioned. It was expected that by achieving information literacy skills that entails equipping the learners with critical thinking skills, much of the national objectives aimed in cultural, social, economic and scientific fields areas will be attained; all since that the first step in accessing knowledge (the main characteristic of which is being localized) consists of the ability to recognize the problem, to determine the information need clearly, and to exploit the existing information in producing new information and knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, government services or e-government is one of the most important issues in society. Since in the e-government environment, the knowledge management strategy plays a central role, this paper has aimed to study knowledge access, creation, and transfer in portals of Iran ministries. The statistical populations of this study consisted of all Iran ministries portals. An evaluation model known as knowledge access, creation and transfer (K-ACT) was presented and with using this model, a checklist was developed and applied for evaluating the portals. The findings indicated that, on average, ministries' portals featured only about 26.4 percent of the knowledge access, 30 percent of knowledge creation, and 22 percent in knowledge transfer. The ranking of portals also showed that ministries of information and communication technology, and industry and mine in knowledge access; economic affairs and finance, health and medical education, defense, and industry and mine in knowledge creation; and the ministry of economic affairs and finance in knowledge transfer with 41 percent of criteria have won first place between the portals. Generally, the portals of economic affairs and finance, and industry and mine ministries with 42 percent and ministry of information and communication technology with 34 percent of criteria, had the highest standards in the field of knowledge management. The results indicated that there were many weaknesses in the use of new technologies - in particular, portals - in Iran that must to be examined and fixed by planning and scientific work and the use of various experts' opinions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated users' attitude toward evaluating Persian academic e-books. Survey research method was used and the data was collected by a supervised, paper-based questionnaire. The statistical population consisted of master students at Alzahra University which is familiar with e-book. Findings showed that delivery factor had the highest contribution in academic e-books evaluation. Meaningful chapter outline, possibility to read in offline mode, 24/7 accessible and remotely was found to be the strongest criterion influencing e-book selection. Altogether, twenty indicators have achieved the highest priorities selecting academic e-book. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]