Business, Marketing, and Finance Open

The objective of the present study is to investigate the impact of market-strategic orientations on firm profitability through the mediating role of social efficiency and commercial efficiency in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the city of Mashhad. This study is descriptive-analytical in nature and type. The statistical population of this research includes all managers of small and medium industrial enterprises in Mashhad, totaling 240 individuals. The sample size was determined to be 148 people using Cochran's formula, and the sampling method applied was simple random sampling. The data collection tool was a questionnaire. To analyze the data, the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was employed. The findings of this study indicate that market-strategic orientations, including customer orientation, competitor orientation, and technology orientation, have a positive effect on firm profitability through the mediating role of social efficiency. Additionally, the results showed that market-strategic orientations, including customer orientation, competitor orientation, and technology orientation, have a significant effect on firm profitability through the mediating role of commercial efficiency. Moreover, the findings revealed that a coherent vision has a positive impact on social-commercial efficiency. On the other hand, the impact of commercial and social efficiency on profitability was found to be significant. One of the most important dimensions and characteristics of any scientific research is its innovation and novelty, and the most significant innovation of this research lies in its conceptual model and the relationships among its variables, which have not yet been studied in any domestic research. Based on the research findings, it is recommended that managers of small and medium industrial enterprises in Mashhad adopt a comprehensive and long-term strategy to enhance profitability based on market-oriented and strategic goals, thereby ensuring the long-term survival of the firm. This study was conducted exclusively in small and medium enterprises; therefore, caution must be exercised when generalizing the findings to other firms and manufacturing institutions.

Digital banking generally offers lower costs compared to traditional banking systems and provides better value to society with greater speed. The present study aims to propose a value-creation model in digital banking. The research method is qualitative in nature. The statistical population in the qualitative section included 15 university professors, managers, and experts in digital banking, who were selected using a purposive sampling method. The data collection tool for the qualitative section was a semi-structured interview, and the reliability of the qualitative section was confirmed using Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results of the thematic analysis revealed 292 codes and 64 themes, categorized into 18 basic themes and 4 organizing themes. The identified dimensions include customer digital experience management, which encompasses user-friendly design, ease of use, creating a unique experience, monitoring the digital customer experience, and utilizing technology in experience management. Digital co-creation includes direct digital feedback, indirect digital feedback, customer digital participation, and digital interaction with customers. Digital service management involves digital service customization, management of digital concerns, service delivery management, service quality improvement, diversity of digital services, customer support and training, and a value-creation digital mindset. Digital value management includes monetary value, non-monetary value, informational value, relational value, and hedonic value. Delivering digital banking services with a focus on improving accessibility, speed, and added value contributes to enhancing customer experience and strengthening digital relationships. Additionally, considering cost-value trade-offs, along with providing rewards and incentives, can further motivate customers to use digital banking services. Ultimately, creating an efficient and enjoyable customer experience plays a key role in the success of digital banking services.

This study aims to develop a fitted model for marketing decision-making based on the risks faced by entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) while considering the controlling effect of various marketing strategies on risk reduction. It is a descriptive-applied research that employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methods. A conceptual model, comprising various variable factors and their interrelations, was designed, and the prioritization of risks was conducted through structural analysis. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale through expert interviews. Subsequently, structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed using PLS3 and SPSS software to analyze the relationships among the variables from a marketing perspective to inform risk-related decision-making. In the present study, 11 marketing strategies influencing decision-making were identified. Their impact on the risk indicators faced by entrepreneurs was assessed based on the theory of realization. According to the statistical analysis results, after eliminating certain reflective indicators, all the aforementioned strategies were deemed essential in the model's design. Their effects on credit, operational, market, and liquidity risks were analyzed. Out of the 48 tested hypotheses, 27 were confirmed, while 21 were rejected and subsequently removed from the conceptual research model.

The central bank, as the banking regulatory authority, plays a major role in formulating banking regulations, determining the principles of banking operations, setting exchange rates, and other related matters. The Audit Organization, in accordance with its statute, is responsible for developing accounting and auditing standards. The Tax Affairs Organization is also the legal entity responsible for tax assessment and collection from banks. In recent years, conflicts between accounting standards, tax regulations, and the requirements set by the central bank have created numerous challenges for banks. The present study aims to examine the impact of banks' balance sheet and profit and loss items on their financial performance in the foreign exchange revaluation process. The research population includes all banks listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange that have been continuously active from 2014 to 2023. The study sample consists of the following banks: Shahr, Karafarin, Tourism, Eghtesad Novin, Saman, Sarmayeh, Ayandeh, Saderat, Mellat, Parsian, Pasargad, Post Bank, Tejarat, Middle East, Dey, and Sina. The collected data were processed in EXCEL and analyzed using EVIWES12 software. The results indicate that effective management of foreign exchange risks and close monitoring of banks' foreign exchange positions can contribute to improving financial performance and mitigating the adverse effects of exchange rate fluctuations. The findings further reveal that changes in the net open foreign exchange position, particularly foreign exchange revaluation gains or losses, can have a direct impact on return on assets. An increase in foreign exchange revaluation gains enhances return on assets, whereas foreign exchange revaluation losses lead to a decline in this return.

The present study proposes a model for predicting failures and planning the maintenance of bank ATMs using deep learning. To achieve reliable results, the meta-synthesis method was selected as the primary approach for data analysis and modeling. This study is designed as an applied, descriptive, and qualitative research and was conducted using the meta-synthesis method. Initially, relevant articles on the research topic were selected, and after applying various screening processes, they were chosen for analysis. The research population includes all articles published in English and Persian journals from 2018 to 2024 that were accessible through reputable scientific databases. In this study, advanced machine learning and deep learning techniques were employed for failure prediction, infrastructure monitoring, and fraud detection, and the obtained results were compared and analyzed with previous research. This study aims to improve prediction processes and enhance the efficiency of various systems by examining the application of these techniques in different fields. The results indicate that utilizing these methods can significantly increase prediction accuracy and prevent unexpected failures, natural disasters, and financial fraud. Based on the research findings, it is recommended that organizations and industries adopt these technologies to optimize processes, increase efficiency, and improve decision-making. This study is particularly applicable in the fields of infrastructure management, financial security, and natural disaster prediction and can contribute to cost reduction and increased customer satisfaction.

Brand revitalization plays a significant role in the success of a business and maintaining a brand's competitive position. The aim of this study is to design a brand revitalization model for Refah Bank. This study is applied-developmental in terms of its objective, and in terms of data collection, given the nature of the research, a qualitative meta-synthesis method following the six-stage approach of Walsh and Downe (2005) has been employed. The research population comprises all scientific documents published between 2010 and 2023, totaling 187 documents, which were retrieved from eight international and three domestic databases. After examining the titles, abstracts, and contents, 30 scientific documents were selected and analyzed. For the analysis and synthesis of data and the final meta-synthesis results, thematic analysis was applied. Based on a review of previous studies, the extracted codes were structured into a four-stage procedural framework that includes changes in competitive positioning (customer identification and understanding, close interaction and communication with customers, creative marketing and advertising, and enhancing competitive capabilities); changes in the external organizational environment (social and environmental responsibility, collaboration and interaction with the environment, and systemic analysis and understanding of the environment); changes in strategy (establishing a rich organizational culture, empowering and developing human resources, strengthening the physical and visual environment, and diversifying and expanding services); and changes in ownership structure (systematic supervision and feedback, utilizing up-to-date technology, forward-looking management and leadership, and customer orientation and need-based approaches).

Tourism is one of the key economic sectors that has been recognized as a clean industry, contributing significantly to national economic growth by increasing foreign exchange earnings, boosting employment, and generating income. This study is a mixed-methods research (quantitative and qualitative) and is categorized as a survey-based and grounded theory study in terms of methodology. The qualitative phase involved a sample of 15 experts, including university professors in sports management and tourism specialists, who were interviewed. The study followed three fundamental stages of coding. In the quantitative phase, the target population consisted of sports tourists in Ardabil Province, who responded to a 24-item questionnaire using a Likert scale. Given the indefinite size of the statistical population, it was considered unlimited, and based on Cochran’s formula for an unlimited population, the sample size was determined to be 384 participants. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed, and ultimately, 380 valid questionnaires were collected using a simple random sampling method. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and Lisrel software, employing structural equation modeling tests. The results of the research questions indicate that all five examined factors demonstrated that the consequences of introducing sports tourism marketing include (tourism marketing through media, the impact of sports tourism development in the region, tourist attraction and retention, tourism economy, and cultural tourism). The causal factors influencing sports tourism marketing (sports managers' and specialists' policies, cultural-sports tourism potentials, and regional transformations) play a crucial role in the development of sports tourism marketing in Ardabil Province, with an emphasis on modern social media.

With the expansion of banking activities, the stock returns of bank shareholders are also affected. As fluctuations in bank stock returns increase over the long term, the cash flows of banks are influenced, which may lead to an increase in the growth rate of banks' economic value added. Given the diversification of income sources, the expansion of banking activities, and the level of investment in various economic sectors, the liquidity entering the market increases, ultimately contributing to a rise in the inflation rate. The proportion of independent board members can be considered a factor influencing the establishment of a balance between income diversification and banking activity expansion. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of banking activity expansion on electronic banking risk. This research is a library-based and analytical-causal study, utilizing panel data analysis. The financial data of 10 banks listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange were analyzed over the period from 2016 to 2021. The research sample consists of 60 bank-year observations. The findings indicate that income diversification influences bank risk. Additionally, based on the analysis conducted regarding the confirmation of the second research hypothesis, it was concluded that the expansion of banking activities affects bank risk. Furthermore, the results regarding the confirmation of the third research hypothesis suggest that income diversification impacts bank returns.