Market Segmentation of Diet Nutrition Supply for the New Entrepreneurs: Case Study in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Despite the growing trend of healthy lifestyle and awareness about the importance of fitness among the urban population in the Kurdistan region, there is no specialized diet restaurant with high service quality in Sulaymaniyah, the second largest city of Kurdistan. This study investigates if establishing a diet food restaurant in Sulaymaniyah is a viable idea. This study also aims to identify the main segments of the market, factors affecting consumers’ opinion regarding the diet food, and their willingness to pay for diet meals. The data were collected through questionnaires from 1200 respondents. The collected data were tested for reliability and validity through Cronbach’s Alpha, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Segment analysis was performed to test whether the need and demand for diet restaurant and willingness to pay differ across various segments based on gender, age, location, education levels, weight, body mass index, diabetics, profession, gym visitors, income level, and marital status. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) method and independent samples T test were used for this purpose. This study concludes that an untapped and potentially profitable market exists for diet food restaurants in Sulaymaniyah city; however, apart from affluent segment of the market, most consumers are price sensitive.

Importance of HRM Policies on Employee Job Satisfaction

Employee performance is a key factor in the organizations for productivity. Besides, highly performing employees promote the quality of customer relationship. Because of its positive impact on the internal and external success of the organization, scholars and practitioners are investigating its antecedents and consequences increasingly in the recent years. Therefore, the current paper has aimed to search HRM policies’ impact on employee job satisfaction in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The results have revealed that rewarding and motivation was the most significant indicators of employees’ job satisfaction. Secondly, empowerment was an important subject for the employees which makes them satisfied with their jobs. Lastly, communication and motivation were the significant indicators which affected the job satisfaction of employees.

Impact of Dynamic Capabilities on Knowledge Management in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

There are different factors that contribute and affect Knowledge Management such as the management system, teamwork, and dynamic capabilities within the organization. The aim of this study is to investigate dynamic capabilities of a firm and their impact on knowledge management at various companies in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Furthermore, it is aimed to examine the effects of employee experience on dynamic capabilities and knowledge management. Driven from the results, it was observed that organizational dynamics is one of the significant indicators of knowledge management. Secondly, the findings have revealed that experience is an important moderator between organizational dynamics and knowledge management.

Performance Evaluation Criteria Development Process for Academic Staff at Universities

Lecturer performance is an important factor on the university success. Based on this, universities are using different criterion to assess and improve lecturer performance. The current study aims to explain some of the important HRM practices on the lecturer performance. The second aim of the paper is to determine the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate lecturer performance. As result, we have developed the performance criteria to be evaluated periodically by departmental managers. The paper provides a detailed understanding of how AHP works and is useful to measure the performance at educational institutions to reward the high achieving lecturers. The model contains a robust methodology that might change from a university to another. Therefore, with this methodology, the criteria in a new setting might be reevaluated and the importance of each criterion can be recalculated.