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The methods and techniques of performance evaluation are the key issues in organizational and academic researches.  One of the problems of performance evaluation in working groups is dealing with group performance evaluation and individual performance evaluation. A comprehensive performance evaluation system not only assesses performance at different levels (individual and group) but also considers the dependence and relations between them. Existing systems cannot consider the effect of different levels on each other. In this paper, we use Data Envelopment Analysis method for studying performance as a multi level phenomenon. For this purpose we use a multi-level Data Envelopment Analysis Model for evaluating performance of working groups in a governmental organization in Iran. The model views the groups at the highest level in the hierarchy as the decision-making units whose performance are optimized. Part of the output from the optimization is a set of performance measures for the components of those top level decision-making units. The result shows that the multi-level DEA model is an appropriate model for measuring groups and their members’ performance at simultaneity.

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  Performance evaluation is prerequisite for many domains of human resource, which precise implementation of which will result in efficiency and effectiveness of performance feedbacking, training and development, promotion of employees, human resource planning, etc. Accurate weighting of evaluation indicators alongside with considering synergy and interaction force of indicators can affect evaluation results. Also differences of different levels of an indicator importance should be considered according to its great significance. This paper tries to realistically weight indicators using Taguchi experimental design method and considering two aforementioned points. An eight-stage model is presented and performance evaluation indicators for a bank cash register are specified. A questionnaire is designed based on proposed Taguchi orthogonal tables. Experts in banking sector are asked to answer the questions of each dimension to determine the weight of indicators. Results of implementing proposed model as ANOVA table show that Taguchi experimental design method can be a proper method in weighting indicators and taking into account the amount of error factor and decisions can be made according to stability of obtained results.        

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Performance evaluation has always been considered as one of the critical issues in every and each organization. In order to identify, adjust and apply the changes in their short-term and long-term goals, every organization needs to evaluate its performance continuously. Considering the key role of banks as one of the most important financial and economic parts of any society, it is important to evaluate the performance of these financial institution. In this study, 100 third level branches of Keshavarzi Bank were evaluated with 36 sub-indicators (7 inputs and 29 outputs) and these 36 sub-indicators were clustered in 3 inputs and 7 outputs. In this research, CCR-O model is used as the main model and to reduce the number of sub-indicators and obtain main-indicators three scenarios were performed (simple average, weighted average by using weights from AHP and Principle Component Analysis (PCA)) and outputs of these three scenarios were used as CCR-O inputs. Finally, increasing of discrimination power in all three scenarios was examined using coefficient of variation and it was understood that discrimination power in PCA-DEA scenario increased more than the other two.

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Performance evaluation is one of the important components of each organization, and educational organizations are not exceptions. According to the results of many studies, the single most important factor in determining student academic success or failure is the classroom teacher. Therefore, teachers are at the center of attempts to improve or reform the educational system of any country. Because of their importance, educational systems need to be assured that teachers perform their best to enhance student learning and try to improve teachers’ performance by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of their performance for further professional development. Both of these aims can be achieved by developing a research-based teacher evaluation system. With due consideration of the requirements of developing an evaluation procedure, the present study aims at proposing a new model for EFL teacher performance appraisal.  For so doing, a number of relevant studies on teacher evaluation and effective teaching, relevant national documents, and EFL teachers’ and experts’ views were investigated. Then, for making decision regarding the components of the assessment procedure, Delphi technique was used. The decisions made about the components of proposed model are discussed and the requirements for its implementation are explained

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One of the most important difficulties with existing companies ranking models is their emphasis on just one critical index, such as income or sale. In other word, they rank companies in terms of their activity size not their performance, excellence and advantages. The aim of this paper is to remove this difficulty by designing a general comprehensive raking model based on companies performance, excellence and advantages. The proposed model is an extension to Balanced Score Card (BSC) model. It conists of 6 major components named financial, internal process, customer, development and innovation, human resources and finally management. It also includes 422 indices, and applies MADM technique for weighting indices and final ranking. The model is also practically tested to rank 8 major Iranian automobile makers based on 40 existing data in Tehran Stock Exchange. The results of ranking provided at the ending section of the paper.

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Regarding necessity of performance evaluation an business excellence achievement, this paper is trying to present a business excellence model (BEM) through the combination of two qualitative and quantitative approach to evaluation which are the models taken from total quality management (TQM) and data envelopment analysis (DEA). The model discussed covers all the advantages of the two models and reduces the defficiencies as mach as possible. By reviewing BEMs, in this research, the appropriate crieria for performance evaluation and business excellence are identified and also applied in DEA, which by using tangible inputs and outputs evaluate the organzations.

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Creating and supporting small and medium-sized industries in economic development programs and the emphasis on improving efficiency and productivity in the policies adopted, shows the vital position of such industries in developed as well as developing economies. In general, the most important role of these industries in the economic development process can be summarized as; effective employment, production and supply chain management, creating value added and reducing dependence on unnecessary commodity imports. Since any improvement in the efficiency of small scale industries will bring more equitable distribution of income, the main purpose of this study is to measure the performance of various technical, management and scale efficiencies in subsectors of small scale industries and provide policy recommendations to the inefficient industries. For this purpose, the principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis is used to determine the variables of the model and the DEA is used for evaluation and sensitivity analysis of the factors affecting the efficiency and productivity of small scale industries during the period 2002 - 2007. The results show that out of 22 industries, only 8 ones are found to be perfectly efficient. Productivity measurement of these industries according to the "Malmquist" index reveals that, the trend of productivity enjoys positive growth.

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Efficiency of economical units especially banks is one of the success factors in developed countries. In this regard, managers of the banks are responsible for the efficiency of them, which is not possible without evaluation of efficiency of the bank branches under the supervision of the managers. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a method for calculating the efficiency of various organizations having multiple-inputs multiple-outputs. This method leads to ordering of efficient and inefficient branches and identifying reference unit (DMU) to attain efficiency frontier. Also, effectiveness of each variable in efficiency of each unit can be determined. In this research, an input-oriented BCC model with envelopment form has been employed. Thus, the statistical data from 17 branches of Refah Kargaran Bank in Lorestan Province was collected during 2010-2011. The results show that there are 11 efficient branches (65% of the branches) and 6 inefficient branches. Inefficient branches were ranked in terms of their efficiency, and AP model was used for ranking of the efficient branches. Finally, TOPSIS was applied for ranking of the branches in order to verify the results.

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Dams shall safely retain the reservoir and any stored solids, and pass environmentally acceptable flows, as required for all loading conditions, ranging from normal to extreme loads, commensurate with the consequences of failure. The new trend for performance-based design is to consider 2 levels of seismic actions and analyze the situation where the limit of force balance is exceeded for high intensity ground motions, associated with a very rare seismic event. For the design, two basic requirements are defined: (i) Non-collapse requirement (ultimate limit states), i.e. after the occurrence of the seismic event, the structure shall retain its structural integrity, with respect to both vertical and horizontal loads, and adequate residual resistance, although in some parts considerable damage may occur, (ii) Minimization of damage (serviceability limit state) , i.e. after seismic actions with high probability of occurrence, during the design life of the structure, some parts can undergo minor damage without the need of immediate repair. This study evaluates the behavior of a typical earth dam by nonlinear seismic analyses, in two performance levels, named “Base Performance Level” and “Desired Performance Level.” The level of seismic action and related acceptance level of damage are defined for each performance level. In “Base Performance Level,” with seismic levels of OBE (0.3g) and MDE (0.5g), the structure shall be serviceable and repairable and in “Desired Performance Level”, with seismic levels of MDE (0.5g) and MCE (0.7g), the structure shall be serviceable and repairable, respectively. Also, the stability of dam has been assessed by the “Strength Reduction Analysis.” The analyses are nonlinear and the constitutive law of the materials was assumed to follow "Finn" and "Mohr-Coulomb" models, incorporated into “FLAC 2D” finite difference analysis program. The factors such as initial shear modulus, variation of shear modulus versus shear strain, generation and dissipation of pore pressure and hysteretic damping are considered in this study. In addition, using the scaling method of applying maximum acceleration, the response of dam is investigated in different maximum accelerations. The results show that the dam needs to be changed in geometrical specifications or seismically improved in “Desired Performance Level”, in contrast with “Base Performance Level.” Results are confirmed by low amount of safety factors of stability in dam, which are calculated for different seismic loads. Also, the behavior of dam is examined by sensitivity analysis for type of accelerograms, constitutive model and the standard penetration number in shell of dam. Two accelerograms, including “Friulli” and “Sakaria” are considered. Maximum acceleration and duration of both of them are equalized and frequencies more than 5Hz are filtered. Sensitivity analyses of “Friulli” and “Sakaria” accelerograms, despite the difference in response spectra and specific energy density, show approximately similar results. “Finn” model predicts the amount of excess pore water pressure to be more than "Mohr- Coulomb" up to %20, and shows the occurring of liquefaction in SPT more than 35 and acceleration more than 0.7g, in shell of upstream of dam

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In the present paper, cooling performance of a hybrid system of air underground channel and direct evaporative cooler to provide cooling load for residential spaces was investigated in summer and its performance evaluation was studied for Tehran,Iran. The study was performed in hottest day of the year in Tehran which has hot and dry condition. At first, mathematical modeling of the hybrid system components was developed then by using the mathematical modeling, outlet air temperature distribution of any component of the proposed hybrid system was calculated. The obtained results imply that air temperature drops about 10°C in underground air channel and 6°C in direct evaporative cooler. andAccording to the obtained temperatures and thermal comfort zone, it was found that the hybrid system is capable in the hottest days of the year to provide thermal comfort for the residental occupants in Tehran. Then, by calculation of the system efficiency, it was found that the efficiency is more than 1 which indicate high performance of the hybrid system. Eventually by comparison between efficiency of the hybrid system and direct evaporative cooler it was found that efficiency of the hybrid system is 45 percent more than direct evaporative cooler. Also the system efficiency is higher than conventional mechanical systems efficiency and it is eco-friendly because of the system is passive. Thus according to present work, the proposed hybrid cooling system could be a suitable alternative for conventional HVAC systems.

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Managers in all organizations today called for optimum use of existing facilities and capacities in different sectors. So in order to provide feedback model to improve performance of various branches and agencies to achieve a tool to meet the needs of managers, and the essential logic seems. The purpose of this study provide a model compilation process fuzzy network analysis, balanced scorecard and fuzzy data envelopment analysis for performance evaluation of branch offices is Yazd Cooperative with the device can also identify efficient and inefficient branches, the appropriate strategies improve the performance of inefficient branches and more branches to strengthen whatever can be effectively developed. In this study of balanced scorecard model to extract parameters assessment, fuzzy analysis network process techniques to estimate fuzzy relative importance of each indicator under a single perspective and of fuzzy data envelopment analysis techniques to evaluate the performance of branches has been used. financial Perspective as the most important, and the Yazd and ardakan Branches were identified Assessment as the efficient performance of the branches.

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The treatment of wastewater generated from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin manufacturing industry have a great importance due to its high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and some other toxic substances. Activated carbon adsorption, chemical oxidation and biodegradation are the most conventional methods to the treatment of ABS effluents. Among them, the biological treatment as an environmentally friendly technology is highly regarded in the bio treatment and biotransformation of the toxic compounds of ABS wastewater to the intermediate and final compounds such as CO2 and water. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of an activated sludge system for pretreating ABS manufacturing effluents. The wastewater pretreatment plant is consisted of 3 fine screens, a grit chamber, an equalization basin, dissolved air floatation (DAF) system, an activated sludge reactor and a final clarifier. This system was operated to reduce the TSS and COD values in the effluent in order to obtain to interior discharge permits to the central wastewater treatment utility operated by Tabriz petrochemical complex. Four runs weighed average sampling was conducted during 6 months according to the standard methods of the examination of water and wastewater. The parameters including COD, BOD5, TSS, TDS, sulfate, total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia-N, nitrate-N, alkalinity, cyanide, phosphate and pH were measured in wastewater samples according to the standard methods. The concentrations of acrylonitrile, acrylamide and acrylic acid in wastewater samples were determined using gas chromatography (GC) equipped with flame ionization detector (FID) with capillary column. Microbial structure of activated sludge was also evaluated using R2A, PCA and Nutrient Agar culture media as well the biochemical standard tests. According to the results, at surface loading rate of 2.76 m3/m2.h applied to DAF, the COD and TSS removal efficiencies of 24 and 43% were obtained, respectively. The ratio of BOD5/COD in the influent was 0.57 indicated the moderate biodegradability of ABS wastewater. In addition, the COD and BOD5 removal efficiencies in biological reactor were 59 and 68% respectively, at the organic loading rates (OLR) of 0.79 ± 0.06 kgCOD/m3.d. Totally, the COD, BOD5 and TSS removal efficiencies in the pretreatment system were 80, 90 and 88%, respectively. In addition, at the acrylonitrile loading rates of 0.067 ± 0.008 kg ACN/ m3.d, the removal efficiency of acrylonitrile was 91% which 26% of that has occurred in the biological reactor. Also, the removal efficiency of cyanide was 97% which only 4% of that has occurred in the biological reactor. Twenty bacterial strains were isolated and identified from the activated sludge samples. Among the isolated bacterial strains, four strains include Alcaligenes sp. Pseudomonas sp. Bacillus sp. and Moraxella sp. were identified as heterotrophic nitrifiers. Based on the results, the nitrifier bacteria have played an important role in the degradation of acrylonitrile in the biological activated sludge system. The results of parameters analysis, performance evaluation and microbial assessment revealed the satisfactory performance of COD removal as well nitrification. However, it seems that a significant portion of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are removed from the influent wastewater by stripping.

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In present study, heat transfer in double-tube heat exchanger filled with metal porous material has been investigated. In contrast to the most of previous studies, fluid flow is considered turbulent in heat exchanger which is in a good agreement with the practical performance of these exchangers in the industry. Fluid flow and heat transfer equations have been discretized on a collocated grid by the means of finite volume method with simple algorithm. Discretized equations are solved with a numerical program in FORTRAN language in order to study the effect of porous material parameters and Reynolds of fluid flow on the heat transfer in double-tube heat exchanger. According to the results and analysis of porosity in the range of 0.8 to 0.95 as well as pore diameter of 1 mm up to 6 mm and diverse types of porous material, it is observed that the decrease in porosity, the increase in pore diameter and use of copper porous material (with high heat conduction coefficient), increase heat transfer. In the best case, overall heat transfer coefficient enhances up to 7 times. Moreover, the results reveal that the heat transfer enhancement ratio have no distinct difference with changing Reynolds number of turbulent flow in the range of 10000 to 80000. Performance evaluation criteria, which investigate the effects of pump lost power and thermal power, depicts that with using porous material the value of the pump lost power is of major importance which can be decrease by increasing the porous pore diameter.

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Introduction: Petrochemical industry is one of the major industries playing significant role in the economy of Iran. In general, petrochemical effluents contain various contaminants including suspended solids, organic matters, oil and grease, metal salts, sulfide, ammonia, hydrocarbons, cyanides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other toxic substances. In most of petrochemical complexes, wastewaters are treated by activated sludge process along with the oil/water separation systems as a pretreatment. Since the performance evaluation of wastewater treatment plant is required to assess the effluent quality, to meet higher treatment requirement and to know the feasibility of handling higher hydraulic and/or organic loadings, this study was conducted to evaluate the performance of a full-scale petrochemical wastewater treatment plant.
Materials and methods: Wastewater treatment system consists of a screening unit, an API, an equalization basin, coagulation and flocculation, DAF system, aeration tanks, primary and secondary clarifier and filtration. The treatment plant was designed to treat the wastewater generated from different units of petrochemical complex with reuse purposes of treated effluent. To evaluate the performance of the treatment plant, 12-h composite flow weighted samples were carried out in 4 days within 6 month and were analyzed for COD, BOD5, TDS, TSS, phenol, cyanide, oil, ammonia and TKN in accordance to standard methods. Microbial structure of activated sludge was also evaluated. Overall performance of the plant and the performance efficiency of each unit were calculated.
Results: According to the results, the actual average influent flow was significantly lower than the average design flow based on the long-term data and our measurements. This increases the hydraulic retention time (HRT) in all units in the WWTP. Based on the results, the values of COD, BOD5 and TSS in the influent and effluent were 1319±230, 967±491 and 227±174 mg/l and 73.6±19.6, 33.6±25.9 and 6.4±5.9 mg/l respectively. The ratio of BOD5/COD was calculated about 0.58 indicates a good potential for biodegradability of the wastewater. The results also revealed that 68.5% removal of COD and 81.9% removal of BOD5 have been occurred in preliminary and primary units while; these units are usually designed for the elimination of oil and suspended solids as well as the equalization of quantitative and qualitative parameters of the influent. At an organic loading of 0.48±0.15 kg/m3.d the removal efficiencies for COD and BOD5 in biological unit were calculated about 37 and 46% respectively. The mean value of MLSS within the biological reactor was 1463 mg/l. In addition, the mean plus standard deviation values of MLSS measured in returned activated sludge (RAS) were 2323 ± 1080 mg/l. According to the daily average concentrations of COD in the effluent of the WWTP, in some cases within the study period, the COD values were exceeded from national discharge standards. Microbial analysis showed that among the isolated bacterial strains, the genus belonging to Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Moraxella as heterotrophic nitrifying bacteria was identified as predominant strains in biological unit.
Conclusion: Based on the results, in 64% of our measurements (135 days from 209 days of study period), the daily average effluent COD values were above national guidelines for surface water discharge (60 mg/l). In 3% of the time during the study period, the daily average values of COD in the effluent were more than 200 mg/l. The results also indicated that the average effluent concentration of oil was significantly higher than the expected design value.

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Structural damages in arch dams, are often of major concern and should inevitably be evaluated for probable rehabilitation to ensure safe regular normal operation and safe behavior in future under unusual loading. These are crucial to prevent any catastrophic or failure consequences for the life time of the dam. If there is a specific major infection such as a large crack in the dam body, the assessments will be necessary to determine the current level of safety and predict the resistance of the structure to various future loading, such as earthquakes, etc. In this research, Morrowpoint dam is selected as a case study to assess the dam performance and its safety level, at the presence of an actual crack with almost known geometry created in the dam body during the sequence of its reservoir first impounding. Three-dimensional modeling of the dam and its foundation is constructed for several different crack types with specific geometry and different mechanical properties. For modeling of both the existing cracks, and the vertical contraction joints of the arch dam, no-tension, zero-thickness joint elements with variable compression-shear behavior are used. The applied loads include normal or service loads (weight and hydrostatic water pressure) as well as abnormal load of water penetration into the crack surface. In the first set of analyses, concrete material is assumed as linear. By observing the high tensile stresses, non-linear concrete materials with plastic damage model is introduced for selected cases although the foundation materials remain as linear. Safety factors of shear and compressive tractions are calculated at the surfaces of the contraction joints and the cracks. For the safety factor of the dam body mass concrete surfaces, a 2-D failure criterion is employed. In applying the weight load, the construction sequence of 3D blocks of the dam, and the stages of grouting the contraction joints have been fully accounted for. The results indicate that for cracking with an extension depth of half the thickness of the dam body, for both cases of penetration and non-penetration of water load into the cracks, safety factors are only slightly reduced and thus the dam safety in normal loading condition remains acceptable. However, in the case of increasing the depth of crack extension into the entire thickness of the dam body, the friction angle of the cracked surface is crucial, and if reduced, the normal loading safety factors of stresses and joints tractions are reduced significantly even when neglecting water penetration effects in cracks. When water penetration into the cracks is added during normal loading case, the situation is of much concern and great damages are expected. Simultaneously, it is observed that, the foundation interface also suffers of much shear safety loss. 

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Performance evaluation is one of the important components of each organization, and educational organizations are not the exceptions. Teachers are believed by many researchers as the single most important factor influencing student academic success or failure. Therefore, they need to be at the center of attempts to improve or reform the educational system of any country. Considering the pivotal role of teachers, educational systems need to be assured that teachers perform their best to enhance student learning, and also they should try to improve by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of teachers' practice for further professional development. The present study tries to examine the effectiveness of the current teacher evaluation system in Iran from EFL teachers’ perspectives. For that matter, a survey consisting of both Likert-scaled and open-ended questions was developed based on theoretical underpinnings of purposes for teacher evaluation, experts’ views, and the purposes of foreign language education as stated by the National Curriculum. 423 English language teachers were asked to answer the questions included in the survey. The results indicated the current teacher evaluation system did not contribute to teacher professional development nor could it assure teacher accountability. The results of the study as well as the requirements for developing an alternative model for EFL teacher evaluation are discussed

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Measurement and measurement is vital for any organization. The management and performance appraisal system as one of the management processes play a key role in realizing the goals and missions of the organization. The purpose of this research is to identify the effective factors of multilevel performance management of the Applied Higher Education Institution of Applied Water and Power industry which are based on a balanced scorecard. The present research is applicable to the purpose. The research method is exploratory blend. The statistical population of the research is the experts of the Applied Higher Education Institute of Water and Power Industry, which has at least 5 years of education management experience and has a master's degree. By using a targeted and judgmental sampling method, an interview was conducted with experts from the statistical community, After 15 interviews with experts on the subject of research, theoretical saturation was obtained.The results of the interview were analyzed by the three-step coding method and were identified and presented at three levels: individual, group, and organizational levels in the form of four dimensions of the balanced scorecard.

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Teachers evaluation as one of the essential educational needs has an important role in improving educational quality and developing smart schools. The lack of implementation of a systematic and scientific evaluation system not only will discourage committed teachers, but also will have consequences such as reduced commitment and leave the organizational work. Therefore, the present study attempts to present a fuzzy inference system (FIS) model to evaluate the performance of teachers working in smart schools of Yazd province. In this regard, after reviewing the literature and identifying the factors affecting performance evaluation in two sections of computer literacy and classroom performance, the fuzzy Delphi technique was used to get experts agreement (20 experts) on the model’s final criteria. The ambiguity and complexity of performance appraisal criteria, especially qualitative criteria, as well as the use of verbal variables for extracting expert opinions, led to the use of fuzzy inference system for analyzing model components. In the case of the under study schools, the output of the system indicates that the status of smart school teachers in the basic courses and content production criteria is at intermediate level, in the Internet and educational supplementary software is at a relatively high level, and in the educational content development and electronic evaluation is at a low level. Based on these findings, teachers performance in smart schools was evaluated as medium level. Finally, some suggestions were proposed to improve the current status of smart schools.