Medicinal and ornamental plants are one of the most valuable resources in a wide range of natural resources in Iran in the case of scientific knowledge, cultivation, development and proper utilization, can play an important role in public health and employment and increase of non-oil exports This study explores strategies of gaining a competitive advantage of medicinal herbs in Ilam Province based on the strategy of focusing on customers and markets. This study applied a mix method to achieve the objectives. In the quality section the Delphi method and in a quantity section the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) has been used. In the quality section, the statistical population was 12 individuals consisting of marketing experts, entrepreneurs and medicinal herbs and ornamental plants experts which have been selected based on using purposing sampling method. In the quantity section, 33 individuals from medicinal herbs and ornamental plants have been studied. The required data were collected using a paired comparison and were analyzed by using the software Expert Choice11. The results showed that solutions in the Medicinal and ornamental plants contribute to competitive advantage. Moreover, Identification of the competitors’ strengths and weaknesses play the most important role in creating the advantage for medicinal herbs and ornamental plants in Ilam province. Manuscript profile

Given entrepreneurs’ special role in the economic growth and development, many developed and developing countries are attempting to motivate more number of people who have entrepreneurial characteristics towards entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activities. The purpose of this research was to study the effectiveness of entrepreneurship training courses in Ilam Province, Iran. In this research a descriptive survey method was used. The statistical population consisted of 830 people that based on Cochran’s formula and by using proportionate stratified random sampling method 130 people were selected as the sample. The research tool was a questionnaire which its validity was confirmed by a panel of experts’ and its reliability was estimated using Cronbach’s alpha as to be 0.83 proving its high reliability. Data were analyzed by SPSS Software Package. It was found that participants’ inclination towards self-employment and entrepreneurship was increased after attending the courses. Also, significant differences were observed in participants’ readiness to start a business, their familiarity with entrepreneurship concepts and their ability to make a business plan before and after attending the courses. Manuscript profile

The present study aimed to provide a systematic model for the management of an information system for rural entrepreneurship training in Ilam province, Iran. The research used a descriptive methodology performed by the Delphi technique. The sample was taken by the purposive technique in which 15 experts including faculty members, executives, and experts were selected to participate in three Delphi rounds. At the end of round 3, the final model was confirmed by the panel to be composed of seven components (data collection, data storage, data quality control, data analysis, data dissemination, documentation, and data sharing and application) and 22 sub-components. The results showed that to use an information management system for entrepreneurship training, it is first necessary to specify the required data on rural areas (about economic, social, cultural, infrastructural, and ecological aspects) before their collection. For the sake of storage, the data should be inputted in a system specifically designed for the management of the entrepreneurship training information system. Based on the results, quality control, data analysis, dissemination, documentation, and sharing should be performed by the Governor’s Office of Economic Coordination. Manuscript profile

The rural areas of Ilam province are facing many problems in the field of employment and production, and the development of entrepreneurial activities in these areas is very necessary. Opportunity identification has a very fundamental role in entrepreneurial activities.The study was carried out to home business opportunities for rural areas in Ilam province. The research used a combined qualitative and quantitative methodology. The methodology was qualitative in the first phase using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The second phase was run by a descriptive-survey methodology. Participants were purposefully selected from village administrators, experts of the Coordination Office of Economic Affairs Governor, experts of the Jahad-e Agriculture organization, experts of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, and experts of the Industry, Mining and Trade Organization. Data were collected from 72 participants in nine sessions as focus group discussion attended by 6-11 people. They were qualitatively analyzed by Strauss and Corbin’s constant comparison method in three coding phases. They were quantitatively analyzed with SPSS Software Package. In the end, the home businesses in priority in each Township were introduced for agricultural sector, processing industries, and handicraft industries. Manuscript profile

Finding new ways to compete in competitive markets is the essence of strategic thinking and marketing strategy. This issue has always been addressed by the experts and scholars of economics and management overrecent decades. In this regard, the present study explores the entrepreneurial strategies to gain a competitive advantage in IlamProvincemedicinal plants. This studyemployed a mixed-methods research paradigm. In the qualitative part, Delphi method and in quantitative part the Analytic Hierarchy Process was used. The population in the qualitative part comprisedexperts in the fields of marketing, entrepreneurship and herbs in IlamProvince that among them 12 participantswere selected using purposive sampling methods. In the quantitative part, the population included 33 experts in the field of medicinal plants which were studied by census method. The data were collected using a paired comparison questionnaire and analyzed by Expert Choice11 software. Results showed that according to considered criteria in this research) differentiation strategy, ways to reduce costs, focusing on customers and market strategies, innovations and risk taking strategy) differentiation strategy plays the greatest role in gaining advantage for medicinal plants in Ilam Province. Manuscript profile