Petter Kvalvik, Mary Sánchez-Gordón and Ricardo Colomo-Palacios
Smart cities require data governance to articulate data sharing and use among relevant stakeholders. Given the lack of a comprehensive examination of this research topic, this…
Abstract
Purpose
Smart cities require data governance to articulate data sharing and use among relevant stakeholders. Given the lack of a comprehensive examination of this research topic, this study aims to review data governance publications to detect and categorize endeavors backing up data sharing in smart cities.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review was conducted, and 568 academic and professional sources were identified, but finally, only 10 relevant papers were selected.
Findings
Results reveal that data governance must be based on well-defined mechanisms, procedures and roles to achieve accountability and responsibility in a multi-actor environment. Moreover, data governance should be adapted to address power imbalances among all interested parties.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitation is the list of sources considered for the literature review. However, this study provides a holistic overview for researchers and professionals willing to know more about smart city data sharing.
Originality/value
This review identifies the data governance approaches supporting data sharing in smart cities, analyzes their data dimension, enhances the state-of-the-art literature on this topic and suggests possible areas for future research.
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Eleonora Pantano and Kim Willems
After having drawn lessons from the recent COVID-19 pandemic for retailers in the previous chapters, in this last chapter we provide an outline on retailing over a longer time…
Abstract
After having drawn lessons from the recent COVID-19 pandemic for retailers in the previous chapters, in this last chapter we provide an outline on retailing over a longer time horizon. We start with projections of how the phygitalization trend in retailing will further evolve and what role data plays as a basis for a competitive advantage – on the condition of smart and ethical use. Besides looking at customers (downstream), we address the upstream in the value delivery network, focusing on how to succeed in balancing between efficiency and sustainability in the retail supply chain. Retailers face huge challenges. This chapter contributes to setting the scene for retailers to thrive in the brand-new post-pandemic aftermath.
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Jens Nordfält, Dhruv Grewal, Anne L. Roggeveen and Krista M. Hill
Retailers increasingly experiment with a wide variety of store elements; this chapter focuses on in-store marketing tactics and reports the results of 12 in-store experiments…
Abstract
Retailers increasingly experiment with a wide variety of store elements; this chapter focuses on in-store marketing tactics and reports the results of 12 in-store experiments conducted in cooperation with different retail chains. Experiments 1–3 address in-store signage (digital, floor) and reveal that digital screens and signage can draw customers toward merchandise and deeper into shopping aisles. Experiments 4–6 explore the impact of the organization of a display (vertical, horizontal, diagonal, waterfall) and generally demonstrate the superiority of vertical organizations of merchandise. In Experiments 7–9, results pertaining to the location of a product in a store highlight the importance of placing merchandise at eye level. With Experiments 10 and 11, the authors reinforce the importance of retail atmospherics (scent, lighting). Finally, Experiment 12 explores product placement and other factors that can enhance the effectiveness of in-store merchandise demonstrations.
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Rahul Kumar, Soumya Guha Deb and Shubhadeep Mukherjee
Nonperforming assets in any banking system have stressed the economic health of nations. Resultantly, literature has given considerable impetus to predict failures and bankruptcy…
Abstract
Nonperforming assets in any banking system have stressed the economic health of nations. Resultantly, literature has given considerable impetus to predict failures and bankruptcy. Past studies have focused on the outcome of failures, while, there is a dearth of studies focusing on ongoing firms in bad shape. We plug this gap and attempt to identify underlying communication patterns for firms witnessing prolonged underperformance. Using text mining, we extract and analyze semantic, linguistic, emotional, and sentiment-based features in non-numeric communication channels of these poor-performing firms and their peers. These uncovered patterns highlight the use of vocabulary and tone of communication, in correspondence to their financial well-being. Furthermore, using such patterns, we deploy various Machine Learning algorithms to identify loser firm(s) way ahead in time. We observe promising accuracy over a time window of five years. Such early warning signals can be of critical importance to various stakeholders of a firm. Exploration of writing style-related features for any firm would help its investors, lending agencies to assess the likelihood of future underperformance. Firm management can use them to take suitable precautionary measures and preempt the future possibility of distress. While investors and lenders can be benefitted from this incremental information to identify the likelihood of future failures.
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This paper focuses on two examples of constitutional corruption in India where the constitution is used for questionable political reasons by the Bharatiya Janata Party under the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper focuses on two examples of constitutional corruption in India where the constitution is used for questionable political reasons by the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper relies on public documents and media reports to analyse Prime Minister Modi's handling of the purchase of Rafale jet fighters from France and the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A which resulted in the division of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Findings
Constitutional and democratic norms were violated in both cases, but the Supreme Court did not find any irregularities in the sale of the Rafale jet fighters. The second case is under challenge in the Supreme Court. The analysis reveals how the Modi government has undermined democratic values and used constitutional provisions to pursue its partisan and ideological agenda.
Originality/value
The paper focuses attention on the often neglected topic of constitutional corruption in India.
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By the mid-19th century the British colonial state introduced liberal education to India. Amongst various disciplines, political economy illustrates the concerns of the colonial…
Abstract
Purpose
By the mid-19th century the British colonial state introduced liberal education to India. Amongst various disciplines, political economy illustrates the concerns of the colonial state with the education of Indians, and its anxiety with quelling political discontentment. The emerging Indian nationalist intelligentsia also utilized ideas from classical political economy, first taught in educational institutions, to critique colonial policy and proposed the development of “Indian Economics”, suited to national economic interests. This paper explores the development of political economy as a specific knowledge form in Calcutta University and Bombay University, and its connection with colonial educational policy.
Design/methodology/approach
This study relies primarily on university records and the proceedings of the Education Department to bring out the politically sensitive nature of the teaching of economics in colonial India.
Findings
The study finds that political economy grew from being a minor part of the overall university syllabi to becoming part of the first university departments created in early-20th-century India. The government and nationalist forces both found the discipline to be relevant to their respective agendas. The circulation of knowledge theoretical framework is found to be relevant here.
Originality/value
The history of political economy in Indian universities, especially during the 19th century, has not been dealt with in any detail. This study tries to fill this gap. The close connection between politics and the teaching of economics has also not been studied closely, which this paper does.
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Siddharth Harshkant Bhatt and Dinesh Ramdas Pai
“Buy X Get X Free” promotions are popular across retail settings. Retailers promote a variety of products using this promotional frame. However, past research contains mixed…
Abstract
Purpose
“Buy X Get X Free” promotions are popular across retail settings. Retailers promote a variety of products using this promotional frame. However, past research contains mixed findings about the effectiveness of this promotion compared to the straightforward discount on a single unit of a product. The goal of this research is to employ a theoretical lens to examine the effectiveness of “Buy X Get X Free” promotions.
Design/methodology/approach
The theoretical framework was tested in two experiments using different products and samples. The data collected from each experiment were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential techniques to assess support for the theoretical arguments.
Findings
Findings reveal that at identical levels of per-unit discount, the “Buy X Get X Free” promotion is perceived less favorably by consumers than a straightforward single-unit discount. Consumers perceive lower transaction value and acquisition value and, thereby, a lower purchase intention, from the “Buy X Get X Free” promotion compared to a single-unit discount.
Practical implications
This research was conducted keeping in mind the popularity of the “Buy X Get X Free” promotion in the real world. The findings caution retailers against indiscriminately using this promotional frame.
Originality/value
Using a theoretical lens, this research proposes and validates a framework to systematically examine consumers' perceptions of the two popular discount frames. The proposed theoretical framework provides a richer understanding of the underlying consumer psychology that drives the evaluation of these promotions. Further, primary data from lab experiments validates the framework. The research also helps advance the understanding of consumer evaluation of sales promotions in general.
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After completion of the case study, students will be able to understand the format of for-profit social enterprise working for menstrual hygiene sustainability and its…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
After completion of the case study, students will be able to understand the format of for-profit social enterprise working for menstrual hygiene sustainability and its contribution toward U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, to appreciate the company’s alignment with the triple bottom line framework, to analyze the blue ocean mechanism that the company has developed to create an impact and to critique the strategies the Asan Cups company could adopt to increase its market share and growth.
Case overview/synopsis
Asan Cups was a for-profit social enterprise founded by Ira Guha in 2021. The company crafted reusable menstrual cups from liquid silicone, sporting a patented design in India, the UK, Europe and the USA. Successfully retailing its products in India, the UK and Europe, Asan Cups operated on a bootstrap model with a compact team of four, led by its visionary founder. From the get-go, the company embraced a compelling 1-for-1 donation initiative. For every cup sold, Asan Cups generously donated another to women who could not afford it. Collaborating with nongovernmental organizations, schools, educational institutions and social workers, the company spearheaded campaigns to heighten menstrual hygiene awareness. This proactive approach aimed to boost the acceptance of menstrual cups among rural women and championed the cause of environmental sustainability. The company did not just stop at providing an eco-friendly alternative. Asan Cups fervently educated the masses on the detrimental environmental impact of traditional disposable period products like sanitary pads and tampons. Fast-forwarding to 2023, Asan Cups had garnered approximately 30,000 users, with the adoption rate steadily climbing. The company strategically used an education-intensive model to foster awareness about period products in collaboration with partners nationwide. However, being a for-profit entity, the founder, Guha, was at a crossroads. Balancing the need for profitability, there was mounting pressure to explore additional revenue streams and expand operations and market reach. The dilemma loomed large: opt for a quicker marketing strategy or stay true to the company’s foundational education-centered approach. This case study delves into the dynamic strategies, impactful operations and growth scenarios Asan Cups navigated since its inception. It examines the pivotal choices faced by the founder and explores potential strategies for sustained growth.
Complexity academic level
This case study can be used at both undergraduate and master’s levels. The case study will be handy for strategic management and business strategy courses and can also be used for social entrepreneurship, marketing and entrepreneurship courses.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 11: Strategy.
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Qin Sheng, Shekhar Guha and Leonel Gonzalez
The purpose of this paper is to develop highly efficient decomposition finite difference methods for computing solutions of highly oscillatory beam propagation partial…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop highly efficient decomposition finite difference methods for computing solutions of highly oscillatory beam propagation partial differential equations.
Design/methodology/approach
Highly oscillatory optical wave equations, such as the multidimensional paraxial Helmholtz equation, have been used extensively in modelling propagation of the light from lens to the focal region in various engineering applications. Numerical approximations of solutions of such equations contain crucial light information in focal regions even when the f-number is small. However, it has been difficult to acquire highly oscillatory numerical solutions efficiently. This paper proposes two correlated eikonal decomposition strategies for fast computations of the oscillatory solutions. Structures of the numerical methods are designed via an eikonal, or exponential, transformation. The approach converts successfully the oscillatory problems to non-oscillatory subproblems. Therefore, the underlying beam simulation equations can be solved readily with great accuracy and stability.
Findings
It is found that the two correlated eikonal transformation based decomposition methods effectively remove the highly oscillatory features of the wave equations. The coupled non-oscillatory subproblems resulted are easier to solve. Discretization steps in computations can be chosen to be relatively large and this ensures the efficiency of computations. The decomposed finite difference schemes are simple to use in different optical applications.
Practical implications
The computational approach provides a valuable tool to practical applications, such as those in the defence industry.
Originality/value
Although the eikonal transformation has been used in the theory of nonlinear optics, this is the first time it has been utilized for effective engineering computations.