Abhishek Kansal, Akshay Dvivedi and Pradeep Kumar
The purpose of this study to investigate the organized porous network zinc (OPNZ) scaffolds. Their mechanical characteristics, surface roughness and fracture mechanism were…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study to investigate the organized porous network zinc (OPNZ) scaffolds. Their mechanical characteristics, surface roughness and fracture mechanism were assessed in relation to their structural properties. The prospects of fused deposition modeling (FDM) for printing metal scaffolds via rapid tooling have also been studied.
Design/methodology/approach
Zn scaffolds with different pore and strut sizes were manufactured via the rapid tooling method. This method is a multistep process that begins with the 3D printing of a polymer template. Later, a paraffin template was obtained from the prepared polymer template. Finally, this paraffin template was used to fabricate the Zn scaffold using microwave sintering. The characterization of prepared Zn samples involved structural characterization, microstructural study, surface roughness testing and compression testing. Moreover, based on the Gibson–Ashby model analysis, the model equations’ constant values were evaluated, which can help in predicting the mechanical properties of Zn scaffolds.
Findings
The scanning electron microscopy study confirmed that the fabricated sample pores were open and interconnected. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the Zn scaffold contained hexagonal closed-packed Zn peaks related to the a-Zn phase, validating that scaffolds were free from contamination and impurity. The range for ultimate compressive strength, compressive modulus and plateau stresses for Zn samples were found to be 6.75–39 MPa, 0.14–3.51 GPa and 1.85–12.6 MPa by adjusting their porosity, which are comparable with the cancellous bones. The average roughness value for the Zn scaffolds was found to be 1.86 µm.
Originality/value
This research work can widen the scope for extrusion-based FDM printers for fabricating biocompatible and biodegradable metal Zn scaffolds. This study also revealed the effects of scaffold structural properties like porosity, pore and strut size effect on their mechanical characteristics in view of tissue engineering applications.
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Abhishek Kajal and Siddharth Bansal
The purpose of this study is to analyse the impact of corporate attributes like a company’s profitability, size, age, leverage and board size on companies’ sustainability…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to analyse the impact of corporate attributes like a company’s profitability, size, age, leverage and board size on companies’ sustainability reporting as measured through India’s new business responsibility and sustainability reporting (BRSR) framework.
Design/methodology/approach
A random sample of 130 companies was taken from the top 1,000 listed companies on the National Stock Exchange. Sequential mixed methods research approach was used to prepare a sustainability quality index. Then, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the impact on the quality of reporting by Indian companies.
Findings
Interestingly, the analysis revealed that traditional metrics like age, profitability, board size and leverage did not have significant associations with reporting quality. Rather, the size of a company in terms of market capitalisation was found to have a strong positive impact on sustainability reporting.
Research limitations/implications
This was a cross-sectional study, as time series data for BRSR reporting is not yet available. Also, only five parameters were taken for analysis. Lastly, subjective judgment in content analysis may be involved.
Practical implications
This suggests that only larger companies in India are prioritising sustainability reporting over smaller ones. It affirms the legitimacy and stakeholder theory in the Indian context.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first endeavours to assess the efficacy of the new Indian BRSR framework and test its primary objectives. Furthermore, significant implications have been given for managers to catalyse and reinforce the sustainability momentum down the lane across companies of all sizes in India.
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Mayank Choubey, K.P. Maity and Abhishek Sharma
This research explores the finite element modeling of the crater and material removal rate (MRR) in micro-electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM) with and without vibration of…
Abstract
Purpose
This research explores the finite element modeling of the crater and material removal rate (MRR) in micro-electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM) with and without vibration of the workpiece. The application of workpiece vibration in the micro-EDM process improved flushing efficiency and enhanced material removal rate (MRR).
Design/methodology/approach
In this work, the two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element method (FEM) has been developed to predict the shape of the crater with and without vibration. The temperature distribution on the workpiece surface with and without vibration has been obtained in the form of the contour plot.
Findings
The MRR obtained from the numerical model revealed that there was an enhancement in MRR in micro-EDM with vibration as compared to without vibration. The effect of process parameters on MRR in micro-EDM with and without is also presented in this work.
Originality/value
In this work, the two-dimensional axisymmetric FEM model has been developed to predict the shape of the crater with and without vibration.
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Abhishek Behl and Pankaj Dutta
The purpose of this paper is to understand the interlinkages between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and crowdfunding in the context of disaster relief operations (DRO). It…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the interlinkages between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and crowdfunding in the context of disaster relief operations (DRO). It intends to explore how information quality moderates the relationship of CSR and crowdfunding to achieve financial and social stability. The study also controls variables such as type of disaster, size of the firm and sector to which the firms belong while drawing implications.
Design/methodology/approach
The study collects empirical data in an Indian context through a structured questionnaire. The respondents belong to organizations which made a financial contribution toward DRO during the past decade (2008–2018). The sample size for data analysis is 232 responses belonging to different industries like plastic, chemical, textile and apparel, automotive parts and electronics, and construction. The study employs partial least squares structural equation modeling for testing the hypothesis.
Findings
Results indicate a positive effect of CSR activities on donation-based crowdfunding to achieve financial and social normalcy in a DRO. CSR can thus be used as an alternate way to support DRO. Results also reveal that quality of information positively impacts the relationship between crowdfunding and social aid as well as financial aid offered to the victims of the disasters. It is further observed that the type of disaster accounts for the inflow and frequency of funds made by companies as a part of their CSR activities.
Research limitations/implications
The study restricts its analysis to CSR contributions made by Indian firms for DRO in an Indian context. While the study is centered in an Indian context, it holds strong implications by offering guidelines and framework for integrating funds of the government, CSR contributions of companies and donations made by citizens. The outcome also provokes thoughts on testing the results with multiple disasters across the globe in order to validate the findings and possibly extend them.
Originality/value
The approach of the study holds a unique slot in understanding concepts relating to CSR, crowdfunding and information science literature in the context of DRO. The study offers unique contribution in making the readers aware how CSR funds, when guided through a donation-based crowdfunding platform can help achieve social and financial aid for the victims of natural disaster.
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Musarrat Shaheen, MD Sikandar Azam, Mahesh Kumar Soma and T. Jagan Mohan Kumar
The purpose of this paper is to develop a competency dictionary and model for contractual workers of the steel manufacturing sector of India.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a competency dictionary and model for contractual workers of the steel manufacturing sector of India.
Design/methodology/approach
In-depth interviews with 30 supervisors and behavioral events interviews (BEIs) with 40 contractual workers were conducted to identify and validate the competencies of the contractual workers.
Findings
The competencies identified are arranged according to the similarity and dissimilarity between it under three broad categories of competencies, i.e., knowledge, skills and attitudes. These categories are used to develop a competency dictionary which has behavioral indicators, and a framework that can be used to map and evaluate the competencies.
Practical implications
The competency dictionary and the framework developed in the present study will assist human resource practitioners in implementing competency-based human resource processes such as recruitment and selection, training and development and performance management for the contractual workers in the manufacturing sector.
Originality/value
The present study is among the few empirical studies that provide a competency dictionary and a framework of contractual workers in the manufacturing sector of India.
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Gordhan K. Saini and Arvind Sahay
This study aims to examine the importance of credit and low price guarantee (LPG) on consumer purchase intention across types of retail store formats in an emerging market…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the importance of credit and low price guarantee (LPG) on consumer purchase intention across types of retail store formats in an emerging market context.
Design/methodology/approach
A 2 (kirana/modern retail)×2 (high/low LPG)×2 (credit/no credit) experimental design was used for this study. A sample of 200 respondents was asked about their purchase intention for a newly introduced hypothetical toothpaste brand and six hypotheses were tested.
Findings
Findings show that credit and level of LPG determine consumer's purchase intention across store formats. The presence of credit and high LPG increases the purchase intention; however, relatively importance of these two varies by type of store. The absence of credit at kirana store definitely reduces the buying intention, while same is not true for modern retail store, where level of LPG is more important than the credit. Interestingly, buyer is likely to discount high LPG for a month's credit offered by a kirana store.
Practical implications
The study can help practitioners and scholars to understand consumer responses to credit and LPG in buying decisions, and subsequently in designing a better product offer at a particular store format in emerging markets.
Originality/value
Important insights are provided about the consumer behavior resulting from the presence or absence of credit and high or low levels of LPG in an emerging market context. The study also has public policy implications in a country where FDI in retail is a hotly debated topic.
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Md Doulotuzzaman Xames, Fariha Kabir Torsha and Ferdous Sarwar
The purpose of this paper is to predict the machining performance of electrical discharge machining of Ti-13Nb-13Zr (TNZ) alloy, a promising biomedical alloy, using artificial…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to predict the machining performance of electrical discharge machining of Ti-13Nb-13Zr (TNZ) alloy, a promising biomedical alloy, using artificial neural networks (ANN) models.
Design/methodology/approach
In the research, three major performance characteristics, i.e. the material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR) and surface roughness (SR), were chosen for the study. The input parameters for machining were the voltage, current, pulse-on time and pulse-off time. For the ANN model, a two-layer feedforward network with sigmoid hidden neurons and linear output neurons were chosen. Levenberg–Marquardt backpropagation algorithm was used to train the neural networks.
Findings
The optimal ANN structure comprises four neurons in input layer, ten neurons in hidden layer and one neuron in the output layer (4–10-1). In predicting MRR, the 60–20-20 data split provides the lowest MSE (0.0021179) and highest R-value for training (0.99976). On the contrary, the 70–15-15 data split results in the best performance in predicting both TWR and SR. The model achieves the lowest MSE and highest R-value for training in predicting TWR as 1.17E-06 and 0.84488, respectively. Increasing the number of hidden neurons of the network further deteriorates the performance. In predicting SR, the authors find the best MSE and R-value as 0.86748 and 0.94024, respectively.
Originality/value
This is a novel approach in performance prediction of electrical discharge machining in terms of new workpiece material (TNZ alloys).