Yashwant Kashyap, Ankit Bansal and Anil K. Sao
The presence of broken clouds leads to frequent fluctuations in direct normal incident solar irradiation as well as diffuse radiation from the sky. This brings a lot of challenge…
Abstract
Purpose
The presence of broken clouds leads to frequent fluctuations in direct normal incident solar irradiation as well as diffuse radiation from the sky. This brings a lot of challenge for grid integration of solar power plants. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
A new model is presented to nowcast solar radiation by utilizing hourly global horizontal irradiance (GHI) over a large spatial grid. The spatial distribution of the GHI provides information on the presence of a cloud shadow above a given site. This information is extracted with the help of various data processing techniques. The spatial–temporal data analysis is employed to track the extracted cloud shadow image based on a dynamic model. A Kalman filter is applied for the assimilation of data in the tracking of the extracted shadow over a geographical location.
Findings
The proposed model can provide very good forecasting of solar radiation for various time horizons. However, the variation of shadow features between time steps must be included in the dynamic model to forecast accurate GHI values.
Research limitations/implications
In this paper database used is on hourly basis; it can be further improved for the inter-hour level of ground data for more accuracy.
Practical implications
The outcome of this paper would be useful in the field of solar energy application and for weather monitoring purposes.
Originality/value
The forecasted position of the shadow is utilized to prepare and forecast a GHI map for one hour time horizon. Results show that the model can be utilized to forecast solar radiation with accuracy consistent with the contemporary models.
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Ankit Bansal, Rajesh Kr. Singh, Siddhant Issar and Jayson Varkey
In order to improve the supply chain performance, organizations need to improve the efficiency of vendors. Although many techniques are used for vendor efficiency measurement…
Abstract
Purpose
In order to improve the supply chain performance, organizations need to improve the efficiency of vendors. Although many techniques are used for vendor efficiency measurement, there is a lack of research about defining satisficing level to analyze improvement potential of vendors. The purpose of this paper is to incorporate satisficing level of some outputs to determine efficiency improvement potential of existing vendors.
Design/methodology/approach
Method used in this paper is an extension of Data Envelopment Analysis, which has been used frequently for efficiency measurement of Decision Making Units. This method is known as Efficiency Analysis Technique with Output Satisficing (EATWOS), which has been mainly used in the field of economics for efficiency measurement.
Findings
A case illustration of a National Capital Region of Delhi, India, based manufacturer and distributor of packaged drinking water is depicted to portray the practical application of EATWOS in vendor efficiency evaluation and their relative ranking. This method has helped in evaluating the improvement potential in performance of given vendors and helping in strategic decision making for the given organization
Research limitations/implications
In case of more variables, this method becomes more complex to get the solution. Second, sometimes difference in vendors ranking without and with satisficing concept is very less, as in this case. Therefore, recording and analysis of output data of vendors should be done very carefully.
Practical implications
Major implications of this study is that while selecting vendors, organizations should also try to understand improvement potential for given vendors by applying satisficing concept as given in this research. This approach helps in analyzing improvement potentials of suppliers.
Originality/value
This paper explores an innovative approach to rank vendors on basis of certain criteria after considering the satisficing concept and improvement potentials of vendors.
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Veena Bansal and Ankit Agarwal
The purpose of this paper is to establish that there are causal relationships among critical success factors (CSFs) associated with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) project…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to establish that there are causal relationships among critical success factors (CSFs) associated with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) project. The authors prove that: H1 – Vendor (VN) is positively related to Enterprise System Selection Process (ES). H1a – Enterprise System Selection process (ES) mediates the relationship between vendor (VN) and Success (SS). H2 – Project Management (PM) is positively related to Implementation Strategy (IS). H2a – Implementation Strategy (IS) mediates the relationship between Project Management (PM) and Success (SS). H3 – Support of Top Management (TM) is positively related to Project Team Competence (PT). H3a – Project Team Competence (PT) mediates the relationship between Support of Top Management (TM) and Success (SS).
Design/methodology/approach
To test the proposed hypotheses, the authors conducted a survey using a questionnaire. The research questionnaire was floated to 450 respondents; the authors received 168 responses. The authors had to discard 62 responses as their organization had greater than 250 employee and did not qualify to be an Indian SME. The authors were left with 106 responses. The respondents were managers (5.6 percent), consultants (39.6 percent), engineers (50 percent) and the remaining (4.8 percent) did not specify their job. The authors then do regression analysis and path analysis including all other required analysis.
Findings
The authors found that all hypotheses are supported. The management may use these findings to understand relationships among CSFs and use this knowledge to mitigate and manage CSFs.
Originality/value
There are no systematic studies to study relationships among CSFs. The work establishes relationships among CSFs through data collected from organizations that have implemented ERP.
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Neha Tiwari, Vibhuti Gupta and Sheetal Sharma
After completion of the case study, students will be able to decipher key concepts underpinning sustainable entrepreneurship and its application in the recognition and…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
After completion of the case study, students will be able to decipher key concepts underpinning sustainable entrepreneurship and its application in the recognition and exploitation of sustainable business opportunities, decipher the application of circular economy business models, understand the pivots to achieve the billion-dollar valuation and analyse the strategies for value creation during the pivoting journey of a startup.
Case overview/synopsis
The case study traces the journey of Phool.Co, a sustainable biomaterial startup based in a Tier II city of Kanpur located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, by Ankit Agarwal in 2017. Agarwal started with the vision of providing solution to the effects of water pollution and environmental damage. Ganga is not just a river, rather it is the symbol of cultural and religious faith in India. Although the river Ganga is considered a deity in India, it is one of the most polluted rivers. Every year 8,000,000 metric tonnes of waste flowers are dumped into the sacred river to pollute it further. The pollution poses grave dangers to the health and livelihood of millions of Indians. Phool.Co is a sustainable enterprise that has pioneered flower cycling technology. The dumped flowers are recycled to produce organic incense sticks, Florafoam, and “Fleather – the organic alternative to leather”. The case study traces the genesis of Phool.Co and its approach towards sustainability in the context of the circular economy. The case study primarily explores the pivot points for a startup to enter the unicorn club in the present context. To achieve the desired valuation, Agarwal must decide to rethink its business model. Will franchise model work for Phool.Co? Should Agarwal scale up with commercialization of Florafoam to capitalize the opportunity in packaging industry? Vegan leather is a nascent market and how will the consumers respond to Fleather is a pertinent question. The case study attempts to explore the challenges encountered in augmenting the valuation of sustainable enterprises.
Complexity academic level
This case study is suitable for graduate and postgraduate students enrolled in courses related to entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability. The case study is of intermediate-level difficulty. There are no specific prerequisites to understand the case.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
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Kirti Goyal, Satish Kumar, Purnima Rao, Sisira Colombage and Ankit Sharma
This study aims to explore the impact of the containment measures during COVID-19 on individuals’ finances, financial resilience during such distress and identifying the most…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the impact of the containment measures during COVID-19 on individuals’ finances, financial resilience during such distress and identifying the most financially vulnerable among them. Tracing such impact during the pandemic has been challenging due to a lack of representative data. This paper addresses this gap in the present study.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey has been conducted using a structured questionnaire containing various items that portray the impact on income, spending, saving, investment, borrowing, insurance and retirement. The sample consists of 699 respondents and purposive and snowball sampling has been used for data collection. The results are presented and analyzed using infographics and frequency distributions. This study conducts an analysis of variance and Chi-square tests for significance.
Findings
This paper finds a fall in income and limited ability to cope with the current economic conditions. The survey highlights inadequate savings and insurance, weak retirement planning, outstanding loans and under-diversified investments inhibiting financial resilience even among the higher-income group. Particularly, lower-income strata, women and not much educated are most financially vulnerable. Further, no substantial financial benefits have been received from the government and people rely on their usual income sources.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that measures the pandemic’s impact on personal finances, especially in connection with a developing economy like India. Policy interventions are critical to the millions for whom financial literacy is required now more than ever.
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Ankit Suri, Yogesh Sharma, Lokesh Jindal and Rajeev Sijariya
The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of blockchain technology in reducing online fraud among Gen Y and Gen Z.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of blockchain technology in reducing online fraud among Gen Y and Gen Z.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a two-phase approach. Firstly, a systematic literature review is conducted to examine various aspects of blockchain technology and cyber security. Secondly, the Technology Adoption Model is used to study the adoption dynamics of blockchain-based platforms for online data exchange among 415 Gen Y and Z users.
Findings
The results indicate that efficiency and security, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and trust have a positive effect on behavioral intention and attitude towards use. This is the first study to examine the role of blockchain technology to reduce fraud among Gen Y and Gen Z.
Originality/value
This study provides new insights into the adoption of blockchain-based platforms for online data exchange among Gen Y and Gen Z. The study highlights the critical areas of concern for the adoption of blockchain technology and provides managerial implications for fintech firms, banks, and e-commerce platforms. It is unique in its focus on the potential for blockchain technology to reduce fraud among Gen Y and Gen Z, which has not been previously explored in the literature.
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Shiwangi Singh, Akshay Chauhan and Sanjay Dhir
The purpose of this paper is to use Twitter analytics for analyzing the startup ecosystem of India.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to use Twitter analytics for analyzing the startup ecosystem of India.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses descriptive analysis and content analytics techniques of social media analytics to examine 53,115 tweets from 15 Indian startups across different industries. The study also employs techniques such as Naïve Bayes Algorithm for sentiment analysis and Latent Dirichlet allocation algorithm for topic modeling of Twitter feeds to generate insights for the startup ecosystem in India.
Findings
The Indian startup ecosystem is inclined toward digital technologies, concerned with people, planet and profit, with resource availability and information as the key to success. The study categorizes the emotions of tweets as positive, neutral and negative. It was found that the Indian startup ecosystem has more positive sentiments than negative sentiments. Topic modeling enables the categorization of the identified keywords into clusters. Also, the study concludes on the note that the future of the Indian startup ecosystem is Digital India.
Research limitations/implications
The analysis provides a methodology that future researchers can use to extract relevant information from Twitter to investigate any issue.
Originality/value
Any attempt to analyze the startup ecosystem of India through social media analysis is limited. This research aims to bridge such a gap and tries to analyze the startup ecosystem of India from the lens of social media platforms like Twitter.
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Vijaya Sherry Chand and Ketan Satish Deshmukh
The difficulties higher education institutions in developing countries face in finding adequate and relevant onsite student internship opportunities make a case for online…
Abstract
Purpose
The difficulties higher education institutions in developing countries face in finding adequate and relevant onsite student internship opportunities make a case for online internships. The purpose of this paper is to present an online internship model, developed over a two-year period, which challenged students to engage in learning-by-doing projects that addressed a key barrier in the implementation of ICT policies in public education, the paucity of audio-visual content in local languages.
Design/methodology/approach
The design of the model comprised the development of instructional videos by 340 interns, the evaluation of the videos by two interns and their testing by 31 interns through a field experiment using a between-subjects pre-test – post-test design in 54 schools. The process was repeated the following year with the field experiment replaced by the development of teaching manuals. The changes in reflective learning among 112 of the 119 interns who developed video content in this repeat round were assessed.
Findings
The field experiment found that the intern-developed videos improved Mathematics and Science scores among school students but not the attitudes to these subjects. Participation in online internships improved reflective learning.
Research limitations/implications
The evaluation of change in reflective learning is based on self-reported measures.
Practical implications
The online internship model presented in the paper can address concerns related to inadequate internship opportunities, while addressing gaps in public policy implementation by systems such as education, health and rural development.
Originality/value
The paper outlines the design of an online student internship model and a methodology for implementing it. The study indicates the feasibility of a low-cost, large-scale online model of internship.