Shahram Taj, Souheil Badaa, Sarena Garcia-DeLeone and Beena George
This case tackles the diaper industry in a developing country and can be applied to three different undergraduate or graduate level courses, including Marketing Management…
Abstract
Subject area
This case tackles the diaper industry in a developing country and can be applied to three different undergraduate or graduate level courses, including Marketing Management, Strategic Management, and Operations and Supply Chain Management. The case describes the industry, the manufacturing process, along with detailed information about Novatis Group's business and functions and the overall improving economic environment in Morocco.
Study level/applicability
The Novatis Group case has several objectives that can be applied to three different courses within undergraduate and graduate studies including Marketing Management, Strategic Management, and Operations and Supply Chain Management.
Case overview
The case focuses on Novatis Group, a diaper manufacturing company located in Morocco which competes against multinational companies (MNCs) such as Procter and Gamble and Kimberly Clark in order to satisfy the rising diaper needs of the country. Morocco is a developing country that is strengthening its manufacturing industries. The rising economic conditions have given way to a growing middle class and an increased demand for disposable baby diapers. Novatis uses two distribution channels for the diapers: the multi-tiered distribution channel and the streamlined (straight to retailer) channel. Novatis Group is producing diapers at full capacity; still demand has exceeded supply.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will understand the business processes in a developing country and how a small, local company can compete against large MNCs.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available, please consult your Librarian to access.
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Beena George, Rudy Hirschheim and Alexander von Stetten
This paper proposes a new research agenda for information technology (IT) outsourcing,motivated by the belief that the social capital concept enables IT outsourcing researchers to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper proposes a new research agenda for information technology (IT) outsourcing,motivated by the belief that the social capital concept enables IT outsourcing researchers to capture more of the nuances of the client–vendor relationship in IT outsourcing arrangements.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper builds a comprehensive framework of social capital based on Nahapiet and Ghoshal (1998) to examine the IT outsourcing life cycle. Past research on IT outsourcing is examined applying the parameters of the framework to identify issues that have been addressed in research on IT outsourcing and to uncover the gaps in past research.
Findings
The social capital framework is applied to IT outsourcing which suggests new avenues for future outsourcing research.
Research limitations/implications
While past research has identified success factors for IT outsourcing, a significant number of outsourcing arrangement still fail to meet expectations. The research agenda presented in this paper encourages an examination of IT outsourcing from a different perspective to determine how to successfully manage IT outsourcing.
Originality/value
The paper provides a new framework that is useful for identifying the relationships among past research in IT outsourcing as well as for identifying potential topics for future research.
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Rabia Imran, Kamaal Allil and Ali Bassam Mahmoud
The purpose of this paper is to explore the path of motivation leading to organizational commitment resulting in reduced turnover intentions (TIs). It examine the relationship…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the path of motivation leading to organizational commitment resulting in reduced turnover intentions (TIs). It examine the relationship between dimensions of motivation (amotivation, introjected regulations (IRs) and intrinsic motivation (IM)) with dimensions of commitment (affective, normative and continuance). Furthermore, it test the effect of these three dimensions of commitment on TIs.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 467 teachers working in public schools in Dhofar Governate in Sultanate of Oman was selected for the study. A path analysis was conducted to test the hypothesized model.
Findings
The analysis unveils that teacher’s TIs can be reduced with a right mix of motivation and commitment. Furthermore, amotivation is only linked to affective commitment and this linkage is positive; IRs positively affect continuance and normative commitment (NC); and IM positively affects affective commitment and NC. Moreover, a significant negative effect of affective, normative and continuance commitment is found on TIs.
Originality/value
This research sheds light on how motivation can indirectly affect TI through commitment. This study is of immense importance as it focuses on the education sector in Oman especially in Dhofar Governate.
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Giuseppe Festa, Matteo Rossi, Ashutosh Kolte and Luca Marinelli
This research investigates the top five pharmaceutical companies in India to determine whether their financial structures are sound and if they face the risk of bankruptcy…
Abstract
Purpose
This research investigates the top five pharmaceutical companies in India to determine whether their financial structures are sound and if they face the risk of bankruptcy, highlighting the potential contribution of intellectual capital (IC) to financial stability.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis outlines operating ratios, profitability ratios, possibility of bankruptcy (through Z-scores) and attractiveness of the financial structure (through the F-score), with consequent focus on (IC).
Findings
The financial structure of the selected companies seems stable. Changes in the Indian pharmaceutical scenario, above all, regarding the patent system, will force the companies to consider the impact of IC carefully.
Practical implications
Indian pharmaceutical companies need sustainability and development, with increasing focus on patent issues. To enhance innovation capabilities and overcome international competition, they should redesign their business orientation towards IC, mainly when impacting patents.
Originality/value
Using established approaches for predicting potential bankruptcy, this study focuses on the financial performance of top Indian pharmaceutical companies. IC can support financial stability, and this study provides further perspectives for managing their financial structure, both statically and dynamically.
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Indrajit Bhattacharya and Kunal Sharma
The purpose of this paper is to make a strong case for investing in information and communication technologies (ICT) for building up of quality human resource capital for economic…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to make a strong case for investing in information and communication technologies (ICT) for building up of quality human resource capital for economic upliftment of India. An attempt has been made to explore the possibilities of online learning (OL)/e‐learning towards building up of quality human resources in higher education for a developing nation like India. A comprehensive environmental scanning of various e‐learning experiments, tools, projects to facilitate e‐learning or various institutional level efforts has been carried out. The paper also seeks to highlight the options available with traditional institutes for deploying ICT and for implementing e‐learning.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is a descriptive account of the contemporary situation in India with regard to education especially e‐learning and draws on a variety of secondary sources both published and unpublished.
Findings
Argues that the development of e‐learning has been limited and reasons out why. The challenges of traditional face‐to‐face education vis‐à‐vis e‐learning in India are enlisted and suggestions for management of the e‐learning process by institutes which intend to venture into e‐learning are enumerated. The paper advocates the urgency for the traditional institutions to put an impetus on investment in ICT for providing e‐instruction for delivery of knowledge by riding the information super highway.
Research limitations/implications
Presents a review of literature developed from secondary sources.
Practical implications
Models of e‐learning that exclude any face‐to‐face contact may have limited prospects, but blended learning offers significant potential both on and off campus and should be pursued if the benefits of e‐learning are to be fully realized.
Originality/value
This paper provides a useful overview of a scenario of OL/e‐learning in India's higher education; and, from this summary of the present situation, goes on to suggest possible ways to transform the “digital divide” into “digital opportunities”.