Computer usage has become commonplace and there has been an increasing number of local efforts in organising indigenous information for individual and institutional utility…
Abstract
Computer usage has become commonplace and there has been an increasing number of local efforts in organising indigenous information for individual and institutional utility. Access to information online or in CD‐ROM media is now just a matter of money; at the same time access to indigenous information has remained a challenging effort both for the user and the infomediary. Information services/products of all kinds are being generated by various agencies in the government, public and private sectors and are emerging out into the Indian information marketplace. There are a number of abstracting journals, which, in a natural process of migration, are now available in dual formats – print as well as machine readable. Besides bibliographic information, service providers are generating factual information – as directories of all descriptions, financial and commercial data, full texts of case laws, export‐import policy and so on. In this paper an attempt is made to present an overview of some of the important electronic databases developed in India or on Indian topics.
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Pabitra Kumar Das, Mohammad Younus Bhat, Sonal Gupta and Javeed Ahmad Gaine
This study aims to examine the links between carbon emissions, electric vehicles, economic growth, energy use, and urbanisation in 15 countries from 2010 to 2020.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the links between carbon emissions, electric vehicles, economic growth, energy use, and urbanisation in 15 countries from 2010 to 2020.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts seminal panel methods of moments quantile regression with fixed effects to trace the distributional aspect of the relationship. The reliability of methods is confirmed via fully modified ordinary least squares coefficients.
Findings
This study reveals that fossil fuel use, economic activity, and urbanisation negatively impact environmental quality, whereas renewable energy sources have a significant positive long-term effect on environmental quality in the selected panel of countries.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitation of this study is the generalisability of the findings, as the study is confined to a limited number of countries, and focuses on non-renewable and renewable energy sources.
Practical implications
Finally, this study proposes several policy recommendations for decision-makers and policymakers in the 15 nations to address climate change, boost sales of electric vehicles, and increase the use of renewable energy sources.
Originality/value
This study calls for a comprehensive transition towards green energy in the transportation sector, enhancing economic growth, fostering employment opportunities, and improving environmental quality.
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Library automation is required in academic libraries to meet the dynamic demands of clients. This study aims to investigate the level of clients’ satisfaction of Sam Jonah library…
Abstract
Purpose
Library automation is required in academic libraries to meet the dynamic demands of clients. This study aims to investigate the level of clients’ satisfaction of Sam Jonah library automation.
Design/methodology/approach
The study utilized the descriptive research design by using an exploratory case study research method. A disproportionate stratified random sampling was used to select 322 respondents (undergraduates, postgraduates and lecturers/researchers) who consented to participate in the study. Questionnaire and informal interview were used for the data collection.
Findings
The study showed that more than half of the clients of Sam Jonah library were moderately satisfied with the library’s automation. Clients mostly access internet/Wi-Fi and reference service. Patronage of the services including photocopying, borrowing of books (circulation), e-resources/academic databases, institutional repository, library website and the OPAC was not encouraging. Increase in user education was recommended to improve their usage.
Research limitations/implications
The study was limited to only one academic library, namely, Sam Jonah library of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Originality/value
The study provides insight into a case study of satisfactory level of clients in accessing automated services of Sam Jonah Library to serve as a basis for further research.
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The purpose of this research is to study various issues concerning the IR software/system involved in development of institutional repositories (IRs) in India.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to study various issues concerning the IR software/system involved in development of institutional repositories (IRs) in India.
Design/methodology/approach
The survey research method was used. The data collection tool applied for the study was a web questionnaire, which was created with the help of software provided by surveymonkey.com
Findings
It was observed that 79 per cent of the institutions had implemented the DSpace IR software package. The respondents considered the End‐user interface to be the top ranking IR‐system feature. It was found that all IRs supported Text (HTML, Postscript, PDF, Spreadsheet etc.) file formats. Half of the respondents marked bitstream copying as a long‐term preservation strategy. Almost all institutional repositories were OAI‐PMH‐compliant.
Research limitations/implications
Only Indian institutional repositories were studied.
Originality/value
This is the first detailed study focusing on the IR system/software aspects of IR. The present study has identified the existence of 16 functional IRs, some of which were not registered in any of the directories such as ROAR, Open DOAR.
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Nosrat Riahinia and Fatimah Zandian
This study seeks to examine the postgraduate students of two universities (Tarbiat Moallem and Tarbiat Modares) in Tehran to discover how they use online databases and general…
Abstract
Purpose
This study seeks to examine the postgraduate students of two universities (Tarbiat Moallem and Tarbiat Modares) in Tehran to discover how they use online databases and general search engines.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was carried out focusing on postgraduate students' use of online databases provided by information providers (IPs). A sample population was selected among some postgraduate students, as patrons of central libraries of two universities in Tehran. The study was performed by means of a questionnaire given to the participants. Initially, on the basis of a sample pre‐test multi‐choice questionnaire, four information providers were selected as information hosts that were well known to the sampled students. Afterwards, the main questionnaire was developed and distributed among participants. Both participating libraries had a separate e‐databases hall for postgraduate students, so, when coming to use the online computers to search the databases, students were asked to fill out the questionnaires according to their experiences on using online resources. The study was implemented during October to December 2006 and the sample population were those postgraduate students who used the central libraries' e‐resources in campus during the period.
Findings
The results show that 63.4 per cent of respondents use online databases, followed by search engines (24.3 per cent), and print materials (11.3 per cent). Participants ranked Google as the most favourable search engine. In a comparison to using databases versus search engines, 58.4 per cent of respondents stated that they use online databases for seeking scientific information, while 33.6 per cent use search engines.
Originality/value
The originality of this study lies in the fact that it reveals postgraduate students' evaluation of four online IPs that are well known to most of the students in this study.
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Dipali Yadav, Gautam Dutta and Kuntal Saha
Implementing food safety measures (FSMs) have become a prerequisite for food firms looking to export internationally. Many exporters find it difficult to comply with multiple…
Abstract
Purpose
Implementing food safety measures (FSMs) have become a prerequisite for food firms looking to export internationally. Many exporters find it difficult to comply with multiple regulations, and their consignments are often rejected at borders due to food safety concerns. Hence, harmonization in food safety standards is arguably the most contentious topic regarding the export market since it affects international trade. Accordingly, the paper uses the case of Indian seafood exporters to identify key FSMs, investigate stringency associated with them and rank international markets based on degree of stringency for selected FSMs.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the authors identify the key FSMs by using the Delphi method. Then, the authors apply the Fuzzy analytical hierarchical process (FAHP) method to calculate weights of the FSMs as criteria. Lastly, the authors apply the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach to rank markets. To compute fuzzy TOPSIS, weights are derived from fuzzy AHP.
Findings
This study’s findings suggest that product and process standards, traceability requirements and tolerance limits for residues are the most stringent FSMs, among others. Besides, the overall ranking of markets reveal that the European Union (EU), the USA and Japan ranked lowest and perceived to have the most stringent food safety requirements.
Originality/value
The paper offers guidance to firms and policymakers to manage their efforts and resources during food safety implementation by focussing on critical FSMs. Researchers will get insights about FSMs for further empirical investigation. To the authors’ knowledge, no study examined the stringency associated with various FSMs in the seafood industry.
Sanjeet Singh and Surya Majumdar
The purpose of this paper is to develop data envelopment analysis (DEA) models and algorithms for efficiency improvement when the inputs and output weights are restricted and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop data envelopment analysis (DEA) models and algorithms for efficiency improvement when the inputs and output weights are restricted and there is fixed availability of inputs in the system.
Design/methodology/approach
Limitation on availability of inputs is represented in the form of constant sum of inputs (CSOI) constraint. The amount of excess input of an inefficient decision-making unit (DMU) is redistributed among other DMUs in such a way so that there is no reduction in their efficiency. DEA models have been developed to design the optimum strategy to reallocate the excess input.
Findings
The authors have developed the method for reallocating the excess input among DMUs while under CSOI constraint and parameter weight restrictions. It has been shown that in this work to improve the efficiency of an inefficient DMU one needs the cooperation of selected few DMUs. The working of the models and results have been shown through a case study on carbon dioxide emissions of 32 countries.
Research limitations/implications
The limitation of the study is that only one DMU can expect to benefit from the application of these methods at any given time.
Practical implications
Results of the paper are useful in situations when decision maker is exploring the possibility of transferring the excess resources from underperforming DMUs to the other DMUs to improve the performance.
Originality/value
This strategy of reallocation of excess input will be very useful in situations when decision maker is exploring the possibility of transferring the excess resources from underperforming DMUs to the other DMUs to improve the performance. Unlike the existing works on efficiency improvement under CSOI, this work seeks to address the issue of efficiency improvement when the input/output parameter weights are also restricted.
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Antonio Cosma, Andreï V. Kostyrka and Gautam Tripathi
We show how to use a smoothed empirical likelihood approach to conduct efficient semiparametric inference in models characterized as conditional moment equalities when data are…
Abstract
We show how to use a smoothed empirical likelihood approach to conduct efficient semiparametric inference in models characterized as conditional moment equalities when data are collected by variable probability sampling. Results from a simulation experiment suggest that the smoothed empirical likelihood based estimator can estimate the model parameters very well in small to moderately sized stratified samples.
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Shubhangi Gautam and Pardeep Kumar
Purpose – This study aims to investigate how behavioural biases affect cryptocurrency investment choices. The study also evaluates how risk tolerance mediates the relationship…
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims to investigate how behavioural biases affect cryptocurrency investment choices. The study also evaluates how risk tolerance mediates the relationship between behavioural biases and investment decision-making.
Need for the Study – The study is required to refine research methods and to ensure the reliability and validity of findings on behavioural biases in cryptocurrency investment decision-making.
Methodology – This pilot study involved responses from individuals in India’s western and northern regions who either invested in cryptocurrencies or had adequate knowledge of such investments. To assess the normality, validity, and reliability of the questionnaire data, a sample of 51 individuals was analysed using SPSS software.
Findings – The results of this study validate the reliability of the questionnaire in conducting pilot research by attaining high reliability with high coefficients of measures and reasonable normality.
Originality/value – The study confirmed the tool’s efficiency to analyse various specific antecedents influencing investing choices.
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Mainak Ranjan Chaki, Sanjib Biswas, Banhi Guha, Dragan Pamucar and Gautam Bandyopadhyay
“Know thyself” helps one to decide the career goal of his/her life and enables one to become self-concordant. In this context, the present work aims to discern the childhood…
Abstract
Purpose
“Know thyself” helps one to decide the career goal of his/her life and enables one to become self-concordant. In this context, the present work aims to discern the childhood interests (CI) of the HR professionals vis-à-vis their relevance.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study is grounded on two theoretical perspectives such as Socio-Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) and Holland Theory of Career Choice (HTCC). In this regard, a mixed methodology has been applied. The research has been carried out in two phases. In the first phase, a focused group of experienced HR professionals was interviewed to understand their CI and their relevance to the HR profession through a qualitative analysis method such as narrative analysis. In the second phase, an Intuitionistic Fuzzy Number-based Full Consistency Method (FUCOM) is applied to find out the dominant CI based on the ratings given by 423 Indian HR professionals.
Findings
All professionals agreed that their CI have helped them perform in their profession. The research identifies five themes or main attributes of personality: Creative (Aesthetic-Non Verbal/Cultural), Communicative (Verbal/ Expressive Activities), People friendliness (Social Contribution), Socially Inclusive (Sociological leadership interest) and Physical Activity (Kinesthetic interests) with 24 subattributes (i.e. childhood interests). It is found that intrinsic interests in societal contributions have been a dominant feature since the childhood days of HR professionals. In all cases, FUCOM shows a very small DFC value <0.00005.
Practical implications
The research provides an important direction to the decision-makers for policy making and aspiring professionals an essential impetus to career planning.
Originality/value
This study is a rare one to discern CI using a mixed methodology for Indian HR professionals.