Kanika Gupta and Nathi Ram Chauhan
The production of commodities from renewable organic material has gained enormous interest due to the rising public understanding of conscious development. Natural fibers are…
Abstract
Purpose
The production of commodities from renewable organic material has gained enormous interest due to the rising public understanding of conscious development. Natural fibers are accessible in environment, and their parameters depend on their physical traits and chemically engineered makeup. Grewia optiva (GO) comes under the category of bast fibers, also known as Bhimal. This study aims to realize the consequences of alkali treatment on the characterization of natural fibers, their developed yarn and then the woven mat.
Design/methodology/approach
Raw fiber was treated with 20% alkali solution. After treatment, it was evaluated for changes in the general laboratory system. This treatment is known as mercerization, through which the parameters of cellulose fibers can be enhanced. After this process, the content of cellulose increases due to the removal of the hydroxyl group. The removal of microfibrils, hemicellulose and the introduction of hydrogen bonds increase the interactive capacity of fiber. The job was divided into different sections, including acquiring fiber, developing yarn and creating a mat.
Findings
The quality of the surface of the fiber was enhanced after the treatment. Its diameter was reduced to 54.72 microns. In the developed woven mat, it was densified using water treatment and attained grams per square meter (GSM) of 389.7.
Originality/value
The usage of mercerization softens the fiber to twist into yarn, which is finally woven into a mat. Treatment of fabric or mat makes it denser to impart better strength. A woven mat of natural fibers provides maximum strength to the composites.
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Kanika Gupta and Sanjay Sharma
The advent of technology has played a crucial role in changing the landscape of the hospitality sector. One such technology is the adoption and installation of kiosks in hotels…
Abstract
Purpose
The advent of technology has played a crucial role in changing the landscape of the hospitality sector. One such technology is the adoption and installation of kiosks in hotels. While some of the hotels have adopted and installed kiosks for self-services, the other hotels are still not very comfortable with the idea of self-service. This paper aims to explore the possibilities, challenges and issues that hoteliers face while dealing with self-service kiosks, it further investigates the customer’s perspective and its benefits to the end-user.
Design/methodology/approach
This study has assimilated data from hotel managers and executives that have deployed kiosks. This study involved the collection of primary data through structured interviews. Eight different hotels from the UK and India have been compared and analyzed to formulate subcategories to answer the research questions. A total of 200 customers from both the countries were approached to get the primary data; the customers were from the same hotel where the hotel executives and managers were interviewed.
Findings
The customers accepted Kiosks as easy to use, fast to run, fun to operate, but, lacking human interaction and counter language issues were simultaneously discussed. Kiosks have been emerging as self-service technologies in hotels and play a key role in reducing bottlenecks in hotel operations. The technology anxiety and counter service argument is merely a transition phase that will fade away gradually. However, the financial feasibility and the level of adoption depend upon the level of operations and the demographic characteristics of customers.
Research limitations/implications
The dependence of data from the person interviewed and their biases for answers, along with the trust and credibility of the data available online remain the biggest challenge. Increasing the sample size and more participation from different hotels would have made the study even more useful.
Originality/value
The research seeks to eliminate the gap in research by studying both the hotels' and the customers' perspective toward kiosks deployment in hotels. The results of the study would highlight the potential challenges being faced by hotel operations and opportunities they perceive in kiosks installation, therefore the results are very useful for hotels, hoteliers, academicians and students pursuing a career in the hospitality sector.
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This paper aims to identify the role of internet/web services in spiritual tourism and the challenges faced in internet deployment and how they could be overcome.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify the role of internet/web services in spiritual tourism and the challenges faced in internet deployment and how they could be overcome.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was carried via structured questionnaires/interviews with open‐ended and closed‐ended questions with Indian pilgrims and the shrine board members. Also the web site/portals of Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and other religious places were analyzed.
Findings
Findings show the level of awareness amongst the pilgrims about how internet can play a major role in providing ease of information.
Practical implications
The use of information and communication technology provides greater convenience and comfort to pilgrims by providing access to information. The technology element facilitates hassle free darshan to tourists, encourages the rate of repeat visits by managing the long wait hours and also information about other services.
Originality/value
The paper focuses on the growing needs of internet in spiritual tourism in India.
Gunjan M. Sanjeev, Kanika Gupta and Rumki Bandyopadhyay
The purpose of this paper is to provide a practitioners' perspective on financial challenges prevalent in the Indian hospitality industry. The paper also makes an attempt to give…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a practitioners' perspective on financial challenges prevalent in the Indian hospitality industry. The paper also makes an attempt to give useful insights into possible solutions to the issues raised.
Design/methodology/approach
The study assimilates data from senior finance professionals from a spectrum of hotels in India. The study involves the collection of primary data through structured interviews.
Findings
The study highlights that some of the financial challenges faced by the Indian hospitality industry include high financing costs, multiplicity of taxes charged, licensing and legal issues, working capital issues and eroding margins. The study also gives some useful insights to the possible solutions to the challenges identified.
Research limitations/implications
This paper provides some very useful qualitative analysis of the contemporary challenges and their possible solutions prevalent in the Indian hospitality sector. The findings will be useful for hoteliers, policy makers and researchers to deliberate on the issues raised. However, it does not involve any quantitative analysis.
Originality/value
This study makes a sincere attempt to bring forth some real life issues, challenges and solutions which would be a good value addition to the existing literature.
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Megha Gupta, Kanika T. Bhal and Mahfooz A. Ansari
Drawing on similarity-attraction hypothesis and generational gap literatures, this study aims to examine the impact of age difference in a leader–member dyad on leader–member…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on similarity-attraction hypothesis and generational gap literatures, this study aims to examine the impact of age difference in a leader–member dyad on leader–member exchange (LMX). The study hypothesized that relational age would impact the subordinates-reported LMX. However, given that leaders have structural power over subordinates and hence have mechanisms of interaction available to them, the age difference might not determine their perception of quality of LMX. The study also hypothesized that generation gap in values and beliefs leads to lack of trust, on the part of subordinates, which in turn might be the reason for poor quality of LMX.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 200 leader–member dyads from five organizations in the National Capital Region of India were used in this study. Data were collected via separate structured questionnaires for leaders and members, which comprised of standard scales of LMX and perceived trust, and demographics.
Findings
Hypotheses received substantial support from the data with a few exceptions. Only the loyalty dimension of perceived trust mediates the relationship between relational age and member perception of LMX.
Research limitations/implications
Results have implications for relational age and LMX interventions. However, the results are to be viewed in the light of members’ perspective. While this is a common practice in LMX research, it would be interesting to explore leaders’ trust and psychological reactions as well, for additional insights into leadership practice.
Originality/value
Limited work has been done to explore the impact of relational age on LMX, that too mediated by trust. An attempt has been made in this study to do so via leader–member dyads.
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Smita Gupta and Kanika T. Bhal
In the scope of the immense growth of corporate frauds and scandals, reporting unethical practices could be considered as an important mechanism to control them and ultimately…
Abstract
Purpose
In the scope of the immense growth of corporate frauds and scandals, reporting unethical practices could be considered as an important mechanism to control them and ultimately improve organizational quality. To this end, this study proposes the conceptual framework comprising the enablers impacting employees' tendencies and behaviors to reporting misdemeanor in the workplace.
Design/methodology/approach
Systematic review of literature has been carried out. To understand the complexities among various enablers and to analyze their driving power and contingencies, a modified total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) approach has been adopted.
Findings
The findings indicate that enablers such as moral identity (MI) and job satisfaction (JS) having higher driving power (come at the bottom of the hierarchy) are relatively more important. Furthermore, perceived personal cost (PC), moral courage (MC), self-efficacy (SE) and anger have high dependent power of factors. Finally, the paper provides two paths that can lead to whistleblower's ethical decision.
Research limitations/implications
A conceptual framework delivered in this paper requires to test against the field data. However, the conceptual understanding of driving enablers paves the way to top management in recruiting and hiring people in the workplace.
Originality/value
This study represents the first attempt to apply TISM for whistleblowing phenomenon. It provides a comprehensive conceptual framework in order to address the relative importance of various individual enablers in developing reporting tendencies against misdemeanors.
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Smita Gupta and Kanika T. Bhal
This study aims to focus on justice perceptions as the operating mechanism for leadership to impact whistle-blowing intention (WBI). Consequently, it aimed to test the mediating…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to focus on justice perceptions as the operating mechanism for leadership to impact whistle-blowing intention (WBI). Consequently, it aimed to test the mediating role of justice perception through which ethical leadership (EL) and servant leadership (SL) lead to WBI.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were gathered from 136 employees of IT companies in India through a questionnaire survey to test the proposed relationships.
Findings
The analysis showed that both EL and SL predict employees’ WBI via justice as the mediating mechanism.
Research limitations/implications
Formal and informal mechanisms by leaders should focus on ensuring that justice is not only done but also perceived by their subordinates in such a way that just being an ethical or servant leader by itself might not result in pro-social behavior like whistle-blowing.
Originality/value
Many studies have shown the effect of SL and EL on outcomes like whistle-blowing; however, this study comprises that justice perception might play a critical mediating role through which both leadership styles impact normative/prosocial behavior like whistleblowing. Understanding the role of leadership and justice perception can offer valuable insights into one’s WBI and tendencies, thus increasing the amount of variance in the WBI that researchers can explain.
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Kanika Jolly, Sybille Krzywinski, PVM Rao and Deepti Gupta
Whilst motorcycling is an activity of pleasure in most parts of the world, in India, it is a regular mode of commuting. The number of registered motorized two wheelers increased…
Abstract
Purpose
Whilst motorcycling is an activity of pleasure in most parts of the world, in India, it is a regular mode of commuting. The number of registered motorized two wheelers increased at the rate of 14.7 percent during the year 2016-2017 to reach the figure of 20.19m in 2018. But, with this increase, the number of motorcycle road accidents is also increasing. Uncomfortable riding clothing is one of the major factors for motorcycle rider’s muscular fatigue, which might at times lead to serious accidents. No kinematic human models have been, so far, used for the design of protective, functional and aesthetic looking products, and the result is, hence, a compromised fit that is not protective or comfortable. The purpose of this paper is to develop virtual 3D human body models for specific postures of a motorcycle rider.
Design/methodology/approach
Kinematic analysis of a motorcycle rider was conducted to identify typical body postures obtained by the motorcycle rider while mounting and riding a motorcycle. The identified body postures were mapped on a virtual parametric human model to obtain digital model of a motorcycle rider. 3D garment patterns for jacket and trouser were developed on all the four body postures. 3D patterns were flattened out to get 2D flat patterns that were compared and analyzed, and appropriate pattern shapes from each of the four postures were selected. Virtual fit analysis was conducted for the finally garment.
Findings
It is well established that a static 2D anthropometry fails to accurately capture the dimensions of complex 3D human form, yielding poor garment fit. Therefore, in this study, virtual, 3D human body models were developed in selected dynamic poses. Garment patterns developed in 3D have the typical movement inbuilt in them; hence, they offer more comfort and ease of motion to the wearer.
Originality/value
The identification of typical body postures of motorcycle rider has not been done before. The CAD models developed in the study can be used for the generation of ergonomic garment patterns for the motorcycle riders.
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Aachu Agrawal, Rajeev Gupta, Kanika Varma and Beena Mathur
Trans fatty acids (TFA) are deleterious to health and can lead to multiple diseases. The purpose of this paper is to study their content in Indian sweets and snacks (fast foods).
Abstract
Purpose
Trans fatty acids (TFA) are deleterious to health and can lead to multiple diseases. The purpose of this paper is to study their content in Indian sweets and snacks (fast foods).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper used the food composition and analysis tables of the Indian National Institute of Nutrition to determine fatty acid composition of common nutrients. Separate tables provide nutrient composition of various Indian sweets and snacks including methods of preparation and amount of ingredients used. The paper calculated detailed nutritive value of these fast foods with focus on fatty acid composition using these tables. The nutritive values of more than 200 Indian sweets and snacks were determined and are presented.
Findings
The study shows that Indian sweets and snacks are very energy‐dense with calorie content varying from 136 to 494 kcal/100 g in sweets and 148‐603 kcal/100 g in snacks. TFA content of sweets varies from 0.3 to 17.7 g/100 g and snacks from 0.1 to 19.8 g/100 g. This translates into 1.9‐53.0 fat energy per cent in sweets and 1.8‐52.0 fat energy per cent in snacks.
Research limitations/implications
The study consists of analysis of secondary data obtained from raw ingredients. Many chemical changes occur during cooking and were not estimated.
Originality/value
High dietary intake of TFA leads to cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and many chronic diseases. This is possibly the largest attempt to determine TFA content of commonly used fast‐foods in India and shows that some of the traditional Indian sweets and snacks have high levels.