Search results

The transition from centralized thermal power plants to distributed renewable energy sources complicates the balance between power supply and load demand in electrical networks. Energy storage systems (ESS) offer a viable solution to this challenge. This research aims to analyze the factors influencing the implementation of ESS in the Indian smart grid.

To analyze the factors affecting ESS deployment in the grid, the SAP-LAP framework (situation-actor-process and learning-action-performance) integrated with e-IRP (efficient-interpretive ranking process) was used. The variables of SAP-LAP elements were selected from expert opinion and a literature review. Here, e-IRP was utilized to prioritize elements of SAP-LAP (actors in terms of processes and actions in terms of performance).

This analysis prioritized five stakeholders in the Indian power industry for energy storage implementation: government agencies/policymakers, ESS technology developers/manufacturers, private players, research and development/academic institutions, and contractors. Furthermore, the study prioritized the necessary actions that these stakeholders must take.

The study’s findings help identify actors and manage different actions in implementing grid energy storage integration. Ranking these variables would help develop a strategic roadmap for ESS deployment and decisions about adopting new concepts.

It is one of the first attempts to analyze factors influencing ESS implementation in the power grid. Here, qualitative and quantitative methodologies are used to identify and prioritize various aspects of ESS implementation. As a result, the stakeholder can grasp the concept much more quickly.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze customers’ purchasing behavior with respect to perceived benefit and the perceived risk towards customer competency in firms. In this research, the authors validate the concept of customer competency in eight dimensions (i.e. e-trust, quality of products and services, customer support, application design, reasonable price, availability of user-generated content, replacement and returns and risk in purchasing products) and examine empirically its impression on company’s decision-making performance.

The findings are based on an empirical analysis of survey data from 69 respondents and demonstrate a large, significant and positive relationship between customer competency and firm’s decision-making performance.

The results reveal that majorly three dimensions of competency, i.e. application design, reasonable price and user-generated content (UGC), will impact significantly the decision making performance of firm. This is the empirical study to conceptualize, operationalize and validate the concept of customer competency and to study its impact on decision-making performance. The validity of customer competency constructs as conceived and operationalized suggests the potential future scope by evaluating its relationship with possible antecedents and consequences. For practitioners, the result provides important guidelines for increasing firm’s decision-making performance through the use of customer behavior.

Further in this research, it is critical to understand that other constructs of customer competency may likewise play an important part in the advancement of expectations of customers. These constructs comprise customers’ self-effectiveness, encouragement and innovation thinking (i.e. observed comparative advantage, complexity and compatibility) of business-to-customer firms in e-commerce. Future research studying these constructs could improve the understanding of success factors for e-commerce firms. The model used in this study can further be extended to understand the variance in a firm’s decision-making.

The prime target of this questionnaire was to gather all of the information about how consumers behave while interacting with e-commerce portals. The questions were based on the factors identified in literature reviews. Previous studies also look at consumer competency toward a particular internet portal and its vendors; however, through this survey, the authors want to look at how consumers behave while shopping on e-commerce portals. This was a clear representation of the authors’ research strategy.

The balance between power supply and demand gets more challenging when electrical networks switch from centralized thermal power plants to distributed renewable energy sources for power generation. Such problems present a diverse set of challenges that require a solution through system and control methods. Hence, the purpose of this study is to understand the issues faced by each actor in the power sector’s supply chain, which would restrict the stability of the power supply and quality of service.

This study provides a conceptual model, soft system methodology (SSM), for power supply management or grid integration issues through the mapping of identified issues with their possible solutions.

This study offers an analysis that uses methods of problem structuring to construct the major issues and measure technological advancements in the energy sector. This research highlights the need to integrate energy storage systems with the grid for the effective operation of the system to manage various power supply issues.

SSM is used to establish a mechanism to manage grid integration problems by comparing established problems with their potential solutions. The resulting framework would help managers, researchers, policymakers, engineers and smart grid professionals to make the required and informed decisions on the management of grid integration issues and to form strategies fostering efficient and secure energy network.

The research is based on a conceptual framework for enhancing energy efficiency and integrated smart grid technology, which would contribute to a better supply of electricity and a more environmentally sustainable future.

Battery integration with renewable energy and conventional power grid is common practice in smart grid systems and provides higher operational flexibility. Abundant issues and challenges to the Indian smart grid while integrating renewable energy and storage technology will give timely emphasis to grasp uninterrupted power supply in forthcoming trend. Hence, this paper aims to acknowledge different barriers of battery integration and evaluate them to develop approaches for restricting their influence.

A multi-model approach is used to illustrate how these challenges are interrelated by systematically handling expert views and helps to chronologically assemble various issues from the greatest severe to the slightest severe ones. Further, these barriers are grouped using the cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to the classification analysis (MICMAC) study grounded on their driving and dependence power. Also, hypothesis testing was done to validate the obtained model.

It provides a complete thoughtful on directional interrelationships between the barriers and delivers the best possible solution for the active operation of the smart grid and its performance.

There is a significant requirement for high-tech inventions outside the transmission grid to function for the integration of renewables and storage systems.

The model will support policymakers in building knowledgeable decisions while chronologically rejecting the challenges of battery integration in smart grid systems to improve power grid performance.

Based on author’s best knowledge, there is hardly any research that explicitly explains the framework for the barriers of battery integration in grid for developing countries like India. It is one of the first attempts to understand the fundamental barriers for battery integration. This study adds significantly to the literature on the energy sector by capturing the perspective of various stakeholders.

Several challenges and issues are involved in successfully managing and improving the port logistics system (PLS) performance. Ports still face issues, including insufficient cargo handling equipment or equipment sharing during loading and unloading, which requires manual container inspection and delays clearance. This research aims to enhance the port logistics performance at one of India's cargo-handling ports. This paper seeks to identify various situations, actors, processes, learnings, actions and performance metrics particular to India's major container handling port.

The study objectives are accomplished using the Situation-Actor-Process–Learning-Action-Performance (SAP-LAP) framework, Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Interpretive Ranking Process (IRP). The FAHP prioritises or ranks actions in a fuzzy environment. The ranking obtained by the FAHP method is assessed using the IRP approach.

This study examined action criteria and sub-attributes that define a PLS's effective implementation regarding handling containers in India. The results illustrate that strategic action must be prioritized first, followed by infrastructural and operational development, Technology upgradation and new methods and Training and Development initiatives.

This research provides a logical framework for evaluating the importance of various actions throughout the decision-making process. It would assist managers and practitioners in interpreting the impact of critical actions on performance and improving the operation of PLS by constructing resilient and adaptable solutions.

The study integrates methodologies like the IRP, SAP-LAP and FAHP. It focuses on various actions for an effective port logistics implementation system. The findings of this study allow decision-makers to understand interpretative reasoning by performing pairwise comparisons among the factors.

This study aims to address the critical need for innovation in the power grid sector, driven by global carbon reduction commitments. It highlights the pivotal role of critical success factors (CSFs) in enhancing system adaptability and environmental mitigation within India’s power industry.

This research is grounded on transition management theory to identify and validate the CSFs necessary to integrate energy storage systems (ESS). Here, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) are integrated to evaluate the model’s effectiveness in reducing CO₂ emissions while ensuring grid stability and flexibility.

The research develops a seven-level hierarchical model illustrating the interaction of ESS components for a stable power grid, clean energy and a profitable electric industry. It emphasizes the strategic significance of managing key factors to reduce CO₂ emissions and ensure grid stability. The study recommends continuous monitoring at tactical and operational levels to enhance overall performance.

The study provides policymakers with strategic insights for the successful implementation of smart grid initiatives, facilitating effective decarbonization of the electricity industry. Additionally, it offers a comprehensive framework for minimizing the environmental impact associated with electricity generation, thereby enhancing overall operational sustainability and efficiency.

The originality of this study lies in its integration of EFA and TISM for robust model assessment and the application of transition management theory to identify and validate CSFs in the integration of ESS. This approach offers a novel perspective on enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of power grids.

The conflict in Russian Ukraine is a problem for the world economy because it hinders growth and drives up inflation when it is already high. The trade route between India and Russia is also impacted by the Russia-Ukraine crisis. This study aims to compile the most recent data on how the present global economic crisis is affecting it, with particular emphasis on the Indian economy.

This research develops a mathematical forecasting model to evaluate how the Russia-Ukraine crisis would affect the Indian economy when perturbations are applied to the major transport sectors. Input-output modeling (I-O model) and interval programing (IP) are the two precise methods used in the model. The inoperability I-O model developed by Wassily Leontief examines how disruption in one sector of the economy spreads to the other. To capture data uncertainties, IP has been added to IIM.

This study uses the forecasted inoperability value to analyze how the sectors are interconnected. Economic loss is used to determine the lowest and highest priority sectors due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis on the Indian economy. Furthermore, this study provides a decision-support conclusion for studying the sectors under various scenarios.

In future studies, other sectors could be added to study the Russian-Ukrainian crises’ effects on the Indian economy. Perturbation is only applied to transport sectors and could be applied to other sectors for studying the effects of the crisis. The availability of incomplete data is a significant concern in this study.

Russia-Ukraine conflict is a significant blow to the global economy and affects the global transportation network. This study discusses the application of the IIM-IP model to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It also forecasts the values to examine how the crisis affected the Indian economy. This study uses a variety of scenarios to create a decision-support conclusion table that aids decision-makers in analyzing the Indian economy’s lowest and most affected sectors as a result of the crisis.

On completion of the case, the students will be able to understand the concept and importance of sustainability; understand how triple bottom line can help a company make a transition towards sustainability; evaluate the tensions between the three pillars of triple bottom line approach; assess the role of circular economy model as opposed to the conventional linear model in the transition of a company towards sustainability; and understand the sustainability challenge in an emerging market context.

Despite the promising growth potential of the plastics industry in India, it is faced with sustainability challenges owing to its detrimental impact on environment. To preserve the environment and human kind, the government made a bold announcement in 2018 to eliminate the use of highly polluting single-use plastics (SUPs) in the country. Amid this growing sustainability threat against plastics and the fall in demand of SUP items, this case illustrates that Sandip Patel, the plant manager of Cello Plastotech, is entrusted by the CEO with the responsibility of adopting a triple bottom line approach encompassing its three pillars, that is, people, planet and profits, as a response to the sustainability challenge. The strategic rethinking towards adopting sustainability required Patel to face the challenge of striking a balance between the three pillars of triple bottom line while also taking some valuable insights for plastic waste management from the circular economy model. While making a transition to sustainability, he needed to evaluate different options like stopping the manufacture of SUPs and look for alternatives, use of biodegradable raw material which was expensive but environment friendly or manufacture such durable plastic products that would replace SUPs.

The case is aimed at teaching the topic Triple Bottom Line approach in the courses of business strategy and sustainability in under-graduate and post-graduate level courses in the discipline of Management. It can also be used as a supplementary reading in courses like Corporate Social Responsibility and Circular Economy. In emerging markets’ context, these topics are generally taught to MBA students in courses like strategic management, sustainable business and business ethics.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 11: Strategy.

The study aims to synthesize existing knowledge and proposes a research framework for building a resilient supply chain (SC) through artificial intelligence (AI) technology. It also identifies existing literature gaps and paves the way for a future research agenda.

A systematic literature review has been carried out to identify the peer-reviewed articles from Scopus and Web of Science databases. Then, the selected articles published between 2012 and 2023 are analyzed using descriptive and thematic analysis methods to unearth research gaps and offer new research directions.

Descriptive and thematic analysis reveals the overall development of literature on the role of AI for supply chain resilience (SCR). Based on the findings of the thematic analysis, the motivation, application, capability and outcome (MACO) framework has been developed and propositions have been proposed. Several future research directions have also been suggested in terms of theory, context and methodology (TCM).

The study provides a fresh perspective on the integration of AI technology within the realm of SCR. The developed MACO framework serves as a practical tool for supply chain management (SCM) professionals, offering a nuanced understanding of AI's applications across various functional areas to streamline operations, minimize waste and optimize resource utilization, thereby helping them in strategic planning.

This study contributes to the literature on the role of AI for building SCR by uncovering gaps, offering research directions and developing propositions for future research directions.

The purpose of this study is to nutritionally evaluate complementary food formulated from fermented maize, pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) and soybean.

Maize, pigeon pea and soybean were the sole energy and protein sources, respectively. Experimental diets consist of dietary Basal (A), fermented maize–soybean–pigeon pea 70:15:15 (B), fermented maize–soybean 70:30 (C), fermented maize–pigeon pea 70:30 (D) and Nutrend (E) a commercial dietary. A commercial product (Nutrend) manufactured by Nestle Plc was obtained at Orisunmibare central market, Oshogbo, Osun State, Nigeria, and was used as standard diet. The formulated complementary foods were fed to 30 albino rats for 28 days.

The results showed that the average weight gained increased for dietary B, C, D and E (73.8-142.60, 73.8-98.26, 73.8-93.62 and 73.8-91.86, respectively), but diet A caused a decrease from 73.8 to 62.72 g. Protein qualities of dietary samples including biological value (BV; 94.26-98.67), true digestibility (TD; 72.55-80.46), net protein utilization (NPU; 71.72-76.53), protein efficiency ratio (1.63-3.49), feed efficiency (0.16-0.35), net protein ratio (2.49-4) and protein retention efficiency (46.38-61.24).

Protein qualities of dietatry samples determined including biological value (BV), true digestibility (TD), net protein utilization (NPU) among others. The complementary food formulated from maize, pigeon pea and soybean supported animal growth and favourably compared with the standard. Meaning that, the application of multiple plant protein (pigeon pea and soybean) in the formulation of complementary food may be suitable for feeding of infants or children in developing countries to alleviate protein energy malnutrition.