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Rapid prototyping (RP) has been given focus during dynamic market conditions, as it largely helps to compress product development time. RP contains the potential to achieve environmentally friendlier operations. However, RP processes are not environmentally friendlier, as the possibilities of toxicological health and environmental risks while handling and disposing of raw material remain unresolved. This study aims to select environmentally friendlier processes without compromising required mechanical properties. Some of the RP processes considered in this study are selective laser sintering (SLS), stereo lithography apparatus (SLA), three-dimensional printing (3DP) and laser engineered net shaping (LENS).

A conceptual model comprising 25 criteria (both traditional and environmental) has been developed. An expert team was formed to evaluate the environmental performance of RP processes using the developed conceptual model. Analytic network process–technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution-based hybrid methodology has been adopted for this purpose. Further, to overcome ambiguity and subjectivity nature of judgment, fuzzy set concepts have been adopted. Finally, a decision support system has been developed using MATLAB software to mitigate the associated computational difficulty.

The detailed analysis of criterion weights revealed that the expert team has assigned higher importance to environmental criteria over traditional criteria. Based on environmental considerations, ranking has been generated as SLA-SLS-3DP-LENS.

Only point-to-point and discrete fusion-based RP process have been considered in this study to demonstrate the developed conceptual model. Also, expert knowledge has been taken to rate some of the environmental criteria. In the near future, by conducting environmental studies, these criteria can be substituted with real data to improve accuracy of RP process selection.

Reported studies in RP process selection in literature were conducted considering mainly the various traditional criteria. In this study, the environmental criteria have also been considered along with traditional criteria. This study takes the initiative toward sustainability studies in RP processes. Also, detailed inferences have been derived and the results have been compared with the existing studies and this is the novel contribution of this study.

Purpose: This paper presents a review of the current state and potential capabilities for application of robots, artificial intelligence and automated services (RAISA) in hotel companies.

Design/methodology/approach: A two-step approach was applied in this study. First, the authors make a theoretical overview of the robots, artificial intelligence and service automation (RAISA) in hotels. Second, the authors make a detailed overview of various case studies from global hotel practice.

Findings: The application of RAISA in hotel companies is examined in connection with the impact that technology has on guest experience during each of the five stages of the guest cycle: pre-arrival, arrival, stay, departure, assessment.

Research implications: Its implications can be searched with respect to future research. It deals with topics such as how different generations (guests and employees) perceive RAISA in the hotel industry and what is the attitude of guests in different categories of hotels (luxury and economy) towards the use of RAISA. It also shows what is the attitude of different types of tourists (holiday, business, health, cultural, etc.) and what kinds of robots (androids or machines) are more appropriate for different types of hotel operations.

Practical implications: The implications are related to the improvement of operations and operational management, marketing and sales, enhancement of customer experience and service innovation, training and management.

Originality/value: This book chapter complements and expands research on the role of RAISA in the hotel industry and makes some projections about the use of technologies in the future.

This chapter assembles the key literature on value creation for consideration in relationship to stakeholder theory. The literature review identifies and explains the core topics concerning value creation and related ideas. The purpose is to stimulate research into the theory, practice, and social consequences of value creation in a stakeholder management framework. The construct of “value” lacks theoretical precision and empirical verification. The most fundamental and disputed question addressed is which value approach for the firm best contributes to overall (aggregate) social welfare. The vital issue is whether the managerial stakeholder theory is superior, at long-run value creation for multiple stakeholders including society at large, to the conventional agency theory. Business executives and directors are the ones who choose between agency and stakeholder approaches to management. Their actions influence organizational and social outcomes. Research is limited to a literature review, followed by a discussion of the likely role of value creation theory in future stakeholder research. The chapter first defines value. The basic approach is then to focus on key topics in the relevant literature. The last section addresses the role of value creation theory in future stakeholder research.

This paper aims to understand the process of value creation and value capture through open innovation strategies such as crowdsourcing in emerging economies (EEs) like India. The paper seeks to understand that crowdsourcing strategies offer both potential as well as challenges to value creation and capture in EEs.

The paper follows a case study approach. Building on interviews with company officials, the paper looks at the process of value creation and value capture by Talenthouse India through its unique “My Nation My Anthem” (MNMA) initiative.

With growing internet penetration and the presence of a demographic dividend, crowdsourcing presents high potential in EEs like India. EE firms may strategize to use the creativity and ideas of “crowds” to drive value creation and value capture. However, understanding the limits of such strategies, in particular those relating to the crowds (their composition, access to them and their motivators) and the access to technology, is important. The result of the MNMA initiative was a 52-second crowdsourced national anthem that generated sufficient value for the crowdsourcing intermediary (Talenthouse), the client firm (PVR) and the entire ecosystem.

The significance of open innovation models has been demonstrated in settings involving high-tech industries, producing high-value goods, in advanced economies. The paper finds the applicability of such models to low-tech, less mature industries, involving experience goods in EEs like India.

We present a model of the international joint venture (IJV) restructuring process and discuss, from a single partner firm's perspective, the steps involved in recognizing a need for restructuring and deciding to restructure. In addition, we examine the organizational processes involved in recognizing a need for restructuring and deciding to restructure, and develop propositions about factors that increase the likelihood that a partner firm will decide to restructure its IJV in response to a genuine need for restructuring. We also note the research implications of our work and its contributions to management practice.

We outline the standards for “good” performance measures and propose the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) as a method for performance measurement on individual level.

Using the example of a German cooperative bank with a cohort of 40 employees, we apply a multi-stage DEA approach to measure employee performance and report on the results. Based on those results a DEA-based approach for a strategic performance appraisal process is introduced.

We illustrate that DEA provides clear feedback information on an individual level, which enables management to accurately identify fields of specific improvement.

The proposed approach for a strategic performance appraisal process is yet of theoretical nature. Consequently, the practical implementation of this approach is a purpose of further research.

This paper attempts to fill the knowledge gap in the area of foreign direct investment (FDI) research in the regions of Caucasus and Central Asia. Various dimensions of FDI were analyzed from a comparative perspective drawing on a number of selected case studies of inward investors in Georgia and Kyrgyz Republic. The results indicated that the FDI activity in Georgia and Kyrgyz Republic was a market‐seeking type focusing heavily on location‐specific attractions of the two countries. Although the issue of corruption affects foreign investors, it does not act as a major deterrent of FDI infl ows. The most serious problem influencing the performance of FDI firms was found to be inefficiency of local labor force, excessive bureaucracy and red tape, and differences inherent in the business practices of host countries. In general, however, it was found that foreign investors have been satisfied with their performance largely due to the relatively smooth competition and the availability of several market niches in both host country markets.

The inhibition effect of propargyl alcohol on the acidic corrosion of mild steel in 5 per cent commercial hydrochloric acid was studied at different temperatures by mass loss measurements and polarization studies. Corrosion potential and corrosion current have been calculated in the presence and in the absence of inhibitor. The inhibitor efficiency increases with increase in concentration and it decreases with rise in temperature. The interrelationship between the surface coverage and concentration of the inhibitor was also studied. It has been found that the inhibitor obeys Temkin adsorption isotherm.

The purpose of this paper is to develop an innovative method of performance appraisal that will be useful for designing a structured training programme.

Employees' performance appraisals are conducted using new approaches, namely data envelopment analysis and an integrated fuzzy model. Interpretive structural modelling is used to design a training programme for employees.

Performance appraisals using data envelopment analysis focus on output enhancement, while an integrated fuzzy model using quality function deployment (QFD) and multi‐attribute decision‐making focuses on input enhancement. For overall and continuous improvement of employees' knowledge, skills and attributes, this composite model provides an in‐depth analysis and also offers a means for designing a structured and effective training programme through interpretive structural modelling.

In data envelopment analysis, the number of employees for performance appraisal should be equal to or greater than three times the selected number of input and output factors. In the integrated fuzzy model, the number of main factors should not exceed seven for pairwise comparison. The size of the QFD matrix should not be more than 30.

The factors selected for appraisal and the method of appraisal should be known by the employees concerned. Consensus among all those concerned is necessary for effective application and utilization of the model.

This model provides a means to increase the knowledge, skills and attributes of employees by adopting a structured approach to designing a training programme for employees of various categories. The approaches used are well‐established and can be applied in many other fields.

In this paper, approaches used for appraisals and designing training programmes are new to this field of study, although they have been successfully proven in many other fields. The results obtained using these methods are useful for helping management to make decisions on training needs, bonuses, incentives and promotions. For the employees, a structured training programme design improves their KSA, quality and standards.