After completion of the case study, the students will be able to make strategic decisions for social entrepreneurship and carry out a sustainability and social impact analysis…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
After completion of the case study, the students will be able to make strategic decisions for social entrepreneurship and carry out a sustainability and social impact analysis, assess the benefits of a circular economy-based retail model and investigate ways to preserve these benefits and recognize the ethical and sustainable issues facing the fast fashion sector and how social enterprises are addressing them.
Case overview/synopsis
The culture of fast fashion had proven to be dangerous for the environment as it had promoted a culture of consumerism and materialism. It had also increased the landfills in different countries. The need of the hour was to upcycle used and unwanted clothes into new innovative items. This idea had been practically implemented by Mrs Sujata Chatterjee of the Twirl Store, the protagonist of this case study. Chatterjee was a social entrepreneur who recognized the environmental and social problems caused by rapid fashion and abandoned apparel in landfills. She launched the Twirl Store, a social enterprise with the mission of advancing circular economy and sustainability practices in the textile sector. Rural women were economically and culturally empowered by the enterprise’s upcycling of used clothing using their abilities, and a sustainable source of income was created. Finding abandoned clothing, sorting and processing it effectively and locating clients who share her commitment to sustainability were difficult tasks for Chatterjee. Despite the difficulties, the Twirl Store served as an example of how circular economy concepts, cultural sustainability and women’s empowerment might be combined, highlighting the importance of social entrepreneurship in addressing global concerns and fostering positive social effects and economic impact.
Complexity academic level
This case study is applicable for undergraduate as well as post graduate students of management studies.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of the different personality types and Facebook behavior of the young Indian consumers in the context of e-tailing. With…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of the different personality types and Facebook behavior of the young Indian consumers in the context of e-tailing. With the increased popularity of Facebook, consumers and e-tailers are using it as a platform to connect better with each other. This paper makes an attempt to study the motive and online purchasing behavior of youth by examining Facebook posts and understanding their relationship with personality and gender.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was conducted on 200 young Indian consumers who use Facebook as well as follow at least one e-tailer on Facebook. The responses to the survey were used to test the proposed conceptual model to find out the relationship of personality types and gender with Facebook behavior, type of post liked on Facebook, reason to use Facebook and motive to follow an e-tailer on Facebook using descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests.
Findings
The tests showed that gender of online consumers influences their Facebook behavior and the type of post that they like the most on Facebook. The personality type of the online consumers has a significant influence on the motive to follow an e-tailer on Facebook and the reason to use Facebook. It implies that the Facebook pages of e-tailers should plan their posts keeping the gender and personality type of their followers in mind. In this manner, Facebook can be used as a platform by the e-tailers to increase their consumer base, especially among the youth.
Research limitations/implications
The limitations of this study are the respondents for this study are in the age group of 15-25 years only and the results of the study may vary with the change in the age group. The respondents are Indians by nationality and the results may vary for different nations.
Practical implications
This paper provides an insight to the e-tailer about attracting young consumers on their Facebook page in the context of their gender and personality type to enhance the reach and expand their business. This research paper is informative to the e-tailers who have budgets for social media marketing to know about social media usage by youth for online shopping.
Originality/value
Presently, India has a demographic advantage and this paper contributes to understand the youth social media usage for online shopping. The e-tailers can relate the findings to develop strategies to enhance their customer base. This research paper will contribute to the existing literature on social media marketing and e-tailing.
Details
Keywords
This study aims to focus on implementing frugal innovation and its principles by social entrepreneurs to face the challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research paper…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to focus on implementing frugal innovation and its principles by social entrepreneurs to face the challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research paper discusses the case of an Indian social entrepreneur who works for menstrual health and hygiene of unprivileged and rural women in India. The social entrepreneur’s constant endeavor is to create an ecosystem to ensure rural women’s economic and social upliftment through financial inclusion and livelihood training. When faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, the social entrepreneur re-purposed the manufacturing process to produce masks that were the need of the hour.
Design/methodology/approach
The research paper is qualitative and follows an inductive case study approach. The underlying principles of frugal innovation are established through content analysis of the social entrepreneur’s interviews and her team members.
Findings
The study discusses how adversity can be an opportunity for social entrepreneurs by implementing frugal innovation principles, i.e. re-use, re-purpose, re-combine and rapidity, in times of crisis.
Research limitations/implications
One of the major limitations of this study is that it is based on a single case study, as, in the current scenario, this case appeared to be the most suitable one. There is no way to generalize the assumptions of this model. Researchers will have to study the phenomena of frugal innovation in adversity across multiple cases in the future. Also, the study is based on a single emerging economy, i.e. India. Further research may be carried out with such cases from other countries.
Practical implications
The proposition of this research paper will help new and established social entrepreneurs understand that the four principles of frugal innovation and their practical application by a social entrepreneur. This will act as a guiding light for the present and future entrepreneurs regarding how one can respond to a crisis. This will also help advance our understanding of the distinct ways in which social entrepreneurs’ activities can help society in times of crisis. The findings of this research paper provide timely implications for social entrepreneurs. To respond efficiently to various crises, it is important to consider its effect on social entrepreneurship.
Social implications
The research paper shows that the social enterprise has implemented frugal innovation principles to manufacture the COVID-19 protection items supplied through existing supply chain networks. Also, a social entrepreneur is not intimidated by the sudden changes in the business environment; instead, they look at the situation as an opportunity to do something new. They are always willing to take the risk to innovate a solution that will address people’s problems. frugal innovation, due to its highly collaborative nature and its ability to make the most from limited resources, is the only way social entrepreneurs can create an inclusive, secure and sustainable future.
Originality/value
There are several challenges in social entrepreneurship, especially in emerging economies like India. During the pandemic, availability of resources was the major challenge, due to which social entrepreneurs had to find solutions through frugal innovation. This paper provides the practical application of the four principles of frugal innovation implemented by a social enterprise to manufacture and supply Covid protection items. It also presents the practical and managerial implications of the principles of frugal innovation by social entrepreneurs in low resource settings.
Details
Keywords
The study aims to identify gender differences and similarities in the awareness of legal information resources and problems faced by legal professionals. Further, the study…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to identify gender differences and similarities in the awareness of legal information resources and problems faced by legal professionals. Further, the study identifies the differences on the basis of gender, regarding the requirements in developing an online legal information system (OLIS) for the Indian environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was carried out in eight law libraries in Delhi using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected through the questionnaire having 27 questions including dichotomous (Yes/No), multiple-choice questions, rating and opinion questions. A need assessment survey was conducted using the structured questionnaire circulated among 750 respondents of eight institutions in Delhi. In total, 397 filled in questionnaires were received back. A total of 246 of the respondents were males and 151 females. The design and development of an OLIS went through five phases, i.e. preliminary preparation, designing and planning phase, development of OLIS covering preparation of software, data structures, metadata, search form, testing and implementation phase and maintenance.
Findings
The study found that 100 per cent of the female respondents were aware of online legal information resources. Maximum 28.4 per cent female respondents rated legal e-resources “very good”, whereas only 19.9 per cent male ranked them “very good”. Female respondents were found less aware about open access resources. In addition, of 246 male respondents, 213 (86.6 per cent) responded “Yes” about awareness of open access resources and 33 (13.4 per cent) marked “No”. In comparison, 116 (76.8 per cent) female respondents revealed they are aware of open access resources; 35 (23.2 per cent) were not aware of open access resources. Fifty-eight (23.6 per cent) male respondents were very dissatisfied, and 60 (24.4 per cent) completely dissatisfied. However, in contrast, 29 (19.2 per cent) female respondents were very dissatisfied and 24 (15.9 per cent) completely dissatisfied in using open access resources.
Research limitations/implications
The study covers only eight institutions in Delhi, India. High courts and law universities in other parts of the country are not covered. In addition, OLIS contains a sample collection.
Practical implications
The study explores the inhibitions faced by female and male legal professionals. A suitable legal information system is developed to match the requirements of female legal professionals, research scholars and faculty members. The study is expected to address problems faced by female legal professionals in accessing the desired judicial and legislative information.
Originality/value
OLIS (www.olisindia.in) has been developed on the basis of a need assessment survey conducted on male and female legal professionals in India. No study has been conducted so far to compare the viewpoints of male and female legal professionals in India for developing an OLIS.
Details
Keywords
Anna Dimitrova, Tim Rogmans and Dora Triki
This paper aims to synthesize, analyze and categorize the empirical literature on country-specific factors that affect foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to the Middle East…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to synthesize, analyze and categorize the empirical literature on country-specific factors that affect foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Identifying gaps and methodological challenges in the reviewed articles, recommendations are made to guide future research.
Design/methodology/approach
Applying the systematic review methodology, content analysis is conducted of 42 relevant empirical studies that explore country-specific FDI determinants in the MENA region during the period 1998–2018.
Findings
This review study identifies four main research gaps in the extant literature: a lack of consensus on a common definition of the MENA region and a weak understanding of the specificities of its investment environment; a limited set of FDI theories used and a lack of other theoretical perspectives; a recurrent focus on the direct relationship between host country–specific determinants and FDI, thus ignoring the moderating and mediating effects of some variables; and the absence of certain country-specific factors pertaining to the MENA countries.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the international business field by enhancing our understanding of the FDI determinants in emerging and developing markets, especially the MENA countries. It develops a typology of FDI country-specific factors in the MENA region based on four main categories: macroeconomic and financial, institutional and regulatory, natural resource endowment and socio-cultural. Paths for future research are suggested.
Details
Keywords
The objective of this paper is to empirically test and verify the enablers of volume flexibility and product-mix flexibility and to assess the influence of these flexibilities on…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this paper is to empirically test and verify the enablers of volume flexibility and product-mix flexibility and to assess the influence of these flexibilities on operational performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A research framework consisting of nine pairs of hypotheses was developed using an extensive literature review. Using a self-administered questionnaire, 391 responses were collected, and these responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling techniques.
Findings
The findings empirically confirm the enablers of volume flexibility and product-mix flexibility. The proposed model explained 59 percent variance in volume flexibility and 63 percent variance in product-mix flexibility. Volume flexibility and product-mix flexibility together explained 38 percent variance in operational performance.
Research limitations/implications
Theoretically, this study advances flexibility literature in two significant ways. First, the study conducts first of its kind quantitative empirical investigation considering upstream, downstream, and internal integration practices as enablers of volume flexibility and product-mix flexibility. Second, this study adds to the flexibility literature by suggesting the positive influence of volume and product-mix flexibility on the operational performance of firms.
Originality/value
The study reinforces the role of enablers in the development of volume and product-mix flexibilities. Thus, the study provides a comprehensive view of flexibility enablers that can be used as a diagnostic tool, which practitioners can use to assess and deploy flexibility.
Details
Keywords
Inayat Ullah and Rakesh Narain
Owing to the paucity of literature, in the specific context of mass customization (MC), that explains what factors need to be considered while selecting suppliers and what…
Abstract
Purpose
Owing to the paucity of literature, in the specific context of mass customization (MC), that explains what factors need to be considered while selecting suppliers and what strategies need to be implemented for effective management of suppliers, this paper aims to explore the effective supplier selection and management strategies and also investigate their impact on the development of mass customization capability (MCC).
Design/methodology/approach
Through an extensive review of literature, a total of 18 factors for supplier selection and management have been identified. Further, using multiple regression analysis, the linkages between these factors and MCCs have been examined based on the data set from the survey of Indian manufacturing organizations.
Findings
The results indicate that while concentrating on the responsive and reconfiguration capability, all the five measures of supplier selection and the four measures of supplier management have shown a significant influence. However, in the case of relational capability, only two of the supplier selection strategies and three of the supplier management strategies have shown a notable impact.
Practical implications
The study provides help to the firms in deciding whom to select and how to manage the suppliers in the course of improving their MCCs. The study has shown the possibility that different types of MCCs might require different approaches to both the supplier selection and management.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study happens to be the first of its kind that investigates the interconnectedness among the supplier selection and management strategies and MCCs.
Details
Keywords
Yi Li, Nelson Oly Ndubisi, Jinpeng Xu and Gang Li
From the dedication–constraint perspective, this study aims to complement ongoing discussions on the effects of switching costs on performance and explain the role of customer…
Abstract
Purpose
From the dedication–constraint perspective, this study aims to complement ongoing discussions on the effects of switching costs on performance and explain the role of customer involvement and relationship quality in the relationship between switching costs and performance.
Design/methodology/approach
After collecting data from Chinese manufacturing firms, the authors employed structural equation modeling to test their theoretical model incorporating switching costs, new product development performance, relationship quality and customer involvement.
Findings
The findings show that switching costs negatively affect three dimensions of new product development performance covering new product development market performance, new product development speed, new product development cost. More importantly, relationship quality positively moderates the relationship between switching costs and new product development performance, while customer involvement takes positive moderation effects.
Originality/value
These conclusions contribute to the knowledge of switching costs and supplier–customer relationship, and provide theoretical contributions and managerial insights for both academics and practitioners.
Details
Keywords
Fatima Zahra Barrane, Nelson Oly Ndubisi, Sachin Kamble, Gahima Egide Karuranga and Diane Poulin
The study aims to explore the critical approaches adopted by innovative organizations and to build an environment of trust between the multiple stakeholders collaborating for new…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to explore the critical approaches adopted by innovative organizations and to build an environment of trust between the multiple stakeholders collaborating for new product development (NPD).
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research approach is adopted in this study. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts from the wood product industry in Quebec, Canada. These organizations have successfully adopted the latest technological developments and have developed a strong collaboration with their stakeholders.
Findings
The study identified eleven strategies for the innovative organizations that included early involvement of the stakeholders in the design process, developing long-term relationships and fostering a transparent environment using Industry 4.0 technologies. A novel framework for using this strategy is presented with three stages of application, namely, planning, enactment and review.
Practical implications
Inter-organizational collaborations in NPD are more successful when imbued with trust. The NPD strategies must allow innovative organizations to achieve a balanced ecosystem in which value created through the adaption of new technology can be thoroughly captured through commercialization on time with no field failure.
Originality/value
The study adds to the body of knowledge in stakeholder theory and NPD research and practice.