Ruchi Mishra and Onkar Nath Mishra
A significant amount of work has been done on new product development (NPD); however, studies on the flexibility aspect in NPD are scant. This study aims to investigate the…
Abstract
Purpose
A significant amount of work has been done on new product development (NPD); however, studies on the flexibility aspect in NPD are scant. This study aims to investigate the relationship between NPD flexibility and five infrastructural factors, namely, marketing and manufacturing integration practices (MMIPs), advanced human resource practices (AHRPs), supplier integration practices (SIPs), operational improvement practices (OIPs) and advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs).
Design/methodology/approach
The study applies a questionnaire-based survey approach to examine the proposed relationships between different variables and NPD flexibility. Using a 39-item questionnaire, 262 valid and usable responses were collected from Indian manufacturing firms. Data were analysed using principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Further, structural equation modelling was applied to examine the contribution of different infrastructural factors to NPD flexibility.
Findings
In light of the empirical evidence produced in this study, the study suggests that MMIPs, AHRPs, SIPs, OIPs and AMTs have a direct, positive and significant influence on NPD flexibility. Among all the predictors, SIPs are the strongest predictor of NPD flexibility, followed by OIPs and AMTs.
Research limitations/implications
The findings extend prior studies of NPD by broadening the theory related to NPD flexibility. Practitioners should take a macro approach and focus on several practices to enhance flexibility in NPD.
Originality/value
Unlike earlier studies that provide limited empirical evidence on NPD flexibility and deal with the concept in isolation, this empirical study applies a systematic approach to understand factors influencing NPD flexibility.
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Ruchi Mishra and Onkar Nath Mishra
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the underlying relationships between entrepreneurial orientation and supply chain flexibility (SCF) in a market characterised by…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the underlying relationships between entrepreneurial orientation and supply chain flexibility (SCF) in a market characterised by several uncertainties.
Design/methodology/approach
The study applies an explanatory sequential mixed method, in which an analytical approach is proposed and validated to establish the underlying relationships between environmental uncertainties, SCF, and entrepreneurial orientation. Thereafter, a focus group study is carried out to explain the findings of a case study analysis.
Findings
The study evaluates and prioritises dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation to develop SCF in a market characterised by several environmental uncertainties. It also develops a structured, effective, and flexible methodological approach to establish the relationships between environmental uncertainty, SCF, and entrepreneurial orientation.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited to a single firm; therefore, the use of larger sample size can improve its generalisability.
Practical implications
Supply chain practitioners should emphasise on innovative culture to support SCF. The study also proposes an analytical approach to improve flexibility in the supply chain.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the area of interdisciplinary research by developing an integrated analytical approach that identifies and brings together concepts that existed in the disparate form in supply chain, flexibility, and entrepreneurship literature.
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Ruchi Mishra and Onkar Nath Mishra
The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel hybrid approach to assess marketing-based flexibility with respect to its source factors, enablers and attributes.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel hybrid approach to assess marketing-based flexibility with respect to its source factors, enablers and attributes.
Design/methodology/approach
The study demonstrates an application of a hybrid principal component analysis (PCA)-analytical hierarchical process (AHP)-multi-grade fuzzy approach (MFA) to measure marketing-based flexibility. Using PCA method, attributes, enablers and source factors of marketing-based flexibility were identified and a conceptual model was developed. AHP and MFA were used to compute marketing-based flexibility index.
Findings
The proposed approach measures existing level of marketing-based flexibility and therefore it identifies weak areas that should be taken care to improve flexibility.
Research limitations/implications
The scope of the study is limited to plant level. The validity of the proposed approach is shown using a case study. For generalisation point of view, the application of this proposed approach should be investigated in a large number of firms in different industrial settings.
Practical implications
The study gives a reliable and valid method, which combines both statistical and MCDM techniques to measure existing level of flexibility and identify weak areas for flexibility improvement.
Originality/value
The findings provide insight into factors that should be worked upon to improve flexibility.
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Onkar Nath Mishra and Saurabh Gupta
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the integrated role of psychological, economic and environmental determinants of entrepreneurial intention among tribal community.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the integrated role of psychological, economic and environmental determinants of entrepreneurial intention among tribal community.
Design/methodology/approach
This study applied the utility maximisation approach to model the determinants of entrepreneurial intention (EI) among tribal youth. Using a non-linear qualitative response model, the study examined the effects of psychological, economic and environmental determinants tribal youth entrepreneurship intention. A total of 363 tribal youths were sampled across the eastern central region of India.
Findings
The result from the use of a logit model revealed strong evidence in favour of economic and contextual factors in comparison to psychological factors as determinants of EI among tribal youth. Further, the external environmental factors along with socio-economic background of tribal community were found to be dominant in influencing their decision to be an entrepreneur.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides empirical evidence for the integrated and relative role of psychological, economic and environmental factors in shaping the entrepreneurial career decision of tribal community. Hence, one of the key contributions of this research was the development of an eclectic theory of tribal entrepreneurship.
Originality/value
This study discovering the determinants of entrepreneurial decision of tribal community using some recent advances in non-psychological approaches to study entrepreneurship. The domain of tribal/indigenous entrepreneurship is still in a nascent stage and in this context, it enriches the literature by closing few glaring gaps.
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Madhumitha B. and Preeti Onkar
This study aims to understand the domino effect on housing and construction sector along the economic dimensions in light of COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand the domino effect on housing and construction sector along the economic dimensions in light of COVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
The view point in this paper is written based on the domino effect of various sectors in India. Starting from the macro-economic events through to the micro-economic events, the changes are discussed along the platform of COVID-19. Early literature to support the discussions and a wide range of periodicals to observe the current events are used in arriving at a hypothesis.
Findings
The impact in any sector does not happen because of a sole event rather it is consequence of changes and trends that took place in multiple sectors. This paper identifies such changes in the sectors of oil industry, cement manufacturing, housing and construction sector during COVID-19. The paper concludes on confirming the hypothesis with two opinions. One by accepting the principle of domino effect that construction domain had various impacts by other sectors at different levels during pandemic. Another on considering the level of impact, the sector has withstood the impacts in various manners and is growing in extensive directions proving the sector to be resilient.
Originality/value
The paper showcases the impacts of various sectors on construction domain with an insight of most recent trends supported by early literature. The linking of elements is the significance of the paper.