Sandhya Garg and Samarth Gupta
Financial access is key to achieving several economic goals in developing countries. This paper aims to construct a longitudinal village-level measure of financial access in India…
Abstract
Purpose
Financial access is key to achieving several economic goals in developing countries. This paper aims to construct a longitudinal village-level measure of financial access in India and understand the role of RBI's policies and village characteristics in influencing the access.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors adopt a spatial approach in developing a metric of financial access. In particular, they measure the distance of each unbanked village in India to the nearest banked-centre from 1951 to 2019. The authors use this measure to conduct two exercises. First, a descriptive study is undertaken to assess how RBI's policies on bank branch expansion from 1951 to 2019 influenced the proximity to bank branches. Second, the authors conduct regression analyses to investigate how socio-economic and demographic characteristics of villages influence their proximity to bank branches.
Findings
The average distance of an unbanked village to the nearest banked-centre has declined from 43.5 km in 1951 to 4.2 km in 2019. The gain in bank access has varied geographically and over time. In 2001, bank branches were relatively distant from villages with under-privileged caste groups and proximate to areas with better infrastructure. This relationship worsened after 2005 when RBI introduced liberalized branch expansion policies. By 2019, proximity responds much more adversely to the presence of underprivileged groups. At the same time, banks have moved closer to economically better-off villages and villages with workforce in non-farm enterprises rather than agriculture.
Originality/value
First, studies in the Indian context focus on state-level determinants of bank branching, this is the first study to develop a longitudinal measure of financial access at the village level. This helps to understand spatial heterogeneity in bank branch access within states, which other studies are unable to do. Second, the paper analyses the role of village-level socio-economic and demographic characteristics in proximity to bank branches. This analysis helps in discovering micro-foundations of growth of bank branch network. The granularity of the approach adopted here overcomes the confoundedness problems that the studies at a more aggregate level face.
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Roshan Lal Raina, Asheesh Gupta, Umesh Gupta, Upasana Singh and Divanshu Jain
The purpose of this study is to identify the needs and concerns of older people in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India during the lockdown phase of the Covid-19 crisis. The study also aims…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify the needs and concerns of older people in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India during the lockdown phase of the Covid-19 crisis. The study also aims to present a viable model for extending needed support through a telephone helpline run by a team of young student volunteers.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a thematic analysis of the interaction between callers (service users) and volunteers.
Findings
The study shows that the main reasons that motivate the use of the helpline are to seek medical advice and to request medical services and medical supplies free of charge. However, the study also shows that other reasons for calling the helpline are feelings of loneliness and the need for psychological support, especially due to insufficient assistance from families.
Practical implications
The study shows the benefits of providing this type of service for older people during a time of national health crisis. The service is cost-effective and offers a one-stop assistance point.
Social implications
The service also constitutes an avenue for building intergenerational solidarity and empathy between younger and older people. This is especially important for citizens who feel socially isolated and disconnected from the rest of society.
Originality/value
The study offers a model for an easily created resource that could usefully be exported to other geographic settings.
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Shubham Tripathi and Manish Gupta
The article analyses the current readiness of India to transform its supply chain ecosystem to smarter systems with Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Abstract
Purpose
The article analyses the current readiness of India to transform its supply chain ecosystem to smarter systems with Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis is carried out in two stages. First, the readiness of India is assessed globally, and then the rate of transformation over the years and supporting policies are analyzed to understand the transformation potential. This analysis is done across nine identified macro factors namely government support, regulations, business environment, human resource, infrastructure, innovation capability, technological advancements, cybersecurity and digital awareness. The study combines empirical data from 2010 onwards with the strategic literature published by government bodies and institutions for analysis.
Findings
Results show that India's readiness is just above the global average with a score of 0.44 on a scale of 0–1 (most ready). Government and start-up culture are found to be leading transformation factors, while digital infrastructure, regulations and cybersecurity are most lacking areas.
Originality/value
This study is first of its kind to the best of our knowledge. The academic literature has not reported studies assessing Industry 4.0 readiness of supply chain ecosystem using macro factors for nations.
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Suneel Kumar, Aarti Saini, Varinder Kumar and Sanjeev Kumar
Technology has penetrated in every aspect of society, and information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become a part of every aspect of life. Over 20 years of ICT use…
Abstract
Technology has penetrated in every aspect of society, and information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become a part of every aspect of life. Over 20 years of ICT use, nearly every government and the big business area has been radically transformed. Education is a profoundly social profession, and historically, effective education has been associated with good instructors who have a high level of personal connection with students. The use of ICT in higher education allows for more student-cantered learning settings. Nevertheless, as digital media and information continue to take over our lives, the importance of ICT inside higher education continues to rise. The higher education system plays a crucial part in every country’s growth in improving human resources (HR); higher education should create an educated population that will bring peace and socioeconomic and societal growth. Education reform agendas benefit from the use of ICT in most developing nations. ICT in education is one of the most practical approaches to improve India’s higher education system. The purpose of this review chapter was to examine the role of ICT in higher education. This chapter addressed how ICT may promote and revolutionize higher education in India through new government initiatives. Furthermore, the chapter addressed the issues and challenges associated with the use of ICT for educational purposes.
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Seeta Gupta and A. Uday Bhaskar
Given the increasing global significance of Indian markets, multi-national corporations (MNCs) are keen to do business here; however, cross-cultural issues can be barriers in…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the increasing global significance of Indian markets, multi-national corporations (MNCs) are keen to do business here; however, cross-cultural issues can be barriers in managing human resources (HR) in international businesses. The purpose of this paper is to understand how MNCs can successfully do business in India, with special reference to cross-cultural issues and management of HR.
Design/methodology/approach
In-depth interviews were conducted with executives working in MNCs and Indian MNCs based in India and abroad. Respondents were senior professionals, working in diverse sectors and had global work experience for about five years. Majority of the interviews were conducted in Delhi and some were conducted in Singapore. Interviews responses were qualitatively analysed.
Findings
Findings reveal that MNCs wanting to do business in India need to have a long-term business focus, a well-defined expatriate policy and deep pockets to experience growth and payoffs on investments. In order to be successful, they need to understand India culturally and geographically, build trusting relationships with HCNs, partner with local players who are familiar with domestic challenges and localize the best practices of the west. Attrition and retention being the major challenges in India, compensation alone is not enough to attract and retain talent. Understanding Indian psyche and offering individuals a unique value proposition such as challenging roles and professional growth is imperative for creating an attractive employer brand in order to win the war for talent.
Research limitations/implications
Though sample size is small, this research has implications for MNCs operating in India or planning to set up Indian operations.
Originality/value
Inferences have been drawn out of primary data collected from senior executives who were handling core MNC operations and sharing their wealth of experience. The findings give fresh insights into the whole issues of MNC management involving cross-cultural and HR issues.
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Veepan Kumar, Ravi Shankar and Prem Vrat
In today’s uncertain business environment, Industry 4.0 is regarded as a viable strategic plan for addressing a wide range of manufacturing-related challenges. However, it appears…
Abstract
Purpose
In today’s uncertain business environment, Industry 4.0 is regarded as a viable strategic plan for addressing a wide range of manufacturing-related challenges. However, it appears that its level of adoption varies across many countries. In the case of a developing economy like India, practitioners are still in the early stages of implementation. The implementation of Industry 4.0 appears to be complex, and it must be investigated holistically in order to gain a better understanding of it. Therefore, an attempt has been made to examine the Industry 4.0 implementation for the Indian manufacturing organization in a detailed way by analyzing the complexities of relevant variables.
Design/methodology/approach
SAP-LAP (situation-actor-process and learning-action-performance) and an efficient interpretive ranking process (e-IRP) were used to analyze the various variables influencing Industry 4.0 implementation. The variables were identified, as per SAP-LAP, through a thorough review of the literature and based on the perspectives of various experts. The e-IRP has been used to prioritize the selected elements (i.e. actors with respect to processes and actions with respect to performance) of SAP-LAP.
Findings
This study ranked five stakeholders according to their priority in Industry 4.0 implementation: government policymakers, industry associations, research and academic institutions, manufacturers and customers. In addition, the study also prioritized important actions that need to be taken by these stakeholders.
Practical implications
The results of this study would be useful in identifying and managing the various actors and actions related to Industry 4.0 implementation. Accordingly, their prioritized sequence would be useful to the practitioners in preparing the well-defined and comprehensive strategic roadmap for Industry 4.0.
Originality/value
This study has adopted qualitative and quantitative approaches for identifying and prioritizing different variables of Industry 4.0 implementation. This, in turn, helps the stakeholder to comprehend the concept of Industry 4.0 in a much simpler way.
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Jeetu Rana, Yash Daultani and Sushil Kumar
Recent years have witnessed a spike in Industry 4.0 initiatives among manufacturing organizations, particularly in the automotive sector. This acceleration aims to enhance…
Abstract
Purpose
Recent years have witnessed a spike in Industry 4.0 initiatives among manufacturing organizations, particularly in the automotive sector. This acceleration aims to enhance competitiveness by addressing various aspects, from efficiency and workforce productivity to safety and insightful decision-making. However, merely adopting technological solutions in isolation may not suffice. Automotive companies need a holistic approach that integrates the antecedents of Industry 4.0 into their overall strategy. This study aims to identify and analyse key antecedents for Industry 4.0 adoption in the Indian automotive sector.
Design/methodology/approach
The study follows a structured six-stage methodology, which includes a systematic literature review, expert consultations and best–worst method (BWM) analysis. The research identifies, validates and systematically ranks 16 antecedents that are pivotal for Industry 4.0 adoption.
Findings
The study categorizes 16 antecedents into four dimensions: regulatory framework (RF), technology infrastructure (TI), operational optimization (OO) and performance dynamics (PD). The findings emphasize the significance of “Government policies to support smart factories”, “Support from top management”, “Financial performance” and “Technology readiness” as crucial antecedents for Industry 4.0 implementation in the Indian automotive sector.
Research limitations/implications
These findings provide valuable guidance for industry practitioners and policymakers in strategically planning the Industry 4.0 deployment in the automotive sector.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the limited body of research on the identification and analysis of key antecedents for Industry 4.0 adoption in the automotive sector, particularly in emerging economies such as India. By using the BWM, it offers a structured and efficient approach to determining the priority order of these antecedents.
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Keywords
Supply chain management.
Abstract
Subject area
Supply chain management.
Study level/applicability
The case is suitable for post graduates in management, and for those managing small sector supply and manufacturing systems.
Case overview
ACPL is an organisation which moved from trading to manufacturing a technology product instrument transformers (ITs) for power utility companies for 11 years, competing with the best in industry, reducing internal costs, and modernising the supply chain. ACPL was started as a trading organisation in electrical items in Delhi by Munish Kumar, an engineer by profession in 2001. In 2004 he ventured into manufacturing, which expanded in two locations in Ghaziabad, NCR Delhi. Later his two sons, engineer and management graduate, respectively, joined the organisation. In less than a decade, by 2007, ACPL had grown to be a private limited organisation. ACPL manufactures ITs required by power boards and companies for conversion and usage of high voltage (11 kV/33 kV) transmitted power into 220 V single phase/440 V three phase power. From tender/enquiry through manufacturing to inspection and despatch takes a long supply chain cycle time holding space as well as inventory. An interview with the chairman of ACPL in the case highlights issues affecting its margins and growth. The long process to delivery time may be in vogue in this type of industry but this holds up a huge inventory. The company management has been working to resolve this crisis along with an urgent need to grow in a competitive environment. The problem is being addressed.
Expected learning outcomes
This case study should help students to understand the concept of the supply chain and supply cycle, in a manufacturing company in particular. It has been found that students understand the supply chain as part of the marketing function dealing with finished stocks, warehousing and delivery to end customers as per agreements, and arranging payments from customers. The supply chain also deals with in bound materials management. Raw materials planning, purchasing, inventory management are crucial for effective business operations management in any organisation.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available; please contact your librarian for access.
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Ruchita and Ravi Shankar
In today’s environment, electric vehicles (EVs) industries and services provided to consumers are facing many challenges. The public in large numbers is not adopting Electric…
Abstract
Purpose
In today’s environment, electric vehicles (EVs) industries and services provided to consumers are facing many challenges. The public in large numbers is not adopting Electric Vehicles because of the unavailability of suitable EVs and not getting proper charging infrastructure to the consumers. The purpose of this study and research work is to analyze the condition of this industry, its charging infrastructure and E-government policies. Based on the above analysis, frameworks/models are to be designed to assist organizations in formulating strategies for the EV industry and providing proper infrastructure to the consumer.
Design/methodology/approach
The Variables for the EV and EVsCI case study are identified from an exhaustive literature review, stakeholders’ perspectives, experts’ opinions, existing EV policies, future policy blueprints and data available for this industry, applying the Situation Actor Process-Learning Action Performance (SAP-LAP) methodology. After that, the Interpretive Ranking Process (IRP) is integrated with the SAP-LAP approach to develop models.
Findings
The rankings of Actors Versus Processes and Actions Versus Performances have been obtained and then models have been developed. These models can serve policymakers in framing and implementing effective policies.
Originality/value
Although the SAP-LAP approach is an innovative approach for identifying variables, however, this approach lacks perfect interactive relationships among the variables. It may lead to imperfect decision-making. To avoid this, the IRP approach is integrated with the SAP-LAP approach which provides more accurate models for analysis and providing recommendations to government and organizations.