Neelam Singh and Santanu Dutta
This paper discusses how melt flow indices and flow behavior data can be used to predict polymer flow in real industrial processes. The ability to simulate flow behavior can help…
Abstract
This paper discusses how melt flow indices and flow behavior data can be used to predict polymer flow in real industrial processes. The ability to simulate flow behavior can help us establish a robust process that has a large processing window and which accommodates a natural variation. The effect of shear rate on viscosity is of far greater significance. It is therefore important to find the Newtonian region of the curve and set the process parameters in this region for a specified mould thickness. This paper also aims at modifying the flow behavior of polypropylene blends using various lubricants and flow promoters both low molecular weight and polymeric flow promoters.
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– The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors affecting the financial sustainability of the Indian Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) post-Andhra Pradesh (AP) crisis
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors affecting the financial sustainability of the Indian Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) post-Andhra Pradesh (AP) crisis
Design/methodology/approach
Regression analysis is used to test the significance of the independent variables on the variable of interest, i.e. the operational self-sustainability. Three-stage regression analysis, i.e. Partial F-test, residual analysis and Box–Cox-type transformations is applied to see the impact of the variables on financial sustainability of the Indian MFIs. The study is based on the data of the Indian MFIs during three fiscal years from 2010-2011 to 2012-2012 reported in the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX).
Findings
The authors’ results indicate that in 2010-2011, the linear regression model seems to be good fit to the data, whereas in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, the appropriateness of the linear regression models seems questionable (the error distribution seems to be skewed). It is observed that square root of the dependent variable exhibits adequate fit for 2011 and 2012. Therefore, a substantial change in the model for estimating sustainability of Indian MFIs is observed in the post-AP crisis era. It is observed that portfolio quality and capital management are important determinants for the financial sustainability of the MFIs.
Practical implications
This study identifies the factors affecting the sustainability of the Indian MFIs, especially after the reforms following the AP crisis in India. The study suggests that from 2012-2013, the factors such as write-off ratio, capital-to-asset ratio, ratio of financial revenue to assets and provision for loan impairment-to-asset ratio are the main factors which have significant impact on the operational self-sufficiency (OSS) of Indian MFIs. This indicates that the quality of portfolio must be improved to reduce the vulnerability of the Indian MFIs.
Social implications
After the AP crisis, the performance of Indian MFIs is stabilized to a greater extent. The various performance indicators are improving.
Originality/value
The paper provides a detailed comparative analysis of the factors effecting financial sustainability of the Indian MFIs, before and after the regulatory reforms in 2011. A substantial change is observed after 2011-2012. Such a study on the Indian microfinance sector seems to be new (to the best of the authors’ knowledge).
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Anubhav Tiwari, Payel Das, Ritesh Kumar Dubey, Tavleen Kaur, Saurabh Kumar Dixit and Santanu Mandal
This paper aims to explore the challenges faced by start-ups during COVID-19 and highlight solutions for catering to the new-normal consumer behaviour. The study accounts for 15…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the challenges faced by start-ups during COVID-19 and highlight solutions for catering to the new-normal consumer behaviour. The study accounts for 15 deep-tech start-ups sailing through the pandemic and their responsiveness. This study brings forth insights and experiences from the Indian start-up founders and CEOs during COVID-19.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a qualitative approach and is exploratory and phenomenological. A purposive sample of 15 young start-ups founded between the years 2013–2020 by founders aged between 24 and 41 was selected for the study. The recorded telephonic interview was collected from the founders from April 2021 to September 2021. The thematic analysis of the study evolves from Braun and Clarke (2006) using the MAXQDA 2020.
Findings
The study emphasizes upon challenges faced by start-ups, crisis management of start-ups and the relevance of technology-based start-ups during challenging times. This research provides a qualitative framework to establish the role of the technology acceptance model (TAM) towards the adaptability, responsiveness and resilience demonstrated by the start-ups. The findings also highlight the solutions to address challenges faced by start-ups and road to recovery.
Practical implications
The study has great relevance and lessons for budding entrepreneurs during crisis management. The study has implications for corporations and governments in terms of setting up incubators and accelerators to support budding entrepreneurs.
Originality/value
The study is unique in highlighting the relevance and importance of TAM for start-ups during crisis management like COVID-19. The study thrusts upon the need of technology acceptance for better crisis management.
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Florence Malongane, Lyndy Joy McGaw and Fhatuwani Nixwell Mudau
The present study was carried out to determine (1) essential minerals, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, moisture and ash of four selected South African herbal teas and (2) the…
Abstract
Purpose
The present study was carried out to determine (1) essential minerals, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, moisture and ash of four selected South African herbal teas and (2) the effect of blending bush tea with other known commercial herbal teas.
Design/methodology/approach
The method used to determine moisture and ash contents followed that of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Nine minerals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu assay and aluminum chloride colorimetric assay, respectively.
Findings
The results of the study demonstrated that bush tea had a high ash content of 8.01% and special tea (9.23%), while honeybush (1.96%) and rooibos tea (2.17%) exhibited a low ash percentage. The mineral content was higher in bush tea and special tea than in rooibos tea and honeybush tea except for sodium, which was higher in rooibos tea. The blending of bush tea with special tea improved its potassium content from 22,937.00 mg/kg to 23,379.20 mg/kg. Blending bush tea with rooibos tea at a ratio of 25:75 increased the flavonoid content to 12.21 µg/mL.
Research limitations/implications
The results of the nutrients composition cannot be generalized as it is influenced by other factors such as soil type and seasons.
Social implications
Increasing the commercialization of indigenous teas.
Originality/value
The results of the study suggest that bush tea and special tea are nutritionally comparable with South African commercial herbal teas. Thus, the consideration for commercialization of these teas is crucial.
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Vishakha Pareek, Santanu Chaudhury and Sanjay Singh
The electronic nose is an array of chemical or gas sensors and associated with a pattern-recognition framework competent in identifying and classifying odorant or non-odorant and…
Abstract
Purpose
The electronic nose is an array of chemical or gas sensors and associated with a pattern-recognition framework competent in identifying and classifying odorant or non-odorant and simple or complex gases. Despite more than 30 years of research, the robust e-nose device is still limited. Most of the challenges towards reliable e-nose devices are associated with the non-stationary environment and non-stationary sensor behaviour. Data distribution of sensor array response evolves with time, referred to as non-stationarity. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive introduction to challenges related to non-stationarity in e-nose design and to review the existing literature from an application, system and algorithm perspective to provide an integrated and practical view.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors discuss the non-stationary data in general and the challenges related to the non-stationarity environment in e-nose design or non-stationary sensor behaviour. The challenges are categorised and discussed with the perspective of learning with data obtained from the sensor systems. Later, the e-nose technology is reviewed with the system, application and algorithmic point of view to discuss the current status.
Findings
The discussed challenges in e-nose design will be beneficial for researchers, as well as practitioners as it presents a comprehensive view on multiple aspects of non-stationary learning, system, algorithms and applications for e-nose. The paper presents a review of the pattern-recognition techniques, public data sets that are commonly referred to as olfactory research. Generic techniques for learning in the non-stationary environment are also presented. The authors discuss the future direction of research and major open problems related to handling non-stationarity in e-nose design.
Originality/value
The authors first time review the existing literature related to learning with e-nose in a non-stationary environment and existing generic pattern-recognition algorithms for learning in the non-stationary environment to bridge the gap between these two. The authors also present details of publicly available sensor array data sets, which will benefit the upcoming researchers in this field. The authors further emphasise several open problems and future directions, which should be considered to provide efficient solutions that can handle non-stationarity to make e-nose the next everyday device.
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This paper aims to investigate the influence of big data analytics (BDA) personnel expertise capabilities in the development of supply chain (SC) agility. Based on extant…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the influence of big data analytics (BDA) personnel expertise capabilities in the development of supply chain (SC) agility. Based on extant literature, the study explores the role of BDA technical knowledge, BDA technology management knowledge, BDA business knowledge and BDA relational knowledge in SC agility development. Furthermore, the author also explores the inter-relationships among these four BDA personnel expertise capabilities.
Design/methodology/approach
An expert team consisting of IT practitioners (with a minimum experience of five years) were chosen to comment and modify the established scale items of the constructs used in the study. Subsequently, the measures were further pre-tested with 61 students specializing in computer science and information technology. The final survey was mailed to 651 IT professionals with a minimum experience of five years or more in an allied field. Repeated follow-ups and reminders resulted in 176 completed responses. The responses were analysed using partial least squares in SmartPLS 2.0.M3.
Findings
Findings suggested that BDA technology management knowledge, BDA business knowledge and BDA relational knowledge are prominent enablers of SC agility. Furthermore, BDA technology management knowledge is an essential precursor of BDA technical knowledge and BDA business knowledge.
Originality/value
The study is the foremost in addressing the importance of BDA personnel expertise capabilities in the development of SC agility. Furthermore, it is also the foremost in exploring the inter-relationships among the BDA personnel expertise capabilities.
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Santanu Mandal and Ritesh Kumar Dubey
This study explored the role of inter-organizational systems (IOS) appropriation in the form of five key IOS usage-based capabilities, namely, IOS use for communication…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explored the role of inter-organizational systems (IOS) appropriation in the form of five key IOS usage-based capabilities, namely, IOS use for communication, intelligence, integration, collaboration and coordination in the development of tourism SC agility and resilience. Furthermore, the inter-relationship among these IOS usage-based capabilities were explored.
Design/methodology/approach
The study collected perceptual measures from hotel managers and tour managers having sufficient experience in the tourism sector. With 209 completed responses, the data were analyzed using partial least squares.
Findings
The study found IOS use of communication and intelligence as prominent enablers of IOS use for integration, collaboration and coordination. Furthermore, IOS use for integration, collaboration and coordination was found to have a prominent influence in the development of tourism SC agility and resilience. However, the influence of IOS use for communication on collaboration was not supported. Also, the impact of IOS use for collaboration in tourism resilience development was not supported.
Originality/value
The study is the foremost to explore the role of IOS appropriation in the development of dynamic capabilities like agility and resilience in tourism. Furthermore, the study also contributed to extant literature on IOS appropriation through suggesting two additional factors, namely, IOS use for collaboration and coordination to the existing IOS usage-based capabilities.