Selvalakshmi M., Vidya Suresh and Mythili Kolluru
This paper aims to develop a pedagogy combining analytic reasoning with a more exploratory skill set that style practitioners have embraced and business schools have traditionally…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a pedagogy combining analytic reasoning with a more exploratory skill set that style practitioners have embraced and business schools have traditionally neglected. It proposes a viable business which will be converted into market opportunities. The study aims to expand the domain of design thinking (DT) by applying the concept in the higher education sector with special reference to management education.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper emerged out of an application of one of the models of DT in the field of higher education. While several models of DT are deployed by various sectors, the 3I model developed by IDEO in 2001 was chosen as appropriate to design a pedagogy for MBA students. The data were complemented by classroom teaching experiments, evaluation and student performance.
Findings
This paper provides empirical insights about how a change is brought about during implementing a new pedagogy in the system. This innovative pedagogy was named as “Integrative and Interactive Approach.” It was offered to first-year postgraduate students of management.
Research limitations/implications
Because of the chosen approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Researchers are encouraged to test the model in a smaller group before implementing.
Practical implications
The paper focuses on the testing and implementation of DT in innovating a pedagogy with reference to one chosen institute. The cost, benefits and challenges may differ when applied to other institutes of same kind.
Originality/value
This paper fulfills an identified need to have an integrated approach of teaching in management education using case study approach.
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Arushi Bathla, Ginni Chawla, Mahrane Hofaidhllaoui and Marina Dabic
Applying critical analysis as the methodological framework for assessing the literature, the review seeks to present a summary and evaluation of the existing body of knowledge…
Abstract
Purpose
Applying critical analysis as the methodological framework for assessing the literature, the review seeks to present a summary and evaluation of the existing body of knowledge. This approach helps to establish the basis for developing forthcoming recommendations.
Design/methodology/approach
The articles were selected through a Systematic Literature Review following the PRISMA guidelines, and utilising Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and the Education Resources Information Center database. Field taxonomy is presented based on the outcomes.
Findings
Through a critical review, we offer narrative arguments that document the shortcomings in the existing literature by scrutinising study designs and highlighting suboptimal approaches. Finally, we issue a call to action for future research, envisioning its potential to reorient and reconstruct the field while enhancing the quality of future studies. This proactive stance aims to foster the development of more competent and insightful perspectives, theories, and policy recommendations within design thinking in management education and training.
Practical implications
The research in this field holds significant potential for providing valuable practical and policy insights, contingent upon the rigorous and thorough execution of studies.
Originality/value
This article presents a robust critical review of 57 state-of-the-art articles investigating design thinking in the context of management education and training.
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Kanchan Pant and Arunaditya Sahay
The case study “PVR Limited at a Crossroads” has been designed with the requirements of strategic management. The learning objectives are as follows:• Situational analysis �…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
The case study “PVR Limited at a Crossroads” has been designed with the requirements of strategic management. The learning objectives are as follows:
• Situational analysis – understand the global and Indian media and entertainment industry PESTEL.
• Strategic planning – internal and external environmental analysis – strength, weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis helps in achieving the strategic plan.
• Strategy development – to accomplish the turnaround plan, various alternatives are developed; choosing from the possible alternatives is a part of strategic planning.
Case overview/synopsis
PVR Limited (PVR) is the largest premium film exhibition company in India. In their annual report for 2019–2020, Chief Executive Officer Gautam Dutta acknowledged, “It was the first time in our more than two-decade history that we witnessed over 100 million patrons entering our premises in a year”. However, with the onset of Covid-19 pandemic in January 2020, things changed for the entertainment industry in India. There were fears of an eminent third wave and the detection of a new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, added to these fears. Being a major player in the game, PVR felt the impact. And even when the business started to reopen, social distancing remained a concern and ticket sales were impacted. Over-the-top viewership rose dramatically at the cost of the multiplex. The lockdown halted film productions worldwide, leading to a shortage of content. Other revenue streams, such as food and beverage, convenience fees and advertising, also came to a halt. Given the circumstances, Dutta was facing the twin dilemma of how to bring customers back to cinema in a post-pandemic world without in any way compromising the security of its patrons and keeping costs under control while investing in social distancing, safety measures and entertainment infrastructure to enhance the cinematic experience.
Complexity academic level
This case was written for use in Strategic Management classes at the undergraduate and MBA levels. It can be used in both management studies and executive development programs. It is suitable for courses on strategic management and strategic planning focusing on a turnaround strategy. Additionally, the case could be used in consumer behaviour courses in management as the focus of the case is well aligned with discussions related to change in consumer behaviour.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 11: Strategy.
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Minu Zachariah, Vyshnavi Viswananda and Jaicy George
The case can be taught to MBA/PGDM students to give them experiential learning in the course on entrepreneurship. The case can be used to specifically make the student understand…
Abstract
Study level/applicability
The case can be taught to MBA/PGDM students to give them experiential learning in the course on entrepreneurship. The case can be used to specifically make the student understand the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the male-dominated business sector and recognize the entrepreneurial competencies needed to run a business.
Subject area
Entrepreneurship.
Case overview
Shany Jalal, Promoter and Managing Director of Servicecare Pvt. Ltd., and the protagonist of the case proud owner of Servicecare Pvt. Ltd. reminisced the circumstances that drove her to start the business venture in Bangalore, India. At the age of 17, a personal setback instilled in Shany a strong desire to become self-reliant and independent. Backed with a degree in hotel management and a meager loan amount of INR 10,000 provided by her father on certain terms and conditions, Shany deep dived into the soft facility management sector business way back in the year 1999 and since then there has been no turning back. Today, Shany Jalal is proud that her venture by starting a proprietorship company “Service Care”, and later converted it into a Private Limited Company, “Servicecare Private Limited” in 2011. Shany Jalal was proud that her venture is a name to reckon with in Bangalore. She has had a team of 4,200 employees, which operates Pan India, providing top-notch corporate cleaning solutions. Her motto was not to compromise on quality and she continues to provide the highest level of service to her esteemed clients, some of them even dating back to the days of inception. Her determination powered by a strong value system is what keeps the company a cut above the rest. Being in the soft facilities management service for almost 20 years, Shany Jalal feels she has achieved her dream. Today, she is a highly successful woman entrepreneur. As she retraces her career path, she owes her success earned through years of dedication, commitment, hard work and timely intervention of some kind-hearted individuals. Since 2011, the company witnessed an average growth of 41% year on year. Though there was stiff competition from domestic and multinational property management companies, Shany sailed through. However, in the global pandemic of 2020, when her business was impacted, Shany realized that to sustain organizational growth, she had to integrate technology with service. She contemplated ways and means of integrating technology with services to meet the clients’ demands. However, Shany believes that to sustain organization growth, technology must be integrated with service. She is currently contemplating ways to introduce and integrate technology with services to efficiently and effectively meet clients’ demands.
Expected learning outcomes
1. Understand the gender issues in India and its impact on women entrepreneurs. 2. Analyse the ecosystem that supports supported women entrepreneurs in creating a new venture. 3. Identify the leadership traits and style, entrepreneurial competencies and capacities of the women entrepreneur in this case. 4. Recognize the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the facilities management business sector. 5. Explore various options of integrating technology to improve facilities management services provided to the clients.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Social implications
Shany was able to face the challenges that came her way successfully with grit and courage. She was able to expand her business. Her business helped lighten the lives of many people as she provided a means of livelihood to the underprivileged. Shany was also able to motivate her husband to start a business venture and stood by him. She encouraged women to stand on their own feet especially motivating women to set up their own businesses. She is also in constant touch with other like-minded women entrepreneurs who share similar experiences in handling crises. This gives her more insight to take proper decisions.
Keywords
Women entrepreneur, Facilities management services, Technology supported services
Subject code
CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
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Chandra Shekhar Bhatnagar, Dyal Bhatnagar and Pritpal Singh Bhullar
The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure and business responsibility report (BRR) on a firm’s financial performance…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure and business responsibility report (BRR) on a firm’s financial performance. Additionally, the study explores whether CSR expenditure and firm performance are related linearly or otherwise. The study also assesses the influence of mandating CSR expenditure on a firm’s performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is set in India and uses a nine-year data set from 165 companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Data compilation and analysis are done by using content analysis and panel data regressions.
Findings
The main findings of the study are that the effect of CSR expenditure on firm performance in India is non-linear and can be characterized as parabolic for investigated firms. While some performance indicators suggest a U-shaped relationship, others show an inverted U-type pattern, making a definitive conclusion elusive in either direction. BRR scores themselves have a positive impact on firm performance. Mandatory CSR expenditure affects the financial performance negatively, but the market performance improves in general.
Originality/value
The study provides new insights on the relationship between CSR expenditure, BRR scores and firm performance from India, which is not only a notable emerging market but also has other gripping characteristics. It has a prolific history of philanthropy, and yet, it is the first country in the world to mandate CSR expenditure in recent times. The equation between reported economic progress and general quality of life remains intriguing, and yet the number of studies on the effects of CSR expenditure on firm performance are no match to the volume of ongoing and completed works in more developed markets. This study attempts to trim the gap and provide some useful insights for managers, policymakers and stakeholders, apart from prompting further research.
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Zinette Bergman, Yael Teschemacher, Bimal Arora, Rijit Sengupta, Klaus Michael Leisinger and Manfred Max Bergman
The Government of India dramatically altered the dynamic between business and society when it introduced the Companies Act 2013, which mandated firms to expend at least 2 per cent…
Abstract
Purpose
The Government of India dramatically altered the dynamic between business and society when it introduced the Companies Act 2013, which mandated firms to expend at least 2 per cent of average net profits on corporate responsibility (CR) programmes. This reconfiguration of social value creation may serve as a template for a closer and participatory relationship between the private sector and government in emerging economies and beyond. This paper aims to analyse how CR expectations have taken shape in the print media in India. Specifically, the authors ask the following: What are the dimensions of CR expectations in mainstream Indian newspapers?, and Why, according to the newspaper narratives, do corporations have these responsibilities?
Design/methodology/approach
In this qualitative study, the authors randomly selected and analysed 50 per cent (n = 442) of the newspaper articles that dealt explicitly with CR. The articles appeared in the top five Indian English-language newspapers and the top two Hindi-language newspapers between 1 January and 31 December 2015. Using Content Configuration Analysis (CCA), the authors developed a typology of CR expectations and analysed their associated justifications. Finally, they used CCA to analyse how this typology and its justifications connect to the two main stakeholders: the business sector and government.
Findings
The analyses reveal how the introduction of the Companies Act 2013 had a major impact on CR expectations by explicitly and legally casting the business sector as the engine of social development. The authors were able to describe how contextual and cultural dimensions frame evolving interests and societal demands towards corporations, and how difficult it may be for corporations to fulfil CR expectations that are well beyond their core business and that reach domains usually pertaining to government.
Originality/value
This study contributes an empirical exploration of media discourse on contemporary CR expectations in India and its associated notions of social value creation, and how these are shaped by various cultural and contextual influences. The authors discuss how this novel approach to CR modifies the relations between business and society, and they reflect on the opportunities and limits of this model for other emerging economies, which struggle to formulate a symbiotic relationship between business and society.
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Nidhi Agarwala, Ritu Pareek and Tarak Nath Sahu
The study aims to explore and establish the relationship that exists between board independence and corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of Indian firms.
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to explore and establish the relationship that exists between board independence and corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of Indian firms.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 76 non-financial companies listed on the National Stock Exchange has been considered for a period of seven years (from 2013 to 2019). The study has used several statistical tools such as the static panel data model and the Arellano–Bond dynamic panel data model based on generalized method of moments approach.
Findings
The results of the analysis have indicated board independence to have a significant positive relationship with the firms’ CSR performance. However, board size and number of board meetings have been found to have a negative relationship with CSR. Further, outcomes have also revealed that variables such as companies’ size and liquidity have a positive effect on the extent of CSR activities performed.
Practical implications
The firms which have the intention to engage in impactful CSR activities should support the independent directors’ participation in companies’ boards. The study’s findings suggest the companies to appoint independent directors strategically, keeping in mind the requirements of their board. Also, the independent directors selected should be independent in true sense, i.e. they should not be acquaintances of the company’s chief executive officer. This would ensure unbiased decision-making and would enhance the company’s CSR performance.
Originality/value
In India, CSR has gained great importance. So much so that it was made mandatory by the Companies Act, 2013. However, research studies that may assist in understanding the influence of board independence on Indian firms’ CSR performance are still scarce. The present study would foster value to the existing set of limited literature. Besides, the study has considered the dynamic nature of the relationship and has also controlled the endogeneity bias which has been examined by few studies in the past.
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Mingwei Tang, Jiangping Chen, Haihua Chen, Zhenyuan Xu, Yueyao Wang, Mengting Xie and Jiangwei Lin
The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrated semantic information retrieval (IR) solution based on an ontology-improved vector space model for situations where a digital…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrated semantic information retrieval (IR) solution based on an ontology-improved vector space model for situations where a digital collection is established or curated. It aims to create a retrieval approach which could return the results by meanings rather than by keywords.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors propose a semantic term frequency algorithm to create a semantic vector space model (SeVSM) based on ontology. To support the calculation, a multi-branches tree model is created to represent the ontology and a set of algorithms is developed to operate it. Then, a semantic ontology-based IR system based on the SeVSM model is designed and developed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Findings
The experimental study using 30 queries from 15 different domains confirms the effectiveness of the SeVSM and the usability of the proposed system. The results demonstrate that the proposed model and system can be a significant exploration to enhance IR in specific domains, such as a digital library and e-commerce.
Originality/value
This research not only creates a semantic retrieval model, but also provides the application approach via designing and developing a semantic retrieval system based on the model. Comparing with most of the current related research, the proposed research studies the whole process of realizing a semantic retrieval.
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This research aims to contribute substantively and methodologically to our understanding of CSR communications in the pharmaceutical sector targeted to employees. Of specific…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to contribute substantively and methodologically to our understanding of CSR communications in the pharmaceutical sector targeted to employees. Of specific concern is how companies can most effectively communicate their CSR activities to employees.
Design/methodology/approach
Multi-methods were used to identify CSR-related communication trends and relationships in the largest pharmaceutical companies by market cap. Replicatable data are ROA from Bloomberg, ESG scores, employee satisfaction from Indeed.com and content of CSR and similar reports.
Findings
Significant findings include the content of CSR reports related to employee behaviors and human resource processes. Both HR behaviors and HR processes are related to return on assets ROA. Multinational differences were found in Indeed satisfaction scores and in trends in communications from the CSR reports.
Research limitations/implications
One of the limitations was that not all pharmaceutical companies consistently reported their data.
Practical implications
Given that the pharmaceutical sector is comprised of a high proportion of uniquely qualified types of employees, this type of information can be used by prospective employees to consistently include more HR processes. Especially missing is recruitment and selection data that can reasonably be expected to facilitate identifying prospective employees who align with the CSR mission.
Originality/value
The methodology used in this study allows for replication in the pharmaceutical sector. Moreover, it encourages using similar disaggregated ESG data sources to study CSR in other sectors.