Michael P. Wells and Uday R. Sharma
Although a very poor country, Nepal has established an extensive protected area system. Many visitors are attracted by some of these parks, helping to make tourism the top foreign…
Abstract
Although a very poor country, Nepal has established an extensive protected area system. Many visitors are attracted by some of these parks, helping to make tourism the top foreign exchange earner. Landmark events for wildlife conservation during recent Nepalese history are identified, especially the 1961‐90 rule of the monarchy and the present decentralized democratic system which succeeded it. Although many problems remain, Nepal has gone further than most countries towards reconciling: the needs and aspirations of local people with protected area management, and the economic opportunities offered by nature tourism with its ecological threats. Innovative projects have emphasized the socio‐economic aspects of conservation and legislation has recently been passed to formalize the status of park buffer zones. The future of Nepal’s protected areas may depend on how effectively these initiatives can be implemented and how effectively their lessons can be applied on a broader front.
Details
Keywords
Kamal Sharma, Varsha Shirwalkar and Prabir K. Pal
This paper aims to provide a solution to the first phase of a force-controlled circular Peg-In-Hole assembly using an industrial robot. The paper suggests motion planning of the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a solution to the first phase of a force-controlled circular Peg-In-Hole assembly using an industrial robot. The paper suggests motion planning of the robot’s end-effector so as to perform Peg-In-Hole search with minimum a priori information of the working environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper models Peg-In-Hole search problem as a problem of finding the minima in depth profile for a particular assembly. Thereafter, various optimization techniques are used to guide the robot to locate minima and complete the hole search. This approach is inspired by a human’s approach of searching a hole by moving peg in various directions so as to search a point of maximum insertion which is same as the minima in depth profile.
Findings
The usage of optimization techniques for hole search allows the robot to work with minimum a priori information of the working environment. Also, the iterative nature of the techniques adapts to any disturbance during assembly.
Practical implications
The techniques discussed here are quite useful if a force-controlled assembly needs to be performed in a highly unknown environment and also when the assembly setup can get disturbed in between.
Originality/value
The concept is original and provides a non-conventional use of optimization techniques, not for optimization of some process directly but for an industrial robot’s motion planning.
Details
Keywords
Kamaljit Singh, Jasvinder Kaur and Simmi Vashishtha
The purpose of this study is to conduct a critical review of the operational and financial trends of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to conduct a critical review of the operational and financial trends of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited. Furthermore, the study aims to determine whether loss-making utilities would benefit from adopting the strategic model employed by Haryana.
Design/methodology/approach
Time series data from 2005–2006 to 2022–2023 is analysed using various significant accounting ratios and operational and financial performance parameters to assess the annual performance over the period.
Findings
The substantial operational and financial performance results of UHBVNL and DHBVNL indicate that from 2017 to 2018 onwards, the power discoms started performing well and are in an improving stage. These results create a strong profile for the utilities, suggesting that their model could be a viable solution for other loss-making power distribution companies.
Practical implications
As a policy recommendation, rather than privatizing the discoms, authorities should study the strategic model of profit-making states like Haryana and implement it in other states without any political interference.
Originality/value
The relevant research questions addressed are: What best practices have Haryana power discoms adopted to enhance financial performance and minimize losses? What lessons can other loss-making state-owned power discoms learn from Haryana? Can Haryana power discoms be a benchmarking model for public and private discoms operating at a loss?
Details
Keywords
Sivakumar Menon, Pitabas Mohanty, Uday Damodaran and Divya Aggarwal
Many studies have shown that from a theoretical and empirical point of view, downside risk-based measures of risk are better than the traditional ones. Despite academic appeal and…
Abstract
Purpose
Many studies have shown that from a theoretical and empirical point of view, downside risk-based measures of risk are better than the traditional ones. Despite academic appeal and practical implications, downside risk has not been thoroughly examined in markets outside developed country markets. Using downside beta as a measure of downside risk, this study examines the relationship between downside beta and stock returns in Indian equity market, an emerging market with unique investor, asset and market characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an empirical study done by using ranked portfolio return analysis and regression analysis methodologies.
Findings
The study results show that downside risk, as measured by downside beta, is distinctly priced in the Indian equity market. There is a direct positive relationship between downside beta and contemporaneous realized returns, indicating a premium for downside risk. Downside risk carries a higher weightage than upside potential in the aggregate return of the stock portfolios. Downside beta is a better measure of systematic risk than conventional market beta and downside coskewness.
Practical implications
The empirical results support the adoption of downside beta in practice and provide a case for replacing traditional beta with downside beta in asset pricing applications, trading and investment strategies, and capital allocation decision-making.
Originality/value
This is one of the first in-depth studies examining downside beta in Indian equity markets using a broad sample of individual stock returns covering a wide time range of 22 years. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first one to compare downside beta and downside coskewness using individual stock data from the Indian equity market.
Details
Keywords
Rifath Mahmud Uday, Sheak Salman, Md. Rezaul Karim, Md. Sifat Ar Salan, Muzahidul Islam and Mustak Shahriar
The objective of this study is to investigate the barriers hindering the integration of lean manufacturing (LM) practices within the furniture industry of Bangladesh. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study is to investigate the barriers hindering the integration of lean manufacturing (LM) practices within the furniture industry of Bangladesh. The traditional operational paradigms in this sector have posed substantial challenges to the effective implementation of LM. In this study, the barriers of implementing LM in the furniture business are examined, aiming to provide a systematic understanding of the barriers that must be addressed for a successful transition.
Findings
The research reveals that “Fragmented Industry Structure,” “Resistance to Lean Practices” and “Inadequate Plant Layout and Maintenance”, emerged as the foremost barriers to LM implementation in the furniture industry. Additionally, “Insufficient Expert Management,” “Limited Technical Resources” and “Lack of Capital Investment” play significant roles.
Research limitations/implications
The outcomes of this study provide valuable insights into the furniture industry, enabling the development of strategies for effective LM implementation. One notable challenge in lean implementation is the tendency to revert to established practices when confronted with barriers. Therefore, this transition necessitates informed guidance and leadership. In addition to addressing these internal challenges, the scope of lean implementation should be broadened.
Originality/value
This study represents one of the initial efforts to systematically identify and assess the barriers to LM implementation within the furniture industry of Bangladesh, contributing to the emerging body of knowledge in this area.
Details
Keywords
Sudhakar Kumar Chaubey and Uday Chand De
The authors set the goal to find the solution of the Eisenhart problem within the framework of three-dimensional trans-Sasakian manifolds. Also, they prove some results of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The authors set the goal to find the solution of the Eisenhart problem within the framework of three-dimensional trans-Sasakian manifolds. Also, they prove some results of the Ricci solitons, η-Ricci solitons and three-dimensional weakly
Design/methodology/approach
The authors have used the tensorial approach to achieve the goal.
Findings
A second-order parallel symmetric tensor on a three-dimensional trans-Sasakian manifold is a constant multiple of the associated Riemannian metric g.
Originality/value
The authors declare that the manuscript is original and it has not been submitted to any other journal for possible publication.
Details
Keywords
Yehuda Baruch, A. Uday Bhaskar and Bijaya Mishra
The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a career-orientation and employability-focused model in the Indian context in order to understand: factors influencing…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a career-orientation and employability-focused model in the Indian context in order to understand: factors influencing employability of graduates factors influencing expected salary gain.
Design/methodology/approach
The researchers adopted a quantitative method using a two-wave survey with a sample of MBA graduates from two prominent business schools in India. The total sample size for Wave I was 250, while for Wave II it was 161. The model was tested via hierarchical regression with MBA contribution as a moderator.
Findings
Results indicate the relevance of protean career orientation (PCO) to reaching career outcomes such as employability, with MBA contribution as a moderator.
Practical implications
The study provides a new perspective that would enhance graduates’ employability. This makes it relevant for both individuals and higher education institutions as it will help both individuals and higher education institutions to attain competitiveness at the national level.
Originality/value
The career theory was extended to the diverse socio-cultural and economic context of India, representing the BRICS economy.
Details
Keywords
Ram Niwas and Vikas Kumar
This paper aims to determine the optimum parametric settings for yielding superior mechanical properties, namely, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to determine the optimum parametric settings for yielding superior mechanical properties, namely, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and percentage elongation (EL) of AZ91D/AgNPs/TiO2 hybrid composite fabricated by friction stir processing.
Design/methodology/approach
An empirical model has been developed to govern crucial influencing parameters, namely, rotation speed (RS), tool transverse speed (TS), number of passes (NPS) and reinforcement fraction (RF) or weight percentage. Box Behnken design (BBD) with four input parameters and three levels of each parameter was used to design the experimental work, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to check the acceptability of the developed model. Desirability function analysis (DFA) for a multiresponse optimization approach is integrated with response surface methodology (RSM). The individual desirability index (IDI) was calculated for each response, and a composite desirability index (CDI) was obtained. The optimal parametric settings were determined based on maximum CDI values. A confirmation test is also performed to compare the actual and predicted values of responses.
Findings
The relationship between input parameters and output responses (UTS, YS, and EL) was investigated using the Box-Behnken design (BBD). Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO2) enhanced the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength. It was observed that the inclusion of AgNPs led to an increase in ductility, while the increase in the weight fraction of TiO2 resulted in a decrease in ductility.
Practical implications
AZ91D/AgNPs/TiO2 hybrid composite finds enormous applications in biomedical implants, aerospace, sports and aerospace industries, especially where lightweight materials with high strength are critical.
Originality/value
In terms of optimum value through desirability, the experimental trials yield the following results: maximum value of UTS (318.369 MPa), maximum value of YS (200.120 MPa) and EL (7.610) at 1,021 rpm of RS, 70 mm/min of TS, 4 NPS and level 3 of RF.
Details
Keywords
To understand: – the demand and supply side challenges in launching a new product in sports. – Factors, which go into the making of a successful “new” sport. – The role of…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
To understand: – the demand and supply side challenges in launching a new product in sports. – Factors, which go into the making of a successful “new” sport. – The role of planning in sport management.
Case overview/synopsis
In July 2017, on the eve of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 5, kabaddi had emerged as one of India’s most important non-cricketing sport. PKL was India’s first men’s professional kabaddi league, introduced by Mashal Sports and Star India in 2014. Kabaddi was an indigenous sport, and India had an unbeaten international track record as world champions. Yet, the sport and its players had never received their due in India. In 2017, while kabaddi’s popularity had increased, leading to sponsorship opportunities, huge player bids, prize money and television viewership, all was not quite hunky-dory. A women’s kabaddi league introduced only the previous year had not been continued, despite an extended format in 2017. The audience profile also did not match that envisaged by Star. As a unique creator of sports content, Star was in an enviable position in India; and so was Kabaddi as a sport. How had Star created a new property around an indigenous sport with rural and rustic associations, transforming it into a snazzy, up-market sport within just three years, even while leagues involving other popular sports failed to create a mark? Could Star sustain this interest? How could kabaddi retain its “star” position within Star’s stable?
Complexity academic level
In an undergraduate or a postgraduate programme in business administration.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 11: Strategy.
Details
Keywords
Suma Damodaran and Uday Damodaran
Business strategy and industrial economics.
Abstract
Subject area
Business strategy and industrial economics.
Study level/applicability
This case may be used early on in a basic course on strategy in an MBA program or in a course in industrial economics. It can also be used in a session of an executive development program on strategy.
Case overview
The TV Broadcasting industry, worldwide, has been moulded by frequent changes in technology and by regulatory interventions. So has been the case of India. The case begins with a general introduction to the technology of TV broadcasting and distribution and then moves on to a discussion of the technological changes in the Indian context. The evolving structure of the industry in India over three distinct periods is then described. The Industry consists of content producers, broadcasters, aggregators, direct-to-home distributors, multi-system operators and local cable operators. Over the three periods of time, changes in technology and regulation constantly impacted on the structure, the conduct and the performance of players in each segment.
Expected learning outcomes
The analysis of the case is expected to demonstrate the use of theoretical frameworks like the structure-conduct-performance model and Porter's five-force model in arriving at a prognosis of the structure of an industry in general, and that of the Indian TV broadcasting industry in particular.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available, please consult your Librarian for access.