International Journal of Business and General Management

1-20

Authors: Baljeet Singh, Nibha Kumari & Rana Pratap Dutta

Market Information and Intelligence (MII) is one of the most important inputs in agriculture, essential for the viability of farming as a business. A broad term, MII includes market prices, arrivals, price forecasts, marketing standards and specifications for different commodities and different grades of a commodity information on buyers and can be supplemented with weather intelligence (current weather, weather alerts, and weather forecasts) and advice on package of practices for different crops. Current gaps in Market information and intelligence (MII) in six districts of Assam in northeastern India, each representing one distinct agro climatic zone of the state, were assessed as a prelude to setting up a Market Intelligence Cell (MIC) as part of the Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board (ASAMB). The study comprised a survey, field visits, stakeholder consultation, and expert opinions. A total of 285 progressive farmers represented the producers of agricultural commodities whereas 62 aggregators, 77 traders, and 77 processors represented the market. Field data were collected using a pre-tested schedule completed through personal interviews. Integrated MII services across the value chains of different commodities are unknown in Assam, and players in the value chain are unconvinced of the potential benefits of such services. Given the erratic and unevenly distributed supply of electricity, any proposed MII service for agriculture in Assam will have to be developed using the mobile telephone network. Quarterly price forecasts of agricultural commodities up to six months ahead and made available in local language will be the most important component of the MII service, which should also include stock arrivals in markets, a database of buyers, standards and specifications related to farm produce, and advice on better farming practices. Aggregators need MII to be updated daily; traders and farmers, weekly; and processors, monthly and these consumers should be charged accordingly. Lastly, it is not enough to set up such a service: to realize its full potential, training and capacity building of all the players in the value chain are equally important.

35-42

Authors: Sanjay B.C, C. K. Puttaswamy, Gowtham Devanoor P & B. P. Mahesh Chandra Guru

Customer relationship management is the combination of practices, strategies and technologies which are used by modern companies to develop mutually beneficial rapport between the organization and customers. Customers constitute the most important stakeholder group from business management point of view. Customers are the backbone of contemporary business management. Modern corporate houses have developed the customer relationship management system on the basis of certain norms, guidelines, strategies, tools and technologies in the competitive business environment. These houses have national and international business transactions and collaborative networks. They depend on effective customer relationship management, which encompasses direct interactions with customers who matter most in the present business world. The customer relations management in modern corporate houses is primarily focused in this article based on conceptual analysis methodology.

51-58

Authors: Kekada S Muthamma & Shankarappa S

Coffee is one of the important agricultural crops grown all over the world Arabica and Robusta are the two principal varieties are mainly cultivated. India is the seventh largest producer of coffee. Coffee is a brewed beverage with a distinct aroma and flavor, prepared from the roasted seeds of the Coffee plant. It is one of the preferred beverage by most of us. 1000 kg of fresh berry gives about 400 kg of wet waste pulp. Coffee pulp contains caffeine, tannins and organic solid residues. If the water wastes are discharged directly to the nearby streams it creates the water pollution and not properly managed causes environmental pollution also. Coffee waste treatment and management is very essential. Coffee certification programs includes many certifying criteria to avoid environmental pollution and waste management. Coffee certification programs adds value to coffee production process by promotion of conservation of natural resources, biodiversity and environmental protection and waste treatment and management. Waste management is the big challenge all over the world. Industrial waste treatment and management is very essential to avoid environmental pollution and health hazards to human beings and animals. Coffee pulp, one of the principal by products of wet processed coffee. Its disposal in nature, without any treatment, causes severe environmental pollution. Coffee certification programs are the good initiative towards coffee waste treatment and management. In this paper an effort will be made to understand how coffee industry generates waste and why treatment and management of these waste is essential and how coffee certification programs helps to manage the waste generated in the coffee industry.

67-74

Authors: Mohd Shoeb

As far as economic growth of Indian and its future development, the role of Entrepreneurship is very pivotal and important as it take advantage of all the resources, opportunities for employment for the development of people who live in villages. This research examines the result of financial market, economic growth and development with the put in of foreign investment on entrepreneurship development sustained by manufacturing in Micro, small and Medium enterprises (MSME) and permanent funding in MSME for the period of late 1990s to 2017. With the help of the model which is called Error correction, the findings shows that investment under MSME is directly affect by financial development in the long run period. In short run period foreign investment and economic development both are directly affect with fixed investments in MSMEs. Production under MSME can be seen directly affected by economic development with financial development in the period of long run on the other hand in the short run no one of the chosen self reliant and independent variables affected production of MSMEs.

1-8

Authors: Veerabhadraiah C, Umesalma, & Sudheendra Rao L N

Corona virus Decease (COVID-19) pandemic is a type of disease that spreads through virus everywhere, which comes in contact with any person or living being or inanimate objects within a period of 25 hours either knowingly or unknowingly. Corona is originated from neighbouring country China. Now, Corona has spread throughout the world with high intensity resulting in death in a short span. Corona attacks on respiratory systems resulting in suffocation and the supply of oxygen is limited which is essential for survival. This is identified as National disasters. The Government of India viz., Parliament’s Chairperson being the administrator of the country, may exercise his judicial power to protect the interest of the public within its jurisdiction. Emergency provisions of the Indian Constitution reduce the disasters of the nation with the direction of National Disasters Authority chairperson; as mentioned in the “The Disasters Management Act 2005”, Section6 has the power to manage, administer and control the damages, which may occur due to the disasters. Emergency relief is undertaken for the benefits of the citizens, which include NRI persons.

1-10

Authors: Obi, Chineze Eunice

The paper examined the domestic monetary and fiscal policy effects of interest rate inflation rate and exchange rate on the economy for the period 1981-2018. The study adopted Dickey –fuller test and the Johansen’sCointegeation test. The result of Johansen showed that there exist relationship between the variable over the entire period,though in the short –run there was deviation from the equilibrium. The existence of one cointegrating equation was identied,therefore, a stable equilibrium relationship was present. The coefficients result was that 1% increase in the interst rate led to 0.002% increase in growth rate, in the long run interest rate had positive impact on growth rate. The study also used Granger Causality test to examine relationship between interest rate and inflation rate, GDP and real growth rate. Results were that interest rate causes inflation and interest rate cause granger growth rate, while growth rate granger cause GDP. The result of Arch and Garch showed volatility shock, which were quite persisent so that a large excess return value of either positive or negative, which will lead future forceasts of high interest and exchange rate for a prolonged period of time. This forceast of future high interest and inflation rates will not aurgor well for use in the budget preparation, since they will reflect use budget defict or surplus that will require external borrowing.

23-26

Authors: Nidhi, F. L. Sharma, Pushpa Kumawat & Diksha Sharma

Self-Help Groups are informal associations of people who choose to come together to find ways to improve their living conditions. They help to build social capital among the poor, especially women. Among the all SHG members, more than half 73.33 percent of the SHG members gained good income as well as reputation in their society from handicrafts activity. While 60.00 percent of the respondents were stitching the cloths for getting the income.

1-10

Authors: Natepanna Yavirach

This research is aimed to study about the success of business operators who were engaged in direct sales occupation and also to develop, manage knowledge, create learning organization for people involved in direct sales business occupation at Thailand in order to meet the international standard recognized in accordance with the occupational standard and Individual Competency Standard Principle: ISO 17024. By using Questionnaires from sampling groups such as business operators and people involved in direct sales business in Bangkok and its perimeter. SPSS Version 24 program have been used in the descriptive statistical data analysis and the data qualitative analysis is conducted through the in-depth interviews among the focused groups. It is found that the knowledge management is necessary for the direct sales business that consists of (1) The analysis of consumers’ demands for products, procurement of products from standardized sources, product distribution center development, product transportation system development, procurement of new technology and innovation to add values for the products which are the aspects of the occupational ethics, the production standards and screening, checking the products should meet with the standards and requirements of laws, are important to the highest level, respectively, (2) Defining the marketing strategy by analyzing the target groups, controlling marketing strategy which is moderately important followed in the second place by the development of training and the creation of new knowledge, respectively, (3) Providing systematic payment channel and the use of electronic systems which is moderately important level followed in the second place by the preparation of details about the product materials and the verifications on the accuracy of payment documents, (4) The analysis on the source of standard products which were brought for distributions, respectively, (5) The aspects for the creation of direct sales business network ranks the most important followed in the second place by the information technology system and public relations, respectively, (6) Team working ranks as the important followed in the second place by the organization of group activities and knowledge management, respectively and (7) Product Warranty and creations of relationships with customers, factors related to the organization for continuous marketing activities marks as the important in moderate level followed in the second place by the creation of the sales team leaders, respectively.

15-28

Authors: Elsie Liza Holiarivony Raveloson

Cloud computing is defined as the approach of computing where extremely scalable IT-related capabilities are delivered “as a service”, using Internet technologies to many customers. There are many definitions of cloud computing, few of which are quoted in this study, but the basic concept remains the same. There are essential characteristics of Cloud Computing, which are mentioned in this study. Cloud Computing is based on technologies, and there are four deployment models in it and architectural layers that are also known as service models. The research paper gives an idea to the readers/audience about basics of Cloud Computing, its application in business and future of Cloud Computing in business and other areas. Further, the advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing have been brought forward. In my viewpoint, I would like to state that, it depends on the organization/individual, how well it makes use of cloud computing so that he/she/organization can take maximum benefit from its advantages while simultaneously delicately handling the risks involved.The nature of this study is qualitative, and the author recommends there are many possible directions of research in cloud computing, which can be helpful for the development of society and the world.

1-6

Authors: Karanam Nagaraj Rao & Femina Syed

An organization sustains its strength from its customer centricity. Only 14% of the Marketers say that customer centricity is a hallmark of their companies, and only 11 percent believe their customers would agree with that characterization (CMO Council Research center Report, 2014). The customer database is huge and vast and companies don’t have sufficient expertise to categorize the emotional requirements of customers and develop customer empathy in organizational culture. The big data analysis in HR is still in nascent stage. Empathy with customers is possible if the employees are engaged in customer-centric activities. The role of HR in employee recruitment, training, job design, placement, and engagement play a significant role in building such teams. Hiring customer friendly employees, facilitating direct interaction with customers, developing employee culture in synchronization with customer culture, tying employees to cluster of customers, opening customer insights to employees, instill customer empathy in the organization and the like are few measures the HR Manager can think of to build agile teams capable enough to navigate with the mindset of customers. The authors of this paper are interested in analyzing the evolving trends of HR in meeting customer needs and the focus is on exploratory research. The literature survey is from the research papers from popular journals and the databases from Ebsco, Proquest, J gate and the like. The research may be useful for organizations which are driven by customer needs and requirements.

15–28

Authors: Elsie Liza Holiarivony Raveloson

The typology of the Malagasy private sector shows a large majority of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Indeed, the study of SMEs proves to be very relevant in order to contribute to the economic development and a sustainable development of the country. Currently, SMEs suffer from both financial and managerial problems, but this study concerns those relating to management and more specifically, the motivation of human resources. In order to try to solve these problems, the study was oriented towards the search of other motivating factors, besides the improvement of the working conditions or the factors of the environment, the satisfaction of the needs. The hypothesis was based on the assertion that the strategic vision of SME managers helps to motivate their employees. A conceptual analysis proposed a test of clarification on the relationship that can exist between the motivation of human resources and the strategic vision of their leaders. Several relevant questions were addressed in this study, such as what can be the existing sources of motivation? To what extent does the vision of leaders motivate their employees? What role would tension play in motivation?