International Journal of Business and General Management

11-28

Authors: RAMESH RAJ AYER

Adaption of e-Commerce channel by MSME businesses in India is a study on the use of e-commerce channels by MSME industry and the contribution of this channel to its profitability and success. The study also examines the factors for the success in e-Commerce and whether digital media initiative launched by the Government, has benefitted the MSME industry in India. Business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce channel is gradually maturing across the world, whereas in India, it is still at the nascent stage. Globally, almost 90% of e-commerce transactions are said to be of B2B type and only 10% are of B2C type. Although, definite data is not available, the share of B2B in India is also expected to be similar. Experts have predicted that, India’s B2B e-Commerce will be worth Rs 45 Lac Cr (US$ 700 Billion), by 2020 (Business Standard 2016). Digital India is an enabler of growth for e-Commerce of both B2B and B2C types, in India. It presents a great opportunity for MSME companies, who want to take advantage of this digital technology to expand their businesses. The e-Commerce platforms can enable MSME, to optimize procurement and expand their customer reach. For the MSME, using e-Commerce channel is an opportunity like a low hanging fruit and helps them achieve faster growth, at a relatively lower cost as well as fetch a better profit margin. There are basically two models of e-commerce. First is known as “Market Place” model, which works like exchange for buyers and sellers. The model works as a facilitator of e-commerce. The second is an “Inventory Based” model. In this model, the inventory of goods rests with the e-Commerce platform, either as consignment or as bought out stocks. This model is engaged in ecommerce directly. Indian e-Commerce industry is characterized by “Market Place” model. This allows a large number of manufacturers/traders; especially MSME’s to list their products and services on the online “Market Place” and benefit from enquiries and orders (Evolution of e-Commerce, PWC). According to experts, the current growth rate of market places is 60%, as compared to 30% for the inventory based model. The question that this study investigates is, whether the MSME industry has taken advantage of e-Commerce channel and digital India infrastructure, that is developing at a fast pace in the country and if so how?

37-46

Authors: MAHARDHIKA BERLIANDALDO, MAULUDIN HIDAYAT & ANANG HIDAYAT

In the current knowledge era, every human being starts to figure out how to manage knowledge. The process is carried out in such ways as composing new strategies, new tools, new methods and processes, which make people think to manage knowledge well, as individuals and an organization, especially for an organization or company, where the company is required to have Quality human resources (HR), new innovations, and knowledge to be able to competition.Knowledge management (KM) is present to provide solutions to old management problems in improving employee knowledge and combine business processes with the concept of knowledge management designed.The problems that occur in Cibinong Science and Technology Park (C-STP) is the management of employees who have not maximized, planning activities that have not maximized, and documentation of activities that are not done and knowledge sharing is still little implemented. Knowledge management sees that problem will have an impact on the STP activities in Cibinong, so it is necessary to do a new mechanism in the implementation of Strategy organization. The use of data used in this study is primary data and secondary data. Primary data obtained through interview, observation, and questioner. Secondary data are obtained from literature studies in the form of journals, books, the internet, and documents owned by Center for Innovation LIPI. Further analysis method used in this research is the alignment of Knowledge Management with business strategy (using Zack Framework model), K-Gap Analysis (comparison analysis between the level of importance to the knowledge needed and employee mastery level), and Preparation of Strategic Knowledge Management. From the results of data processing can be seen that the knowledge related to the strategic plan has the highest k-gap value of 1.40. The lowest k-gap value is the job description related knowledge with a value of 0.40. The next lowest k-gap value is the Incubator Development with a value of 0.50. Incubator development is one of the most important or major activities so that each employee is required to master the knowledge related incubator. The existence of knowledge gaps in the C-STP indicates that the organization has not been able to manage knowledge well. For that C-STP Manager needs to manage the existing knowledge so that knowledge gaps can be reduced by preparing the next knowledge management strategy. The strategy is to develop leadership policies, Build Awareness and Tradition, and Implement Practical Media Knowledge Management.

57-66

Authors: G. RAJESH1 & S. NARAYANA RAJAN2

Prices of essential commodities have been increasing in the markets, in Kerala, for the past two decades. Obviously, the common man finds it difficult, to adjust his income. The wholesale and retail private shop owners are found to be opportunistic and exploitative. Instead of confronting and controlling them, the State Government has established an alternate retail market, for the public to provide essential commodities, at subsidized prices. But, many of the customers are not satisfied with the quality of the services, offered at these State-run outlets, compared to the services in the private shops. This study investigates into these aspects and assesses the quality of the services, using the parameters SERVQUAL scale. The findings indicate that, comparatively, the services offered by the private shops are more satisfactory, than those in the Government outlets

7-22

Authors: VIDYA PRIYA RAO1 & RAJA ROY CHOUDHURY

With international patients shopping for health care services outside their home country, like all other consumers to receive the best care, hospitals need to design a hospital, which creates healthy and satisfied customers (patients). The hospital can only influence the patient perception through optimizing the service deliver quality. It is important to uncover factors that meet the needs of the patients and their families. Organizations that can create positive patient perceptions are the ones that will benefit from a commitment to patient satisfaction improvement, and demonstrates a type of organizational culture that facilitates success in these efforts. Medical tourism in on a high growth path in India. In this context, the aim of this study is to examine what determines customer satisfaction for people who seek medical treatment in India, and how these factors can contribute to growth. This may also aid in policy formulation on improving medical tourism in India. For the purposes of this research, medical tourism is defined as involving people who travel to a different country to receive medical treatment at a lower cost, less wait time to receive the treatment and have access to higher-quality health care or obtain specialized treatment which they would not receive in their home country. Such medical treatments may involve therapeutic intervention for cancer and cardiac matters through to dental and aesthetic surgery.

33-38

Authors: L. Kavitha1 & O.T.V. Latasri2

College Teachers are the most important group of professionals for our nation’s future. Measuring teachers’ work engagement without capturing social engagement with students ignores one of the most important aspects of teacher engagement. This study was conducted among Teaching Faculty members of Arts and Science Colleges in Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu. The challenge today is not just retaining talented people, but fully engaging them, capturing their minds and hearts at each stage of their work lives. This article focuses on studying the level of engagement possessed by Faculty members of Arts & Science Colleges in Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu, and India. Employee engagement, also called worker engagement, is a business management concept. An "engaged employee" is one who is fully involved in, and enthusiastic about their work, and thus will act in a way that further their organization’s interests.

49-56

Authors: SALEH MOTHANA OBADI

This paper explores and assesses the competitive advantage experienced during Yemeni international trade in the European Union (EU) market. Yemen has been placed under a special situation since the “Arab Spring” in 2011; therefore, our analyses study the eleven years prior to the war, between 2000 and 2011, and employ 2-digit SITCsto identify the various products for the selected study period. Balassa´s index has been utilized to measure competitive advantage (CTA). This approach is universally popular and is widely reported in literature; however, we are cognizant to the fact that this index may not be empirically relevant. Despite this drawback, Balassa’s index has a feature for gross sectoral competiveness of the examined country or a group of countries. According to our empirical analyses using Balassa’s index, we identified Yemen to have competitive advantages at the global level during international tradein the selected study period. The competitive advantage was restricted to a few groups of commodities, especially those in the energy and fishing sectors.

63-70

Authors: V. VIJAYALAKSHMI & M. MILCAH PAUL

Understanding consumption patterns are important to predict economic growth of a country, mainly for the ones which has a consumer demand-driven economy (Financial Express, 2015). Globalization has brought lots of changes in consumption patterns across the world and demand for innovative products and services increased. Hence, it is important to assess the present consumption patterns of individuals as they can be an important measure to predict the future consumption patterns. This study examines the consumption patterns and financial management of youth. As youth is the future development of any country’s economy, it is important to assess their consumption patterns in order to achieve solutions for a sustainable economic development of a country

77-86

Authors: MOHANAD ALI KAREEM

This study aims to identify the role of human resource management strategies (selection strategy, motivation, strategy, training and development strategy), to achieve competitive advantage in the state company for tire industry/Babylon. Based on the main hypothesis that, there is significant relationship between human resource management strategies and competitive advantage constructs. And for achieving the aims of the study and testing hypotheses, study adopted an empirical method and applied to a random sample (100) of managers and their assistants and heads of departments of the company, and data were collected by questionnaire, and field visits, personal interviews and some official documents, to complete the study data. Also, used a number of statistical tools for data analyzing and interpreting. The study found a set of conclusions and recommendations as follows: The results showed that, the company has increased the attention of the importance of human resource management strategies and their role in achieving competitive advantage, which refers to the vital role of those strategies, towards improving the competitive position of the company as well. The results showed a significant positive correlation between human resource management strategies and competitive advantage that reflects a good indicator of a company’s ability to achieve outstanding performance, through human resource. Finally, the study recommended to Increase and expands the concerning of “human resource management strategies" and make it a competitive strategy, and increase the competitive ability in regional and international market.

105-118

Authors: G. V. ARUNAMAYI, T. VINOD KUMAR & B. SREE SUDHA

The paper presents a production model, which was developed for its deteriorating items with demand rate and time dependent deterioration rate, production rate in demand dependent and greater than the demand rate. The shortages are allowed and completely backlogged. Also, the optimal solution of the model is got, for a numerical example after some adjustments in the derived solution. The carrying out of the sensitivity analysis is also done, in order to examine the effects of changes in model parameters on the optimal solution.

9-20

Authors: DEBASIS BHATTACHARYA & SHUVENDU DEY

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is one of the most important notions in the corporate. In spite of the emerging research work conducted in the field of CSR it is really difficult to operationalize the construct and provide a reliable and valid measure to capture various dimensions of CSR. The aims of this study are very specific. First, it contributes to understanding the business case for CSR in developing countries by focusing on the consumer sentiments toward marketing concepts followed by the domestic as well as multinational firms. The second objective of the study is to develop a scale by conducting a comprehensive review of literature to generate pools of items to measure the recent ban on Maggi noodles in India. Nestle’s star brand Maggi is facing the heat of ban in India since June, 2015. It was due to an episode that took place in the State of Uttar Pradesh where a few samples of Maggi instant nobles were found to contain lead and monosodium glutamate beyond the permissible limit. Tests were conducted in Government as well as in private laboratories, but the outcome of the test results revealed contradictory findings. In this paper an attempt has been made to construct a scale encompassing three main construct to measure the CSR practice of Nestle India. These are: advertising communication made by Nestle India mostly by celebrities having no idea about the ingredients present in the stuff which is basically targeted towards the kids and young adults, secondly, whether the common CSR norms were adhered to and lastly to investigate whether concern for consumers were given due respect. To capture these constructs a small scale was developed to examine the perception of the consumers who are mostly in the lower age category. The findings of the study reveal that Nestlé could be more responsive to the needs of the people and could control the desired quality norms since it has got nearly eighty percent market share in India. Various parametric and non-parametric tests have been employed to establish the validity and reliability of the scale. The results of factor analyses revealed the construct validity of the scale and the alpha values are also within the acceptable limit. The factor score regression reveals that the consumer will not spread positive word of mouth unless the product conforms to all safety norms. The impact of recent ban has also been found to affect the brand loyalty behavior of consumers. Managerial implication and scope for further studies has also been discussed for researchers working in this field.

33-44

Authors: AMRIT PAUL & SANJEEB K JENA

Muga Silk industry has an abode of self-importance in the socio-economic and cultural life of the rural people of Assam. It is, therefore, needless to say that muga silk industry occupied an indispensable role in the economy of Assam throughout the reign of Ahom and the following period to present-day, as the trade of muga, the golden silk, is valued at Rs 200 crore. With good organization, the industry could develop up to 10 times of its current size. There are around 9500 sericulture villages manufacturing muga, Eri, and mulberry silk in the state of Assam. The age old muga silk industry is deteriorating due to many factors. It is evident that the production of tassar and eri raw silk is increasing and is satisfactory, but the production trend of unique muga silk is fluctuating and declining. Thus, through the present paper, an effort was made to study the viability and prospect of muga culture in the Lakhimpur District of Upper Assam.

57-64

Authors: JADEJA R. M. & PARMAR S. J.

Participatory irrigation management refers to the involvement of farmers (water users) in the different aspects of irrigation management such as planning, designing, construction and supervision, policy and decision making, operation and maintenance, and evaluation of irrigation system. The study aims to examine the differential impact of participatory irrigation management on the farmers of North Saurashtra of Gujarat. The major findings of the study revealed that, there was an average 17.04 per cent increased in irrigated area after formation of water users’ cooperative society over the period of 2009 to 2014. The average gross return of the wheat crop was Rs. 31200 and Rs.21001 in case of farmers from functional and non-functional water users’ cooperative society, respectively.

83-90

Authors: R. Delecta Jenifer & G. P. Raman

Background: Cultural competence is defined as a set of behaviors, attitudes, and policies that help organizations and staff work effectively with people of different cultures. Many international business failures have been ascribed to a lack of cross-cultural competence on the part of business practitioners. Objective: This study aimed to assess the cultural competence among middle management employees from Footwear Company in China. Methods: This study design is a cross sectional survey using data collected from May 1 to May 15, 2017 among 30 employees. Results: Out of 30 participants, 60% were aged 36 to 45 years old, 56.7% were females and 73.3% were managers. Around 70% had more than 15 years of work experience and 73.3% had an annual salary ranged from 4 to 10 thousands RMB. The work experience was positively correlated with annual income (r=0.402, P=0.028) and cultural adaptability (r=0.382, P=0.037). The annual income was also positively correlated with the determination (r=0.420, P=0.021), engagement (r=0.399, P=0.029) and overall cultural competence (r=0.363, P=0.049). Conclusion: The employees work experience and income were identified as motivated factors and more actions, including employees cultural training should be done in footwear company in China. In addition, the definition of vision and goals of cultural competence and cultural audit could help for a culturally competent organization.

19-22

Authors: T. Mary Jones & K. Prasanth Kiran

Entrepreneur is the key term for the growth of any country. If more companies are established the more production will be there, more employment, more income, more infrastructural developments etc. Thus the whole development depends on the successful operations of the companies. If the organization fails the whole development will be affected. In this regard the entrepreneurial teams are very useful for countries like India to develop itself. This paper focuses on the presence of teams and the net profitability of the teams in Indian Industry.

31-38

Authors: JUBAIR.T & YAKOOB.C

Digital wallet is a pre-paid payment mechanism which enables the customers to carry money in cashless form and to make payments without using cash. It is working in the form of a mobile application that can be downloaded and installed in a mobile computing device such as cell phone and tablets. In addition to banks, number of other service providers such as e-commerce portals, cellular operators etc. now offer digital wallets at free of cost. The present study is an attempt to clarify the concept of digital wallet and to analyse the awareness and usage of Digital wallets among the bank customers in Kerala. The study is descriptive and analytical in nature which makes use of both primary and secondary data. In order to increase the use of digital wallets, the study pointed out the necessity of proper awareness towards digital wallets among all category of people and to solve the concerns and issues of the present customers.

13-24

Authors: RESHMI R & B JOHNSON

The building sector has the greatest potential to deliver significant cuts in emission at little or no cost. Buildings account for 18% of global emissions today, or the equivalent of 9 billion tonnes of CO2 annually. If new technologies in construction are not adopted during this time of rapid growth, emissions could double by 2050, according to the United Nations Environment Program. Green building is the construction and renovation of buildings to reduce overall impact on the environment and human health by reducing pollution and degradation of environment. These buildings aim at using energy, water and other resources efficiently. So the role of youth is central, and they should serve as a beacon of light in ending environment crisis. This paper is an attempt to know about the awareness of new generation towards green technologies used in homes and their preference towards living in such types of homes. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, a questionnaire was administered to 120 new generation (aged between 18 and 32), GenY youth of Calicut City.