<p>Shiv Nadar University is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, research-focused, and student-centric University offering a full range of academic programs at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, the University comprises of academic wings, sophisticated labs, international standard sports facilities, amphitheaters, auditorium, conference rooms and smart classrooms. The University&rsquo;s goal is to become internationally recognized for the quality of its research and creative endeavors and their applicability to improving quality of life, generating new insights and expanding the boundaries of human knowledge creativity. Committed to excellence in teaching, research and service, the University aims to serve the higher education needs of India and the world beyond.</p>

Shiv Nadar University

Decision Sciences, Operations Management, and Information Systems

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the determinants of organic food buying behaviour in an emerging economy like India, where organic food yet has low market share in spite of its potential. Using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) as the underlying basis, it attempts to explain the effect of attitude, subjective norms and the perceived behaviour control (PBC) on buying intention towards organic food among respondents in Delhi-National capital region, India. Additionally, it attempts to discriminate functional and constructive attitudes. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative questionnaire survey approach was used on 306 respondents and multiple linear regression was used to validate the research model. Findings: Attitudes and PBC have a significant positive impact on the intention to purchase organic food. This paper found subjective norms to be weak and barely significant to intention. The results conclude that health motives, past purchase behaviour, knowledge, affordability and trust in organic certification label are the main facilitators in organic food purchase. Primarily, the respondents see buying organic food regularly as being of value and enjoyable to them. A more favourable appearance vs conventional food was negatively related to behavioural intention. Originality/value: This research could aid all stakeholders in the organic food sector, particularly emerging economies like India where the organic market is still nascent. It could be an essential driver to improve customer involvement and thus aid them in the decision-making process to choose organic food over conventional food. It also attempts to establish the usability of TPB in assessing functional attitudes based on constructive attitudes for organic food purchase. © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.

World University root node

(SME) School of Management and Entrepreneurship

Fulltext

Journal of Asia Business Studies

Influences on purchase intentions of organic food consumers in an emerging economy

Germany has the largest information technology (IT) market in Europe and one of the most important markets in the world. While it is home to some globally leading IT companies, the German IT industry is more accurately characterized by highly specialized small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and many vibrant IT start-up companies. A major challenge for the German IT industry that runs as a common theme through the present study is the use of new technologies as companies need to continue investing in innovations and technologies to keep up with the global pace of innovation. In this context, the companies seek to recruit highly skilled IT professionals. However, the supply of skilled labor is short, which is another theme that arises in this study. © 2020 The Author(s).

World Scientific-Now Publishers Series in Business

Chapter 10: Information technology issues in Germany

This paper investigates the potential causes behind student dropouts in higher education institutions (HEIs), and explores the use of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) tools in reducing dropout rates. This qualitative study used 12 semi-structured interviews with university employees (n = 9) and LSS experts (n = 3), in order to understand the complexity of the student dropout phenomenon and the role of various LSS tools in reducing the dropout rates. Analysis revealed that in order to develop a typology of student dropouts, HEIs have to maintain detailed records and sensitise relevant authorities about the impact of a student’s dropout decision. Though the small number of semi-structured interviews is a limitation of the study, the revelations of HEIs authorities and LSS experts have given new impetus to look at and take action on the issue of student dropouts in HEIs. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Total Quality Management and Business Excellence

Lean Six Sigma for reducing student dropouts in higher education–an exploratory study

The importance of the information technology/information technology enabled services (IT/ITES) sector in modern Iran is indubitable. As IT has started to penetrate deeper into the country in recent years, IT and telecommunications infrastructure continue to be developed and enhanced throughout Iran. This expansion is creating many job prospects for employees in Iran, as well as providing greater availability of e-business, e-commerce, e-learning, and e-government in the country. Improving the quality of education and healthcare is also influenced by the growing importance of IT in the country. As demonstrated in this chapter, the three top IT-related organizational issues in Iran are: revenue-generating IT innovations, business agility and speed to market, and alignment between IT and business. The top three technology issues are: enterprise application integration, networks and telecommunications, and ERP systems. The IT employees indicate they are moderately happy with their work despite facing significant work pressure. © 2020 The Author(s).

Chapter 15: Information technology issues in Iran

The central theme that arises from the study of the information technology (IT) industry in India is the importance of the size and adaptability of the IT workforce in the country. The prominence that Indian companies receive globally is due primarily to their ability to provide knowledgeable and skilled IT workers to clients who have a lot of projects that need to be carried out. The IT industry in India has also been able to adapt fairly well to the changing needs of their global clients. Global businesses have not only been outsourcing their IT work to Indian IT service companies over the past three decades, but they have also started to locate in-house units in India in order to make appropriate use of the availability of this sizable and skilled workforce. © 2020 The Author(s).

Chapter 14: Information technology issues in India

The paper aims to systematically review the literature on Lean, Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma (LSS) intervention and its tools and techniques to reduce the medication errors in hospitals. Subject-specific journals according to the top journal ranking lists in the Business School and Healthcare sector were used for the assessment. Eight databases including Medline, PubMed, EBSCOhost, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO were used to collect relevant articles from the year 1996–2016. A total of 24 studies were identified have from the search meeting the criteria for the systematic literature review. Increased interest in the application of process excellence methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma and LSS to reduce medication errors especially from the developed countries was found. Several themes have emerged in this paper including: tools and techniques of Lean and Six Sigma in the context of medication errors, Lean and Six Sigma methodology, types of medication errors, LSS project selection, benefits, challenges and success factors. The study is expected to benefit healthcare practitioners in implementing the LSS methodology to reduce medication errors. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Reducing medication errors using LSS Methodology: A systematic literature review and key findings

The challenge of bringing down the high total dissolved solids (TDS) in raw tannery effluent up-to or below discharge standards, and making it reusable should be dealt sustainably. Thus, in order to tackle this challenge, the authors, in this paper, discuss about a closed loop integrated system using the philosophy of a sustainable industrial ecosystem design. In the closed loop tertiary treatment technology, the Reverse Osmosis (RO) reject evaporates in the poly house evaporator, leaving behind a salt collection/sediment bearing 14\% moisture content, consisting primarily of 79 ppm phosphorus and 40\% organic matter, which in turn is very useful for the compost. This approach of closed loop value chain is very unique and relevant in the present context for the leather industry. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd

Journal of Cleaner Production

Closed loop value chain to achieve sustainable solution for tannery effluent

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide the top ten reasons of process improvement projects termination or failure to Lean and Six Sigma professionals and researchers. Design/methodology/approach: The top ten reasons of process improvement projects termination or failure are based on literature, interaction of authors with Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belts, consultants, practitioners and trainers on various topics of Lean, Six Sigma, general quality management and continuous improvement along several years’ experience of the authors. Findings: The top ten reasons in our opinion include lack of commitment and support from top management; poor communication practices; incompetent team; inadequate training and learning; faulty selection of process improvement methodology and its associated tools/techniques; inappropriate rewards and recognition system/culture; scope creepiness; sub-optimal team size and composition; inconsistent monitoring and control; and resistance to change. Research limitations/implications: The top ten reasons mentioned in this study are based on only literature and authors’ opinion. The authors of this paper have been pursuing a global study to critically evaluate the reasons behind process improvement projects failure based on a case-study approach. Originality/value: The chief operations officers and senior executives of various businesses can use these top ten reasons to develop project failure risk mitigation strategies and save significant cash-savings associated with such project terminations or failures in some other cases. © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited.

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma

Top ten reasons for process improvement project failures

ZnO nanoparticles were developed by 1:2 ratios of Zinc sulphate heptahydrate and Sodium hydroxide by using precipitation method. The structure, morphology of ZnO nanoparticles were investigated by using X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy. X-Ray Diffraction confirms the formation and average crystallite size of ZnO nanoparticles. Scanning Electron Microscopy studies shows the ZnO nanoparticles were in spherical in structure. ZnO nanoparticles were used in different ratios along with conventional finishing formulations and coated on the leather surface. The performance properties such as flexing resistance were evaluated. Application of ZnO nanoparticles in leather finishing showed significant improvement in overall performance properties than conventional finishing formulations. XRD confirms the formation of ZnO nanoparticles (wurtzite structure) at 36.31° (101) plane and the particles size was in the range of 34 nm. SEM image shows that the particles are in the spherical structure wheras EDAX investigate the stoichiometry and chemical purity of the samples to confirm the presence of zinc and oxygen. Optimum quantity up to 2-5 g/L of the season of ZnO nanoparticle is desirable for upgrading the value of leathers by improving the flexing resistance (wet & dry) properties significantly in PU top coat dispersions in finishing formulations. © 2019 VGCT.

35th IULTCS Congress 2019: "Benign by Design" Leather - The Future Through Science and Technology

Enhancing performance properties of conventional leather finishing topcoat by incorporating metal oxide based formulations

Purpose: It is essential to track the development of resource and pollution intensive industries such as textile, leather, pharmaceutical, etc., under burgeoning pressure of environmental compliance. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the progress of Indian leather industry in terms of individual factors and total factor productivity. Design/methodology/approach: This study applies and examines the various concepts of productivity such as labor productivity, capital productivity, material productivity and energy productivity. Further, it assesses and compares the performance of Indian leather industry in Tamil Nadu (TN), West Bengal (WB) and Uttar Pradesh (UP) based on productivity analysis, spatial variations determinants in productivity and technology closeness ratio. Findings: The findings suggest that as per the productivity analysis, WB leather clusters have performed remarkably better in terms of partial factor productivity and technical efficiency (TE), followed by TN and UP. This can be attributed to shifting of leather cluster of WB to a state-of art leather complex with many avenues for resource conservation. Further, the findings reveal that the firm size and partial factor productivities have significant positive correlation with TE which supports technological theory of the firm. Practical implications: The results of this study can be useful for the policy makers associated with the Indian leather industry especially to design interventions to support capacity building at individual firm level as well as cluster level to enhance the efficiency and productivity of overall industry. Social implications: The findings also support the resource dependence theory of firm according to which the larger size firms should reflect on resource conservation practices, for instance the concept of prevention is better than cure based upon 3R (reduce, recycle and reuse) principles. Originality/value: The paper gives an explanation of the productivity in the leather industry in terms of its factor productivity and TE. © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited.