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Purpose: Being the final end of the logistic distribution, attended home delivery (AHD) plays an important role in the distribution network. AHD typically refers to the service provided by the distribution service provider to the recipient's doorstep. Researchers have always identified AHD as a bottleneck for last-mile delivery. This paper addresses a real-life stochastic multi-objective AHD problem in the context of the Indian public distribution system (PDS). Design/methodology/approach: Two multi-objective models are proposed. Initially, the problem is formulated in a deterministic environment, and later on, it is extended to a multi-objective AHD model with stochastic travel and response time. This stochastic AHD model is used to extensively analyze the impact of stochastic travel time and customer response time on the total expected cost and time-window violation. Due to the NP-hard nature of the problem, an ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm, tuned via response surface methodology (RSM), is proposed to solve the problem. Findings: Experimental results show that a change in travel time and response time does not significantly alter the service level of an AHD problem. However, it is strongly correlated with the planning horizon and an increase in the planning horizon reduces the time-window violation drastically. It is also observed that a relatively longer planning horizon has a lower expected cost per delivery associated. Research limitations/implications: The paper does not consider the uncertainty of supply from the warehouse. Also, stochastic delivery failure probabilities and randomness in customer behavior have not been taken into consideration in this study. Practical implications: In this paper, the role of uncertainty in an AHD problem is extensively studied through a case of the Indian PDS. The paper analyzes the role of uncertain travel time and response time over different planning horizons in an AHD system. Further, the impact of the delivery planning horizon, travel time and response time on the overall cost and service level of an AHD system is also investigated. Social implications: This paper investigates a unique and practical AHD problem in the context of Indian PDS. In the present context of AHD, this study is highly relevant for real-world applications and can help build a more efficient delivery system. The findings of this study will be of particular interest to the policy-makers to build a more robust PDS in India. Originality/value: The most challenging part of an AHD problem is the requirement of the presence of customers during the time of delivery, due to which the probability of failed delivery drastically increases if the delivery deviates from the customer's preferred time slot. The paper modelled an AHD system to incorporate uncertainties to attain higher overall performance and explore the role of uncertainty in travel and response time with respect to the planning horizon in an AHD, which has not been considered by any other literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to examine the previously unexplored relationship between positive reframing as a mediator between gratitude and technostress in Indian students. By examining this relationship, the authors aim to expand the theoretical domain of gratitude research by examining its potential influence on technology-induced stress. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional survey was used to collect and analyze data from 552 Indian college students who participated in graduate and postgraduate programs across various educational institutions in India. Regression and mediation analyses were performed with both IBM SPSS 25 and AMOS. Findings: This study's data suggest that positive reframing plays an important mediating role between gratitude and technostress. Gratitude also encourages positive reframing, which reduced technostress among the students. Taken together, our data showed that gratitude induces positive reframing, which in turn reduces techno-stress among Indian students in the current study. Research limitations/implications: The sample size in this study is relatively small in relation to the student population in India. The current study relied primarily on quantitative data and analysis and further research could use a mixed-method approach to better understand the underlying mechanisms between positive reframing, gratitude and technostress. The results are derived under an extreme coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic situation; therefore, the results cannot be generalized to normal times. Practical implications: The paper includes implications for teachers, academic leaders, parents and civil society. Originality/value: Overall, the relationship between positive reframing, gratitude and technostress has not been thoroughly explored. To the best of the authors' understanding, this is the first study to examine the influence of gratitude on technology-induced stress and the role of reframing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper focuses on reviewing and theorizing the factors that affect the adoption of cloud computing in the education sector narrowing the focus to developing countries such as India. Design/methodology/approach: Through an extensive literature survey, critical factors of cloud computing for education were identified. Further, the fuzzy DEMATEL approach was used to define their interrelationship and its cause and effect. Findings: A total of 17 factors were identified for the study based on the literature survey and experts' input. These factors were classified as causes and effects and ranked and interrelated. "Required Learning Skills and Attitude," "Lack of Infrastructure," "Learners' Ability" and "Increased Investment" are found to be the most influential factors. Practical implications: The resultant ranking factors can be used as a basis for managing the process of cloud adoption in several institutions. The study could guide academicians, policymakers and government authorities for the effective adoption of cloud computing in education. Originality/value: The study investigates interdependency amongst the factors of cloud computing for education in context with developing economy. This is one of first study in higher education institutes of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: India has the largest public distribution system (PDS) in the world, working through over five million fair price shops (FPS) to distribute food grains among its beneficiaries at a subsidized rate. In this paper, the authors study the inventory system of Indian FPS. The system involves a distributor, who is solely responsible for the replenishment of the FPS. In a real-world scenario, the distributor is subjected to random supply and transportation disruptions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate and minimize the impacts of such disruptions. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, the authors adopt a simulation-based technique to explore the impacts of various traits of disruptions like frequency and duration on the FPS inventory system. A simulation model for the Indian FPS is developed and the impacts of disruptions are investigated by a case study. Findings: The authors use a simulation-based optimization technique to suggest a simple managerial change that can lead to a minimization of inventory shortage up to 60 per cent and system cost up to 21 per cent over the existing practice. Originality/value: The present study addresses the FPS inventory system of Indian PDS, which is by its nature unique and has not been considered by any other previous literature. The findings of this study will be of particular interest to the policy-makers to build a more robust PDS in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to study the export knowledge to be the determinant of export strategy, export commitment and export performance in carpet Industry. Design/methodology/approach: Using a qualitative–quantitative approach, the unit of analysis is the individual export venturing firm in India. More in detail, a qualitative analysis was conducted through a focus group interview to explore the challenges of carpet exports. A quantitative analysis was performed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and, because of covariate nature of the proposed research model, structural equation modeling to evaluate the research hypotheses. Findings: The results emphasized that Indian carpet exports face major challenges, namely, issues of raw material that is wool, shortage of labor for weaving carpets and a lack of organization which has a negative impact on productivity and quality. Furthermore, this study shows that export knowledge directly influences the export strategy, export commitment and export performance. Originality/value: Building on the results, this paper suggests corrective measures, as well as required knowledge, to formulate a strategy and boost the export performance of the carpet sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between personality, motivating factors and herding behaviour of individual investors. Investors' personality has been classified consonant to the personality traits (compliant, aggressive and detached) encapsulated in Horney's tripartite model. Design/methodology/approach: To carry out this study, the author surveyed 363 individual investors of the Indian stock market using a structured questionnaire. Structural equation modelling is used to empirically test the relationships between personality, three motivating factors (cognitive capability, emotional factors and social factors) and herding behaviour. Findings: The result reveals that, expect compliant personality, none shows proclivity towards herding behaviour. Investors possessing compliant personality are more influenced by social motivating factors; however, cognitive factor motivates aggressive personality, inhibiting herding behaviour. Furthermore, investors having detached personality are not influenced by any motivating factors of herding. Research limitations/implications: The limitation is the difficulty in generalizing the results to overall country populations as the Indian stock market has a huge turnover every day, and the author's survey consisted of only small sample of individual investors. Practical implications: The outcomes of this study could possibly unveil a new insight to discern the behaviour of individual investors in the Indian stock market. Originality/value: The influences of personality on investment choices have been investigated before, but the influence of personality specifically on herding behaviour has not being adequately investigated in an emerging economy like India, as very scanty literature is available on the influence of personality on herding behaviour. The study addresses this gap and further explores the association of personality with different motivating factors that cause herding bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Increasing use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education has, along with other consequences, shifted the context from teacher-centric to student-centric. These changes pose fresh challenges to the prevalent education systems all over the world, which already have fallen short of the expectations. The purpose of this study is to show that e-learning is not only about ICT following a holistic approach to learning which embeds systemic approach and learning loops but also about students and teacher's actions in ICT-enabled learning environment. This study investigates the importance of engagement of students and teachers in blended learning with a focus on factors which affect this engagement. Design/methodology/approach: Based on systems theory and socio-technological approach to e-learning, the paper documents an experiment which was carried out in a higher education institution. Postgraduate students of one course were divided into two groups. Instructor of the first group was not required to engage with the online content and had to deliver his course in a traditional face-to-face format. Instructor of the second group continuously spent time on the learning management system (LMS), developing more content, participating in online discussions and responding to students. LMS tracked the online activity of both the instructors, and semi-structured interviews of students were conducted. Findings: Based on behaviour of 152 students of a postgraduate programme, students' time spent online is directly proportional to the instructor's online time, promptness of instructor's response to online activities queries of students increased student engagement, the students' engagement increases if the online content is related to the syllabus but engagement is not the same as the face-to-face lectures in the class. Research limitations/implications: The research was conducted in India and is based on the behaviour of instructors and students in India. It was focussed on engagement issues of blended learning, while other issues of blended learning have not been in the focus of the research. Practical implications: The research is important for the practice of higher education, and the result of the study can be taken into consideration while developing online courses for students enrolled in higher education. Social implications: If higher education institutions take a strategic decision to use ICT in e-learning, engagements of participants and factors affecting engagement are crucial for the better quality of education. In such a way, blended learning fulfils requirements of a holistic approach to learning. Originality/value: Despite the fact that e-learning as a way to deliver academic content has been extensively researched, there are not many studies focussed on engagement issues in blended learning, and even fewer studies have been conducted in an experimental way which allow in-depth research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a policy comparison tool for Indian Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) so that they can choose the best policy for implementation. It provides for turnaround of a troubled MFI by analyzing the performance of different policies. Design/methodology/approach – The paper has done a web survey to identify the need of a strategic tool for MFI. It has built a Decision Support System (DSS) using system dynamics. A corporate model of MFI has been constructed using iThink 10.0.2 software. A quantitative validity test has been done to find the robustness of the model. Finally four policies are tested and the performance indicators have been used to suggest the best policy. Apart from this DSS is used to test the implementation range of a policy. Findings – “Integration of Microfinance with country’s mainstream financial system along with provisioning 1 percent of outstanding loans” is recommended for the MFI as this will increase the financial performance. Research limitations/implications – In its present form the corporate model developed for MFI is not applicable for judging social performance. Therefore MFIs might be sceptic toward it. However, incorporation of certain performance indicators such as financial-self-sufficiency ratio might help in overcoming this reluctance. Practical implications – “Integration of Microfinance with country’s mainstream financial system along with restricting provision” will generate better performance for the MFI. Therefore this policy should be implemented by the MFI. There are other considerations which need to be taken into account while implementing this policy. The integration may require outsourcing of certain operations to banks, utilization of bank branches to disseminate knowledge related to the conduct of transactions, usage of customized bank software to handle the day-to-day business, development of new softwares for mobile messaging to help poor customers avail of schemes run by the banks, fill loan application forms online, send reminders for loan recovery; provide incentives such as upgradation of poor customers to become regular customers of banks. Social implications – By improving the health of the MFI a bigger goal to reach the poor will be achieved in the long run. The MFI has around five million clients at present and if the company becomes insolvent then the future of these clients is going to be impacted. The organization has interacted closely with these clients and therefore knows how to upgrade their financial state. Originality/value – The tool is first of its kind in the microfinance industry. So far the microfinance technology providers have dealt with Management Information System and Information and Communication Technology. The tool has been built to present a quantitative model for overall operations of the MFI. The simulation of this model helps in predicting future scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- Although many cases where viable system model (VSM) was successfully applied exist, hardly any literature advises the novice VSM user regarding the accomplishment of a VSM diagnosis. The purpose of this paper is to show practitioners and researchers how to conduct a VSM diagnosis. The paper further seeks to encourage others to apply VSM and to share their experience with using VSM. Design/methodology/approach -- The paper provides detailed guidelines on how to conduct a VSM diagnosis in conjunction with qualitative research methods. It outlines the data collection, analysis and presentation of results. Findings -- VSM is an outstanding diagnostic tool. Qualitative research methods provide access to the essential information for the VSM diagnosis and should be used in iteration with VSM. They can enhance the VSM diagnosis by focusing on the soft aspects in the investigated system. The VSM language needs to be adapted to the specific context in which VSM is used and VSM can be applied in a participatory manner. Further research needs to explore possibilities to strengthen the handling of detected shortcomings that were revealed during the VSM diagnosis. Research limitations/implications -- This paper is based on one experience with the VSM application and other VSM users might provide different insights. Originality/value -- There is little practical advice in existing literature regarding the accomplishment of a VSM diagnosis. This paper addresses that gap. In addition, VSM has not been applied to a sugarcane production and supply system before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]