Developing a Poverty Measurement Scorecard: Predicting MPCE for Microfinance Clients in Urban Delhi

A scorecard is a poverty measurement tool (PMT) that helps microfinance institutions (MFI) to measure and track the poverty status of their clients. It uses some verifiable indicators from the national expenditure survey, to get a score that is highly correlated with poverty. In the present study, an attempt has been made to develop a scorecard using the stepwise OLS regression method, to predict the MPCE of MFI’s clients. The NSS 68th round (2011-12) data on consumption expenditure for urban Delhi has been used for this purpose. The predictive accuracy of the regression model (scorecard) is assessed by comparing the poverty status predicted by our scorecard with the “true” poverty status as established by the NSSO data. The “Total Accuracy” criterion is used which identified 89.39% of the respondents correctly. Thus, the scorecard appears to be a fairly accurate tool for assessing the poverty status of MFI’s clients

The Rise of SUV Market in India and the role of Advertisements in its Promotion: A Case study of Mahindra and Mahindra

India is the third largest car markets in the world, recording a sales figure of 4.11-million-unit sales in the passenger vehicle segment in the FY 23. Since India is an emerging market the scope of growth becomes more important. There has been a sizeable shift in the car segment with SUVs accounting for 50% market share in FY24. The consumer behavior has evolved over the period. According to media reports based on surveys, brand conscious, image conscious young buyers in India find SUVs more appealing that other segment of cars. The purity of the category of SUV has changed too. With compact SUVs coming to play, people are more interested in getting an SUV for everyday commuting than off-roading occasionally. Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue, XUV 400, XUV 300, Bolero Neo are great examples of that. Mahindra has excelled at SUVs and the company’s focus has been mostly on SUVs only. The cars have been marketed well to the Indian consumers using television and digital media advertisements to reach a wider variety of audience. This research paper studies the journey of Mahindra SUVs through a case study. It analyses different aspects of the growth of SUVs in India. The audio-visual advertisements shown in TV and later in digital has been analyzed by accessing them on social media platforms like YouTube. The findings of such a study of advertisements through the period of last 15 years showcases minute details of the company’s communication and messages to the audience

The Effect of Production Planning Practices on Supply Chain Performance: A Case Study of Corteva Agriscience (Z) Ltd

This Paper investigates the effects of production planning practices on supply chain performance at Corteva Agriscience Zambia, utilizing a case study approach with 60 actively involved employees. The study identifies key production planning practices in use which including Capacity Planning, Aggregate Planning, Operational Planning, Production Scheduling, Inventory Management, and Demand Planning & Forecasting, revealing their widespread adoption. It also examines how these practices assess supply chain performance. A multiple linear regression analysis is performed to gauge their impact, showing positive effects of Aggregate Planning, Capacity Planning, and Production Scheduling, while Materials Resources Planning (MRP) and Demand Planning & Forecasting have limited influence. These findings contribute to the supply chain management field and provide actionable recommendations for improving production planning in manufacturing organizations

Effects of Zambia Revenue Authority Non-Intrusive Scanner Machines on Tax Compliance in Zambia: A Case of the Kapiri Mposhi Weigh Bridge

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Zambia revenue Authority Non-Intrusive Scanner machines on tax compliance in Zambia-Case study Kapiri Mposhi weigh Bride. It was against this background that this study was conducted to determine the effects of Zambia revenue Authority Non-Intrusive Scanner machines on tax compliance in Zambia-Case study Kapiri Mposhi weigh Bride. The study adopted a descriptive case study design and targeted 110 respondents composed of 10 custom officers and 100 passersby trucks at kapiri weigh bride. The results of the study revealed that out of the 110 respondents from this research, 77 respondents which represented 77% responded that, scanner machines have great impact on revenue collection. The association between non-intrusive scanners and revenue increase was found to be significant with p values (0.027<0.05). There was also a difference in the revenues collected before and after, and since the revenues collected after the introduction of non-intrusive scanners machines has positive coefficient in relation to the revenues collected before the introduction of non-intrusive scanners machines, it was then concluded that non-intrusive scanners have a positive effect on total revenue collected. The findings pointed out that non-intrusive scanner machines are effective when there is consistency in their operation while scanner downtime was found to affect revenue collection strongly on the negative way. Despite some inconsistencies the results obtained from this study revealed that many taxpayers want the non-intrusive scanner machines to continue being used as the solution to the delayed traffic at the weigh bridge. It was recommended that the number of scanners to be increased to cover more trucks as well as reducing congestion at the scanning unit and delays

Sustainable Sugarcane Production: Role of Policy and Legislation in the Context of India

This research paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the impact of policy and legislation on the promotion of sugarcane production in India. It thoroughly examines various Acts, Orders, and policies from 1932 to 2020, including the Essential Commodities Act, Sugar Control Order, and Biofuel policy etc. The study evaluates the effectiveness of these policies in ensuring the efficient use of resources in sugarcane cultivation and addresses the sustainability of the sugarcane sector, as well as the socio-economic improvements brought about by regulatory implementation in the sugar industry. It also discusses the challenges in balancing environmental, economic, and social factors within the sugarcane industry and provides policy recommendations aimed at enhancing it, such as integrating policy frameworks, supporting farmers, and offering incentives for sugar mills. This paper concludes that the legislation framed for the welfare of the sugar industry has helped this sector to grow tremendously in terms of production, productivity, and trade. It has also contributed to generating significant employment in the economy. The paper sheds light on previous literature and supports the view that such regulations have affected the free play of the sugar market and, in turn, its overallperformance

Effects of Monetary and Non-Monetary Incentives on Employee’s Performance

This paper first focuses on the distinction between monetary and non-monetary incentives, and examine whether incentives enhance employee’s performance and identify the most effective incentive to motivate and improve employee’s performance. Before discussing the awards and perks offered to employees by companies, it is necessary to understand the importance of motivation in the workplace. Employee motivation is a major factor in organizational growth. Managers at all organizational levels concentrate on employee motivation through a variety of rewarding strategies, including monetary and non-monetary rewards. Monetary incentives are easy to understand and consist of measurable financial benefits. Non-monetary incentives may take the shape of material gifts or opportunities that may also have some monetary value. In addition, incentive programs are a key component of improving staff productivity. According to data, incentives are valuable since they can encourage up to 66% of employees to stay at their firm and boost employee performance by 44%

The Digital Transformation in Recruitment: Exploring the Effect and Challenges of Online Recruitment

The digital transformation in recruitment has fundamentally altered the landscape of hiring practices. This research article explores the impacts and challenges of online recruitment, providing insights into how digital tools and platforms have reshaped the recruitment process. By analyzing the benefits and obstacles associated with e-recruitment, this study aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the current state and future potential of digital recruitment strategies. By examining related case studies, we can harness the effectiveness of online recruitment, equipping ourselves to overcome future challenges and fully benefit from its advantages

Factors Influencing Jewellery Buying Decisions and Alignment with Jewellers’ Perception

The study investigates the factors influencing jewellery buying decisions among consumers in Kolkata and examines the alignment between consumer preferences and jewellers' perceptions. Primary data was collected through self-administered and manually administered questionnaires from 120 customers and 50 jewellers in Kolkata. The research employs descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and correlation analysis to analyze the data. The findings reveal significant differences in jewellery buying preferences based on gender, age, marital status, and income levels. Male respondents are more likely to wear gemstones and pay a premium for branded jewellery, while female respondents show a higher preference for online purchases. Younger consumers prioritize design and brand, whereas mid-aged consumers view jewellery as an investment. Married respondents prioritize jewellery for investment and festivals, whereas unmarried respondents focus on gifting. Higher-income individuals tend to buy jewellery for daily wear and are influenced by advertisements and peer reviews. The study also highlights discrepancies between consumer preferences and jewellers' perceptions. Jewellers overestimate the importance of gold prices and advertisements while underestimating the significance of outlet location and festivals in consumer decision-making. The research provides valuable insights for jewellery businesses to align their strategies with consumer preferences, emphasizing the importance of personalized services, strategic location choices, and targeted marketing efforts

Stress and its Effect on Work-Family Conflict: A Study in XYZ Clothing (Pvt) Limited, Sri Lanka

Stress and work-family conflict are becoming prevalent issues for most employees nowadays. Stress is a pervasive aspect of modern life, often arising from the demands of both work and family domains. These days, work-family conflict has increased among employees, especially married staff as a consequence of stress. This study investigates the relationship between stress and work-family conflict. The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of stress on work-family conflict among married workers in XYZ Clothing (Pvt) Ltd company in Sri Lanka. Primary data were collected from 173 married workers using a proportionate stratified random sampling technique. Based on the analysis, the study’s findings indicate that the primary causes of stress among married workers are work pressure, the leave system, role ambiguity, poor pay and benefits, financial difficulties, and work-life balance challenges. The results prove that job, organizational, and personal stressors positively influence work-family conflict. Additionally, out of those stressors, job stressor has the highest impact on work-family conflict by 66%. This study contributes to a better understanding of the causes of stress and its influence on work-family conflict. It is essential to comprehend the interplay between work-family conflict and stress to create strategies to reduce stress and work-family conflict in an organization

An Examination of the Impediments to Profitability of Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Palabana Dairy Cooperative

Smallholder dairy farming holds critical importance in most developing economies, Zambia included, as it contributes significantly to livelihoods through food security, income, and employment opportunities. The research aimed to identify and examine the factors constraining the profitability of smallholder dairy farm operations in Palabana dairy cooperative. The study used the mixed method approach and the two-stage sampling procedure which included purposive sampling procedure and simple random sampling to collect data by utilizing closed and open-ended questionnaires from 73 smallholder dairy farmers. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression methods. The majority of the smallholder dairy farmers were males (67.1%), possessed tertiary education (79.5%) with vast dairy farming experience of 16 years and above (39.7%), and had an age distribution of 36-50 years skewed towards the middle-aged to elderly (46.6%). Slightly above half of the respondents (56.2%) practiced livestock farming only, and the majority (60.3%) boasted of having attended livestock training. The study revealed that socio-economic factors, production costs and production methods had a significant impact (p = .001) on the profitability of the dairy farming business and they explained 61.2% of the change in dairy farming profitability. Using the Likert scale measurement, the key constraints to dairy farming profitability identified under socio-economic factors (p = .023) included; not enough grazing land, lack of access to credit facilities and nonparticipation in milk price determination. The constraints under production costs (p = .000) were the high cost of feed, the cost of breeding (artificial insemination) and the cost of disease prevention and control. For the items under Production methods (p = .031), the key challenges identified with high ratings included low knowledge of best husbandry practices and poor breeding methods. Based on the findings of the study, the research strongly recommends that farmers lease nearby farmlands to deal with the shortage of grazing land, Government and financial institutions to come up with various credit packages with reduced interest rates tailored for smallholder dairy farmers, smallholder dairy farmers to form organized unions to enable them bargain for better milk prices, the cooperative to organize targeted training and capacity building programs where demonstration farms will be established to showcase the best husbandry practices and farmers to engage more in mixed farming methods which will enable them grow own fodder thus reduce feed expense