143 research outputs found
On homogeneous skewness of unimodal distributions
We introduce a new concept of skewness for unimodal continuous distributions which is built on the asymmetry of the density function around its mode. The asymmetry is captured through a skewness function. We call a distribution homogeneously skewed if this skewness function is consistently positive or negative throughout its domain, and partially homogeneously skewed if the skewness function changes its sign at most once. This type of skewness is shown to exist in many popular continuous distributions such as Triangular, Gamma, Beta, Lognormal and Weibull. Two alternative ways of partial ordering among the partially homogeneously skewed distributions are described. Extensions of the notion to broader classes of distributions including discrete distributions have also been discussed
An approach to identify issues affecting ERP implementation in Indian SMEs
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a study which is based on the results of a comprehensive compilation of literature and subsequent analysis of ERP implementation success issues in context to Indian Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SME’s). This paper attempts to explore the existing literature and highlight those issues on ERP implementation and further to this the researchers applied TOPSIS (Technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) method to prioritize issues affecting successful implementation of ERP.
Design/methodology/approach: Based on the literature review certain issues leading to successful ERP implementation have been identified and to identify key issues Pareto Analysis (80-20 Rule) have been applied. Further to extraction of key issues a survey based on TOPSIS was carried out in Indian small and medium scale enterprises.
Findings: Based on review of literature 25 issues have been identified and further Pareto analysis has been done to extract key issues which is further prioritized by applying Topsis method.
Research limitations/implications: Beside those identified issues there may be other issues that need to be explored. There is scope to enhance this study by taking into consideration different type of industries and by extending number of respondents.
Practical implications: By identifying key issues for SMEs, managers can better prioritize issues to make implementation process smooth without disruption. ERP vendors can take inputs from this study to change their implementation approach while targeting small scale enterprises.
Originality/value: There is no published literature available which followed a similar approach in identification of the critical issues affecting ERP in small and mid-sized companies in India or in any developing economyPeer Reviewe
Are listed Indian firms finance constrained: Evidence for 1991-92 to 1997-98
We formulate a simultaneous equations model and with the data of a panel of 600 Indian
firms for the period 1991-92 to 1997-98 test the hypothesis of finance constraint. The firms are
classified by the dividend pay-out ratio into high-cost and low-cost groups; a high dividend
pay-out ratio implies a low cost of information faced by the firms and vice versa. In the
context of developed countries, earlier researchers found that the firms in the high-cost group
shows evidence of finance constraints and severity of the constraint goes down with the
decrease in the cost of information. In our study we found that the firms with medium dividend
pay-out ratios are constrained in the loans market so far as investment in fixed capital is
concerned. This is quite a surprising result that requires careful explanation
Are listed Indian firms finance constrained: Evidence for 1991-92 to 1997-98
We formulate a simultaneous equations model and with the data of a panel of 600 Indian
firms for the period 1991-92 to 1997-98 test the hypothesis of finance constraint. The firms are
classified by the dividend pay-out ratio into high-cost and low-cost groups; a high dividend
pay-out ratio implies a low cost of information faced by the firms and vice versa. In the
context of developed countries, earlier researchers found that the firms in the high-cost group
shows evidence of finance constraints and severity of the constraint goes down with the
decrease in the cost of information. In our study we found that the firms with medium dividend
pay-out ratios are constrained in the loans market so far as investment in fixed capital is
concerned. This is quite a surprising result that requires careful explanation
Antiferro and ferromagnetic ordering in PrGe single crystal
The equiatomic PrGe single crystal was grown by Czochralski pulling method.
The grown single crystal was found to have CrB-type orthorhombic crystal
structure with the space group \textit{Cmcm} (#63). Transport and magnetization
data reveal large anisotropy in the electrical resistivity, magnetic
susceptibility and magnetization. PrGe was found to exhibit two consecutive
magnetic orderings at 44 K and 41.5 K, respectively. The magnetic
susceptibility measurement along the three principal directions, in low applied
fields, revealed a cusp like behaviour at 44 K while at 41.5 K a ferromagnetic
like increase was observed. The hysteritic behaviour in the magnetization
measurement at 1.8 K confirmed the ferromagnetic nature of PrGe at low
temperatures. The heat capacity data clearly revealed the bulk nature of two
magnetic transitions by the presence of two sharp peaks attaining values
exceeding 40 J/Kmol at the respective temperatures. The absence of
Schottky contribution in the magnetic part of heat capacity indicates a
quasi-ninefold degenerate J=4 magnetic ground state in this system. The low
temperature data of electrical resistivity and the magnetic part of heat
capacity show an existence of gap in the spin-wave spectrum.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure
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