A Study on Impulsive Buying Behaviour in Online Shopping

Purpose: The present study aims to provide a broad overview of impulsive buying through literature review, find stimuli that triggers Impulse buying during online shopping, analyze the influence of respondents’ demographic and psychographic factors on impulsive buying and to construct and validate regression model.   Theoretical framework: The study extensively reviewed available literature pertaining to various theories affecting consumer while purchasing goods online and offline. It largely conforms to the existing models of consumer behavior such as learning model (peer influence per se), psychoanalytical model (Eg:  mood upliftment) and economic model (like seeking discounts and offers). It also embraces Maslow’s theory of need hierarchy (Ready to Eat products (RTE) were found to be bought most impulsively).     Design/methodology/approach: The study has been taken up in select locations of Bangalore City, India, which is a hub for different types of e-commerce players and large consumer base with diverse background. The present study used both primary and secondary data. A structured questionnaire was administered online as well as in person with target respondents in select locations of Bangalore following area sampling method.  A total of 600 respondents were contacted and complete information was obtained from 171 respondents during 2021-22. Qualitative analysis has been done from the responses captured through open ended questions in the instrument.   Findings: Results show significant association between income and impulsive buying, different categories of products and tendency for impulsive buying, and Discount and offers are found to be most significant factors driving impulsive buying online along with tendency to buy online for mood upliftment and an urge to gratify the needs instantly.  The model predicts impulsive buying with adjusted R2 value of .671 which is statistically significant.   Research, Practical & Social implications: The study leaves major implications for the marketers as well as the consumers, apart from enriching the existing body of knowledge. Discounts become imperative for the marketers to drive sales and revenues which is not going to be a sustainable phenomenon. Customers get overused to discounts and churn when the discounts cease to exist. It may even prompt the marketers to portray that they are offering discounts, which may be fake and illusive, and finally would deceive the consumers.   Originality/value: The model predicts impulsive buying with adjusted R2 value of .671 which is statistically significant

A REVIEW OF PROMINENT MODELS OF TEAM ROLES AND CONCEPTUALIZING A NEW MODEL

Purpose of the study: This study aims to arrive at a new conceptual model of team roles that minimizes the weaknesses and maximizes the strengths of the prominent existing models. This study attempts to connect the new conceptual model of team roles with the five-factor model of personality. Methodology: Prominent existing models of team roles were compared and contrasted amongst themselves. Each model was carefully studied to identify underlying strengths and weaknesses. A comprehensive list of team roles with definitions from each model was put together. The list was carefully examined to identify team roles that can be merged or eliminated. A new model was conceptualized by merging and eliminating team roles wherever necessary. Main Findings: Each of the prominent existing models reviewed missed some critical aspects when contrasted with each other. There is a duplication of roles in some models while some important roles are missing in other models. A more comprehensive conceptual model has been proposed. Applications of this study: The conceptual model proposed in this study can be further tested and developed to create team role inventories. This model can be useful for team building in organizations of all kinds. The model would help in identifying the right members for a new team as well as in predicting outcomes of intact teams. Novelty/Originality of this study: The new conceptual model of team roles proposed in this study connects with the contemporarily relevant five-factor model of personality. This makes it different from previously existing models. The proposed model encompasses the strengths and avoids the weaknesses of past models. &nbsp

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic

Comparative in vitro and in vivo evaluation of matrix, osmotic matrix, and osmotic pump tablets for controlled delivery of diclofenac sodium

The aim of this investigation was preparation and comparative evaluation of fabricated matrix (FM), osmotic matrix (OM), and osmotic pump (OP) tablets for controlled delivery of diclofenac sodium (DS). All formulations were evaluated for various physical parameters, and in vitro studies were performed on USP 24 dissolution apparatus II in pH 7.4 buffer and distilled water. In vivo studies were performed in 6 healthy human volunteers; the drug was assayed in plasma using HPLC, and results were compared with the performance of 2 commercial tablets of DS. Various pharmacokinetic parameters (ie, Cmax, Tmax, area under the curve [AUC0–24], and mean residence time) and relative bioavailability were compared. All fabricated formulations showed more prolonged and controlled DS release compared with commercial tablets studied. The OM and OP tablets, however, performed better than the matrix tablets. The rate and extent of drug release from FM1 matrix tablets (single polymer) was significantly different from that of FM2 (admixed polymers). Type of porosigenic agents and osmogens also influenced the drug release. Analysis of in vitro data by regression coefficient analysis revealed zero-order release kinetics for OM and OP tablets, while FM tablets exhibited Higuchi kinetics. In vivo results indicated prolonged blood levels with delayed peak and improved bioavailability for fabricated tablets compared to commercial tablets. It was concluded that the osmotic matrix and osmotic pump tablets could provide more prolonged, controlled, and gastrointestinal environmental-independent DS release that may result in an improved therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance