Prioritizing CSR barriers in the Indian Service Industry: A Fuzzy AHP Approach

The present study identifies and prioritizes the barriers pertaining to implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies in Indian service industries. The 10 most important barriers related to CSR implementation have been first identified and then evaluated for the ranking process using Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) based methodology. The outcome of the study clearly presents that lack of top management commitment, lack of significant benefit of CSR, and financial constraints are the most important barriers in effective implementation of sustainable CSR initiatives among organizations belonging to the Indian service industry. These results may be used by decision makers to understand and these barriers, and identify critical success factors for the CSR process, which will help them to ensure that CSR is effectively implemented in their respective organizations.JEL Codes - C35; L80; M1

Application of graphite rods in producing Inconel 625 (UNS N06625) joints through the use of microwave radiation energy

Microwave energy is very efficiently being harnessed to join metallic materials these days. Although, use of microwaveenergy to join metallic materials is in its initial stage but, it has led to an outstanding development in the field of manufacturing. In this research work, joining of Inconel 625 (UNS N06625) without any filler material has been performed with the help of a novel process by harnessing microwave energy from a 900 W microwave applicator. Major novelty of thiswork is the application of graphite rods in accelerating the joining process based on the use of microwave radiation energydue to which it could become possible to join the Inconel specimens without using any filler powder. Selective microwave hybrid heating has been performed using six graphite rods and the process time taken for successful joining of Inconel625 specimens has been 360s. Three repetitions have been done using the mentioned process parameters. Mechanical characterization of the developed joints has been done with the help of Vickers micro-hardness tester and tensile testingmachine. The mean microhardness of the joints has been observed to be 325.1 HV at the joint region which came out to be 10.32 % more than that of the base alloy. The mean ultimate tensile strength has been observed to be 319.9 MPa with mean elongation of 5.3% which has been observed to be less than that of the base alloy

Evolution of Sustainability as Marketing Strategy: Beginning of New Era

AbstractTime has witnessed the different phases of marketing strategy. Out of which, sustainability is the key issue which has emerged in marketing strategy over the time. In earlier phase of 1970s, ecological issues have emerged as a new paradigm in marketing strategy. Then in next decade, social issues picked up the lime light and emerged along with ecology. Reassessment of the issues resulted in evolution of green or environmental issues in marketing strategy and now the sustainability in marketing strategy has become the focus of attention of the researchers. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are, first, to review and understand concepts of marketing strategy and sustainability, secondly, to discuss evolution of sustainability in marketing strategy and lastly, to discuss the future of sustainability marketing strategy

Investigating the Impact of Online Service Convenience on Customer Engagement, Attitude and Intention to Use Food Delivery Apps

Furthermore, the role of customer engagement has been examined in relation to attitudes and intentions to use mobile food delivery apps. The data was collected in five malls of the National Capital Region (NCR) of India through a structured questionnaire. The convenience sampling method was employed, resulting in 161 responses. The Adanco 2.2 software was used to analyze the responses. Since this study represents the first attempt in the context of food delivery apps, its findings have implications for both academics and marketers

Investigation of micro-hardness of H11 die steel using composite material electrodes in EDM

Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), a non-traditional material removal process has been well recognized for itsability for precision machining of electrically conducting hard materials. Repetitive heating and cooling of the workpiecesurface during the machining make the surface hard. During this process, the transfer of material into workpiece surface dueto diffusion of material from the tool electrodes results in the desire surface modifications. This paper investigates the effectof electric discharge machining on H11 die-steel materials with composite material electrodes fabricated by stir casting aswell as powder metallurgy process. Copper (85% by weight) has been used as matrix material with tungsten and carbonnanotubes (10%-5% by weight). The performance of fabricated composite electrodes has also been compared withconventional copper electrode. Microhardness achieved has been found to be best when H11 die-steel surface ismachined with composite electrodes fabricated by powder metallurgy process. Also, the microhardness has been enhancedby 19.57% with optimal input parameters. Results show that optimum microhardness has been observed at high peak currentvalue when surface is machined with copper conventional electrode while pulse on time has been found to the majorcontributor when surface is machined by composite material electrode. XRD analysis indicates the formation of tungsten-carbide, iron-carbide, chromium- nickel and copper on the machined surface of the workpiec

Development and design of the first structured clinic-based program in lower resource settings to transition emerging adults with type 1 diabetes from pediatric to adult care

Introduction Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is increasing in young people worldwide and more children in resource limited settings are living into adulthood. There is a need for rigorous testing and reporting of evidence-based and stakeholder-informed strategies that transition individuals with T1D from pediatric to adult care. We present the development of and design of the first structured transition program in Delhi, India, to inform similar efforts in India and resource limited settings. Methods The intervention development team included clinicians and researchers with expertise in T1D and the implementation context. To select intervention outcomes, establish intervention targets, and design session modules, we drew upon formative research conducted at prospective intervention implementation sites, consensus guidelines, and previous care transition and behavior change research conducted in developed settings. We used the Template for Intervention Description and Replication and GUIDance for the rEporting of intervention Development checklists to report the intervention and development process. Results The 15-month program (“PATHWAY”) includes five quarterly ~30 minute sessions delivered predominantly by diabetes educators at pediatric and adult clinics, which coincide with routine care visits. Primary program components include educational and behavioral sessions that address psychosocial drivers of clinic attendance and self-management, diabetes educators as transition coordinators and counselors, and a one-year “overlap period” of alternating visits between pediatric and adult providers. Conclusions We followed a systematic and transparent process to develop PATHWAY, which facilitated rich description of intervention context, guiding principles, targets, and components. Dependence on previously published program examples to design PATHWAY may have introduced challenges for program feasibility and effectiveness, underscoring the importance of input gathering from prospective intervention actors at multiple points in the development process. This detailed report in combination with future evaluations of PATHWAY support efforts to increase rigorous development and testing of strategies to improve outcomes among emerging adults with T1D

Impact of India's publicly financed health insurance scheme on public sector district hospitals: a health financing perspective

Background: Districts hospitals in India play a pivotal role in delivering health care services in the public sector and are empanelled under India's national health insurance scheme i.e. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY). In this paper, we evaluate the extent to which the PMJAY impacts the district hospitals from a financing perspective. Methods: We used cost data from India's nationally representative costing study—‘Costing of Health Services in India’ (CHSI) to determine the incremental cost of treating PMJAY patients, after adjusting for resources that are paid through supply-side government financing route. Second, we used data on number and claim value paid to public district and sub-district hospitals during 2019, to determine the additional revenue generated through PMJAY. The annual net financial gain per district hospital was estimated as the difference between payments under PMJAY, and the incremental cost of delivering the services. Findings: At current levels of utilisation, the district hospitals in India gain a net annual financial benefit of $26.1 (₹ 1839.3) million, which can potentially increase up to$ 41.8 (₹ 2942.9) million with an increase in the share of patient volume. For an average district hospital, we estimate net annual financial gain of $169,607 (₹ 11.9 million), increasing up to$ 271,372 (₹ 19.1 million) per hospital with increased utilisation. Interpretation: Demand-side financing mechanisms can be used to strengthen the public sector. Increasing utilisation of district hospitals, by either gatekeeping or improving availability of services will enhance financial gains for district hospitals and strengthen public sector. Funding: Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India