The current issue presents papers on a variety of operations issues. The first paper, “Decision Making for Supplier Selection Using the MOORA Method”, by Prasad Karande and Shankar Chakraborty, deals with supplier selection as an important function to improve the capability and competitiveness of the business organizations. Availability of a large number of alternative suppliers with dissimilar strengths and weaknesses requires a cautious step towards supplier selection. The researchers present Multi-Objective Optimization on the basis of Ratio Analysis (MOORA) and apply the same to solve two real-time supplier selection problems. The method can be used to solve complex strategic decision-making problems.
The second paper, “A Study of Reasons Behind Delays in Pharmaceutical Projects”, by N Sai Nandeswara Rao and Nasina Jigeesh, deals with analyzing the reasons behind delays in pharmaceutical projects. The success of any project depends on various issues like completing the project in time and budget with quality, satisfying the customer. This study focuses on the progress of a number of real-world pharmaceutical projects. The paper examines the accomplishment of service levels in terms of time. It attempts to investigate the causes for delays and the remedies for rectification. A framework is developed for successful completion of projects in time.
The third paper, “Goal Programming: A Survey (1960-2000)”, by O P Dubey, R K Dwivedi and S N Singh, traces the use of goal programming by researchers and corporations for optimization. It tracks development in this field from 1960 to 2000.
In the fourth paper, “M/M/1 Retrial Queue with Bernoulli Feedback, Linear Retrial Rate, Collisions and State Dependent Arrival Rates”, by G N Purohit and Shinu Rani, an M/M/1 retrial queue with Bernoulli feedback and collisions is studied. Any arriving customer or the customer from orbit, who finds the server busy, collides with the customer in service and both enter into the retrial orbit. The retrial policy is assumed to follow a linear path. Successive over-relaxation method is employed to obtain steady-state probabilities which are further used to find various system performance characteristics. The effect of various parameters on performance measures is also studied by the researchers.
“Cross-Docking Helps JCPenney Reduce Materials Handling and Make Logistics More Efficient”, a case study by Debapratim Purkayastha, deals with real-life issues in cross-docking. JCPenny is one of US’s leading chains of department stores. The growth of the company was largely propelled by decentralized merchandizing. But by the late 1990s, the retail scenario in the US changed dramatically. The corporation had to contend with the onslaught of giant retail chain Wal-Mart on the one hand, and mall-based competitors like Dillards, on the other. JCPenney began orchestrating its turnaround in 1999 and it took until 2004 to complete. This study deals with one of the tools used by the corporation—cross-docking.
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs): The Changing Face of Banking in India
Bank Management
Information and communication technology has changed the way in which banks provide services to its customers. These days the customers are able to perform their routine banking transactions without even entering the bank premises. ATM is one such development in recent years, which provides remote banking services all over the world, including India. This paper analyzes the development of this self-service banking in India based on the secondary data.
The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is playing a very important role in the progress and advancement in almost all walks of life. The deregulated environment has provided an opportunity to restructure the means and methods of delivery of services in many areas, including the banking sector. The ICT has been a focused issue in the past two decades in Indian banking. In fact, ICTs are enabling the banks to change the way in which they are functioning. Improved customer service has become very important for the very survival and growth of banking sector in the reforms era. The technological advancements, deregulations, and intense competition due to the entry of private sector and foreign banks have altered the face of banking from one of mere intermediation to one of provider of quick, efficient and customer-friendly services. With the introduction and adoption of ICT in the banking sector, the customers are fast moving away from the traditional branch banking system to the convenient and comfort of virtual banking. The most important virtual banking services are phone banking, mobile banking, Internet banking and ATM banking. These electronic channels have enhanced the delivery of banking services accurately and efficiently to the customers. The ATMs are an important part of a bank’s alternative channel to reach the customers, to showcase products and services and to create brand awareness. This is reflected in the increase in the number of ATMs all over the world. ATM is one of the most widely used remote banking services all over the world, including India. This paper analyzes the growth of ATMs of different bank groups in India.
International Scenario
If ATMs are largely available over geographically dispersed areas, the benefit from using an ATM will increase as customers will be able to access their bank accounts from any geographic location. This would imply that the value of an ATM network increases with the number of available ATM locations, and the value of a bank network to a customer will be determined in part by the final network size of the banking system. The statistical information on the growth of branches and ATM network in select countries.
Indian Scenario
The financial services industry in India has witnessed a phenomenal growth, diversification and specialization since the initiation of financial sector reforms in 1991. Greater customer orientation is the only way to retain customer loyalty and withstand competition in the liberalized world. In a market-driven strategy of development, customer preference is of paramount importance in any economy. Gone are the days when customers used to come to the doorsteps of banks. Now the banks are required to chase the customers; only those banks which are customercentric and extremely focused on the needs of their clients can succeed in their business today.
