This issue contains a mix of papers on themes that influence operations thinking. The first paper, “A Strategic Perspective and Taxonomy of Supply Chain Strategies”, by Wade Rose, Inder Jit Singh Mann and Shirley Rose, synthesizes the literature on supply chain strategy to ascertain the current state of academic research in this field. Supply chain strategy research streams discussed in the literature are identified with their strengths and weaknesses, and thereby research gaps are identified. Taxonomy of supply chain strategies is suggested to enable academics and practitioners to evaluate possible optimal alternatives for supply chain management. Given the apparent lack of theory to explain supply chain strategy from a holistic perspective, including its ties to corporate strategy, suggestions for future research directions are provided.
The second paper, “Rythu Bazaar: A Study of the Supply Chain of the Farmers’ Markets of Andhra Pradesh”, by Subhendu Dey, focuses on supply chain of rythu bazaar—a unique concept propounded a decade back in Andhra Pradesh. Some studies have revealed that farmers’ share in the consumers’ rupee is just 40 paise. In addition, the estimated loss in handling of vegetables in the traditional channel of marketing is about 30-35%. This becomes more acute, as the marketing system for fruits and vegetables is mostly in the hands of middlemen who exploit the poor farmers through malpractices in weighing, handling and payments. The Andhra Pradesh Government established rythu bazaars in 1999 to create a platform where farmers could sell their produce directly to the consumers without the interference of middlemen or marketing intermediaries. This paper makes an attempt to study the supply chain of rythu bazaars and looks at areas that, if addressed, can result in increased income generation for the farmers operating from these market yards. The present supply chain is studied and a supply chain model is proposed in the paper to address this issue.
The purpose of the last paper, “Expectations and Perceptions of Passengers on Service Quality with Reference to Public Transport Undertakings”, by Kanagaluru Sai Kumar, is to ascertain the expectations and perceptions of passengers using public transport undertakings. A sample of 200 respondents was selected for conducting the study. The various dimensions considered in the study include assurance, empathy, reliability, responsiveness, tangibles and comfort. The study reveals that there is highest gap in comfort dimension and lowest gap in responsiveness and empathy dimensions. Chi-square test has been used to compare the satisfaction of the respondents on the basis of gender and occupation. The test results reveal that satisfaction is different for male and female passengers as well as across occupations of the passengers.
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.
