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Motivators
for Purchase of Durables for
Rural and Urban Consumers of Punjab: A Case Study
-- Anand and B S Hundal
The
Indian rural market has immense potential, which needs to
be tapped. This potential of the rural markets evolves primarily
due to the colossal size of varied demands of rural masses.
The growth rates in rural markets have been remarkable in
the recent years when compared to those of urban markets.
The second most important contributing factor for the growing
attraction towards rural markets is the increasing complexities
and competitiveness of urban markets. This paper is an attempt
to explore the motivational factors for durables purchase
(especially, refrigerator) in view of the emergence of vast
opportunities for rural markets. For this purpose, a sample
of total 596 refrigerator buyers—of which, 229 are rural
and 297 urban buyers—of Punjab were surveyed to assess
the similarities and differences with regard to the durables
purchase displayed by them. The results were analyzed and
interpreted using Z test. Finally, some useful implications
for effective penetration of both these markets have been
suggested for the durables marketers.
©
2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved.
Are
Dividends in Vogue in India? An Empirical Study of Sensex
Companies
-- Dhiraj
Sharma
This
empirical study focuses on the dividend behavior of select
Indian firms. The sample of firms has been drawn from the
Indian corporate firms listed on BSE (specifically Sensex
30 firms) from 1990 to 2005. The principal objective of the
study is to answer the question, "Are dividends still
in vogue as far as the Indian corporate sector is concerned?",
and simultaneously, to judge the applicability of one of the
two extremely opposite schools of thought—relevance and
irrelevance of dividend decision. The paper examines the applicability
of the tax-effect theory in the Indian context. The study
offers mixed and inconclusive results about the tax-effect
theory, which is not applicable on the select Indian firms,
thus indicating that the change in the tax structure does
not have a substantial effect on the dividend behavior of
firms.
©
2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved.
The Effectiveness of Quality Circles at Bharat Heavy Electricals
Limited, Tiruchirapalli: A Study
--
C
Vijaya Banu
The
practice of Quality Circles (QCs) has emerged as one of the
more widespread organizational interventions during the last
twenty years. QCs refer to small groups of employees belonging
to the same work area or group, who meet voluntarily and regularly
to identify, analyze and resolve problems related to their
work area. QCs offer employees an opportunity to use their
creative abilities and to care about their jobs. The QC movement
in Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) unit is spread across
the organization so that every employee is involved in improvement
activities. Each QC has at least ten employees so that they
benefit from the creative contribution of all the employees.
©
2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved.
Kurtosis-based
Normality Test and Process Capability Analysis: An
Integrated Approach
-- P Nagesh and
M S Prabhuswamy
The
process capability analysis helps in quantifying the process
variability and assists manufacturing by reducing the variability.
The process capability of a manufacturing process can be assessed
through the computation of various process capability ratios.
The fundamental assumption in process capability studies is
that, the underlying distribution of quality characteristic
is normal and plotted distribution follows a normal curve.
This assumption sometimes needs to be validated. The proposed
Kurtosis-based approach helps to understand whether the distribution
under study is symmetrical and follows the normal curve or
not, which reduces the volume of the computations required
as compared to the usual method of analysis. The median for
each sample containing number of sub-samples is located graphically,
which helps to study the online behavior pattern of the process.
The proposed graphical approach is simple and easy to understand.
The new method creates the awareness of process management
in shop floor operators. Using the quality characteristics
of observations, a cumulative frequency table is prepared,
and the mean and standard deviation are obtained. The paper
deals extensively with the proposed method of the Kurtosis-based
process capability analysis.
©
2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved.
Self-efficacy
of Professional Competencies among Management Students: An
Analysis
-- R
Krishnaveni
This
paper analyzes the level of professional competencies prevalent
among the sample graduate management students. The author
uses the structured questionnaire to judge seven professional
competencies. These self-efficacy scores are also compared
with a sample population of international students of Organization
Behavior from various colleges. Based on the results, specific
interventions are suggested to develop the students right
at the college level.
©
2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved.
TQM
Practices in the Corporate Scenario of India: A Diagnostic
Study
-- Usha
Devi N
In
this study, an effort has been made to analyze the Total Quality
Management (TQM) practices and measure their impact on Quality
Performance (QP) in respondent companies. The study has identified
several areas for improvement, of which the most critical
are employee training, employee engagement, policies and strategies,
process management, and customer focus. These critical areas
need to be strengthened by the change agents to cut down the
cost of quality initiatives, achieve new business expansion,
enhance the quantum of exports, reach the commanding heights
of competitive edge, and thus, gain sustenance and growth
of the business.
©
2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved.
Corporate
Restructuring: Creating Value for Organizations
-- Anurag
Pahuja and Rajesh Verma
In
the context of liberalization and globalization of the economy,
restructuring is the latest buzzword in corporate circles.
Companies are competing with each other for excellence and
competitive edge, experimenting with various tools and ideas.
The change of environment at the national and international
level has brought about a radical difference in the way business
is conducted. Moreover, the pace of change being extraordinary,
corporate restructuring assumes paramount importance and creates
value for organizations. The paper seeks to examine how different
forms of restructuring create value for the organization and
to what extent the rationale of restructuring is right in
the real corporate world.
©
2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved.
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