Showing papers by "Indian Institute of Management Bangalore published in 2007"

Radical change accidentally: the emergence and amplification of small change

Abstract: A decision to offer breakfast to homeless people led to radical change in a church and its environment. Existing theories of change do not fully explain observations from our qualitative study; however, complexity theory constructs suggest how and why such change emerged. We offer four key findings. First, the radical change was unintended, emergent, and slow. Second, destabilizing conditions helped small changes to emerge and become radical. Third, subsequent actions amplified an initial small change and, though not intended to do so, promoted radical change. Finally, the dynamic interaction of amplifying actions, contextual conditions, and small changes led to continuous radical change.

The role of leadership in emergent, self-organization

Abstract: As complex systems, organizations exist far from equilibrium where the ongoing interaction of system components leads to emergent and self-organizing behavior. What, then, is the role of leadership in systems where change often emerges in unexpected ways? In this paper, we build on the work of Marion and Uhl-Bien who suggest that in complex systems leaders enable rather than control the future. While traditional views of leadership focus on the leader's responsibility for determining and directing the future through heavy reliance on control mechanisms, we offer empirical support for a different view of leadership based on a complexity perspective of organizations. Our findings show that as enablers, leaders disrupt existing patterns of behavior, encourage novelty, and make sense of emerging events for others. The results of our qualitative study include a set of research propositions as well as a discussion of the implications for managers and researchers.

Efficiency and Equity Impacts of Rural Land Rental Restrictions: Evidence from India

Abstract: Recognition of the potentially deleterious implications of inequality in opportunity originating in a skewed asset distribution has spawned considerable interest in land reforms. However, little attention has been devoted to fact that, in the longer term, the measures used to implement land reforms could negatively affect productivity. Use of state level data on rental restrictions, together with a nationally representative survey from India, suggests that, contrary to original intentions, rental restrictions negatively affect productivity and equity. The restrictions reduce the scope for efficiency-enhancing rental transactions that benefit poor producers. Simulations suggest that, by doubling the number of producers with access to land through rental, from about 15 million currently, liberalization of rental markets could have far-reaching impacts.

Importance of development context in ICT4D projects: A study of computerization of land records in India

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to show that the meaning of development influencing the design of ICT for development (ICT4D) projects is important in deciding what purpose they will eventually serve.Design/methodology/approach – Through a review of the literature on development and technology studies, the paper shows how different meanings of development guide technology usage and policy choice for land reforms. A case study of a land records computerization project in India is used to reinforce this claim.Findings – By explaining alternative manifestations of interlinkages between development and technology, the paper demonstrates that the design choice, especially the content and service delivery model, for an ICT4D project gets influenced by the development context within which it is set.Research limitations/implications – The focus of the paper has been restricted to a limited context of information and communication technology usage – to land reforms as a development objective, in a relatively better‐off ...

Six sigma project selection using data envelopment analysis

Abstract: Purpose – The evolution of six sigma has morphed from a method or set of techniques to a movement focused on business‐process improvement. Business processes are transformed through the successful selection and implementation of competing six sigma projects. However, the efforts to implement a six sigma process improvement initiative alone do not guarantee success. To meet aggressive schedules and tight budget constraints, a successful six sigma project needs to follow the proven define, measure, analyze, improve, and control methodology. Any slip in schedule or cost overrun is likely to offset the potential benefits achieved by implementing six sigma projects. The purpose of this paper is to focus on six sigma projects targeted at improving the overall customer satisfaction called Big Q projects. The aim is to develop a mathematical model to select one or more six sigma projects that result in the maximum benefit to the organization.Design/methodology/approach – This research provides the identification ...

Offshoring: The Transition From Economic Drivers Toward Strategic Global Partnership and 24-Hour Knowledge Factory

Abstract: The changing economic and labor conditions have motivated firms to outsource professional services activities to skilled personnel in less expensive labor markets. This offshoring phenomenon is studied from a political, economic, technological and strategic perspective. Next, an analytical model is developed for achieving strategic advantage from offshoring based on global partnerships. The model studies the impact of offshoring with respect to the complexity and strategic nature of the tasks and presents a decision strategy for obtaining value through offshoring of increasingly complex tasks. The result is an integrated “24-hour knowledge factory†that is based on a sustainable global model rather than a short term fiscal model. This 24-hour paradigm embodies the shift-style workforce that evolved for the manufacturing sector during the Industrial Revolution and relies on a set of critical success factors in the current environment. A case example is provided from IBM to illustrate these underlying critical success factors.

The dynamics of gender and class in access to health care: evidence from rural Karnataka, India.

Abstract: In the early 1990s, India embarked upon a course of health sector reform, the impact of which on an already unequal society is now becoming more apparent. This study sought to deepen understanding of equity effects by exploring gender and class dynamics vis-a-vis basic access to health care for self-reported long-term ailments. The authors drew on the results of a cross-sectional household survey in a poor agrarian region of south India to test whether gender bias in treatment-seeking is class-neutral and whether class bias is gender-neutral. They found evidence of “pure gender bias” in non-treatment operating against both non-poor and poor women, and evidence of “rationing bias” in discontinued treatment operating against poor women overall, but with some differences between the poor and poorest households. In poor households, men insulated themselves and passed the entire burden of rationing onto women; but among the poorest, men, like women, were forced to curtail treatment. There were economic class differences in continued, discontinued, and no treatment, but class was a gendered phenomenon operating through women, not men. India liberalized its economy in 1991 and embarked upon a course of health sector reform. The impact of such structural reforms on an already unequal society is now becoming clear through a small but significant body of research. We have evidence of worsening inequalities in health care access (1), as well as estimates of the magnitude and distribution of catastrophic out-of-pocket payments (2–4).

A goal programming model for optimizing reliability, maintainability and supportability under performance based logistics

Abstract: Reliability, Maintainability and Supportability (R, M and S) are the main drivers of the system operational effectiveness (SOE). New procurement strategies have been developed by both public and private sectors to focus on the R, M and S characteristics inherent to the design of a system. One such strategy known as Performance Based Logistics (PBL) has gained popularity due to its success in improving the operational effectiveness of the system. In a PBL contract the customer buys performance, typically measured using R, M and S metrics, instead of contracting for a specified collection of resources defining the underlying support infrastructure. In this paper we have developed a mathematical model, using Goal Programming to optimize multiple performance measures of a design. We show how the best design is chosen from competing design alternatives when systems engineering principles are considered in defining the evaluation measures. The proposed mathematical model simultaneously considers multiple system engineering metrics during the design stage of the product development. The engineering metrics considered are a representation of the system's operational availability, reliability, maintainability, supportability and total cost of ownership. The Goal Programming model developed in the paper can be easily solved using software such as LINDO, LINGO and Excel Solver.

A System Architecture Approach to Global Product Development

Abstract: Recent advances in engineering collaboration tools and internet technology have enabled the distribution of product development tasks to offshore sites and global outsourcing partners while still maintaining a tightly connected process. Most firms in complex engineering industries are indeed experimenting with various ways to structure their product development processes on a global basis. In this research, we have explored global product development structures from the perspectives of process flow and system architecture. We employ the design structure matrix method to display and explain these structures and our observations thereof. Through five case studies spanning electronics, equipment, and aerospace industries, we consider the interaction complexity inherent in various global work distribution strategies. We conclude the paper with a summary and directions for future research work.

Understanding the Human Resource Challenges in Not-for-profit Organisations from a Lifecycle Perspective

Abstract: In the last two decades not-for-profit organisations in emerging countries like India have witnessed a phenomenal growth. This growth has been managed through a variety of organisational forms and ...

Reliability and maintainability allocation to minimize total cost of ownership in a series-parallel system:

Abstract: Allocation of system level requirements is most effective when performed early in the system's design phase. This holds especially true for two critical and fundamental design characteristics: reliability and maintainability. Traditional reliability allocation models are developed to either maximize system reliability under a cost constraint or minimize cost subject to a system-level, target reliability constraint. Cost, in these traditional allocation models, is represented solely by unit cost. Unit cost, by itself, is an inadequate measure of a system's operational effectiveness. In fact, the underlying economic metric used to properly describe the operational effectiveness of a system is total cost of ownership (TCO). TCO includes not only the upstream unit cost but the downstream operations, maintenance, and support costs. In this paper, new allocation models are developed based on TCO that simultaneously allocate both reliability and maintainability for a series-parallel system subject to meeting a s...

Declining joint family and emerging crisis in old age security

Abstract: The ageing India combined with a declining joint family system faces a crisis in social security for elderly. The government pension system has been converted from a defined benefit system to a Defined Contribution one. The mandatory schemes like Employees' Provident Funds Schemes cover a relatively small segment of the total work force. In all, more than 80% of the work force is not covered by any mandatory retirement/social security schemes. It is required for India to think of innovative products and systems to deal with the issues. Reverse mortgage on housing stock and converting huge stock of gold held by households by single premium pension products may help to some extent. But, it is equally important to stress on family values and savings based life style to face the long-term implications of the emerging crisis in the social security scene.

Discovering mentorship information from author collaboration networks

Abstract: Researchers are assessed from a researcher-centric perspective - by quantifying a researcher's contribution to the field. Citation and publication counts are some typical examples. We propose a student-centric measure to assess researchers on their mentoring abilities. Our approach quantifies benefits bestowed by researchers upon their students by characterizing the publication dynamics of research advisor-student interactions in author collaboration networks. We show that our measures could help aspiring students identify research advisors with proven mentoring skills. Our measures also help in stratification of researchers with similar ranks based on typical indices like publication and citation counts while being independent of their direct influences.

Indian elementary education at the crossroads: way forward

Abstract: The District Primary Education Programme launched by the Government of India put in place unique management structures and processes. The programme coverage was limited to the primary level of education only, that is, grades 1–4 in some states and grades 1–5 in other states. As this programme period was drawing to a close, the Government was launching into an even more ambitious programme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan that was to be implemented in all districts of all states in India and its coverage was from grades 1–8. An assessment of management structures and processes in three southern states of India was taken to arrive at certain lessons that would be extremely useful for the successful implementation of future programmes in elementary education.

Determinants and Consequences of Land Sales Market Participation: Panel Evidence from India

Abstract: Although opinions on impacts of land market transfers are sharply divided, few studies explore the welfare and productivity effects of land markets on a larger scale. This paper uses a large Indian panel spanning almost 20 years, together with a climatic shock (rainfall) indicator, to assess the productivity and equity effects of market-mediated land transfers (sale and purchase) compared with non-market ones (inheritance). The analysis shows that frequent shocks increase land market activity, an effect that is mitigated by the presence of safety nets and banks. Land sales markets improved productivity and helped purchasers, many of whom were formerly landless, to accumulate non-land assets and significantly enhance their welfare.

Six Sigma Implementation at Bharti Infotel

Abstract: Bharti Airtel Limited was a leading private sector provider of telecommunication services in India, with a customer base of 8.73 million as of July 2004. The company had two branch companies — Bharti Infotel (that dealt with fixed line, long distance, and enterprise services) and Bharti Cellular (that dealt with mobile telephone services). This case is about the six sigma implementation at Bharti Infotel. The case briefly discusses the business imperatives in the fast changing Indian telecommunications industry. The industry was a monopoly for over half a century after independence and had recently been deregulated with the private players competing with the state-owned BSNL. The industry had exploded in the recent years with increasing number of players, falling tariffs, and improving technology. Stiff competition in the industry meant that any competitive action by a company was immediately imitated by others. Therefore the only sources of competitive advantage in the industry were “quality of service” and “speed”. This case discusses the various steps in the implementation of six sigma quality management system in the company. The company had already implemented Business Process Management Systems (BPMS) and had begun monitoring their performance on the Non-Financial Parameters (NFPs). The six sigma initiative was expected to leverage on these initiatives. Following the six sigma initiative was the Knowledge Management (KM) initiative that was intended to help share the best practices and learning from the six sigma projects across the entire organization. This case highlights the contribution of the six sigma quality management initiative to the company's business strategy, and helps students analyze the process of implementing and institutionalizing the six sigma initiative. The case enables the readers to appreciate the business benefits of six sigma implementation and how it fosters innovation.

Organizational Support Systems for Innovation and Intrapreneurship: A Comparative Analysis of Innovative Cases from R&D Centres and Operating Departments of Large Corporations

Abstract: The research literature is rich on innovations in R&D-specific organizations and provides useful information on support systems and other organizational features associated with such specialized organizations. An implied assumption of many studies is that R&D exists as an independent entity, without controls or influences from the other functions of an organization. While this may be true for purely R&D organizations, the picture is different when R&D is organized as part of a larger system in which the core activities centre on operating departments. This is the pattern in developing countries like India, where most R&D activities are carried out in departments/divisions of companies that were established primarily for operational purposes. In this study, 31 cases of innovation (15 from R&D centres and 16 from operating departments of large corporations in India) are analysed using a qualitative method of content analysis of data collected through in-depth interviews. While this comparative analysis highlights the need for specific organizational support systems to cater for the specific requirements of the two groups, the most prominent findings on intrapreneurship are that it is facilitated primarily by the flexibility of the R&D scientists to work in their core as well as related areas and the continuous and issue-based interaction between the R&D centres and operating departments.

A Process Maturity Model for Geographically Dispersed Software Sustenance Operations

Abstract: An increase in demand for software services has led to development of software from different dispersed locations. This has brought in complexities to managing software projects. This research work focuses on the development of a process maturity model that balances different perspectives in one organization that is carrying out software sustenance work from geographically dispersed locations.

Dynamic Capabilities: An Emerging Economy Perspective

Abstract: The role of dynamic capabilities in emerging economies has been an under-researched area. Based on our research, we believe that the nature of dynamic capabilities is fundamentally different in these economies. We investigate the dynamic capabilities evidenced in the quality processes of software operations in a large multi-business Indian firm. We pay special attention to three patterns - evolutionary trajectory, nature of learning and benefits of business group affiliation. After due analysis, we find that dynamic capabilities are characterized by a different set of factors in an emerging economy - internal markets, liability of origin and ownership structure.

Economic Contribution of Public Passenger Transport Organisations—An Application of EVAR Methodology

Abstract: Economic Value Added (EVAR) has immense potential for evaluating State Owned Enterprises as it provides an excellent methodology for capturing social and economic contributions of these organisations, instead of merely going by financial returns. If EVA is applied in private enterprises to correct accounting distortions, in public enterprises it can be applied to correct earnings distortions. In this paper we have attempted to extend the EVA Methodology to a State Passenger Road Transport Undertaking (SRTU) in India. This SRTU is relatively a better performing one on operational parameters though it is loss making. This paper captures the opportunity cost of the following three factors which make significant difference to their performance: 1. Loss of revenue from providing concessional fares to students. 2. Opportunity cost of providing services in interior rural areas. 3. Opportunity cost of providing unviable urban schedules.Motor Vehicle Tax is another factor considered. The analysis shows that EVA re...

Information Loss in Grade Point Conversion

Abstract: Some information gets lost when numerical scores evaluating performances are converted into letter grades. We propose to measure this information loss through the proportion of variance lost due to grouping. We study various properties of this measure, including its invariance in location and scale equivariant families. The information loss typically decreases with an increase in the number of levels of letter grades. However, it is not appropriate to have too many levels. The optimum number of levels may be determined, either by visual inspection when the information loss becomes marginal/stable, or by minimizing the sum of the information loss and a penalty term, the latter being taken as linear in the number of levels. We also address the problem of determining the groups, or equivalently, the boundaries so that the information loss is minimized, given a fixed number of groups. Finding these optimal boundaries is a computationally intensive exercise even for moderate size data, unless the number of gro...

Management Perspectives of ICDS Program

Abstract: The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) was launched in 1975 by Government of India. In Karnataka, the programme covered one project in 1975 (33 in the country) and currently has 185 projects with 40,031 centres in operations. The focus of ICDS is to improve the nutrition and health status of pre-school children (3-6 years), pregnant and nursing women below poverty line. The single window delivery package of ICDS is Anganwadi center, which is managed by an Anganwadi worker with her helper. UNICEF, besides providing appropriate interventions in the implementation of ICDS activities has commissioned a number of social assessment studies in some states of India, to identify the areas of improvement. IIMB conducted UNICEF funded study of Social Assessment of ICDS in Karnataka during 2003-05. This paper is the analytical summary of the empirical study carried out in the four districts of Karnataka.