Showing papers by "Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research published in 2016"

A universal new product development and upgradation framework

Abstract: When confronted with new product development (NPD), managers generally adopt quick fixes such as benchmarking with competing products and then attempting incremental changes over the competitors’ product features. There are several approaches propounded in the past. Some focus on manufacturing, some on marketing and perception, and some on idea generation and stage-gating these concepts. However, a comprehensive approach seems to be missing. This paper attempts to suggest a comprehensive framework that could be used for products as well as services, by start-ups and conglomerates alike, for processes as well as organization design. This study includes an analysis of existing literature on NPD and an exploratory activity to identify all possible attributes of a product or service. The exploratory study was conducted with multiple groups of participants. Each group was given a different product or a service for analysis. They were asked to brainstorm in a systematic manner and list down everything that they liked/disliked or had suggestions about the product or service that they were analyzing. A comprehensive master-list of these attributes was then created to form the framework. An exhaustive list of forty-five attributes was compiled. These attributes are representatives of the latent needs and aspirations of consumers and can be used as a starting point of any new product or service development/upgradation process. This framework is equally applicable for processes and organizational design as it is for products and services. It can be used by managers in large as well as small organizations. It can also be used by faculty in management schools who teach Innovation and NPD as also faculty in a design school. The proposed framework can be used while designing systems for community-building too.

Design and preliminary evaluation of a wearable device for mass-screening of sleep apnea

Abstract: Between 7–18 million Americans suffer from sleep disordered breathing (SDB), including those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Despite this high prevalence and burden of OSA, existing diagnostic techniques remain impractical for widespread screening. In this study, we introduce a new model for OSA screening and describe an at-home wearable sleep mask (named ARAM) that can robustly track the wearers' sleep patterns. This monitoring is achieved using select sensors that enable screening and monitoring in a form-factor that can be easily self-instrumented. Based on feedback from sleep doctors and technicians, we incorporate the most valuable sensors for OSA diagnosis, while maintaining ease-of-use and comfort for the patient. We discuss the results of preliminary field trials, where both our sleep mask and a commercially available device were worn simultaneously to evaluate our device's robustness. Based on these results, we discuss next steps for the design of the screening system, including analyses techniques that would provide more efficient screening than existing systems.

Analyzing the Performance of a Software and IT Growth with Special Reference to India

Abstract: Effective management is essential in the software industries to produce quality software. The use of software has enabled software industries to manage effectively with reduced human effort. This paper aims to investigate the scenario of software utility in the Indian industry through a case study. This investigation has enabled to prepare a basic flowchart model for on-demand software. The paper also aims to study the number of errors made by a programmer for different projects having different number of program lines. It also identifies various parameters to rate and analyze the performance of software.

Relationship between Creativity and Academic Integrity of Students : An Empirical Study of Management Students in India

Abstract: Purpose: Creativity and integrity are two very important pillars of success for any corporate, and looking at some of the recent corporate frauds and scams across the globe, the present study is an attempt to study the relationship between academic integrity and creativity of students pursuing management education in India. Methodology: The study is descriptive and cross sectional in design. Self reported questionnaires were used to collect data from students studying management courses (PG) in selected business schools from cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. SPSS 17 was used to run the statistical analysis. Reliability and validity of the scales were also assessed. Findings: The findings of the study suggest that academic integrity and creativity of students are negatively correlated. This is a concern for both academia and industry as co-existence of both is very important and desirable. Value: The present study is valuable and unique in a sense that the researcher was not able to find any empirical research that tests a similar relationship, having students as the target population. Also, there is no such evidence in the Indian context as well.

Economic analysis of yield gap of Arhar (Cajnus cajan) inVidarbha region of India

Abstract: Yield gap is an important aspect as it affects production. There is a need to take up in depth analysis of yield gap for narrowing down the yield gap between the farmers fields and demonstration plots. It may not always possible for the farmers to raise the crop productivity on their farm to the level of research station. However, it would be realizable to aim at demonstration plot yield. Hence in this study more emphasis is given to yield gap II. i.e. difference between demonstration plot yield and farmers field. The study was based on the secondery data collected from Agricultural Prices Scheme, Dr. PDKV, Akola for the year 2014 -15. In all 120 Arhar growing farmers from Akola, Buldhana and Amaravati district were selected. It is observed that total Yield gap was highest in low adopter (6.81 qt/ha) and less in high adopter (1.87 qt)/ha.

A Study of Consumer’s Perception of Genetically Modified Food on Their Health and Wellbeing in Mumbai

Abstract: “We are what we eat”.The food that we eat goes on to build the very information that we are. It forms our inner eco niche that resonates with the outer eco niche that surrounds us. Therefore what food one puts into the system and builds the system on is very important. It is also believed that food prepared without the seasoning of ‘love’ lacks that very special something. Food safety since time immemorial is a matter of intense health concern. The latest introduction outside the awareness of the general Indian consumer of biotechnological advancements as in genetically modified foods also called "Frankenfoods" is a great cause of concern to health and therefore quality of life.The study focuses on the perception of consumers G.M Foods and its affect on their health and well-being.