Book Review: The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons in Creative Leadership from the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, Robert Iger

Laying out the Vision and Executing It – the Disney Way There haven’t been many organizations which not just survive but continue to thrive during their lifespan. One of these is the Walt Disney Company, among the most valued firms (current market cap of $325 billion) in the world, an American diversified multinational mass media, and entertainment conglomerate headquartered in California.Having had a shaky start, with its predecessor having filed for bankruptcy, Disney has continued to innovate and evolve during its existence of nearly a century.The Ride of a Lifetimeis authored by Robert Iger, Disney’s sixth CEO since establishment in 1923 comes out as an absorbing business book. In the words of Bill Gates, “unlike most books on leadership, this one is worth the time”. He has already suggested it to several friends and colleagues, including Satya Nadella.

Service Quality in Natural Gas Distribution: A Study

Purpose: Using the SERVQUAL model in the Natural Gas Distribution business context, the research paper examines and compares the quality of service parameters of two City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies engaged in Piped Natural Gas (PNG) distribution- one from public and other from the private sector. Research Design/Approach: Mapping of various activities pertaining to domestic (household) PNG service on the SERVQUAL dimensions was undertaken. Based on the mapping, a relevant data collection tool was deployed to collect the data on PNG service quality parameters from the respondents, who were current consumers of these companies. Hypotheses regarding various components of SERVQUAL model were tested towards the comparison of service quality of these companies. Data were analyzed by employing an appropriate statistical tool. Findings: Statistical results reveal a significant difference between the companies in terms of the quality of services offered by them. Interpretation of study results, managerial implications and suggestions have been discussed in the paper. Practical Implications: The study shall help in designing and implementing the quality of service parameters and subsequently devising or revising Service Level Agreements (SLA) for the domestic PNG customers of CGD companies. Originality/Value: Not much relevant research work on service quality issues has been undertaken in the CGD Sector in general and in the domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) sub-sector in particular. One of the outcomes of the study is also the mapping of various activities pertaining to domestic PNG service on the SERVQUAL dimensions.

A Study On The Growth Insights Of MSMEs in the Era Of Globalization

Purpose: This paper examines the global scenario of MSMEs, the impact of globalization, the role of MSMEs in India, the growth perspectives of MSMEs during the pre-and post-globalization period, the critical challenges, and the role of the Government in encouraging and developing MSMEs. Methodology:The study considers the secondary data related to the pre-and postglobalization period and analyzes the growth perspectives. In addition, the study examines the critical challenges and also Government initiatives in the development of MSMEs. Findings:The aids of a globalized and digital economy depend to an excessive extent on favourable business environments and healthy competition.The performance of MSMEs depends on accessibility to various strategic resources like abilities, technical know-how, innovativeness, and finance. Thus, it is imperative to consider the factors influencing work conditions firm level, and the strategies formulated at the national level are organized to local business perspectives. Practical Implications:The study will be beneficial to the micro, small and medium enterprises and practitioners who play a pivotal role in the establishment of enterprises and start-ups. It explores the various challenges faced by MSMEs and plan necessary strategies to sustain the competition in local as well as global markets. Originality: The study articulates the MSMEs scenario at the global and Indian levels. It also analyzes the growth insights of MSMEs during the pre-and post-globalization period. It can be observed that MSMEs need to analyze the market opportunities in the rapidly-growing economy and emerging markets.

The Impact of Dharma on Management PhilosophyA Comparative Study of Vishnu Smriti and Contemporary Corporate Thinking

Purpose: Management philosophy acts as a foundation for business by defining its vision, mission, and purpose and by providing guidelines for its operations. For centuries, Indian ethos has encouraged socially beneficial corporate behavior by invoking the concept of dharma. Using a historical analysis research design, this paper attempts to measure the impact of dharma on management philosophy of modern companies. Methodology: The paper uses a historical analysis research design. The paper specifies the ideal from Vishnu Smriti, a Dharmasastra text of ancient India. The contemporary management thinking is studied by analyzing the management philosophy statements of the fifty corporations comprising the NIFTY index in India. Several data analytics techniques like correlation analysis, association analysis and path analysis, have been used to measure that the impact of dharma on management philosophy. Findings: The study reveals that the impact of dharma on the management philosophy modern corporations is not so strong. The results of correlation analysis, association analysis and path analysis all showed that impact of dharma on the management philosophy of the NIFTY indexed companies is not upto the expected ideal. Practical implications: As the impact of dharma on the management philosophy of modern corporations is not strong, it is necessary for managers to understand the values guidelines provided in dharmashastra texts to develop their vision and mission statements. Such guidelines from Vishnu Smriti include treating employees and customers with respect and cultivate environmentally sustainable management practices. Originality: The originality of the paper arises from its ability to integrate the philosophy of Indian ethos in contemporary management thinking and measuring the same using well known statistical techniques.

COVID-19 Review, Analysis and Future Research Directions: Implications for Marketers

Purpose: The purpose of this conceptual paper is to analyze, review, and articulate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marketers. While scholars have explored the impact of the pandemic on marketing, extant research on this topic has been disparate, unstructured, and disconnected. This paper addresses that need and contributes to the literature. Design/Methodology/Approach: This is a conceptual paper that addresses the impact of the pandemic caused to firms and retailers, and provides them with innovative and strategic directions to achieve a blueprint for success. Findings: The paper endeavors to address how e-commerce, digital technologies and tools, educational technology platforms, omnichannel strategies, corporate social responsibility strategies, and the ascendancy of minimalistic consumption can shape, boost, and bolster firm strategies through leveraging innovation and co-creation, leading to a long-term sustainable competitive advantage. Practical Implications: The paper provides guidelines and insights to firms and retailers regarding new consumer paradigms and areas, such as co-creation, minimalistic consumption, and e-commerce and digital technologies, that are particularly important in the pandemic era. In doing so, the paper provides relevant actionable, practical, and pragmatic implications for managers at firms, along with future research directions for scholars and academicians. Originality: This is one of the first conceptual papers that holistically and comprehensively addresses several germane issues that are faced by firms and retailers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper not only identifies these critical issues, but it also provides directions for growth, along with recommendations on how firms can better invest their resources in pertinent areas that provide consumer satisfaction, thereby leading to success.

Money and Technology

Editorial

Perceived Stress and Burnout among Nursing Personnel Working in a Tertiary Care Hospital: a Cross-sectional Study in Eastern India

Purpose: Perceived stress and burnout are by-products of physiological and psychological burdens among nursing personnel. Physical and psychological stress is a perennial issue among the health care providers, especially among nurses in the resource constrained settings. With this endeavor, we have tried to examine the burden of perceived stress and burnout among the nurses in tertiary care settings. Along with the burden, we have also looked at a few new set of potential determinants for the aforementioned outcomes. Methodology: An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the level of perceived stress, burnout amongst the nursing personnel working at various levels, in a tertiary care Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. The total enumeration sampling technique was used along with pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. After accounting for the pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, we arrived at a sample size of 401 to be interviewed for the study. Cohen perceived stress scale and Maslach’s Burnout Inventory, were used for assessing the perceived stress and burnout, respectively. Findings: The study revealed that stress [Low: 9.2%, Moderate: 87.3% and High: 3.5%], emotional exhaustion [Low: 20.4%, Moderate: 45.1% and High: 34.4%] and depersonalization [Low: 10%, Moderate: 26.7% and High: 63.3%] is prevalent among nurses in private tertiary care. They also had low perceived personal accomplishment [Low: 63.6%, Moderate: 22.9% and High: 13.3%]. 8 or more hours of duty per day [beta coefficient 1.36, 95% confidence interval 0.42 – 2.31] and 8 or more numbers of night duties per month [beta coefficient 1.76, 95% confidence interval 0.52 – 3.00] emerged as significant risk factors for stress when compared to 6 hours of duties per day and no night duties per month. Similarly, higher night duties [up to 7: beta coefficient 1.76, 95% confidence interval 0.52 – 3.00 and 8 or more: beta coefficient 1.6, 95% confidence interval 0.42 – 2.77] emerged as a significant risk factor for emotional exhaustion when compared to no night duties. Practical Implications: Our study findings provide an estimation of stress and burnout burden prevalence in tertiary care and associated factors that will be helpful in advocating policy changes and targeted interventions. The level of stress and burnout among nurses is increasing in tertiary care, therefore, policies should be formulated to identify and take appropriate preventive measures. The coping mechanisms should be promoted for health care providers, especially for the nursing personnel. This paper can pave a path to examine the relationship of life aspirations and their effect on burnout, which will be a valuable addition to the existing body of knowledge in the domain of burnout Originality: Having used cross-sectional study design and the robust method of linear regression analysis technique, our study found some novel results that will add valuable knowledge in furthering the understanding of burnout among the nurses and in general.

Proposition and Validation of Retention Model for Managers in Select Indian Private Sector Banks

Purpose- Focusing on private banking industry in Delhi (India), the study intent to identify the direct and indirect influence of select individual, internal (organizational) and external (environment) variables on retention of bank managers. Three retention models for banking industry with the said variables had been hypothesized and tested to find that most appropriate model. Design/Methodology/Approach - The required data of 301 lower and middle level managers was finalized using stratified random sampling. The managers examined for the study were with minimum two years of experience in the same bank. The study was conducted in two phases- (i) Significant determinants of retention were identified using multiple and hierarchical regression analysis, (ii) Involving only significant determinants three retention models were created and tested using Structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings- SEM result of best fit model suggests that perceived alternative employment opportunities, perceived organizations prestige, perceived competitiveness of pay, pay and benefits satisfaction, career advancement opportunities, work-life balance, and job satisfaction have significant effect on retention of managers and the result is consistent with regression analysis of the work. Moreover, final model showed retention acting as mediator between other variables and retention, though the indirect effect was found to be very weak. Practical Implications- The findings of the study will be serviceable for the banks want to keep those managers who had already spend a good amount of time in the bank. Originality/Value- Rather than including two or three predictors, the current work has considered determinants of retention from various dimensions. The study extended its area by making an effort to involve only those who retained in the organization for two years and can actually have an opinion on the matter or factors affecting their stay.

Effects of Demonetization, GST & Covid-19 Pandemic in the Adoption of Digitalization by Rural MSMEs in India

Purpose: The turbulent times created by the recent uncertain events give only two solutions – either surrender or fight-out. It has been the story so far for the MSMEs in India. Three events that changed the business scenario include the implementation of demonetization & GST and the pandemic-related restrictions. Survival became the only viable factor for businesses. This study dwells deeper into these three events and their influence on the adoption of digitalization by MSMEs in rural India. Methodology: Responses of the rural MSME owners were collected through a structured questionnaire containing multiple-choice questions on a 5-point Likert scale. To have better clarity, responses of 274 rural MSME owners were finally considered for the data analysis. For factor analysis of the data, the process of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was adopted with the help of IBM SPSS 25.0. To find out the validity of the model, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was performed by using IBM AMOS 21.0. Findings: It is found that the pandemic effect has the strongest significance followed by the demonetization effect on MSME owners towards the adoption of digitalization for their business. GST was implemented within a year of demonetization, so its effect is found to be non-significant. Practical Implications: The results of the study will help the government as well as IT solution providers to chalk out their strategies, products, or reforms taking into consideration the particular problems faced by MSMEs related to demonetization and pandemic closure. The outcome will also help in better implementation of the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative. Originality: The results of the proposed study indicate that during all the three major events, the importance of digitalization has been witnessed by the MSMEs. These uncertain times have prioritized the use of digitalization not only for their survival but also to match the consumers’ demands during those periods. This study shows the importance of digitalization and will help the cup to reach the lip and both the economy and the MSME owners will be benefitted from it.

Does Work-Life Balance Mediate the Relationship of Perceived Organizational Support and Job Satisfaction for Healthcare Workers? A Study on Female Nurses in India

Purpose: Studies time and again ascribe increased attrition in the nursing profession to poor organizational support and issues of work-life balance resulting in higher levels of job dissatisfaction among nurses. Considering this background, we conceptualized a model (POS-WLB-JS) anchored on organizational support theory and examined the mediating influence of work- life balance in the relationship of perceived organizational support and job satisfaction for female nurses in the Indian healthcare ecosystem. Methodology: Convenience sampling techniques were used to collect data from 250 female nurses from 40 hospitals in Mumbai. Hierarchical regression analysis techniques were used to test the hypotheses. In addition, Sobel test for indirect effects was used to assess the mediating influence of work -life balance in the conceptual model. Findings: Perceived organizational support, work- life balance, and job satisfaction have a significant and positive relationship among them. In addition, work- life balance mediates the relationship of perceived organizational support and job satisfaction for female nurses in the Indian nursing context. Practical Implications: The study will be beneficial to healthcare administrators, doctors, and practitioners who play a pivotal role in the delivery of healthcare services through nurses. It explores the process of job satisfaction through work-life balance and organizational support. Originality: The study makes a distinction between specific support for work- life measures and distal support that exists for nurses in hospitals. It was found that the latter as measured by the perceived organizational support scale has a significant and positive relationship with job satisfaction and work- life balance.