Confronting the Challenges to Equipoise: A Study on Wompreneurs’ Work-Life Balance

The study explores the adversities faced by wompreneurs (Women Entrepreneurs) of Odisha and talks about their work-life balance issues. The paper presents the viewpoint (motivation) of wompreneurs as to why they think of starting an enterprise of their own. Focus is also laid onthe supportive factors of wompreneurs and factors that disrupt maintaining their work-life balance.The present exploratory paper is the outcome of a pilot study that has been performed using thematic investigation & analysis to find out solutions for the above-mentioned issues. For this paper, Qualitative research is used, which is conducted by assimilating data from personal interviews and thematically analyzing it. Suggestions for better work-life balance are given at the end. The area of work-life balance is devoid of studies in India, where wompreneurs are expected to have a better work-life balance as they are their own “boss”, the paper tries to explore the authenticity of such assumptions. The model has been devised with the above research objectives to provide insight into motivating factors and work-life balance issues of wompreneurs, which can help the Government, policy-makers, research fraternity and other training counselling institutions to emphasize such emerging issues that would lead to empowered women as well as an empowered Nation. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Wompreneurs, Case study, Work-life balance, Role conflict

A Systematic Review on Blockchain in Education: Opportunities and Challenges

This study focuses on blockchain as an emerging technology regarding its use to restructure the systems and advance education upon quality outcomes. What are the benefits of integrating blockchain in education concerning system reformation and advancement in developing better educational processes for all-encompassing learning outcomes? With the recent developments of blockchain applications across multiple domains, the education industry seems to be benefited from this technology to a considerable degree. Transcripts and certificates play a vital role in an individual’s life so it needs to be stored in a tamper-proof and long-term available ledger. In pursuant to addressing the aforestated question, this study brings information regarding what blockchain technology is, how it functions and what its uses are if it comes to integrating with education at different levels. This may include reviewing the conceptual/knowledge bases, research and development studies, and sources that introduce blockchain including its features but with a special highlight on how it has been integrated into the education sector especially in an innovative situations. To this end, this study was designed to provide a systematic review of all the literature focused on decentralized ledger technology. Multiple sources were reviewed following a systematic pattern that allows selection of relevant sources, sorting out information being guided by the research question, and making the final selection of required information that connects with what and how of Blockchain in education. Keywords: Blockchain, Education, Ledgers, Certificate, Decentralized technology

Impact of Porter’s Generic Strategy on Firm Performance with reference to Nepalese Retail Banking Sector

Porter’s generic strategies are the proven and pervasive strategic options in achieving competitiveness and better firm performance. This paper aims in examining the effect of Porter’s generic strategies (low-cost, differentiation, and focus) on firm performance in the context of Nepalese retail banks, a more competitive service industry. This study applies casual comparative research design and the data have been collected through administering questionnaire survey from 75 senior bank managers of 18 Nepalese commercial banks who being engaged in strategic affairs. The econometric model has been constructed to measure the expected effect of the strategies on firm performance. The descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and multivariate regression analysis were conducted. The empirical results of correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis produced consistent results indicating positive associations between generic strategies and firm performance. The empirical results from regression analysis declared higher positive and significant impact of low-cost on firm performance. Similarly, positive effect of differentiation strategy and focus strategy on firm performance was reported. The findings suggested that pursuing low cost strategy provides more financial returns with comparison to differentiation and focus strategies. The finding also suggested for combination of low-cost and differentiation (and focus) strategies could provide better competitiveness and firm performance. Keywords: Generic Strategy, Low-cost strategy, Differentiation strategy, Focus strategy, Firm performance

COVID-19 The Global Pandemic: Learning & Take Out for National Pension System (NPS)

The SARS Cov-2 (Covid 19) pandemic has shaken the whole world; it has brought the business, education, industry, transport, communications, travel, hospitality almost all the economic activities to a standstill. Accordingly, it has adversely affected the financial markets and stock exchanges across the globe. The stock exchanges, may it be New York Stock Exchange, Dow Jones, London Stock Exchange, Nikkei, Bombay Stock Exchange or National Stock Exchange experienced an unprecedented plunge of 40 to 50% in a period few weeks. This new dynamic of volatility possesses serious questions about the market driven National Pension System (NPS) which endeavor to ensure smooth retirement life for Indian elderly. The volatility in security market will significantly impact the fund managers’ performance and accordingly the retirement benefit of the subscriber. This article has investigated the impacts of pandemic on fund manager’s risk returns profile. We have used three industry standard risk-adjusted returns parameters such as Sharpe ratio, Treynor Ratio and Jensen’s alpha to evaluate the performance of NPS pension fund managers selected under study. The study has also explored the learning from such unexpected crisis for the policy makers for future preparedness. On the basis of finding, it has suggested some measures for long run sustainability of schemes under NPS. Keywords : NPS, PFRDA, Defined benefit, Defined contribution, Pension fund managers, Risk adjusted returns, COVID-19.

Conceptualizing Intersectionality between Work-family Conflict and Career Progress of Married Women Employed in Nepalese Financial Sector

This study examines the intersectional relationship between work-family conflict and career progress of married women employed in the financial sector within Kathmandu Valley. Although both work and family are important dimensions of human life, in Nepalese context the intersectional relationship between gender roles, work and family responsibilities and career progress has been inadequately studied. Hence, this research aims to conceptualize work-family conflict by examining the intersectional relationship between socio-demographic factors, antecedents of work-family conflict and career progress of married women employees in the context of Nepalese Financial Sector. In this study intersectional research design has been used to analyze relationships between variables together with ninety (N=90) married women employees as research participants. Results of both descriptive and inferential statistics indicate that asymmetry still remains prevalent and permeable among married women employees regarding their work-family interfaces and involvements. Hence, antecedents of work family conflict intersect a predictive association with subsequent existential experiences, ambition gaps and perceptions that negatively influences career progress of married women. Based on the findings, this study recommends a sustainable corporate culture and human resources management practices that remains sensitive to gender issues and also assimilates complex and conflicting necessities of both work and family involvements. Keywords: Work-family conflict, Career progress, Sustainable corporate culture, Human resource practices

An Assessment of Personality-Type of Managers in Nepalese Hotel Industries

Hospitality industry is one of the most profitable industries with a high potential for increase, thus being a hospitality manager is one of the most trendy and prestigious jobs of today. It is also a challenging job since, being an effective one is quite complex due to recorded industrial higher heart burn effects, rapid industrial changes in demand, constant trends and severe industrial competition. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the performance variance of the top managers of the five-star hotels of Nepal in respect with their gender. The primary data were received from employees on different level, line-managers of five star hotels. Descriptive and explanatory research designs were used. Composite means and correlation coefficients models were used to analyze and interpret the data. Analysis showed that the female managers generally tend to adopt democratic or participative style while governing people, whereas, male managers induce an autocratic or directive style in their daily performance. Based on the regression analysis, it was determined that the extraversion dimension had a more significant effect than the openness dimension. The extraversion dimension had a negative effect on extrinsic job satisfaction, while the openness dimension had a positive effect. The extraversion and openness dimensions had a weak but statistically significant effect on general job satisfaction. The extraversion dimension had a negative effect on general job satisfaction, while the openness dimension had a positive effect. Keywords: Five-star hotel, Managers’ type, Personality-type, Effective hospitability, Job satisfaction.

The Impact of Capital and Deposit on Financial Performance of Commercial Banks in Nepal

Purpose of this study is to measure characteristics of core capital ratio, bank capital, deposit, net profit after tax, and earnings per share and their separate relationship and measure the individual impact of core capital ratio, bank capital, and deposit on financial performance i.e., net profit after tax (NPAT) and earnings per share (EPS). Descriptive, correlational, and casual comparative research design has been used in this study. This study analyzed secondary data of twenty-six commercial banks from fiscal year 2012/13 to 2018/19 out of twenty-seven. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis statistical tools were used in this study. According to its findings, earnings per share is highly dispersed in comparison to net profit after tax as well as core capital ratio than bank capital. There is high degree of positive relationship in between net profit after tax and deposit. Low degree of positive relation in NPAT and core capital ratio and moderate degree of positive relation in NPAT and Bank capital. Low degree of positive relation of EPS with deposit and low degree of inverse relation of EPS with core capital. Core capital ratio, bank capital, and deposit positive effects for increasing NPAT. Out of its, deposit highly effect. Deposit positive effects for increase on EPS. High contribution of deposit and core capital to increase net profit. The results of this study have relevance and probable generalizability about the impact of capital adequacy ratio and deposit to increase financial performance of commercial banks in Nepal. Keywords: NPAT, EPS, Capital, Deposit, Commercial banks

Fintech, Regtech and Suptech: Three Dimensional Approaches to Digital Finance

Every institution is now doing business transactions through digital financing system. Digital financing solutions offer great potential to overcome challenges and contribute toward achieving universal access to financial services. However, it is noticed that insufficiency of technological up-gradation and various issues created by hackers that might include fraudulent online transactions as an example, hampers people who are not aware of the other side of technology. There are three stages in the implementation of digital finance viz., Fintech, Regtech and Suptech. ‘Fintech’ is an application of Technology for financial services that include; digital payments and e-money, international remittances, personal and business loans, peer-topeer lending platforms, crowd funding platforms, Robo-advisors, Crypto currencies like Bitcoin, Altcoin, etc. ‘Regtech’ is a contraction of the terms ‘regulatory’ and ‘technology’ and it describes the context of regulatory monitoring, reporting, and compliance. ‘Suptech’ is derived from ‘Supervision’ and ‘Technology’, which monitors ‘Fintech’ and ‘Regtech’. The rise of Fintech will undermine the widespread assumption that the primary source of systemic risk in the financial sector is the domination of large, “systemically important” banks and other financial institutions. On this backdrop, this paper aimed to explore the importance of Fintech, Regtech, and Suptech as three stage approach to digital finance. This paper makes a focus as the special dynamics regarding how Fintech, Regtech, and Suptech as three stage approach to digital finance work and will become the better substitute of banks and other financial systems. Based on review of secondary sources, this paper highlights: 1. the problems and obstacles faced by corporate entities in digital finance and 2. the interdependency of three dimensions of technology viz., Fintech, Regtech and Suptech. Keywords: Digital finance, Financial literacy, Fintech, Regtech and Suptech.

Female Consumers Awareness Level on Purchasing Online Beauty Products in Kathmandu Valley

Consumer awareness about their appearance and beauty results in the growing demand on the market for cosmetic and beauty products. Cosmetic used by consumers depends on various attributes such as size, consistency, brand name, brand loyalty and labeling. This study therefore tries to analyze awareness level of female consumers on purchasing online beauty products in Kathmandu valley. Descriptive method is employed in this study where 285 female customers who buy cosmetics online are taken as sample for the study. Likewise, awareness level is also measured with the help of awareness index. Findings of the study revealed that 95% females are aware about online purchase of cosmetic products. Likewise, both literate and illiterate women use online platforms to buy cosmetic products however, the ratio of literate women is higher. Also, the trend to buy cosmetics product is higher in unmarried compared to married females. Thus, the study concludes effectiveness of online beauty products can be enhanced if online sites focuses on delivering quality products in reliable price to customers. Keywords: Female customers, Beauty products, Awareness, Kathmandu valley, Cosmetics

Impact of Right Share Issue on Share Price of Commercial Banks in Nepal

This study has examined the effect of issue of right share on share price movement in the banking sector using share price and price relative as the predictors of share price movement. Banking sub-index and index relative of different periods were used for analysis. Five different periods of time were selected to observe the share price movement considering the announcement date as the reference point of time. Based on the secondary sources of data, a correctional analysis was administered to examine whether the share price and price relative (banking index) has any relationship with the share price change in case of Nepalese commercial banks. Coefficient of determination and probable error were used to find how much percentage of the variation in the share price could be explained by the occurrence of right share issue and likewise, whether or not the relationship was significant. The results reveal that right share announcements have the signaling effect on share price movement. The share prices and banking indices of selected banks have decreased after the announcement of right share. The results suggest that the information irregularity behavior tempts a negative change in share price after the announcement of rights share. The implication of the results is that investors can forestall the nature of change in share price after rights issue announcement and develop strategic plans to expand the trading activity. Keywords: NCC Bank., Right announcement, Right share issue, Price relative, Index relative.