i-manager's Journal on Management (JMGT)


Volume 5 Issue 2 September - November 2010

Research Paper

Internal Sociopolitical Phenomenon in a Manufacturer-Distributor Exchange: A Dyadic Perspective

Harash Sachdev*
Professor, Department of Marketing, Eastern Michigan University, USA
Harash J. Sachdev (2010). Internal Sociopolitical Phenomenon in a Manufacturer distributor Exchange: a Dyadic Perspective. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 5(2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.5.2.1293

Abstract

Popular press is replete with articles suggesting that one of the major reasons for the collapse of several manufacturing organizations is their lack in executing relational exchanges with their business partners such as their distributors. These firms are constantly falling a prey to dysfunctional micromanagement techniques, which facilitate quick sales growth, but, never-the-less, at the expense of ultimate damage to the firm. The basic premise is that these manufacturers have not accepted the belief that buried in these set of relational exchanges are the sociopolitical processes of sources of power, dependence, and conflict, whose interplay need to be understood from both parties’ perspective. These manufacturers eventually become insensitive to market demand by maintaining their inflexible, silo mentality and repudiating the idea of balancing these internal sociopolitical processes towards an enduring, committed relationship.Using distributor literature, a case study, and an Insider Accounts approach to survey a foreign equipment manufacturer and three of its U.S. distributors, from the manufacturer’s perspective, high dependency resulted in low manufacture’s conflict. High distributor’s non-coercive power led to low manufacturer’s conflict. High coercive powered was positively associated with manufacturer’s conflict. From the distributor’s perspective these associations were reversed. Managerial implications are suggested.

Research Paper

Linkage of Non-Deliverable Rupee Forwards with the Onshore Spot and Forwards Market

Satish D.* , V. Sankara Narayanan**, Anubhav***
* Assistant Professor, Department of Finance, IBS Hyderabad, India.
** Chief Manager, Integrated Treasury Branch, UCO Bank, India.
*** Student, Department of Management, IBS Hyderabad, India.
Satish D., V. Sankara Narayanan and Anubhav (2010). Linkage of Non-Deliverable Rupee Forwards with the Onshore Spot and Forwards Market. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 5(2), 13-24. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.5.2.1295

Abstract

The paper does a detailed analysis of Non Deliverable Forwards (NDF) rupee market with a view to understand the linkages between domestic Spot, forwards and off shore NDF market for Indian rupee Various tests are done on the data for the period 1st January 2007 to 31st March 2010. The paper finds that the bid-ask spread is less in case of domestic market than that of the NDF market which clearly suggests that there is higher liquidity in the domestic market. . ARCH/GARCH test also suggests that the volatility in the NDF market is more than that of onshore market.  Interestingly, the results of Granger Causality Test suggest that there is sufficient information flow between onshore Spot, forwards market and NDF market with two way causality between onshore Spot market and NDF market. This means that the policy makers cannot ignore the importance of NDF markets.

Research Paper

What does the corporate world expect from Job Aspirants? - A study analyzing Employer expectations

Veena Raju*
Ph.D Aspirant & Lecturer, Maharani Lakshmi Ammani College for Women, Bangalore, India.
Veena Raju (2010). What Does The Corporate World Expect From Job Aspirants? - A Study Analyzing Employer Expectations. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 5(2), 25-38. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.5.2.1297

Abstract

The shift in government policies, the highly result-oriented and dynamic business environment and modern technological compulsions require a more open and participative corporate culture. Such a participative organization requires its employees to possess certain qualities.This paper was aimed at finding out the expectations of employers from job aspirants. Though there are a lot of opportunities in the job market, we still find some freshers struggling to get into these job positions. This paper was formulated for the benefit of job aspirants. To an extent this study would help in bridging the gap between employer expectations and skill set of aspirants. The study attempts to understand the qualities or characteristics that employers expect in a job aspirant. The qualities expected from job aspirants were picked by analyzing job specifications of job titles in the entry and middle-management level. These qualities were further grouped into Knowledge, Skills and Attitude related traits.Primary Data for the study was gathered through online survey and unstructured interviews (telephonic) from selected employers or officials involved directly/indirectly in recruitment, HR professionals, Recruitment Consultants and Entrepreneurs. Secondary data was gathered from interviews, opinions and statistical data published.

Research Paper

Attitude of the Customs House Agents towards the Container Freight Stations: An Empirical Study Investigation at Chennai

Debajani Sahoo*
Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing, IBS Hyderabad, India.
Debajani Sahoo (2010). Attitude of The Customs House Agents Towards The Container Freight Stations: An Empirical Study Investigation at Chennai. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 5(2), 39-49. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.5.2.1299

Abstract

Container Freight Stations (CFS) is an extension of a port/airport/LCS/ICD customs station,   where containers are stuffed, de-stuffed and aggregation/ segregation of export/import cargo takes place. The imported goods can be immediately shifted from the port to CFS which also helps in the reduction of port congestion. All the activities related to clearance of goods for home consumption, warehousing, temporary admissions, re-export, temporary storage for onward transit and outright export and transshipments take place from such stations. With the growing volume of international trade, the need for expeditious clearance of goods at the port within the minimum possible time has been gaining importance. The purpose of the study is to examine the attitude of the Customs House Agents (CHA) towards the Container Freight Stations in terms of risk management system, types of goods dealing with and to identify the service expectations and problems faced by of the Customs House Agents from the Container Freight Stations. Different statistical tools like Spearman’s Rank Correlation, The Independent Samples T-Test, Paired Samples T-Test and Factor Analysis has been used in this study.

Research Paper

Advertising And Jewel Purchase Decisions: Special Reference To Coimbatore District

Valarmathi*
Assistant Professor, Department of Management Studies & Research, Tamilnadu College of Engineering, Coimbatore, India.
Valarmathi (2010). Advertising And Jewel Purchase Decisions: Special Reference To Coimbatore District. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 5(2), 50-59. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.5.2.1303

Abstract

This paper discusses about advertisement and jewel purchase decisions.  Advertising is a powerful communication force, highly visible, and one of the most important tools of marketing communication that helps to sell products, services, ideas, images and so on. The research work is based on the objectives. To understand the sources of information available in the jewel market of Coimbatore District, consumer’s attitude at the time of jewel purchase, the advertisements and jewel purchase decisions in Coimbatore District. The data codified electronically have been analyzed with the help of several statistical tools such as Weighted Average, Friedman’s Rank Test and Reliability Model. This study reveals that the consumer awareness is at all time high. Women are aware of what they are going to buy. The role of advertisement is inevitable in the present circumstances. The success of the sales depends upon the effective marketing strategies with the help of which, the base for the brand is built. Women are more conscious about quality and purity of the product in particular about gold ornaments. They can’t be deceived by fake advertisements and offers. Not only do they consider gold jewel as a thing to beautify them selves but also they consider it as a profitable saving option.  Women like to shop where credit facilities are available, middle class women are inclined to buy in shops which offer good credit facility. The working women buy jewels regularly and periodically.

Research Paper

Assessment of the Engineering Departments of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Through Application of Six Sigma Metrics

Debaprayag Chaudhuri* , Sadhan Kumar Ghosh**, Arup Ranjan Mukhopadhyay***
* Scholar, Center for Quality Management System, Mechanical Engineering Department, Jadavpur University, India.
** Coordinator, Center for Quality Management System, Jadavpur University, India.
*** Associate Professor, Indian Stastistical Institute , India.
Debaprayag Chaudhuri, Sadhan Kumar Ghosh and Arup Ranjan Mukhopadhyay (2010). Assessment of the Engineering Departments of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Through Application of Six Sigma Metrics. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 5(2), 60-67. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.5.2.1304

Abstract

The study has been done on the basis of survey questionnaire in the Engineering departments (under graduate) of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur to measure the current or baseline departmental performance level. The feedback for this survey questionnaire has been considered independently for service providers such as administrators, faculties, other supporting staff as well as students who receive these services and are direct customers. A total of 116 persons have been surveyed from the 6 departments. The baseline or current performance level of the departments has been assessed based on the sigma level through quantification of the survey questionnaire consisting of eight enablers. Each enabler contains several questions or drivers. A total of 75 drivers have been arrived for 8 enablers.  A seven-point scale has been designed for each driver ranging from “Unsatisfactory” to “Outstanding”. To identify the weak areas for a department, the vital few drivers that correspond to “Unsatisfactory” performance have been found to take necessary remedial measures for attaining the new benchmark sigma level under the present techno-economic set up.

Research Paper

Is Mutual Fund A Better Investment Plan

Tamma Koti Reddy*
Faculty of IBS,Hyderabad.
Tamma Koti Reddy (2010). Is Mutual Fund A Better Investment Plan. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 5(2), 68-81. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.5.2.1305

Abstract

The one of the objectives of this study  is to give the outlook towards the performance of Top Mutual Funds traded in India and to analyse various risks and returns associated with Mutual funds and to establish a relationship between the demographics (age, income, employment status etc.) and risk tolerance of investors. This evaluation is  done on the basis of parameters like NAV, AUM, Beta, Standard deviation, Sharpe ratio, P/E Ratio, P/B Ratio, Portfolio Turnover, R-Squared, Alpha and Expense Ratio. The research also intends to bring in the new trends in the mutual fund industry and to give a futuristic insight to it.This study also aims at tracking investor’s preferences and priorities towards different types of mutual fund products and for identifying key features of a mutual fund for deciphering sustainable marketing variables that influence the investors’ fund/scheme selection.Taking a lead from this, an attempt is also made to find out the important mutual fund product attributes that are essential in influencing the purchase decision of the investors. The study is based on primary and descriptive research. . This study gives only a brief idea as to what are the investor’s point of view and their preferences towards different major players in the country. Also an attempt has been made to represent mutual fund industry by taking a few top and best performing companies in India.