i-manager's Journal on Management (JMGT)


Volume 13 Issue 1 June - August 2018

Research Paper

An Approach to Sustainable Design Management

Gisli Thorsteinsson* , Tom Page**
* Professor, Department of Design and Craft Education, University of Iceland, Iceland.
** Associate Professor, Department of Product Design, Nottingham Trent University, England.
Thorsteinsson. G., and Page. T. (2018). An Approach to Sustainable Design Management. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 13(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.13.1.14343

Abstract

In recent years sustainable design has played an increasingly important role in university design education and within this EcoDesign tools have the potential to greatly improve the sustainability of work completed by design students. Currently however there is little guidance concerning which EcoDesign tools are most appropriate for use by undergraduate design students. This study seeks to establish which EcoDesign tools are most appropriate for use by industrial design students. This is achieved through a greater understanding of: the criteria which define whether an EcoDesign tool is effective for use by industrial design students, the views of students, and the most effective education methods for EcoDesign; ultimately gaining a comprehension of how EcoDesign tools can be more widely used by industrial design students. This was achieved through a combination of reviewing and collating existing knowledge and views, while seeking the opinions of current design students. The study found that the most significant barriers to widespread usage of EcoDesign tools are time constraints, the presentation style of tools, and a lack of knowledge in both tool selection and usage. It was found that the most effective and popular method of teaching sustainable design was through the use of practical examples; this was largely linked to the hands on nature of industrial design culture. The EcoDesign tools found to be the most suitable for use by design students were EcoDesign Web, Design Abacus and Information/Inspiration; mainly due to the relatively quick, simple and customisable nature of the tools. The increased use of EcoDesign tools by design students has the potential to greatly improve the sustainability of design, allowing students to gain experience and knowledge that can be carried with them in to industry. This study recommends further research in to a system or guide that aids design students in both the selection and use of EcoDesign tools.

Research Paper

A Case Study in Journey Mapping in the Design of User-Focussed Services

Tom Page*
Associate Professor, Department of Product Design, Nottingham Trent University, England.
Page. T. (2018). A Case Study in Journey Mapping in the Design of User-Focussed Services. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 13(1), 10-23. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.13.1.14344

Abstract

The aim of this research is to evaluate of journey mapping as a primary user research method into understanding the habits and needs of end-users and how this may lead to the design of improved services.Key factors of a journey were identified as journey time, convenience, reliability and cost.  Current transport options in rural areas have led to a perception, by users, of an increased pressure onthem needing to be able to drive.  The main conclusions drawn from this research were that current public transport options in at least certain rural areas are leading to a dependence on car travel.  The journey mapping process, identified opportunities which acted well as catalysts for a proposal creation process.  Upon conclusion, this work proposes a demand response ‘taxi-bus’ service aimed at providing a future user-orientated transport option capable of relieving the current dependence on car travel.

Research Paper

Stock Prices and Performance Analysis of Real Estate Companies in India

P. Hanumantha Rao*
Associate Professor, National Institute of Construction Management and Research (NICMAR), Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Rao. P.H. (2018). Stock Prices and Performance Analysis of Real Estate Companies in India. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 13(1), 24-33. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.13.1.14346

Abstract

Sensex is an indicator of the performance of the stock market of a country as well as its economic development.  Stock market index reflects the movement of share prices.  But, what determines the share prices of a company has always been a matter of debate among the investors. An investor aims to buy stocks at low and sell at high and thereby earn returns.  But once an investor decides to buy a share, it will be very difficult to predict whether the price will go up or down.  Stock prices perform well if the fundamental of the firms are strong. The study aims to assess the stock market performance of real estate companies in India and examine the performance of the sector which in turn will affect share prices.  The data is compiled from the annual reports of real estate companies for last five years 2011-12 to 2016-17.  At attempt is made to assess the stock market performance of the sector as against that of sensex and to understand and compare the performance of the sector based on five sample companies.

Research Paper

Impact of Social Media on Consumer Buying Behavior – A Descriptive Study on TAM Model

Bhuvanesh Kumar Sharma* , Vimal Kamleshkumar Bhatt**
* Assistant Professor, Balaji Institute of Modern Management, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
** Associate Professor, Balaji Institute of Modern Management, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Sharma, B.K., and Bhatt, V.K. (2018). Impact of Social Media on Consumer Buying Behavior – A Descriptive Study on TAM Model. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 13(1), 34-43. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.13.1.14048

Abstract

In present technological changes, social media plays a significant role which is being utilized by consumers and industries in various ways. Consumers are using social media to connect people through this virtual media, they make new friends, chatting, searching jobs and shopping online at the same time industries especially e-commerce leveraging benefits of social media by promoting their products on various social networking sites and directly influencing consumers through social media and stimulating demand of their offering by providing ‘Shop now’ button. With increasing use of social media, many factors influence consumers while they directly purchase on social media. A hypothetical model has been drawn in order to explain the relationship among three factors Perceived usefulness, Perceived value, Perceived risk and their influence on purchase intention. A sample of 265 respondents from students undergoing postgraduate program collected and the model has been validated with the help of SPSS correlation and regression analysis. The result of the study reveals that there was significant correlation reported among Perceived usefulness, perceived value and Perceived risk and all three was significantly influencing purchase intention when a consumer wants to purchase through social media. The study is highly useful in understanding the online shopping behavior of consumer which help organizations to stimulate the demand for their products through this medium.

Research Paper

Mapping Possibility of Cost Effective Sourcing of Cinnamon in India

Ram Singh * , Hemant Kumar Singh **
* Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, India.
** Research Scholar, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, India,.
Singh, R., and Singh, H.K. (2018). Mapping Possibility of Cost Effective Sourcing of Cinnamon in India. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 13(1), 44-54. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.13.1.14360

Abstract

Cinnamon is one of the most powerful spices on earth and scientist has ranked it as wonder spice for its medicinal values and properties. Key producers are Indonesia, China, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka and key importers are Mexico, USA, India, and Bangladesh. India is a net-importer of Cinnamon from countries, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka as domestic supplies are too small to meet the growing demands of domestic consumption and export demand of value added spices, wherein cinnamon is mixed with other spices. This paper aims to understand the existing import regime of cinnamon in India including tariff and non-tariff issues, duty preference regime under various negotiated Free Trade Agreement, issues of certificate of origin, compliance costs, and cost-effective suppliers.

Research Paper

A Study on Foreign Direct Investments, Role of Federal States, Incentives, and Arbitrations in India

Bhavani Marka* , Y. Prakash**
* Associate Professor, Department of Master of Business Administration, Vardhaman College of Engineering (Autonomous), Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
** Assistant Professor, Department of Master of Business Administration, Vardhaman College of Engineering (Autonomous), Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Marka, B., and Prakash, Y. (2018). A Study on Foreign Direct Investments, Role of Federal States, Incentives, and Arbitrations in India. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 13(1), 55-66. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.13.1.14117

Abstract

India marked a significant economic growth with economic liberalisation policies, utters gearing up with a growth rate of 7.1%, for fiscal 2016-17, 6.7%, for 2017-18, and estimated to 7.4%, for 2018-19 that is possible with Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BIT). Department of Industrial Policies and Protection (DIPP) although autonomous governed the foreign economic policies of federal states of India under constitutionally mandatory provisions. It coordinates between the foreign investors, and the states and Centre. The Foreign Investment policies drafted to provide facilities, increments, and incentives such as low tax rates, tax holidays and tax waivers to the investors. The deviation from the articulated and accepted foreign investment policies either by the investor or by the host country raise the bivalent concerns and leads to arbitration. Undoubtedly, India's position in facing arbitrations and existing affluent arbitration policies to face international arbitrations was an ambiguous subject matter. Moreover, the transparency between the federal States and the Centre relations in harmonising the foreign investment policies was also a debatable issue. Recently Nissan sued Government of India by bringing international arbitration for remittance of INR 5000 cr. was a prima facie case for alleged violations of investment treaties with Japan bought limelight to focus on international arbitration once again. Hence, this paper evaluates the necessity to revamp foreign economic policies with lucid Centre-State relations, to overhaul the incentives or facilities offered, to have weightier arbitration policies, and to strengthen India's position on International arbitrations.