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Working Papers | 1996

The New Logic of Indian Ventures Abroad: Three Case Studies

Korwar Ashok

This paper reports the findings of a study to understand the logic of Indian ventures abroad in the 1980s and beyond. Three case studies are analysed in detail. The motives behind these ventures are compared with the motives of Indian ventures set up in earlier decades. Major differences are found here. Our modern ventures appear to be set up in pursuit of market knowledge development and control of marketing mix, rather than in search of growth opportunities in protected environments. Implications for theory and for Indian managers, are also drawn.

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Working Papers | 1996

A Reconsideration of some Solutions for two Dimensional Choice Problems

Lahiri Somdeb

In this paper, we take up the outstanding problem of axiomatically characterizing what we referred to in the paper as the additive choice function on the classical domain for choice problems. Apart from an impossibility result for the additive choice function, there is an axiomatic characterization, which as a by-product provides a counter example to a conjecture for the egalitarian choice function. In an appendix, we provide a proof of an axiomatic characterization of the egalitarian choice function using a superadditivity axiom. Also, in this paper, we provide proofs of axiomatic characterizations of the family of non-symmetric Nash Choice functions and the family of weighted hierarchies of choice functions. Our conclusion is that earlier axiomatizations are essentially preserved on the classical domain for choice problems. The proofs are significant in being non-trivial and very dissimilar to existing proofs on their domains.

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Working Papers | 1996

Managing Batch Processors to Reduce Lead Time in a Semiconductor Packaging Line

Pankaj Chandra and Gupta Sudheer

In this paper we study a semiconductor packaging line at IBM Bromont. At the line, modules are assembled and then tested in a Burn-in oven. The Burn-in oven is a batch processing station. We outline a procedure to determine order release scheduled and lot sizes for the various work stations in the line, such that total manufacturing lead time is minimized. The internal parameters of the procedure are set by simulation experiments and by heuristics. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine the robustness of the procedure with respect to various external parameter settings.

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Working Papers | 1996

Order Release and Product Mix Coordination in a Complex PCB manufacturing Line with Batch Processors

Bhatnagar Rohit, Pankaj Chandra, Loulou Richard, and Qui Jim

In this paper, we study the role of order releases and product mix coordination in a complex manufacturing line with batch processors. We develop a planning methodology for synchronizing production in such manufacturing lines and discuss the decision making process in the context of a PCB production environment at Northern Telecom's Fiberworld Division. The planning methodology includes developing mathematical programming models for determining a configuration of batch processors, order releases to the shop floor, and daily loading decisions at the batch processors. The optimization models are linked to a simulation model of the shop which provides key statistics like lead time, work-in-process, utilization rates, etc. The objective is to reduce lead time for manufacturing different products in this environment while meeting the demand. We analyze the performance of such a line, study the efficacy of various types of shop floor synchronization policies, and establish the role of batch processors in managing such complex lines effectively. We exhibit how batch processors (which are bottleneck operations) could be scheduled effectively so as to incorporate the logical constraints that govern their operation and react to variables in the manufacturing line.

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Working Papers | 1996

Tobacco Industry in India: Constraints for Development

Gurdev Singh, Asokan S R, and Chokshi S N

India is the third largest producer of tobacco in the world after China and USA. Though it occupies a mere 0.25 per cent of the cropped area in the country, it contributed Rs. 507 crores to the foreign exchange earnings and Rs. 3200 crores to the exchequer by way of central excise during 1992-93. Further, it provides employment to millions of people both directly and indirectly. Despite playing such a vital role in the economy the industry faces many constraints for its development. Increasing productivity, improving the quality, better marketing practices of non Virginia tobacco and a more rational excise policy on cigarettes would help the growth of the industry as well as meet the challenges of the future.

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Working Papers | 1996

Profile and Impacts of Tractorization

Patel N T and Gandhi Madalsa

Out of 19 licensed tractor manufacturing companies were producing tractors in 1990-91. The import of tractors has declined with fluctuation from 2997 in 1961-62 to 10 in 1986-87 at the rate of -23.20 per cent per annum. The total production of tractors has increased at 8.29 per cent per annum. But the production capacity of the industry remained constant. Cosequently, capacity utilization has increased from 33.34 per cent in 1982-83 to 92.34 per cent in 1992-93. The total sale of tractors has increased at the rate of 8.98 per cent per annum. Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. Represented highest share of sales of tractors. In 1990-91 highest number of tractors were sold in state of Haryana and Punjab. The positive rate of growth of tractors, gross cropped area, total labour days employed in agriculture and multiple regression analysis have undoubtly proved that farm tractorization is land and labour augmenting technical change. Since 1987-88, country became self sufficient in production of tractors. From 1987-88 to 1993-94, the export of tractors has increased by 28.13 per cent per annum. The international market for our tractors has widened by 3.71 times and the direction of exports has also changed drastically.

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Working Papers | 1996

An Empirical Investigation into the Effects of Country of Origin on Consumer Product Preference in India

Mukherjee Avinandan

With increasing cross-border trade and globalization of markets, country of origin effect is assuming importance in the domain of cross-national consumer behaviour. Country of origin effect refers to consumers general perceptions of quality for products having brand names associated with a particular country. The objective of this paper is to understand the effect of country of origin on consumers in India in their preference for products. The paper looks at two distinct effects of country of origin-foreign brands made in their respective countries and foreign brands made in India. This study is in the context of a typical developing country like India on the throes of economic liberalization. Methodologically, this research involved multiple-cue study, i.e., product descriptions ofrered to respondents involved not only country of origin, but other cues as well. The research design involved a two-stage procedure, and ordinal data was fed into conjoint analysis to determine the effect of country of origin. The findings show that country of origin effect on consumer product evaluation in India is product-specitic. The effect was found to be stronger for television than for wrist watch or car. Also, between the three countries, Japan is preferred for television, while Indian products are preferred for car and wrist watch. Possible reasons have been explored along with implications for researchers, marketing practitioners, and public policy makers in developing countries.

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Working Papers | 1996

Indicators as Indigenous Ecological Knowledge: "Lamp Posts", "Crossroads" and "Turning Points"

Anil K. Gupta and Suthar Jitendra

Boundaries of most natural systems are fuzzy and thus amenable to contraction and expansion over time and space due to interaction of various natural and human variables. Fuzzy boundaries often require homeostatic indicators of thereshold values so that changes conform to system properties and goals. The homeostatic indicators are kind of buffer solutions which do not tell us precise moments of change but suggest the range within which a change may take place. Indicators are also like thumb rules which guide and regulate our relationship with nature within and outside. Nature within refers to our tendencies to internalize external shocks through various psychological, spiritual and social responses. The stresses produced by these emotions become evident through various indicators that we can experience and feel in day to day life. The nature without or outside is what we perceive through categories that we inherit as well as create or recreate. These categories also require indicators so that we can make sense of changes in these categories and accordingly deal with them. In this paper, I deal with the theoretical as well as empirical aspects of ecological knowledge system which incorporates indicators as `lamp posts', `crossroads' and `turning points'.

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Working Papers | 1996

Farmers Innovations for Sustainable Resource Management and Conservation of Biological Diversity

Anil K. Gupta and Suthar Jitendra

The agricultural transformation during green revolution is no more green in most developing countries. The declining productivity of inputs clearly points to the non-sustainable nature of current growth processes. While there is rethinking going on in the formal research system itself, the informal research system managed by innovative and creative farmers, pastoralists, artisans, fishermen and women has been undergoing a silent revolution. In this paper this creativity at grassroots level is discussed as a source of healing the sick soils, souls and spirits. The paper discusses how blending between formal and informal science can stem the tide of non-sustainable growth and provide a more eco-friendly and eco-ethical path to future sustenance. We narrate in part one of the paper the diagnoses of the problem. What can formal science do and cannot in the context of meeting challenge of sustainable natural resource use. In part two we discuss the context in which farmers' innovations emerge and evolve at individual as well as collective level. In part three the problem of knowledge erosion is discussed and the case of Honey Bee network is presented which aims at stemming this erosion. In present some suggestions for rewarding creativity and some lesions for rethinking the mainstream technology generation and diffusion systems.

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Working Papers | 1996

Some Aspects of Internationalization by Larger Indian Firms: Evidence from Ten Case Studies*

Chaudhari Shekhar, Shah Nayana, and Mukherjee Avinandan

The success of India's recent economic reform programme hinges crucially, among other things, on the level of internationalization of Indian firms. However, in the global market, Indian products rank low on critical factors like quality, delivery, and technology. Indian firms face a daunting task because of a variety of handicaps; lack of state of the art technology, capital, international marketing expertise, access to distribution channels, and international perspective in strategy formulation and risk taking ability to explore international markets. Given this gloomy scenario it is heartening to note from case studies published in business journals the many faceted exploits of some larger Indian firms in international markets. Companies like Core Parenterals, Arvind Mills, Ranbaxy Laboratories, ITC, Hindustan Lever, Dabur, Lupin Laboratories, and some others have often been in the news. With the belief that an exploration of the characteristics of large Indian firms which are focusing on internationalization as a significant asect of their overall strategies we undertook a content analysis of enterprise case studies published in business journals. This paper identifies the key characteristics of selected firms' internationalization efforts and presents an explanatory conceptual framework.

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