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3721 items in total found

Working Papers | 1980

Language Translations in Advertising & Marketing Research: Need for Recognizing Measurement Differences

Mehta Subhash C and Parikh Jayshree S

This paper reports the findings of an empirical study, designed to test the following four hypotheses: H1 : When consumers rate the same advertisement on two language versions of the same work (adjective), the mean ratings of the advertisement in the two languages are not statistically different. H2 : When consumers rate the same advertisement on two language versions of the same word (adjective), the correlations of the ratings between the two language versions would be positive, high and statistically significant. H3 : When consumers rate the same advertisement on two language versions of the same word (adjective), the distribution of the ratings in the two language versions would not be statistically different. H4 : When consumers rate a number of advertisements on a single (adjective) the language of the word should not make a difference in the discriminatory power of the word in differentiating between the advertisements. The findings and conclusions highlight the disparities in languages. The study shows that due to translation of the words, the words change their original meanings. The study selected 197 English words/phrases which can be used to represent all the dimensions of a print ad. These words were translated into Gujarati. The data were collected through a field survey where respondents were asked to rate a sample of six print ads. On English and Gujarati versions of 197 words as to how well each word described an ad. The study used correlations, Analysis of variance and K-S Test of similarity of distributions to see whether the words produced significantly different ratings in their two language versions. It was found that only about 7.11% of the words conveyed same meanings when translated. Rest of the ratings indicated that meanings conveyed by the words in their two language versions were significantly different. The paper discusses the implications of this 'language effect' phenomenon for marketing researchers and copywriters in India and makes suggestions for controlling or reducing the impact of such a difference arising out of translations into regional languages.

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Working Papers | 1980

Elusive Excellence (Twelve Thousand Hours at an IIT: Preparation for Elusive Excellence)

Ganesh S R

As under-graduate student at an elite technological institute like the IIT, spends anywhere upto 12 thousands academic hours over five years in the most formative years of his life. Since the pre-independence days there was a plan to establish an Indian MIT and this had found concrete expression in the recommendations of the Sarkar Committee Report in 1946. The objective of setting up such an Indian MIT was conceived of as to produce creative scientist-engineers in India. Therefore, it is not unrealistic to expect that the student who spends twelve thousand hours at anyone of the five IITs would contribute towards technological excellence in India. Based on an exploratory research undertaken in collaboration with IIT, Bombay, this paper argues that due to several organisational contradictions which permeate the Institute neither the preparation nor the pursuit of technological excellence has come about nor can come about under the prevailing conditions. While the data pertains to one IIT, the parallels for similar professional institutions in science, technology, medicine, and management are too striking to be brushed aside.

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Working Papers | 1980

Cost Benefit Analysis of Malarial Control and Eradication Programme in India

Ramaiah T J

This paper analysed the malaria control and eradication activities in India from 1953-54 to 1976-77. The total cost of the disease to the nation with the control and eradication programme and what it would have been if the programme were not to be launched were estimated for each of the years. The difference between the two estimates for a given year is defined to be a measure of benefits derived from control of the disease. The results obtained have been further analysed and their implications to the programme have been discussed.

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Working Papers | 1980

Analysis of a Two-Unit Parellel Redendant System with Phase Type Failure and Central Repair

N. Ravichandran

Explicit expressions for the Laplace transform of the reliability and availability of a general two-unit parallel redundant system are obtained. The Mean time to system failure and steady state availability are deduced as special cases. Some particular cases of our result are also obtained.

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Working Papers | 1980

Transfer Pricing Policies in Indian Companies: A Survey

Govindarajan V and Ramamurthy B

This articles describes the current practices of large Indian companies with regard to their transfer pricing policies.

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Working Papers | 1980

Financial Measurement of Investment Centres: A Descriptive Study

Govindarajan V and Ramamurthy B

This article describes the use of investment centers by large Indian companies as a tool of planning and control.

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Working Papers | 1980

Prediction of Performance from Motivation and Ability: An Appraisal of the Cultural Difference Hypothesis

Singh Ram D

How do people integrate information about motivation and ability of a person when they predict his performance? As the dynamic motivation factor acts as an amplifier of the static capacity factor, a multiplying rule can be expected to apply to prediction of performance. A multiplying rule implies a linear fan pattern in the factorial plot of the Motivation x ability data. This linear fan prediction has been supported in the United States but not in India. The present paper presents findings from several studies by the author, and provides an explanation for the discrepancy in results obtained with American and Indian students. The position taken is that the integration rules underlying prediction of performance are culture-specific, and that American and Indian students differ in their cultural outlook on how motivation and ability determine performance. Americans follow a multiplying rule which implies that effort or trying will be more effective with persons of high than low ability. In contrast, Indians follow an equal-weight averaging which implies that effort or trying will be equally effective with persons of low and high ability. Cognitive algebra employed in the two cultures thus directly reflect the causal conceptions prevalent in the two countries.

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Working Papers | 1980

Employment Generation and technology Factor in KVI Sector: Problems and Prospects

Moulik T K and Purshotham P

For the rural economy of India, characterized by growing unemployment and poverty, the labour intensive economic activities like Khadi and Village Industries are deemed to assume greater relevance than ever. But the past trends of growth of this sector reveal that the pace of employment generation is largely determined by the external support it received than its internal viability. This paper brings to light that the low technology base has been responsible for the above phenomenon. The stagnation in the technology base has also been responsible for a meagre enhancement in the real wage earnings of the workers engaged in Khadi and Village Industries.

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Working Papers | 1980

Management Control in Banks: Some Issues for Consideration

Govindarajan V and Ramamurthy B

This paper examines the following issues: (i) Should branches of commercial banks be treated as profit centers or not? (ii) What should be the transfer pricing policy with regard to funds transferred from branches to Head Office and vice-versa? (iii) Should corporate overheads be allocated to branches?

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Working Papers | 1980

Survey of Literature on the Attitudes and Values of the Professionals - With Reference to the Countries in the Third World

Saiyadain M S

This survey reviewed studies published during 1963-1979. In all 26 studies were reviewed which dealt with data collected on samples drawn from 14 different occupations representing 26 countries of the world. The following conclusions can be drawn from the survey: 1. It indicates the relative dearth of the studies on the attitudes and values of the professionals in the third world. 2. Most studies have dealt with limited number of professions while others were neglected. 3. Attitudes and values have been explored in a broader framework. Several issues and concerns have been covered in the general concept of attitudes and values. 4. The survey suggests that both the environmental and personality factors influence the growth and sustenance of positive attitudes and values among professionals. 5. Various professional values could broadly be classified into the intrinsic and extrinsic factors. 6. Most of all concern for excellence, productivity and profitability seem to be the major concern of these professionals.

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