Call for Papers: IJREM, Vol.3(1), AUG, 2014

Call for Papers: IJREM, Vol.3(1), AUG, 2014

CALL FOR PAPERS: IJREM, VOL.3(1), AUG, 2014

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH EXCELLENCE IN MANAGEMENT

(ISSN: 2278-7089)

(http://sri-india.in)

IJREM call for papers that are either subjective or objective in nature. The papers should basically belongs to the management arena spanning across various specializations like; marketing, finance, Production, HRM, systems and etc.. The papers also can be related to certain conceptual aspects like Behavioral Sciences, Psychology, and Organizational Studies and etc.
The nature of the contributions can be: (1) Research based: scholarly papers having literary and empirical value (2) Review papers: with appropriate number of references and systematic citations (3) Short communications & letters to the editor: contextual, trendy and timely. (4) Book reviews. Papers must belong to the following broad areas/sectors (the areas mentioned under are not strictly exhaustive):
(1) Health Care Management; Clinical Psychology & Patient Satisfaction
(2) Education Management & Administration
(3) Agriculture Marketing,
(4) Food & Beverages 
(5) Software & ICT
(6) Retail Management & Marketing
(7) Hotel Management
(8) Socioeconomic & Cultural Studies
(9) Industrial Marketing
(10) International Business
(11) Management Communication
(12) Innovation & Creativity
(13) Strategic Management
(14) Consumer Behavior & Psychology
(15) Organizational Behavior & Development
(16) Securities & Stock Markets
(17) Wealth Management & Financial Planning
(18) Financial & Non-Financial Markets
(19) Managerial Economics (Micro & Macro)
(20) Banking & Non-Banking Services
(21) Insurance Management & Products
(22) International Financial Markets
(23) Performance Management
(24) Industrial Training & Development
(25) Production & Operations Engineering & Technology
(26) Lean Management
(27) Supply Chain & Distribution Management & Technology
(28) Knowledge Management
(29) Business Applications of Neural Networks
(30) Business Statistics, Business Analytics & Research Methods
(31) Any other articles related to business studies & commerceThe interested individuals are cordially requested to send a copy of their manuscript in attachment to submissionsijrem@gmail.com or submissions@sri-india.in
IJREM call for papers to publish in Vol. 3 and Issue-1, which is expected to be published in August, 2014.

 There are no deadlines for submissions, the submissions are accepted throughout the year; however for August issue the following are deadlines:

Last date for submissions: 05, August, 2014

Feedback: 10, August, 2014

Expected date of publication: 15, August, 2014

For more details please visit: http://sri-india.in/publications

Lucky breaks: 3 Happy Accidents in Science

Oprah Winfrey once said, “I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity.”  It turns out that most of the scientific discoveries were strokes of serendipity made by scientists on an alternative quest. And we can take comfort in the fact that genius arrives not by choice but by chance to these inventors who have changed the world in one way or the other. Here are the three inventions that owe as much to luck as judgment and the science behind them!

The big bang 

It has been 50 years since the ground breaking discovery about how our universe was formed is known. But surprisingly it was not an ‘aha’ moment for the Nobel Prize winners Amo Penzias and Robert Wilson. Instead it was a story of frustration! They both were frustrated that their telescope which they used to observe the space was not functioning properly. It was giving this background noise which made them think if a pigeon was trapped inside it; it was polluting the data they were really after.

But, later they realized that this noise was actually traces of some of the earliest light also known as the cosmic microwave background radiation. How did the duo find this left over light from 13.7 billion years ago?

The science is that when the universe cooled enough from the initial hot and dense state, it allowed photons to flow freely throughout the cosmos. This light has been travelling since then and showed up as up as static on Bell Labs’ six-meter Horn Antenna radio telescope. The persisting light formed radio and micro waves that matched the predictions of the 1920 big bang theory.
Thus, this discovery was the first evidence that the universe started off compact and is expanding ever since! 

Stainless Steel

What can a wrong mixture of elements can do to humanity is called Stainless Steel. As the name suggests this form of steel is more resistant to corrosion than any other alloy steel with varying carbon percentage.

Although, steel was invented way before stainless steel, it was by accident that Harry Brearley a chemist discovered this most important metal in 1913. Harry was given a responsibility to develop a steel alloy that could withstand extreme heat inside a rifle barrel, while doing so, he started making different combinations of alloys using different combinations chromium and carbon. Accidently his eyes rolled onto a still shiny and bright metal piece that had sustained corrosion and dug up the formula for ‘rustless steel’ or stainless steel as we know it to be 12% chromium.

How did 12% chromium protect the steel from rusting?

When exposed to friction heat in the rifle barrel, this steel formed a sheet of oxygen around it and protected it from rusting. High chromium content steel sustained the routine acid test making Harry realize the potential of his discovery! 

The stainless steel that we use today has high amount of chromium and carbon. They both oxidize at the decarburization of melt at temperature greater than 122 degree Celsius when both the elements are in pure state. Thus, stainless steel is formed at all temperatures above 1800 degree Celsius when carbon oxidation occurs. 

Chromite, FeCr2O4, is extensively used for extraction of chromium in a stainless steel ore. A low carbon ferrochrome formed by the reduction of chromite with coke in an arc furnace is used to produce steel that is stainless and hard! 

Penicillin

No accident story is complete without Penicillin, and it is for Sir Alexander Fleming that we could survive small infections since 1929! This story is retold a million times, Sir Fleming went a vacation in midst of a never ending search for a magical drug that cures all diseases and came back to discover a mould growing on his petri dishes. When he left, the dishes were covered in colonies of bacteria, except around the area where the mold was growing.  And this area was free of bacteria like the mold had blocked the bacteria from growing any further. But do you know the science behind it? Let’s strain! 

Since Fleming was working with a particular strain of bacteria called as Staphylococcus, one petri dish which was accidentally left open had a mold growing on it, but what was unusual was that there was no bacterium around the mold. He took the ingredients of the mould and grew a pure fresh culture which was identified as Penicillium notatu. 

Later, while describing the filtrate and the broth culture he coined the term ‘Penicillin’ and grew it with gram positive as well as gram negative bacteria and fungi. The bacterium was lysed and penicillin was started to be used as a disinfectant since it was highly potent, has minimum toxicity and also plays a vital role in isolating Bacillus influenza.

A decade later, Howard Florey and Ernst Chain dug deep into Fleming’s research and isolated powdered penicillin from the mould in a process that involves freeze drying Penicillin and then subjecting it to ice evaporation under vacuum.  All the three researchers won the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1945. 

Besides being discovered by accident, there is one more thing common in these discoveries and it is keen observation.  All the scientists who are victims to these happy accidents had an eye for detail and keenly looked into the failed experiments and made progress.  We fondly call all the progress by accident, serendipity.

Aug 04 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)

Hysteria On English





Steel frame of India must not bend before frivolous UPSC language protest

The absurdity of demands made by aspirants towards the UPSC exam grows more apparent with their daily protests. Claiming that non-English-speaking students are being placed at a disadvantage, the aspirants’ demand – that the UPSC’s CSAT component, featuring eight to nine questions testing Class X-level English be dropped – has been rejected by the Arvind Verma committee. This panel states these questions test the most basic level of English, checking minimum standards an Indian administrative service officer must have. This is eminently sensible – and a recommendation the government must accept.Further, it is ridiculous for aspirants to start demanding how examinations or interviews leading to skilled professions be set. These protests only expose aspirants’ desire to drop sections needing creative cognitive and analytical skills – vital necessities for administrative officers. Instead, these aspirants apparently desire staying in their comfort zones, snuggling in known linguistic blankets and rote learning, not challenging themselves to learn even middle-school English, a crucial link language across India and much of the world. Their protests only emphasise why the Indian administrative service cannot be handed to the intellectually sluggish.

This government – elected on the promise of good governance – must not capitulate to such hysteria, fuelled by cynical political manipulation now.

What it must do is offer aspirants a far better level of English to Hindi translations in the UPSC exam papers, thereby ensuring a fair playing field. But what it must not do is alter the CSAT or water down the rudimentary level of English required by those representing the Indian state. This government must not go down in history as having changed the steel frame of India to a plastic one.

Aug 04 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)

`2.3cr children in India malnourished'

Subodh.varma@timesgroup.com





Bihar Has Dubious Distinction Of Having Highest Percentage Of Under-Weight Kids: ICDS

About 2.3 crore children in India, up to 6 years of age, are suffering from malnourishment and are under-weight, according to a status report on the anganwadi (day care center) programme, officially known as ICDS. This staggering number amounts to over 28% of the 8 crore children who attend anganwadis across India.The status report includes state-wise data for underweight children. In Bihar, the proportion of under-weight children is nearly 50%. Andhra Pradesh (37%), Uttar Pradesh (36%), Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh (both 32%) are some of the other large states with a high proportion of children being malnourished.
Delhi reported that a shockingly high 35% of the nearly 7 lakh children who attend anganwadis were un derweight. This shows that the extent of poverty and malnutrition amongst the urban poor is comparable to rural areas despite all the advantages the cities offer.
In all the northeastern states except Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya, less than 10% of children were underweight children. Other large states with a comparatively low rate of malnutrition are Maharashtra (11%) and Tamil Nadu (18%).
There has been no comprehensive survey of children's malnutrition in India since the last National Family and Health Survey in 2005-06. That had estimated 46% of children in the 0-3 years age group as underweight after surveying a sample of about 1 lakh households across the country . The data from anganwadis pro vides a snapshot drawing upon a much larger base.
There were an estimated 16 crore children of ages up to 6 years in the country , as per the 2011 Census. Of these, about half seem to be attending the anganwadis going by the records of the programme. Most of those attending anganwadis belong to poorer sections. But large sections do not get access to it. A 2011 Planning Commission evaluation had said that there is a shortfall of at least 30% in coverage.
There are over 13 lakh anganwadis which look after the kids and provide `supplementary nutrition' to them.
As part of their duties, personnel at each anganwadi weigh the attending kids every month and keep a record.
TOI contacted anganwadi workers from several states to confirm the weighing procedures. Till recently, two weighing instruments were provided for each anganwadi center -one pan-type weighing machine for smaller babies and another hanging instrument with a hook at the bottom on which the child is hooked up through a belt or a garment.
In some states, like Delhi, there were cases where the hanging type machine was not in working condition and hence only children up to three years of age could be weighed.
In Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Kerala, workers said that they were weighing children up to 6 years.
Why is it that children's weight is not improving despite getting nutritional supplements at the anganwadis?
In many states, the quality of food given to children is very bad and they may not be eating it, according to AR Sindhu of the Anganwadi Workers' Federation. “Often this is the case where food provision service is outsourced to NGOs,“ she said.

56th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Labour Economics

18-20 December, 2014Venue: BIT Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, INDIA.

 56^th ISLE Annual Conference:
The 56th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE) will be held during 18-20 December, 2014.

The Themes for the 56^th ISLE Conference:

• Inter-linkages between Formal and Informal Labour Processes
• Demographic dividend: Challenges of Employment and Employability
• Industrial Relations in India: Sectoral and Regional Patterns

The summaries of the selected papers will be brought out as a publication of conference summaries to be distributed among the Conference participants, along with a CD of the complete papers. Selected and revised papers based on peer reviews will be published in subsequent issues of the Indian Journal of Labour Economics. 

Best Paper Awards: Two awards have been instituted for best paper writers, below 40 years: Ruddar Datt Memorial Award and Sanjay Thakur Young Labour Economist Award (carrying prize money of Rs. 10,000 each). Those willing to be considered for the awards are requested to send their date of birth along with the single authored paper before the deadline.

Submission of Papers: Those who wish to contribute papers may send their papers along with a summary of about 1000 words to: the Hon. Secretary, Indian Society of Labour Economics, NIDM Building, IIPA Campus, I.P. Estate, New Delhi - 110002, India. The soft copies in MS Word may be emailed to: conference.isle@gmail.com

Conference Brochure

INDIAN SOCIETY OF LABOUR ECONOMICS
c/o Institute for Human Development
NIDM Building, 3rd Floor, IIPA Campus, I.P. Estate, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, New Delhi - 110 002, India
Phones: +91 11 23358166/23321610
Fax: + 91 11 23321610
 
For further details and updates:
please visit: www.isleijle.org or 
email to: conference.isle@gmail.com

Aug 01 2014 : The Economic Times (Delhi)

How GM Crops can Eliminate Hunger





The government has erred in putting field trials of genetically-modified (GM) food crops on hold. The country requires genetically-engineered crops to meet the rising demand for food and non-food crops as incomes rise. Let's not forget, farm output surged after India adopted the best biotechnology in terms of high-yielding varieties in the 1960s. Apparently , opposition from two Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) outfits about the possible harm from the new technology has forced the NDA government to backtrack on field trials for 13 GM crops. The trials have been cleared by the apex body for approval of GM crops, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC). To quell such fears, India must develop the competence to carry out independent testing for all GM crops to assess the likely negative effects. The testing facilities should be housed in universities and dedicated laboratories.Environment minister Prakash Javadekar says the recommendations of the GEAC are not binding on the governme nt. In fact, the GEAC attracted criticism after a parliamentary panel's finding that it had been pressured to approve Bt Brinjal in 2010. Rightly, a Supreme Court-appointed technical expert committee wants a robust regulatory mechanism in India.
The point is that people entrusted with regulation should not have any financial interests in the GM industry .
Therefore, the setting up of a Biotechnology Regulatory Authority makes eminent sense. The Bill has been pending for over a decade now. The government must secure Parliament's approval to set up the authority fast. However, repairing the regulatory system does not mean halting field trials. The trials will pave the way for commercialisation of GM food crops, and help usher in a second green revolution.

Aug 01 2014 : The Economic Times (Delhi)

Entrepreneurs go Back to IIM Classrooms

SREERADHA D BASU

MUMBAI





As many as 41 students in latest batch at 7 IIMs are in various stages of starting up

In a remarkable display of India's growing fervour for entrepreneur ship, at least 41 students in the new batch at seven IIMs are in various stages of starting up and running new businesses even as they pursue their MBAs, exclusive data collated by ET shows.This means that an unusually high 2% of students in the new batch at these IIMs are already entrepreneurs.
“There has indeed been a spurt this year in the number of such student entrepreneurs at IIMs,“ IIM-Kozhikode Director Debashis Chatterjee said.
These new IIM students have built startups in mobile apps development, horticulture plantations, event management, solar-powered equipment, food-related businesses and coaching schools.
“The number of people in their 20s who are setting up their own ventures is at a new high,“ says Mukul Singhal, principal, SAIF Partners.
Global B-schools are giving a major push to foster entrepreneurship and domestic counterparts are also placing a similar premium on student startups.
“Entrepreneurial students are like allrounders in a cricket team. They are able to fully appreciate and participate in the whole process of creation of value...this is the ultimate goal of managing an enterprise,“ Chatterjee said.
At the Kozhikode B-school alone, around 15 students in the batch that joined in June are entrepreneurs. The batch at IIM-Kozhikode includes, among others, Bullipe Reddy who runs Prestoo, that builds educational games to teach and test high school students' concepts of physics, maths and chemistry; Krishnan Jeesha who provides outof-home advertising solutions to businesses; and Sumit Kumar Shaw, who has set up a coaching institute as well as a tour and travel company.
IIM-Calcutta has seven such student-entrepreneurs in its new batch; IIM-Bangalore has two and IIM-Ahmedabad has another six. Among the newer IIMs, IIM-Raipur has five such students while IIM-Rohtak and IIM-Shillong have three and four, respectively.
For these young entrepreneurs, an MBA comes with several advantages, most importantly , the network these top schools can provide and the opportunity to brush up their knowledge in areas that are lacking. And an IIM tag certainly doesn't hurt for those wanting to raise money for their own ventures.
“All other things being equal, we would prefer someone with a solid educational background.
A qualification from an IIM or an IIT does lend a bit more credibility when talking to a VC (venture capital fund) or an investor,“ says Abhay Pandey , MD, Sequoia Capital India. “Earlier, the entrepreneurial ecosystem was not so vibrant. Now it's great that people are taking a risk to work towards a much larger outcome,“ he adds.
So, if Aditya Pangtey of IIMCalcutta owns a third of Indiebazaar.com, a managed marketplace for Indian independent artists and designers, his peers at the Joka institute in clude Nikesh Vora, who found t ed AlterEgo, an e-comm ven j ture in the personalised gifting domain; and Pranshu Kacholia, a BITS-Pilani grad who cofounded a mobile app development startup called Droid Studios. His Android app saw as many as 30,000 downloads in six months. “I don't have the business or finance knowledge and that's where an MBA comes in. Also, I want to leverage IIM-Calcutta's network in the future,“ says Kacholia At IIM-Ahmedabad, students have co-founded ventures pro t viding software solutions; launched healthcare mobile t apps and app development startups; designed and prototyped a I product that harvests energy t from cooking stoves; and launched ventures aimed at addressing declining analytical abilities among school students.
Over 80% of the ventures promoted by this year's student en i trepreneurs are still operational. Many such students have partners or co-founders who l take on additional responsibilities while they are at school. The remaining 20% of student entrepreneurs, whose ventures closed f down, are keen to start something new again in the future.
“Entrepreneurship flourishes l when failure and experimentation is tolerated by societies. The i Indian society has reached a cer t tain inflection point when a new generation is not afraid of taking chances and experiment t ing,“ feels Prof Chatterjee.
In IIM-Shillong, businesses t run by students include consulting agency Innovative We; Epitome IT Coaching that focuses primarily on IT educa t tion and Xeopia Solutions, also in the same space. At IIM-Rai t pur, Pratik Suting, an aircraft maintenance engineer, ran his transcription company; Rajesh Jangam opened up a school and Satyadeo Thakur started his venture as a web hosting and designing company. In IIM-Rohtak, Pruthvi Ala, along with three friends, started a snacks business serving offices such as Accenture and IBM, which is in the process of opening more outlets in Hyderabad. His batch mate Gaurav Aggarwal uses data technologies to help small retailers grow their business.
“A good management education equips a person with necessary tools and greater perspective to analyse complex situations,“ says D Chethan of IIM-K. His interest in agriculture led him to invest in a 10-acre plot and adopt highly mechanised techniques to grow horticultural crops such as chikoo, mango, black jamun, coconut and lemon alongside fast-growing timber-yielding varieties.
Despite the success of his business, Chethan still believes in the power of an MBA.
“I intend to expand my enterprise and enter new avenues such as food processing in the future,“ says Chethan.
For IIM-Bangalore's Sourav Das, who runs a startup in the solar technology space with an IITKharagpur batchmate, the MBA is a ticket to scale up his venture to the next stage. The partners sell solar mobile phone chargers -they have sold some 500 pieces through NGOs -and Das says he needs some guidance to fine tune his business plan.
Nitisha Sethia, of IIM-A who ran her own fashionwear business called Urban Junkie entirely through Facebook and earned around Rs 5 lakh through four exhibitions, says she loved the whole experience of running her own show.