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The case study has been prepared for management students/business executives to understand electric vehicle (EV) business, business environment, industry competition and strategic planning and strategy implementation.

The size of the Indian passenger vehicle market was valued at US$32.70bn in 2021; it was projected to touch US$54.84bn by 2027 with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of more than 9% during the period 2022–2027. The passenger vehicle industry, a part of the overall automotive industry, was expected to grow at a rapid pace, as the Indian economy was rising at the fastest rate. However, the Government of India (GoI) had put a condition on the growth scenario by mandating that 100% of vehicles produced would be EVs by 2030. Tata Motors (TaMo), a domestic player in the market, had been facing a challenging competitive environment. Although it had been incurring losses, it had successfully ventured into the EV business. TaMo had taken advantage of the first mover by creating an electric mobility business vertical to enable the company to deliver on its aspiration of providing innovative and competitive e-mobility solutions. TaMo leadership had been putting efforts to scale up the electric mobility business, thus, contributing to GoI’s plan for electric mobility. Shailesh Chandra, president of electric mobility business, had a big task in hand. He had to scale up EV production and sales despite insufficient infrastructure for charging and shortages of electronic components for manufacturing.

The case study has been prepared for management students/business executives for strategic management class. It is recommended that the case study is distributed in advance so that the students can prepare well in advance for classroom discussions. Groups will be created to delve into details for a specific question. While one group will make their presentation, the other groups will question the solution provided and give suggestions.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 11: Strategy.

Assembly line is a common production form and has been effectively used in many industries, but the imprecise processing time of each process makes production line balancing and capacity forecasting the most troublesome problems for production managers. In this paper, uncertain man-hours are represented as interval grey numbers, and the optimization problem of production line balance in the case of interval grey man-hours is studied to better evaluate the production line capacity.

First, this paper constructs the basic model of assembly line balance optimization for the single-product scenario, and on this basis constructs an assembly line balance optimization model under the multi-product scenario with the objective function of maximizing the weighted greyscale production line balance rate, second, this paper designs a simulated annealing algorithm to solve problem. A neighborhood search strategy is proposed, based on assembly line balance optimization, an assembly line capacity evaluation method with interval grey man-hour characteristics is designed.

This paper provides a production line balance optimization scheme with uncertain processing time for multi-product scenarios and designs a capacity evaluation method to provide managers with scientific management strategies so that decision-makers can scientifically solve the problems that the company's design production line is quite different from the actual production situation.

There are few literary studies on combining interval grey number with assembly line balance optimization. Therefore, this paper makes an important contribution in this regard.

The initiative for sustainability in the construction industry has led to the innovative utilization of automobile tire waste, transforming it into value-added products, toward decarbonization in the construction industry, aligning with the development and sustainability goals of Al-Kharj Governorate. However, the disposal of these materials generates significant environmental concerns. As a payoff for these efforts, this study aims to contribute to a fruitful shift toward eco-friendly recycling techniques, particularly by studying the transformation of tire waste bead wires into recycled steel tire fibers (RSTFs) for sustainable concrete composites.

This research delves into how this technological transformation not only addresses environmental concerns but also propels sustainable tire innovation forward, presenting a promising solution for waste management and material efficiency in building materials. Recent studies have highlighted the superior tensile strength of RSTFs from discarded tires, making them suitable for various structural engineering applications. Recently, there has been a notable shift in research focus to the use of RSTFs as an alternative to traditional fibers in concrete. In this study, however, efforts have paid off in outlining a comprehensive assessment to investigate the viability and efficacy of repurposing tire bead wires into RSTFs for use in concrete composites, as reported in the literature.

This study examined the Saudi waste management, the geometrical properties of RSTFs, and their impact on the strength properties of concrete microstructure. It also examined the economic, cost, and environmental impacts of RSTFs on concrete composites, underscoring the need for the construction industry to adopt more sustainable and adaptable practices. Furthermore, the main findings of this study are proposed insights and a blueprint for the construction industry in Al-Kharj Governorate, calling for collective action from both public and private sectors, and the community to transform challenges into job opportunities for growth and sustainability.

This study pointed to thoroughly demonstrate the technological advancement in converting tire waste to reinforcing fibers by evaluating the effectiveness, environmental sustainability, and practicality of these fibers in eco-friendly concrete composites. Besides, the desired properties and standards for RSTFs to enhance the structural integrity of concrete composites are recommended, as is the need to establish protocols and further study into the long-term efficacy of RSTF-reinforced concrete composites.

This study aims to optimize the levels of factors for a green supply chain (GSC) while concurrently gaining valuable insights into the dynamic interrelationships among several factors, leading to reductions in CO₂ emissions and the maximization of the average service level, thereby enhancing overall supply chain performance.

Response surface methodology (RSM) is employed as a technique for multiple response optimization. This study uses a supply chain simulation model that includes decision variables related to the level of inventory control parameters and vehicle capacity. The desirability approach is adopted to achieve optimization objectives by focusing on minimizing CO₂ emissions and maximizing service levels while simultaneously determining the optimum levels of considered decision variables.

The high R² values of 97.38% for CO₂ and 97.28% for service level, along with adjusted R² values reasonably close to predicted values, affirm the models' capability to predict responses accurately. Key significant model terms for CO₂ encompassed reorder point, order up to quantity, vehicle capacity, and their interaction effects, while service level is notably influenced by reorder point, order up to quantity, and their interaction effects. The study successfully achieved a high level of desirability value of %99.1 and the validated performance levels confirmed that the results fall within the prediction interval.

This study introduces a metamodel framework designed to optimize various design parameters for a GSC combining discrete event simulation (DES) and RSM in the form of a simulation optimization model. In contrast to the literature, the current study offers an exhaustive and in-depth analysis of the structural elements of the supply chain, particularly the inventory control parameters and vehicle capacity, which are crucial for comprehending its performance and environmental impact.

Financial ratios are often used to classify firms into different clusters of financial performance. This study aims to classify firms using financial ratios with advanced techniques and identify the transition matrix of firms moving clusters during the COVID-19 period.

This study uses compositional data (CoDa) analysis based on existing clustering methods with transformed data by weighted logarithms of financial ratios. The data include 66 listed firms in Vietnam’s food and beverage and fishery sectors over a three-year period from 2019 to 2021, including the COVID-19 period.

These firms can be classified into three clusters of distinctive characteristics, which can serve as benchmarks for solvency and profitability. The results also show the migration from one cluster to another during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for the calculation of the transition probability or the transition matrix.

The findings indicate three distinct clusters (good, average and below-average firm performance) that can help financial analysts, accountants, investors and other strategic decision-makers in making informed choices.

Clustering firms with their financial ratios often suffer from various limitations, such as ratio choices, skewed distributions, outliers and redundancy. This study is motivated by a weighted CoDa approach that addresses these issues. This method can be extended to classify firms in multiple sectors or other emerging markets.

This paper aims to explain the occurrence of sustainable entrepreneurship in the underresearched sub-Saharan Africa context and to improve the understanding of how effectuation manifests in this context.

This study uses a qualitative research approach based on multiple case studies. Responses were sourced from owners, employees, suppliers, the community and customers of sustainable entrepreneurial firms. Data collection methods included in-depth interviews, document reviews and observations. The Gioia analytical approach was used.

Overall, the authors find the concept of effectuation to be well-suited to capturing the processes through which individuals with limited means seek to engage in sustainable entrepreneurship. The authors also identify three pervasive practices that are key to understanding effectuation in the developing country context: complementation of indigenous knowledge with modern science, compassion and pluriactivity.

This study underscores the importance of co-creation, diversification of revenue sources and the role of emotional awareness and interpersonal skills in entrepreneurial endeavors.

This study, therefore, contributes new knowledge about the mechanisms through which entrepreneurs faced with resource constraints use control as opposed to prediction strategies to exploit sustainable entrepreneurship opportunities. In so doing, this study contributes to entrepreneurship theory by proposing the integration of cognitive and affective dimensions in realizing sustainable entrepreneurship goals.

The purpose of this paper is to compile a comprehensive status report on pipes/piping networks across different industrial sectors, along with specifications of materials and sizes, and showcase welding avenues. It further extends to highlight the promising friction stir welding as a single solid-state pipe welding procedure. This paper will enable all piping, welding and friction stir welding stakeholders to identify scope for their engagement in a single window.

The paper is a review paper, and it is mainly structured around sections on materials, sizes and standards for pipes in different sectors and the current welding practice for joining pipe and pipe connections; on the process and principle of friction stir welding (FSW) for pipes; identification of main welding process parameters for the FSW of pipes; effects of process parameters; and a well-carved-out concluding summary.

A well-carved-out concluding summary of extracts from thoroughly studied research is presented in a structured way in which the avenues for the engagement of FSW are identified.

The implications of the research are far-reaching. The FSW is currently expanding very fast in the welding of flat surfaces and has evolved into a vast number of variants because of its advantages and versatility. The application of FSW is coming up late but catching up fast, and as a late starter, the outcomes of such a review paper may support stake holders to expand the application of this process from pipe welding to pipe manufacturing, cladding and other high-end applications. Because the process is inherently inclined towards automation, its throughput rate is high and it does not need any consumables, the ultimate benefit can be passed on to the industry in terms of financial gains.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the only review exclusively for the friction stir welding of pipes with a well-organized piping specification detailed about industrial sectors. The current pipe welding practice in each sector has been presented, and the avenues for engaging FSW have been highlighted. The FSW pipe process parameters are characteristically distinguished from the conventional FSW, and the effects of the process parameters have been presented. The summary is concise yet comprehensive and organized in a structured manner.

The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of fuel blends containing ethanol and gasoline in spark ignition engines. The aim is to explore alternative fuels that can enhance performance while minimizing or eliminating adverse environmental impacts, particularly in the context of limited fossil fuel availability and the need for sustainable alternatives.

The authors used the Ricardo Wave software to evaluate the performance of fuel blends with varying ethanol content (represented as E0, E10, E25, E40, E55, E70, E85 and E100) in comparison to gasoline. The assessment involved different composition percentages and was conducted at various engine speeds (1,500, 3,000, 4,500 and 6,000 rpm). This methodology aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how different ethanol-gasoline blends perform under different conditions.

The study found that, across all fuel blends, the highest brake power (BP) and the highest brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) were observed at 6,000 rpm. Additionally, it was noted that the presence of ethanol in gasoline fuel blends has the potential to increase both the BP and BSFC. These findings suggest that ethanol can positively impact the performance of spark-ignition engines, highlighting its potential as an alternative fuel.

This research contributes to the ongoing efforts in the automotive industry to find sustainable alternative fuels. The use of Ricardo Wave software for performance assessment and the comprehensive exploration of various ethanol-gasoline blends at different engine speeds add to the originality of the study. The emphasis on the potential of ethanol to enhance engine performance provides valuable insights for motor vehicle manufacturers and researchers working on alternative fuel solutions.

Introduction: Cost competitiveness, customer focus, and sustainability compliance are essential for new-age firms to survive and succeed in the VUCA market environment. This study examines how automobile corporations have improved cost competitiveness, productivity, and product quality.

Purpose: This study examines the importance of cost competitiveness, customer focus, and sustainability compliance for the long-term survival of organisations in VUCA markets, looking at the practical efforts made by automobile corporations to enhance cost competitiveness, productivity, and quality.

Methodology: The study utilises a comprehensive analysis of the strategies and initiatives implemented by the selected automobile companies. It involves a review of relevant literature, case studies, financial data analysis, and interviews with key industry experts, providing a holistic understanding of the actions taken by these organisations to achieve their goals.

Findings: The study reveals that cost competitiveness, customer focus, and sustainability compliance are critical factors for the long-term survival and success of organisations in the automotive industry. The analysed automobile companies have undertaken practical efforts to improve cost competitiveness, enhance productivity, and ensure high-quality products, enabling them to navigate the challenges and maintain a competitive edge.

Significance: The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the importance of cost competitiveness, customer focus, and sustainability compliance in the automotive industry. It highlights the need for organisations to constantly monitor both qualitative and quantitative profit to avoid complacency and ensure long-term efficiency. The study’s insights are relevant to businesses operating in other sectors, as they face similar challenges in the VUCA market environment.