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This paper aims to estimate the relationship between defect structure with gas concentration for use as a gas sensor. The change in defect concentration caused a shift in the Fermi level, which in turn changed the surface potential, which is manifested as the potentiometric response of the sensing element.

A new theoretical concept based on defect chemistry and band structure was used to explain the experimental gas response of a sensor. The theoretically simulated response was compared with experimental results.

Understanding the origin of potentiometric response, through the generation of defects and a corresponding shift in Fermi level of sensing surface, by the adsorption of gas. Through this understanding, the design of a sensor with improved selectivity and stability to a gas can be achieved by the study of defect structure and subsequent band analysis.

This paper provides information about various types of surface defects and numerical simulation of material with defect structure. The Fermi energy of the simulated value is correlated with the potentiometric sensor response.

Gas sensors are an integral part of vehicular and industrial pollution control. The theory developed shows the origin of response which can help in identifying the best sensing material and its optimum temperature of operation.

Low-cost, reliable and highly sensitive gas sensors are highly demanded which is fulfilled by potentiometric sensors.

The operating principle of potentiometric sensors is analyzed through electron band structure analysis. With the change in measured gas concentration, the oxygen partial pressure changes. This results in a change in defect concentration in the sensing surface. Band structure analysis shows that change in defect concentration is associated with a shift in Fermi level. This is the origin of the potentiometric response.

To understand social entrepreneurship and a social entrepreneur; to identify a social problem and develop a business idea; to understand the theory of entrepreneurial opportunity recognition; and to understand microfinance and its impact in the lives of the poor.

The case traces the journey of its founder Chandra Shekhar Ghosh from being a small time entrepreneur in microfinance to being the owner of a universal bank named Bandhan. Bandhan bank started its operations on August 23, 2015 with 501 branches, 2022 service center and 50 ATMs across 24 states. It had 14.3 million accounts, around 105 billion loan book and 19,500 employees. The founder of Bandhan bank, Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, an Ashoka fellow had won numerous awards such as Entrepreneur with Social Impact Award by Forbes (2014), Entrepreneur of the Year by Economic Times (2014), Skoch Financial Inclusion Award (2011), Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2014) by AIMA to name a few. In 2014, Bandhan was also recognized as Global Growth Company by World Economic Forum.

The case is suitable for analysis in a MBA level course on social entrepreneurship.

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CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

This paper aims to examine the relationship between sustainability reporting by companies and selected corporate specific attributes. It also highlights that the scope of sustainability reporting differs from company to company and industry to industry.

Methodology is based on content analysis of 158 Indian companies selected from BSE 200. It uses multiple regression analysis to identify significant corporate attributes.

The analysis in this study reveals that companies with large size, older age, having multinational operations and belonging to Software, IT and ITES and Oil and Gas industry have significant sustainability disclosure. However, company’s profits, leverage, growth and advertising intensity are negatively related with the extent of sustainability disclosure. Other variables are found to be insignificant.

As content analysis technique has been used for gathering sustainability information, subjective judgment involved in identifying and classifying the nature of reported sustainability information cannot be ruled out.

This study adds to the growing literature on international sustainability disclosure practices and their determinants. Hence, it has its implications for a number of interested groups as investors, accounting bodies, regulatory authorities, companies, government, stock exchanges, general public, academicians and researchers.

As an emerging trend, there are few empirical studies exploring the determinants of sustainability reporting. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper covers the impact of large number of corporate attributes in wholesome.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of investment in Intangible Assets on the corporate performance of Indian companies for a period of twelve years from 2001 to 2012.

Intangible assets have been measured using the “Intangible Assets Monitor” method developed by Sveiby (1997).

The results of panel data regression model reveal that Intangible Assets affect performance of companies positively after controlling for firm size, age, leverage, physical capital intensity, market share, risk, industries and dummy year.

The study is of immense importance to corporate managers in improving managerial insight into the significance of investment in Intangible Assets. The results direct Indian managers to understand and realize the importance of Intangible Assets and keenly invest in research and development, technology, software, advertising, customer relationship management and human resources to further augment their performance.

Specifically considering India, the research related to the association between Intangible Assets and performance is undersized. Thus, the present study would contribute to the existing literature comprehensively.

Ports have played an important role in the history of Indian trade as they had always been the poles of international trade and commerce since colonial times. They had also acted as a catalyst for the economic development of the nations from historic times till now. Despite the tremendous growth of various other major modes of transport systems such as railways, roadways in case of land routes for internal trade and airways for external trade, ports still continue to coexist with them mainly in sea-borne exchange of goods both in internal as well as in external trade of India. This chapter studies the impact of globalization on economic development of India through the maritime trade growth at Major ports, being the sustainable transport mode, during the period (1980–2020). Using econometric and statistical tools it observes that Major ports have played a significant role in growth of sustainable transport and trade development within India, since the colonial times till date. Not only that, positive impact of globalization, (in terms of growth of trade globalization index) also have resulted both in increased volume of total and overseas trade performance in overall growth of international trade at Major ports of India, thus, reflecting higher economic development.

This study aims to develop and validate a scale to measure stakeholders' perception of mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the hotel industry in India.

CSR items were generated based on a qualitative approach. The underlying factorial structure of the scale is determined using exploratory factor analysis. The measurement model is verified through confirmatory factor analysis with validity checks. Additionally, the nomological and predictive validity of the proposed scale is confirmed through correlation and regression analysis.

This study proposed a three-dimensional 17-item scale comprising the environment, social and cultural domains to measure stakeholders' perception of mandatory CSR in the Indian hotel industry.

This study adds to the literature by providing a comprehensive approach incorporating CSR activities specified by law on CSR measurement. Validated CSR scales are recommended for future studies to measure CSR in India. This study may also serve as a blueprint for other countries to develop context-specific CSR measurement approaches.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first scale development study on mandatory CSR in India. The inclusion of CSR activities prescribed by law on the standardized CSR scale development is a novel outlook.

This study aims to examine the pattern of corporate social responsibility expenditure (CSRE) incurred by Indian companies after the inception of Companies Act 2013. It also highlights the resultant change brought in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) spends of the companies because of COVID-19 pandemic.

The CSR index provided by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs under Companies (CSR Policy) Rules 2014, is adopted to measure the extent of CSRE made by top 30 Indian companies listed on Bombay Stock Exchange. To study the pattern of CSRE in various domains mentioned in the CSR index, the study is conducted over four points of time. Three alternative years since the commencement of the Companies Act 2013 i.e. 2014–2015, 2016–2017 and 2018–2019 have been taken up. Additionally, the financial year 2019–2020 is included as it marks the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The findings show that the CSRE made by companies is increasing every year over all points of time taken in the study. In addition to this, Indian companies have voluntarily contributed a substantial amount towards COVID-19 relief over and above the required mandatory limits.

The gradual increase in CSR contributions even above the mandated amount and voluntary contribution towards COVID-19 relief by Indian companies implies that the nature of CSR in India is still philanthropic.

The study contributes to the CSR literature after the implementation of the mandatory CSR provisions in India and in the wake of the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 as so far there is no such study available in the extant literature.

The chapter focuses on the roles of different socio-economic indicators in explaining the convergence or inclusiveness of income across different income groups in the world. Econometric, statistical and mathematical tools have been used as methodology. As major results, overall greater role of socioeconomic factors of social sustainability (SS) than economic sustainability (ES), have been found. This have caused greater income inequality among these various income groups of the world, with income diverging among various groups of countries, mainly, within Principal Country Groups II, together with slight sign of income convergence among the rest Principal Country Groups I and III respectively. However, greater predominance of inclusiveness aspect of socio-economic factors of ES, is also found among the Groups I and III respectively, together with their significant roles in raising CHI. This may have led to the possibility of slight income convergence within these groups.

The study aims to explore the effectiveness of performance-oriented practices like high-performance work practices (HPWPs) in higher education (HE), given its explicit focus on performance these days.

The study uses hierarchical linear modeling using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS 22.0) to test the hypotheses. An intertwined framework of the ability–motivation–opportunity (AMO) model and the job demand-resources (JD-R) model was proposed. The study considered strategic hiring, recognition and participatory decision-making as ability, motivation and opportunity-enhancing practices respectively. Further, the study addressed the impact of institutional level moderators, like administrative workload (AWL) and support staff (SS).

The findings based on the responses of 385 faculties and 443 students from 36 Indian institutes, indicated that HPWPs enhanced the education performance (EP) of HE institutes. Further, results revealed that both AWL and SS had differential effects on the relationship between HPWPs and EP. Contrary to authors’ expectations, SS showed a negative effect of the relationship between HPWPs and EP.

The increased AWL was debilitating the beneficial effects HPWPs. The negative interaction effect of SS sheds light on the hidden issues surrounding SS in HE institutes. Based on findings, the study offered important theoretical and practical implications.

To the best of authors’ knowledge, the impact of innovative human resource (HR) practices in academia remains relatively under-researched, and the current study is an attempt to fill this void.