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Over the past 25 years as a marketing academic, I have been fortunate to have collaborated with various researchers and firms and have contributed to the advancement of the marketing field. This is a review article that tracks my progress through these years that has led me to explore different areas of marketing, thereby shaping me as a researcher and an academic. As I see now, all of my research work can be viewed from a decision-making point of view – decisions that marketers can make either at the market, brand/firm/store, or the customer level. These decisions have in turn been transformed into strategies or tactics leading up to successful implementations and improved bottom-line results. The development of strategies/tactics and successful implementations can be seen in nearly 10 areas of research that I have involved myself in. This article also highlights how my research studies have contributed and advanced the creation of knowledge in each of these research areas.

The purpose of this paper is to model the boundary layer flow and heat transfer of dusty fluid with suspended nanoparticles over a stretching surface. The effect of multiple slip and nonlinear thermal radiation is taken into the account. Adequate similarity transformations are used to obtain a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations to govern formulated problem. The resultant non-dimensionalized boundary value problem is solved numerically using the RKF-45 method. The profiles for velocity and temperature, which are controlled by thermophysical parameters, are presented graphically. Based on these plots, the conclusion is given and the obtained numerical results are tabulated. Observed interesting fact is that the SiO₂-water nanoparticles show a thicker thermal boundary layer than TiO₂-water nanoparticles.

The governing partial differential equations are approximated to a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations by using suitable similarity transformations. An effective fourth–fifth-order Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg integration scheme numerically solves these equations along with a shooting technique. The effects of various pertinent parameters on the flow and heat transfer are examined.

Present results have an excellent agreement with previous published results in the limiting cases. The values of skin friction and wall temperature for different governing parameters are also tabulated. It is demonstrated that the SiO₂-water nanoparticles show a thicker thermal boundary layer than TiO₂-water nanoparticles. It is interesting to note that the dusty nanofluids are found to have higher thermal conductivity.

This paper is a new work related to comparative study of TiO₂ and SiO₂ nanoparticles in heat transfer of dusty fluid flow.

The learning outcomes of this study are to gain an understanding of the banking regulations and their impact on banking performance, to understand the intermediation role of banks by channelizing depositors’ savings and providing loans to borrowers, to explain an impact of a recent regulatory change in the Indian banking that directly impacts their financial performance, to critically evaluate the different financial ratios to analyze the performance of a bank and to build a DuPont analysis framework for banks.

The case serves as a primer on banking regulations in India and provides insights into banking performance. Banking regulations play an important role in maintaining financial stability, specifically in emerging economies like India. The protagonist of the case is Salil Kumar who presented his internship project to the review committee of Stock Investment Company on April 16, 2021. However, he had to rework and present his final project within seven days on the basis of the feedback received from the committee. Kumar faced the dilemma of bringing together a comparative study across two banks, namely, Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI Bank) and State Bank of India (SBI) and building a DuPont framework covering the different aspects of banking performance. The case exemplifies the intricate regulatory landscape in India within which banks operate and highlights the recent alterations introduced by the Reserve Bank of India. For instance, the framework for dealing with domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs) was introduced in 2014 and subsequently adopted in August 2015. The D-SIB framework provides inherent guarantee to large banks such as ICICI Bank and SBI. This ensures government backup in the event of any failure, thereby securing financial stability. The case study is suitable for banking and financial accounting courses taught in postgraduate management programs. Once the case is studied, the students are expected to understand the basics of banking, regulations, impact of regulations on banking performance and financial measures.

The case provides valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of the banking industry, offering a critical perspective for analysis. A well-structured teaching note would serve as a valuable tool for instructors, allowing them to facilitate engaging classroom discussions and effectively guide students toward achieving the desired teaching objectives.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.

This paper aims to measure peak temperatures and cooling rates for distinct locations of thermocouples in the butt weld joint of mild steel plates. For experimental measurement of peak temperatures, K-type thermocouples coupled with a data acquisition system were used at predetermined locations. Thereafter, Rosenthal’s analytical models for thin two-dimensional (2D) and thick three-dimensional (3D) plates were adopted to predict peak temperatures for different thermocouple positions. A finite element model (FEM) based on an advanced prescribed temperature approach was adopted to predict time-temperature history for predetermined locations of thermocouples.

Comparing experimental and Rosenthal analytical models (2D and 3D) findings show that predicted and measured peak temperatures are in close agreement, while cooling rates predicted by analytical models (2D, 3D) show significant variation from measured values. On the other hand, 3D FEM simulation predicted peak temperatures and cooling rates for different thermocouple positions are close to experimental findings.

The inclusion of filler metal during simulation of welding rightly replicates the real welding situation and improves outcomes of the analysis.

The present study is an original contribution to the field of welding technology.

The purpose of this paper is to scrutinize the heat and mass transfer attributes of three-dimensional bio convective flow of nanofluid across a slendering surface with slip effects. The analysis is carried out subject to irregular heat sink/source, thermophoresis and Brownian motion of nanoparticles.

At first, proper transmutations are pondered to metamorphose the basic flow equations as ODEs. The solution of these ODEs is procured by the consecutive application of Shooting and Runge-Kutta fourth order numerical procedures.

The usual flow fields along with density of motile microorganisms for sundry physical parameters are divulged via plots and scrutinized. Further, the authors analyzed the impact of same parameters on skin friction, heat and mass transfer coefficients and presented in tables. It is discovered that the variable heat sink/source parameters play a decisive role in nature of the heat and mass transfer rates. The density of motile microorganisms will improve if we add Al-Cu alloy particles in regular fluids instead of Al particles solely. A change in thermophoresis and Brownian motion parameters dominates heat and mass transfer performance.

To the best of the knowledge, no author made an attempt to investigate the flow of nanofluids over a variable thickness surface with bio-convection, Brownian motion and slip effects.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the flow of Cu-water and Ag-water nanofluids past a vertical Riga plate. The plate is infinite in height and has zero normal wall flux through its surface. Influence of thermal radiation, slip, suction and chemical reaction on the flow characteristics are reported.

Non-dimensional forms of the flow governing equations are obtained by means of a set of similarity transformations. Numerical solution is obtained with the help of fourth-fifth-order Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method with shooting procedure. Comparison of solution profiles of Cu-water and Ag-water nanofluids are presented graphically and with the help of tables. Influence of pertinent parameters on skin friction and heat transfer rate is also reported.

Results reveal that the skin friction coefficient is more prominent in the case of Ag-water nanofluid for an increase in thermal radiation and volume fraction. The role of suction and slip is to increase velocity but decrease the temperature in both nanofluids. Temperature and velocity of both nanofluids increase as volume fraction and thermal radiation values are augmented. Heat transport increases with thermal radiation. Region near the plate experiences rise in nanoparticle concentration with an increase in chemical reaction parameter.

A complete investigation of the modeled problem is addressed and the results of this paper are original.

Though academic study on the subject is still in its early stages, there is growing interest in using blockchain technology for transforming the supply chain. The academic literature is divided and yet only includes studies evaluating how the supply chain has changed organizations. To comprehend the new phenomena, this study aims to investigate the factors of blockchain technology in driving supply chain transformation. To be more precise, the authors developed from the literature the most prevalent criteria for determining if supply chain transformations are ready to be scaled up.

This study followed a combination of two multi-criteria decision making methods evaluation based on distance from average solution and complex proportional assessment) methodology in this research: planning, investigating, executing out, establishing a rating of the criteria and evaluating it.

The study shows that the “organizational driver” and the “technology driver” are the factors most important to the transformation of the supply chain, whereas the “financial driver” and the “regulatory driver” are less important. This study also makes some managerial recommendations to address the factors impeding the supply chain’s transformation. Each factor’s significance was explored, and a proposed study agenda was also presented.

Although the main forces behind the transformation of the supply chain have been recognized, further research into statistical correlation is required to confirm how the various elements interact.

This research aids decision-makers in comprehending the key forces behind supply chain transformation. Managers and decision-makers might better predict and allocate the necessary resources to start the road toward digitization and make well-informed choices once these aspects have been investigated and understood.

In light of the pandemic’s effects on the world and the increase in businesses embracing the digital economy, the supply chain transformation is more important than ever. Beyond blockchain deployment and the pilot studies on digital transformation, there is a gap. The topics and factors this study uncovered will operate as a framework and recommendations for more theoretical investigation and practical applications.

The increasing accumulation of synthetic plastic waste in oceans and landfills, along with the depletion of non-renewable fossil-based resources, has sparked environmental concerns and prompted the search for environmentally friendly alternatives. Biodegradable plastics derived from lignocellulosic materials are emerging as substitutes for synthetic plastics, offering significant potential to reduce landfill stress and minimise environmental impacts. This study highlights a sustainable and cost-effective solution by utilising agricultural residues and invasive plant materials as carbon substrates for the production of biopolymers, particularly polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), through microbiological processes. Locally sourced residual materials were preferred to reduce transportation costs and ensure accessibility. The selection of suitable residue streams was based on various criteria, including strength properties, cellulose content, low ash and lignin content, affordability, non-toxicity, biocompatibility, shelf-life, mechanical and physical properties, short maturation period, antibacterial properties and compatibility with global food security. Life cycle assessments confirm that PHB dramatically lowers CO₂ emissions compared to traditional plastics, while the growing use of lignocellulosic biomass in biopolymeric applications offers renewable and readily available resources. Governments worldwide are increasingly inclined to develop comprehensive bioeconomy policies and specialised bioplastics initiatives, driven by customer acceptability and the rising demand for environmentally friendly solutions. The implications of climate change, price volatility in fossil materials, and the imperative to reduce dependence on fossil resources further contribute to the desirability of biopolymers. The study involves fermentation, turbidity measurements, extraction and purification of PHB, and the manufacturing and testing of composite biopolymers using various physical, mechanical and chemical tests.