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The paper aims to fabricate shape memory composites using polylactic acid (PLA) matrix and graphite. Shape memory polymers are a promising family of materials for biomedical applications because of their favourable mechanical properties, fast reactions and good biocompatibility. For most SMPs, however, achieving controllable sequential shape change is challenging.

In the present work, 4D printing technology is used to fabricate shape memory composites using polylactic acid (PLA) matrix and graphite. A comparative study of pure PLA and graphite’s different weight % composition has been done.

By carefully managing the deformation state, PLA with graphite shape memory composites produced controllable sequential deformation with an amazing shape memory effect. Surface morphology, thermal properties, melt flow index and shape recovery tests have all been carried out to assess the qualities of manufactured samples.

This is a one-of-a-kind to fabricate shape memory composites using graphite and a PLA matrix. Thus, this research attempts to deliver the possible use of PLA/graphite composites fabricated using 4D printing in robotics and biomedical devices.

Talent management is conducted to maximize an organization's overall performance and efficiency which helps to serve as a competitive advantage. Human resource management is a concept which includes human-related activities, but talent management is a strategy which helps to get new talent, develop their skill sets and provide better employee engagement and experience to retain the top potential employees in an organization. Improvement in recruiting and retention of a workforce results from a well-executed talent acquisition approach. In the 21st century, employee retention has become a primary concern for the organizations specially with work from home and hybrid models.

The workforce for tomorrow is going to be very different from what it has been. Technology is transforming the way people work within organizations. The workplace is rapidly evolving in terms of people and processes and is going through a lot of technological changes. The terminologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and block chain technologies are slowly becoming part of the workplace and everyday activities of the organization.

The challenges are many and especially post-pandemic organizations are going through some major changes such as a mindset shift of employees to take up more remote working opportunities, building virtual teams, increase in the gig economy workers (contractual workers) and a diverse workforce which makes it even more challenging for the organization to manage and retain talent.

This paper systematically reviews the evolution of Internet of Things (IoT) research in business and management over the past decade and a half. It synthesizes current knowledge, identifies major themes, gaps, and future opportunities to guide scholars on potential research directions within this exponentially growing domain.

A structured systematic literature review methodology filtered IoT publications across business/management journals using Scopus database. Detailed thematic and bibliometric analyses chronologically mapped the progress of peer-reviewed articles from 2005–2023. Both quantitative metrics and qualitative coding inductively revealed historical trends, topics, applications and research implications.

Analysis uncovered six primary IoT research themes - business models, technology, data, customers, organizations, and sustainability. Dominant focuses were found on technological enablers, business model innovation and customer experience transformations. While technical aspects are well-documented, strategic technology integrations and organizational change management require greater emphasis.

Focus restricted to academic articles published in management journals risks missing relevant papers published in other fields. Screening process involved some subjectivity. Lacks geographic analysis of research contexts. The rapidly evolving nature of technology domain risks findings’ generalizability.

Key enablers and success factors that we identified may support managerial decision making when it comes to IoT adoption.

We discuss advancing IoT innovation through ethics and sustainability lenses and these may help ensure responsible adoption.

This analysis weaves together the extant literature and offers an evidence-based research agenda for management scholars by chronicling the state, evolution, influential factors, and future opportunities within IoT literature. It highlights major thematic shifts and priority gaps to address.

The key learning objectives are as follows: analyze Mamaearth’s growth trajectory in the Indian market, illustrate the meaning of a direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand, analyze the importance of social media in building a D2C brand, analyze the challenges and advantages associated with a D2C brand, analyze growth and expansion options available with Mamaearth and evaluate the strategies for Indian start-ups in the beauty and personal care space.

In 2016, what began as a quest to find safe baby care products for the first-time parents Varun and Ghazal, turned into an entrepreneurial opportunity. The couple started Honasa Consumer Private Limited at Gurugram, which owned the brand Mamaearth. Conceived as a D2C brand for mothers opposed to harsh baby care products, it debuted with just six baby care products with exclusive online availability. For the brand to grow, it recreated the marketing mix to be perceived as a brand for all ages. The step successfully garnered a customer base of over 1.5 million consumers in 500 cities and a valuation of INR 1bn within four years of operations. In February 2021, Mamaearth became a brand with INR 5bn annualized revenue run rate and aspired to double it to INR 10bn by 2023. Though Mamaearth debuted as a D2C brand, after tapping around 10,000 retail stores, the Alaghs realized that many consumers still preferred transacting in the offline space. Alaghs decided to expand by acquiring a robust offline space in 100 smart cities in India. Would it be wise for Mamaearth to take forward their offline expansion plans? Alternatively, would an aggressive product innovation coupled with a more substantial online presence be a more sustainable proposition?

The case study is appropriate for Post Graduate Diploma in Management/Master of Business Administration level courses of second year in strategic brand management, digital marketing, integrated marketing communication and marketing strategy. The case stuudy may also be useful for prospective entrepreneurs planning to embark upon a D2C venture. The case study elaborates on the emergence, marketing and branding of Mamaearth. The case study helps students understand the meaning of a D2C brand and the growth options available in the Indian market for a D2C brand from the perspective of Mamaearth.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

The case study is designed to help students understand how the “growth at all costs” attitude can lead to compromised corporate governance in a start-up leading to disastrous implications for all the stakeholders. This case study aims to make students understand the components of the fraud triangle, the impact of financial fraud on various stakeholders, the role of venture capitalist (VC) investors and the importance of good corporate governance in start-ups. The case study presents an excellent opportunity for students to discuss the consequences of ignoring good governance in the pursuit of growth in a start-up. After analyzing the case study, the students shall be able to explain the concept of the fraud triangle and to be able to identify the motivation, opportunity and rationalization of financial irregularities in a start-up; analyze the impact of financial irregularities on various stakeholders; comprehend the business model of VCs and evaluate its influence on VC-funded start-ups; and appraise the importance of good corporate governance in start-ups.

The case study revolves around the confession of financial irregularities made by one of the cofounders of GoMechanic, a start-up headquartered in Gurugram, India. On January 18, 2023, Amit Bhasin confessed to financial irregularities in the company’s financial statements, leading to laying off 70% of the workforce of the company. GoMechanic had earlier raised close to US$62m [1] from maverick global investors including Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global, Orios Venture Partners and Chiratae Ventures, and was negotiating to raise Series D financing from the Japanese multinational SoftBank with aspirations to be a unicorn (start-up with a valuation of over $1bn). The confession led to a debate about the consequences of the “growth at all cost” culture being followed by start-ups as well as VCs. GoMechanic was not an isolated instance of a lack of governance in the start-ups. The confession had consequences not only for the GoMechanic but for the entire start-up ecosystem of India, which was the third largest in the world. Bhasin stated that the founders take full responsibility for the situation, and they were working on a plan which was most viable under the circumstances. However, it was not going to be easy to regain the confidence of the investors.

The case study is best suited for senior undergraduate- and graduate-level business school students and in executive education programs in courses such as corporate governance and ethics, private equity and entrepreneurial finance.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 1: Accounting and finance

Food loss and wastage is an issue of global concern and the household sector is one of the biggest contributors to this. Solar drying has been explored by many eminent researchers as a solution to this problem but there have been concerns about the lack in designs, higher cost, lower performance, and consumer acceptability. The present research aims to design a small-scale domestic solar dryer by using computer software.

Response surface methodology (RSM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are used to design the domestic solar dryer. Initially, design variables (inlet and outlet vent height) are identified and a design of experiments has been created using RSM for set of experimental runs. The experimental runs suggested by RSM were carried out using CFD simulation in COMSOL Multiphysics software and the results were used for optimization of response variables (outlet velocity and drying chamber temperature) in RSM.

Outlet vent height was found to be most significantly affecting parameter to both the responses. The optimum values of inlet and outlet vent heights were 0.5 and 2.5 cm, respectively with the overall desirability of 0.728. The model accuracy was tested by conducting a confirmation test as post processing in design expert software.

Designing a solar dryer is a complex, costly and time consuming process, this study presents an easy, economic and fast method to design a new solar dryer. It would help researchers to design and develop new domestic as well as large size industrial solar dryer.

This study aims to improve the mechanical properties of an object produced by fused deposition modelling with high-grade polymer.

The study uses an ensembled surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithm (SAEA) to optimize the process parameters for example, layer height, print speed, print direction and nozzle temperature for enhancing the mechanical properties of temperature-sensitive high-grade polymer poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) in fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing while considering print time as one of the important parameter. These models are integrated with an evolutionary algorithm to efficiently explore parameter space. The optimized parameters from the SAEA approach are compared with those obtained using the Gray Relational Analysis (GRA) Taguchi method serving as a benchmark. Later, the study also highlights the significant role of print direction in optimizing the mechanical properties of FDM 3D printed PEEK.

With the use of ensemble learning-based SAEA, one can successfully maximize the ultimate stress and percentage elongation with minimum print time. SAEA-based solution has 28.86% higher ultimate stress, 66.95% lower percentage of elongation and 7.14% lower print time in comparison to the benchmark result (GRA Taguchi method). Also, the results from the experimental investigation indicate that the print direction has a greater role in deciding the optimum value of mechanical properties for FDM 3D printed high-grade thermoplastic PEEK polymer.

This study is valid for the parameter ranges, which are defined to conduct the experimentation.

This study has been conducted on the basis of taking only a few important process parameters as per the literatures and available scope of the study; however, there are many other parameters, e.g. wall thickness, road width, print orientation, fill pattern, roller speed, retraction, etc. which can be included to make a more comprehensive investigation and accuracy of the results for practical implementation.

This study deploys a novel meta-model-based optimization approach for enhancing the mechanical properties of high-grade thermoplastic polymers, which is rarely available in the published literature in the research domain.