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1 – 10 of over 37000Deepak Chawla and Himanshu Joshi
The purpose of this paper is to study Knowledge Management (KM) implementation in Indian manufacturing, IT and IT Enabled Services (ITES) and power generation and distribution…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study Knowledge Management (KM) implementation in Indian manufacturing, IT and IT Enabled Services (ITES) and power generation and distribution companies. Various dimensions of KM, namely: process, leadership, culture, technology, and measurement are compared across the three industries to understand the differences in KM practices.
Design/methodology/approach
Samples comprised 17 responses from ITES, 32 from manufacturing and eight from power generation and distribution organizations. Convenient sampling scheme was used. The paper reports the findings of the difference in KM practices with respect to the organizations' use of the above mentioned dimensions across the three industries.
Findings
The raw mean score of various dimensions for ITES is the highest followed by manufacturing, and power generation and distribution on all except the leadership dimension. However, one way ANOVA results indicate that no significant difference is found for KM process, culture and technology. Statistical difference is found on the remaining two dimensions, namely, leadership and measurement, which are further analysed.
Research limitations/implications
The study includes 17 responses from ITES and eight from power generation and distribution. A larger sample from these two industries may enhance generalizability of results.
Practical implications
Findings of the study can serve as input to companies from the three industries in developing best practices across KM dimensions for improving performance.
Originality/value
While KM has been studied in Indian manufacturing, pharmaceutical and IT industries, its comparison across industries has not been carried out.
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Oluwadamilola Esan, Nnamdi I. Nwulu, Love Opeyemi David and Omoseni Adepoju
This study aims to investigate the impact of the 2013 privatization of Nigeria’s energy sector on the technical performance of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of the 2013 privatization of Nigeria’s energy sector on the technical performance of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and its workforce.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a questionnaire-based approach, and 196 participants were randomly selected. Analytical tools included standard deviation, Spearman rank correlation and regression analysis.
Findings
Before privatization, the energy sector, managed by the power holding company of Nigeria, suffered from inefficiencies in fault detection, response and billing. However, privatization improved resource utilization, replaced outdated transformers and increased operational efficiency. However, in spite of these improvements, BEDC faces challenges, including unstable voltage generation and inadequate staff welfare. This study also highlighted a lack of experience among the trained workforce in emerging electricity technologies such as the smart grid.
Research limitations/implications
This study’s focus on BEDC may limit its generalizability to other energy companies. It does not delve into energy sector privatization’s broader economic and policy implications.
Practical implications
The positive outcomes of privatization, such as improved resource utilization and infrastructure investment, emphasize the potential benefits of private ownership and management. However, voltage generation stability and staff welfare challenges call for targeted interventions. Recommendations include investing in voltage generation enhancement, smart grid infrastructure and implementing measures to enhance employee well-being through benefit plans.
Social implications
Energy sector enhancements hold positive social implications, uplifting living standards and bolstering electricity access for households and businesses.
Originality/value
This study contributes unique insights into privatization’s effects on BEDC, offering perspectives on preprivatization challenges and advancements. Practical recommendations aid BEDC and policymakers in boosting electricity distribution firms’ performance within the privatization context.
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Debadyuti Das, Virander Kumar, Amit Kumar Bardhan and Rahul Kumar
The study aims to find out an appropriate volume of power to be procured through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), the volume to be sourced from the power exchange…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to find out an appropriate volume of power to be procured through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), the volume to be sourced from the power exchange through day-ahead and term-ahead options and also a suitable volume to be sold at different points of time within a day, which would finally lead to the optimum cost of power procurement.
Design/methodology/approach
The study has considered a Delhi-based power distribution utility and has collected all relevant data from its archival sources. A stochastic optimization model has been developed to capture the problem of power procurement faced by the distribution utility, which is modelled as a mixed integer linear programming problem. Sensitivity analyses were carried out on the important parameters including hourly demand of power, unit variable cost of power available through PPAs, maximum back-down percentage allowed under PPAs, etc., to investigate their impact on daily cost of power under PPAs, daily cost of power under day-ahead and term-ahead options, daily sales revenue and also the net total daily cost of power procurement.
Findings
The findings include the appropriate volume of power procured from different suppliers through PPAs and from the power exchange under day-ahead and term-ahead options and also the surplus volume of power sold under the day-ahead arrangement. It has also computed the total cost of power purchased under PPAs, the cost of power purchased from the power exchange under day-ahead and term-ahead options and also the revenue generated out of the sale of surplus power under the day-ahead arrangement. In addition, it has also presented the results of sensitivity analyses, which provide rich managerial insights.
Originality/value
The paper makes two significant contributions to the existing body of power procurement literature. First, the stochastic mixed-integer linear programming model helps decision makers in determining the right volume of power to be purchased from different sources. Second, based on the findings of the procurement model, a power procurement framework is developed considering the dimensions of uncertainty in power supply and the cost of power procurement. This power procurement framework would aid managers in making procurement decisions under different scenarios.
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Deepak Chawla and Himanshu Joshi
This paper aims to report the preliminary findings of the difference in learning organization (LO) practices across industries. It also reports the impact of knowledge management…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to report the preliminary findings of the difference in learning organization (LO) practices across industries. It also reports the impact of knowledge management (KM) dimensions on LO and whether this impact is different across manufacturing, IT and IT‐enabled services (ITES) and power generation and distribution in India.
Design/methodology/approach
In this exploratory study, a convenience sample of 51 respondents from Indian manufacturing, IT/ITES and power generation and distribution industries are taken. Based on the literature, a number of hypotheses are formulated and tested to illustrate whether KM and LO practices vary across industry groups.
Findings
An inference to the research questions suggests that IT and ITES industry score highest on most of the LO dimensions. Testing of hypothesis reveals that most of the KM dimensions have a positive impact on LO. Type of industry did not have any statistical differential impact on the dimensions of LO in most cases.
Research limitations/implications
The study includes 15 responses from ITES and eight from power generation and distribution. A larger sample from these two industries would have been desirable.
Practical implications
Findings of the study can serve as input to organizations to integrate the two disciplines by developing KM best practices to create a LO for improving performance.
Originality/value
While KM has been studied in the Indian manufacturing, pharmaceutical and IT industries, its comparison across industries has not been carried out.
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Sudhir Kumar Singh, Vijay Kumar Bajpai and T.K. Garg
This paper aims to study the changes in productivity for 25 state‐owned coal‐fired power plants (CFPPs) over a period of seven years (2003‐2010).
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the changes in productivity for 25 state‐owned coal‐fired power plants (CFPPs) over a period of seven years (2003‐2010).
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology that is utilized in the study follows a non‐parametric approach of data envelopment analysis (DEA) and uses the Malmquist index to estimate the change in productivity of panel samples. In the calculations, the study considers installed capacity, fuel, labour, electricity used, and average operational time as inputs and considers net electricity produced as output.
Findings
The results indicate that the average total factor productivity regressed during the investigation period at an annual rate of 2 percent. The decrease in productivity is equally attributed to the technical efficiency change and technological change components, with an average decline in productivity of 1 percent per year. A plant‐wise analysis demonstrates that the Parichha plant recorded an average increase in productivity of 3.9 percent per year that was mainly driven by the technical efficiency change component (4.2 percent).There is little variation in the productivity of small‐size plants when compared with medium and large‐size plants. The productivity of multivaried plants is comparatively lower than BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) make plants.
Originality/value
The impact of size, make and region on change in productivity is examined. This study recommends specific policies that can be implemented to increase the productivity of power plants. The study also provides a contemporary overview of Indian CFPPs that can aid energy planners and plant operators in the monitoring and detection of changes in productivity.
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Sujoy Sen, Sanjeev Kadam and Reshma Nair
This paper aims to study the motives that led to conflict between two groups – Employees of state-owned power distribution companies and the Government – over permitting parallel…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the motives that led to conflict between two groups – Employees of state-owned power distribution companies and the Government – over permitting parallel licensing to a private company for power distribution services in selected areas of the Maharashtra state in India. The study also seeks to comprehend the reconciliation process and the role of leadership in thwarting the strike that could have impacted common citizens.
Design/methodology/approach
The research is built on a case-based approach to analyze the pre- and poststrike environment along with the impact of the power shortage during the few hours of the strike. A semi-structured interview method wherein government and employee union representatives were interviewed to understand their version of the incident is used. Related literature, reports and news were reviewed to realize the impacts and consequences of similar situations in the past.
Findings
The strike was called off within a few hours with the intervention of state government to resolve the issue, promising the union the government’s intention not to privatize but to invest INR 500bn in the three government companies. The parallel licensing may impact government-owned power distribution companies as well as customers in the future.
Practical implications
It will pave the way for lessons related to such incidence where the Government and the Unions are at loggerheads over issues like privatization or ownership of the company and help the involved and other parties to seek a viable solution. The role of resilient leadership demonstrated by both parties led to a win-win solution within a few hours of the strike.
Originality/value
The paper is a case study on an issue that is very contemporary; the role of leadership and its swiftness in decision-making that led to a solution to a very complex situation is something that was not done earlier in the context of the State vs Union issue.
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Shabana Naveed and Aisha Azhar
With governance networks as the critical emerging feature of public administration, this article examines the structure, governance and challenges of networks in the public…
Abstract
Purpose
With governance networks as the critical emerging feature of public administration, this article examines the structure, governance and challenges of networks in the public sector. Using complexity theory, this article explains that control-based relations do not hold much relevance to govern the complex systems of networks.
Design/methodology/approach
Case study research design is employed taking the power network in Pakistan as the unit of analysis. Data were collected through eleven semi-structured interviews, companies' websites, government policy reports and other companies' reports. The structure of the power network was examined through the technique of social network analysis using UCINET. Thematic analysis of interviews was conducted with the help of NVivo 13 to identify the mode of governance and challenges.
Findings
The study found that five central public sector actors have a high degree centrality and betweenness centrality. Thematic analysis further revealed that these actors are controlling most of the decisions in the network in a hierarchical mode of governance. Other actors face multiple challenges including lack of autonomy, overlapping authorities, conflicting rules and complex decision processes.
Research limitations/implications
The findings imply that instead of top-down and control-based relations, networks require self-governance mechanisms where actors independently participate and interact with other actors to generate common solutions to problems.
Practical implications
The authorities should use network management strategies, participatory approaches and consensus-building methods to reach decisions.
Originality/value
The study explores the network structure and network governance challenges in the context of a developing country that is barely addressed in the public management literature.
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Sobhesh Kumar Agarwalla and Ajay Pandey
This case describes the growth of ReNew Power during its first decade of operation. Sumant Sinha, a first-generation entrepreneur and former banker, founded the company, which…
Abstract
This case describes the growth of ReNew Power during its first decade of operation. Sumant Sinha, a first-generation entrepreneur and former banker, founded the company, which grew from a modest generator-cum-developer of wind energy-based electricity to one of India's largest companies in the renewable energy sector. With the entry of large, well-funded players such as Tata Power and Adani Green into the Indian renewable sector by the end of 2020, Sinha had to make a strategic decision: should ReNew continue to organically scale up its presence in an increasingly competitive yet expanding Indian renewable energy sector, should it diversify geographically, or should it pursue emerging opportunities for vertical or horizontal integration within the sector? The case provides an opportunity to discuss how alternative business models and competitive scenarios may facilitate or inhibit the growth of a player in the renewable energy sector.
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Looks at the 2000 Employment Research Unit Annual Conference held at the University of Cardiff in Wales on 6/7 September 2000. Spotlights the 76 or so presentations within and…
Abstract
Looks at the 2000 Employment Research Unit Annual Conference held at the University of Cardiff in Wales on 6/7 September 2000. Spotlights the 76 or so presentations within and shows that these are in many, differing, areas across management research from: retail finance; precarious jobs and decisions; methodological lessons from feminism; call centre experience and disability discrimination. These and all points east and west are covered and laid out in a simple, abstract style, including, where applicable, references, endnotes and bibliography in an easy‐to‐follow manner. Summarizes each paper and also gives conclusions where needed, in a comfortable modern format.
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