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This paper aims to analyze farm-level technical inefficiency of rice farming in Assam, India, using a multiple-output generalized stochastic frontier framework.

Primary data for this study were collected in 2009-2010 from 310 farm-households in four non-contiguous districts of Dhubri, Morigaon, Dibrugarh and Cachar that are located in different agro-climatic regions of Assam. Based on a Cobb–Douglas production function for multiple rice varieties, the paper simultaneously estimates the generalized stochastic production frontier and examines effects of exogenous factors on farm-level technical inefficiency.

Results of this study show that the average technical inefficiency of farms is 8.5 per cent in the sample. Further, inefficiency is lower in the frequently flood prone areas, and availability of government support helps reduce such inefficiency as well. However, technical efficiency is higher for the Muslim farm-households, and it decreases with greater land fragmentation. The study also finds that the use of primitive technology like bullock reduces technical efficiency of rice farming.

This paper is based on a novel data set that has specially been collected to examine productivity and efficiency of rice cultivation in the flood plains of Assam that has not been studied before. Further, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first one to model rice production as a multiple-output stochastic production frontier and analyze technical efficiency of rice production accordingly.

This paper aims to explore the importance of three information technology (IT) capabilities, namely, outside-in, spanning and inside-out in the development of tourism supply chain (TSC) agility and resilience. Furthermore, the study also explored the moderating role of technology orientation (TO) on the proposed linkages.

The study adopted a multi-unit study of TSC. Consequently, perceptual data were gathered from two prominent entities in a typical TSC, namely, hotel managers and travel and tour operators. The responses were gathered using an email survey and were analysed using partial least squares in SmartPLS 2.0.M3.

Based on 221 completed responses, our study showed outside-in IT capability as an essential enabler for tourism agility and resilience. While spanning IT capability did not have any significant influence on tourism agility; it is a prominent enabler for tourism resilience. Inside-out IT capability did not have any significant influence on tourism resilience; however, it is a prominent enabler of tourism agility. Furthermore, TO was found as a positive moderator in outside-in IT capability? tourism agility; outside-in IT capability? tourism resilience linkages. Furthermore, it also acted as a positive moderator in spanning IT capability? tourism resilience linkage and inside-out IT capability? tourism agility linkage.

The study is the foremost to explore the importance of IT capabilities in the development of dynamic capabilities of agility and resilience in tourism. Furthermore, the study also is the foremost to explore the contingent role of TO in enhancing the influence of IT capabilities in tourism agility and resilience.

本论文探索三大IT能力通过引进来、跨境、和走出去等方式, 在旅游供应链变化和弹性方面的重要性。此外, 本论文还探索了在其关系中科技导向的调解作用。

本论文采样了旅游供应链的多单元数据。因此, 两大旅游供应链团体的数据被采集：酒店经理和旅游和旅行团。采样方式采取邮件问卷的方式, 数据采用 M3 软件使用偏最小方程来计算SmartPLS 2.0

完整样本量为221份。 本论文结果表明, 引进来IT能力是旅游变化和弹性的有效作用者。然而, 跨境IT能力并没有对旅游变化有显著效果；其对旅游弹性却有着显著作用。走出去IT能力对于旅游弹性没有显著效果；然而, 其对旅游变化有着显著效果。此外, 科技导向在引进来IT→旅游变化；引进来IT能力→旅游弹性等关系中起到有效调解作用。还有, 科技导向对于跨境IT能力→旅游弹性以及走出去IT能力→旅游变化的关系中起到积极调解作用。

本论文是首篇探索IT能力在旅游多样变化和弹性发展中的作用的文章。此外, 本论文还是首篇探索科技导向在加强IT能力对旅游变化和弹性中的影响的文章。

关键词 – 旅游、变化、弹性、科技导向、it能力

This study aims to demonstrate how integration is achieved in an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design by assessing the effect of collaborative cultural dimensions on supply chain collaboration amongst firms in Ghana's downstream petroleum sector. Specifically, the study examined how collectivism, long-term orientation, power symmetry, as well as uncertainty avoidance influence supply chain collaboration. Besides, it also demonstrates how integration is achieved in an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design.

Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, the study employed a partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis of quantitative data (N = 166), followed by a thematic analysis of eight semi-structured interviews to explain how and why the dimensions of collaborative culture impact supply chain collaboration.

The quantitative findings suggest that three out of the four dimensions of culture significantly predict supply chain collaboration. Integrating the quantitative and qualitative findings suggests convergence between the results of the quantitative and qualitative phases of the study as the qualitative results compliment the quantitative findings and offer more nuanced understanding of the cultural mechanisms responsible for successful supply chain collaborations.

The findings provide managers in the downstream petroleum sector with insights into how and why the dimensions of collaborative culture influence supply chain collaboration. These managers should, therefore, build corporate cultures characterized with high levels of long-term orientation, power symmetry and uncertainty avoidance.

Owing to the role of culture in successful supply chain collaborations, this study, through a mixed-methods design, links the dimensions of collaborative culture with supply chain collaboration in the downstream petroleum sector. Moreover, it demonstrates how integration and complementarity are achieved at the study design, methods, as well as the interpretation and reporting levels of an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design.

The study of supply chain resilience (SCRES) continues to gain interest in the academic and practitioner communities. The purpose of this paper is to present a focused review of the SCRES literature by investigating supply chain (SC) capabilities, their relationship to SCRES outcomes and the underpinning theoretical mechanisms of this relationship.

The paper uses the systematic literature review approach to examine 383 articles published between 2000 and 2017, ultimately down selecting to the most relevant 228 peer-reviewed studies. Context-interventions-mechanisms-outcomes (CIMO) logic is applied to organize and synthesize these peer-reviewed studies. A typological framework is developed from the CIMO-based classification of the SCRES literature.

The findings of this study outline the gaps in the SCRES literature and present an agenda for future research.

This paper presents an exploratory research; therefore, the typological model presented is just one of the possible perspectives.

The typology of SCRES literature can help practitioners to understand SCRES and to measure and assess the resilience of SCs.

The paper provides clear definitions of SCRES constructs, develops a typological framework to further understand SCRES and identifies SCRES measures and assessment techniques.

Friction stir processing (FSP) is overviewed with the process variables, along with the thermal aspect of different metals.

With its inbuilt advantages, FSP is used to reduce the failure in the structural integrity of the body panels of automobiles, airplanes and lashing rails. FSP has excellent process ability and surface treatability with good corrosion resistance and high strength at elevated temperatures. Process parameters such as rotation speed of the tool, traverse speed, tool tilt angle, groove design, volume fraction and increase in number of tool passes should be considered for generating a processed and defect-free surface of the workpiece.

FSP process is used for modifying the surface by reinforcement of composites to improve the mechanical properties and results in the ultrafine grain refinement of microstructure. FSP uses the frictional heat and mechanical deformation for achieving the maximum performance using the low-cost tool; the production time is also very less.

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Although governments are hugely investing in information technology (IT) infrastructure, eGovernment performance has reported variations in performance. The relationship between IT infrastructure investments and eGovernment performance remains unexplored in academic research. This study aims to explain how investments in IT assets lead to infrastructure capability and eGovernment system performance. The work conceptualizes technical performance of IT infrastructure as a consequent of thoughtful investments in IT assets, which help generate IT infrastructure capability. The findings have important implications for eGovernment theory and practice in developing understanding about eGovernment IT infrastructure and supporting decision-making on the choice of infrastructure components.

This study showcases quantitative analysis based on survey method-based research using a questionnaire for testing the hypotheses formulated.

The analysis of the work showed that IT infrastructure performance is a significant mediator between investments in IT assets and IT infrastructure capability.

Owing to constraints of data collection, probability sampling was not followed, which is a prerequisite for statistical generalization.

The study provides insights for governments on investing in technologies that meet requisite performance standards. IT infrastructure performance is an antecedent of IT infrastructure capability, which directly determines how an eGovernment system performs.

The study shows that delay in implementing new service models such as cloud potentially result in relatively lower performance of the IT infrastructure for the investments made in the given assets.

This paper builds on the existing literature on IT assets, IT infrastructure performance and IT infrastructure capability and applies it to the eGovernment domain.

This study explored the role of inter-organizational systems (IOS) appropriation in the form of five key IOS usage-based capabilities, namely, IOS use for communication, intelligence, integration, collaboration and coordination in the development of tourism SC agility and resilience. Furthermore, the inter-relationship among these IOS usage-based capabilities were explored.

The study collected perceptual measures from hotel managers and tour managers having sufficient experience in the tourism sector. With 209 completed responses, the data were analyzed using partial least squares.

The study found IOS use of communication and intelligence as prominent enablers of IOS use for integration, collaboration and coordination. Furthermore, IOS use for integration, collaboration and coordination was found to have a prominent influence in the development of tourism SC agility and resilience. However, the influence of IOS use for communication on collaboration was not supported. Also, the impact of IOS use for collaboration in tourism resilience development was not supported.

The study is the foremost to explore the role of IOS appropriation in the development of dynamic capabilities like agility and resilience in tourism. Furthermore, the study also contributed to extant literature on IOS appropriation through suggesting two additional factors, namely, IOS use for collaboration and coordination to the existing IOS usage-based capabilities.

Optimization involves changing the input parameters of a process that is experimented with different conditions to obtain the maximum or minimum result. Increasing interest is shown by antenna researchers in finding the optimum solution for designing complex antenna arrays which are possible by optimization techniques.

Design of antenna array is a significant electro-magnetic problem of optimization in the current era. The philosophy of optimization is to find the best solution among several available alternatives. In an antenna array, energy is wasted due to side lobe levels which can be reduced by various optimization techniques. Currently, developing optimization techniques applicable for various types of antenna arrays is focused on by researchers.

In the paper, different optimization algorithms for reducing the side lobe level of the antenna array are presented. Specifically, genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), ant colony optimization (ACO), cuckoo search algorithm (CSA), invasive weed optimization (IWO), whale optimization algorithm (WOA), fruitfly optimization algorithm (FOA), firefly algorithm (FA), cat swarm optimization (CSO), dragonfly algorithm (DA), enhanced firefly algorithm (EFA) and bat flower pollinator (BFP) are the most popular optimization techniques. Various metrics such as gain enhancement, reduction of side lobe, speed of convergence and the directivity of these algorithms are discussed. Faster convergence is provided by the GA which is used for genetic operator randomization. GA provides improved efficiency of computation with the extreme optimal result as well as outperforming other algorithms of optimization in finding the best solution.

The originality of the paper includes a study that reveals the usage of the different antennas and their importance in various applications.

This paper aims to evaluate the effects of climate variables on the mean yield and yield variability of major pulse crops in the Telangana state of India.

Authors have estimated the Just and Pope (1978, 1979) production function using panel data at the district level of four major pulses in nine former districts of Telangana for 36 years during 1980–2015. A three-stage feasible generalized least squares estimation procedure has been followed. The mean yield and yield variance functions have been estimated individually for each of these study crops, namely, Bengal gram, green gram, red gram and horse gram.

Results have shown that changes in climatic factors such as rainfall and temperature have significant influences on the mean yield levels and yield variance of pulses. The maximum temperature is observed to have a significant adverse impact on the mean yield of a majority of pulses, and it is also a risk-enhancing factor for a majority of pulses except horse gram. However, the minimum temperature is positively related to the mean yields of the study crops except for Bengal gram, and it is having a risk-reducing impact for a majority of study crops. Rainfall is observed to have a negative impact on the mean yields of all pulses, but it is a risk-enhancing factor for only one crop, i.e. Bengal gram. Thus, rising temperatures and excess rainfall are not favorable to the productivity of pulses in study districts.

The present study is based on the secondary data at the district level and is considering only one state. Season-wise primary data, including farm-specific characteristics, could have been better. The projected climate change and its impact on the mean yields and yield variance of pulses need to be considered in a future study.

According to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to empirically evaluate the impact of climatic variables on the mean yields and yield variability of major pulses in Telangana using a panel data for major pulses and nine districts of 36 years time-series during 1980–2015. The study has given useful policy recommendations.