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The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate linkage among productivity, quality, and business performance in home-based brassware units in India.

This study involved action research of home-based brassware units applying procedures for three-stage least-squares (3SLS) regression analysis, with data obtained through questionnaire survey based on convenience sampling.

This study has supported the established belief that quality leads to productivity, and subsequently productivity leads to better business performance for home-based brassware units in India. The consistent and logical result of this study using 3SLS regression analysis has provided empirical understanding of the appropriate linkage among productivity, quality, and business performance.

This study has limitations of findings, as it studied the home-based brassware units in the Indian context only.

This study implies that marketable home-based brassware products are to be produced by taking into account boundaries of production within the framework of goals and value created by motivation and dependability for monitoring the business performance. Identifying an appropriate linkage among productivity, quality, and business performance may project a holistic evaluation of the policy development related to home-based brassware units.

This is an original study to test empirical linkages among productivity, quality, and business performance using 3SLS regression analysis particularly for home-based brassware units in India.

The purpose of this paper is to explore how robots are being used in libraries and information centers to transform their services and what are the future possibilities and trends in the application of robots in libraries.

Through a review of the literature, this paper analyzes various library websites and consults literature relating to the use of telepresence robots in libraries; the current application of robots in libraries has been enumerated along with case studies of libraries currently adopting telepresence robots.

With the practical examples of libraries using different types of robots, this study summarizes diverse activities of artificial intelligence-mediated robots. The uses of telepresence technology in libraries help to enhance library services, reach new users and provide a more inclusive and accessible library experience. Telepresence robots enhance the quality and accessibility of library services, expand library outreach and provide new opportunities for virtual engagement and programming. The application of telepresence robots in libraries can offer many benefits, but there are also several challenges that libraries must address to ensure successful implementation.

This study will motivate libraries and library professionals to take advantage of adopting telepresence robots in library and information center services and further accelerate library operations in the right direction.

This paper highlights how the introduction of telepresence robots in libraries improves services and productivity and creates a more engaging environment for the user group. The benefits and challenges of using robots in the library and the future trend in the application of telepresence robots in libraries are also discussed.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the emerging technologies of this time. AI is a widely used technology in library services that can transform the best services in the age of information technology. This paper aims to highlight the use of AI in library operations. Several research has been undertaken on this subject, but that only address a few applications. AI and libraries have a substantial nexus; nevertheless, the use and awareness of AI in library services are still creating question marks addressed in this paper. This study will help the policy stakeholder, librarians and scholars in the field to address these issues before the deployment of AI in library services.

This study is based on a qualitative method using content analysis techniques. An extensive review of literature on “artificial intelligence”, “smart libraries” was carried to ascertain the emerging technologies in the smart library domain. Literature was searched against various keywords like artificial intelligence, smart technologies, Internet of Things, electronic resource management, data mining and ambient intelligence. This study highlights the pros and cons of AI in library services and its possible solutions.

The findings of this study show that AI is a vibrant technology that can be used in library services; however, some obstacles like adequate funds, the attitude of librarians and technical skills are a few obstacles that hamper AI in library operations. The findings also reveal that using AI in library operations will accelerate libraries in the right direction. Furthermore, this study highlights various applications that can be deployed without spending costs.

This paper may be of interest to academic, librarians, policymakers, researchers and the government to have a perspective on initiatives in the country on application of technology in library services. This study can introduce the current status and potential of this technology to bring the technology revolution in library and information center services.

This study will motivate library professionals to take advantage of AI in library services and further accelerate library operations in the right direction.

This study covers the understanding of AI in library services that will help the librarian’s and information professionals leverage AI in library scenarios. Furthermore, the practical implication of AI in library services will bring positive change in implementing AI.

As information providers, libraries select, acquire, process, store, preserve and distribute information resources to customers. Innovative technologies like the blockchain have posed major challenges to education and library services. The main goal of the application of blockchain technology (BT) in libraries and information centers is to give all possible users in participating library systems unrestricted access to digital content and print collections while minimizing risk to protect each user’s privacy and identification. A fresh and dependable technology called blockchain aids in the security, reliability and preservation of information. The 21st century’s change agents’ libraries are implementing new technologies to deliver the most knowledge possible in the shortest amount of time. It cannot be overstated how this technology has the potential to transform library services, operations and functions.

An extensive review of literature on “smart libraries” was carried to ascertain the emerging technologies in the smart library domain. Literature was searched against various keywords like smart libraries, smart technologies, Internet of Things, electronic resource management, data mining, artificial intelligence, ambient intelligence, BT and augmented reality. Later on, the works citing the literature on smart libraries were also explored to visualize a broad spectrum of emerging concepts about this growing trend in libraries.

Blockchain is one of the rapidly expanding and evolving technology. Librarians and library need to understand the opportunities, benefits and risks of blockchain. Perhaps in libraries, BT will become a useful tool for storing, storing and sharing information. This technology also aids in the acquisition of library materials that can improve collection maintenance. Blockchain can protect user and patron records and enhance the privacy of user and research data. This technology also improves collaboration among library patrons and staff. BT is increasingly being adopted by libraries in various ways. It creates an improved metadata system to protect digital-first selling rights, peer-to-peer sharing and more. Apart from what have been already discussed, this technology is perfect for academia and perfect for achieving potential pace in libraries. It can be used to safeguard library user records, retrieve libraries document and improve collection management. A special bulk request enables identification and discovery of unique holdings. Scientific writing is another good use case for blockchain, where researchers can record and time-stamp ideas and spread information. BT presents a significant opportunity for libraries to enhance user privacy, enhance collaboration and transform the manner in which libraries and communities collaborate. The University of San Jose in Toronto, the Reference Library, the Suffolk Collaborative Library System and many other libraries are exploring this technology, and various other libraries are set to follow suit.

The paper tries to highlight the usage of blockchain technologies in the libraries and information center setups for the efficient working of library setups. Blockchain is one of the emerging technologies that have the potential to bring the technology revolution.

In this work-in-progress, the application of blockchain technology (BT) in higher education in India – involving academic institutions, students and verifiers – in the wake of fake degrees (racket) being issued at a large scale from universities across the country is being investigated. This paper considers providing new methods of database system in education, and implementing the new BT in education can increase transparency and security in the education system.

This study used interview methodology (asking interview participants a series of informal questions to obtain knowledge).

Private and public sector organizations have many challenges to overcome in synchronizing and aligning their digital transformation efforts to enable the network effects to take hold. India’s policymakers, civil society leaders, senior business leaders and entrepreneurs are building strong clusters to help the country be the leader of the next era of the internet as a platform that helps transform human affairs for the benefit of the citizens. Executives can contribute to the digital ecosystem by creating open and collaborative cultures where knowledge and innovation are shared with the industry for the benefit of the masses and, more so, to establish quality and communication standards. They also can contribute by staying open to change, embracing digital adoption and transformation within their management models and infrastructure. It is time for institutions to rethink their processes and governance structures to become more agile and innovative players. The success of a harmonious digital identity ecosystem relies on staying ahead of the organization’s digital curve. As a first step to provide better quality in the provision of public services, Secure Key Technologies’ blockchain-based ecosystem (securekey.com) allows multiple partners to strengthen the authentication and provides identity attribute validation as a fabric of trust and as a solid foundation to embrace a new digital era. Secure Key Technologies’ vision for the future of digital identities redefines the ways both consumers and businesses approach identity verification and the sharing of key personal information. The challenges identified in the education system be it the difficulty in authenticating certifications and documents, tracking intellectual property and in accessibility can be better managed through blockchain implementation.

Digital certificates produced using blockchains are the most secure and efficient method being adopted by many countries across the globe (Grech and Camilleri, 2017). Tamper-proof blockchain records consist of three components or layers: the first contains the signed hash of the content, the second contains all the data and images and the third is the presentation and styling of the data. The verification process is relatively simple; the hash of the recipient is compared to the hash stored on the blockchain if they match the document is verified.

This paper examines the ways in which the concepts of “quality”, “productivity” and “business performance” are dealt in the literature to exhibit that terms used within these fields are vaguely defined and poorly understood. The purpose of this paper is to define quality, productivity and business performance along with their linkages for home-based brassware manufacturing units.

This paper reviews related academic literature mostly since past ten years.

This paper clarifies meaning and linkages of quality, productivity and business performance in home-based brassware manufacturing units.

The meaning and interpretations of quality, productivity and business performance may differ for other manufacturing units.

This paper highlights determinants of quality, productivity and business performance using key performance areas as applied explicitly for home-based brassware manufacturing units. The systems approach has been applied to understand productivity.

This paper creates terminologies that reduce the existing confusion with the field for applications in academia and brassware industry.

The emerging industrial revolution referred to as Industry 5.0 is focusing on leveraging human creativity with intelligent and autonomous systems to derive user-friendly work environment for the businesses. Industry 5.0 stresses on people centric work ecosystem, zero accident policy and the well-being of labour within the production processes. This approach of Industry 5.0 to obtain human-centric safety solutions through the deployment of digital technologies deduces workplace accidents and costs leading to the development of Safety 4.0. This chapter aims to investigate the opportunities and challenges of Safety 4.0 and its enabling technologies aspiring towards the greater impact on safety management. Further, we have proposed a framework for the role of human centric digital transformations concerning safety in the manufacturing industry propelling Safety 4.0. Concluding, we discuss the implications for managers and practitioners. We found that Safety 4.0 will strengthen industrial safety, and instead of reacting to accidents, the concept evolved towards a preventive and proactive approach for a healthy industrial ecosystem.

The purpose of this paper is to propose the idea of linking the use of the Monte Carlo simulation with scenario planning to assist strategy makers in formulating strategy in the face of uncertainty relating to service quality gaps for life insurance business, where discontinuities always remain for need‐based selling.

The paper reviews briefly some applications of scenario planning. Scenario planning emphasizes the development of a strategic plan that is robust across different scenarios. The paper provides considerable evidence to suggest a new strategic approach using Monte Carlo simulation for making scenario planning.

The paper highlights which particular service quality gap attribute as risk impacts most and least for the possibility of occurrences as best case, worst case, and most likely case.

This study suffers from methodological limitations associated with convenience sampling and anonymous survey‐based research.

The approach using Monte Carlo simulation increases the credibility of the scenario to an acceptable level, so that it will be used by managers and other decision makers.

The paper provides a thorough documentation on scenario planning upon studying the impact of risk and uncertainty in service quality gap for making rational decisions in management of services such that managers make better justification and communication for their arguments.

The paper offers empirical understanding of the application of Monte Carlo simulation to scenario planning and identifies key drivers which impact most and least on service quality gap.

Prisoners are at a higher risk of HIV infection compared to the general population. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of HIV and related risk behaviours among inmates of the Central Prisons in four states of North India.

The HIV sentinel surveillance was conducted in seven Central Prisons in four states of North India from February to April 2019. Four hundred inmates were included from each prison. The interviews were conducted at the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre located within the prison premises. The Ethics Committee of the National AIDS Control Organization, New Delhi, granted ethical approval before the start of the surveillance.

Overall, 2,721 inmates were enrolled in this study. The mean (SD) age was 38.9 (13.9) years. One-third of prison inmates had comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The proportion of convict (54%) and undertrial (46%) inmates was almost equal. The overall prevalence of HIV infection among inmates was 0.96% (95% CI 0.65–1.40). The odds of being HIV positive were significantly higher in never married inmates, undertrials, inmates who were in the prison for more than three months to one year, inmates incarcerated for multiple times, inmates with history of injecting drug use and inmates with history of intercourse with a commercial sex worker.

The findings from the very first HIV sentinel surveillance in central prisons in North India have been presented in this paper. This has huge implications for future policy decisions.