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In most economies, there are rules from the market regulators or government to sell at an equal wholesale price (EWP). But when one upstream channel is facing a negative demand disruption and another positive, EWP can create extra pressure on the disadvantageous supply chain partner, which faces negative disruption. The purpose of this study is to analyse the impact of EWP and the scope of the discriminatory wholesale price (DWP) during disruptions.

For the study, the authors used a dual-channel supply chain consisting of a manufacturer, online retailer (OR) and traditional brick-and-mortar (BM) retailer. Stackelberg game is used to model the interaction between the upstream and downstream channel partners, and the horizontal Nash game to analyse the interaction within downstream channel partners. For modelling asymmetric disruption, the authors took instances from the lock-down and post-lock-down periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, where consumers flow from BM retailer to OR store.

By analysing the disruption period, the authors found that this asymmetric disruption is detrimental to the BM channel, favourable to OR and has no impact on the manufacturer. But with DWP, the authors found that the profit of the BM channel and manufacturer can be increased during disruption. Though the profit of the OR decreased, it was found to be higher than in the pre-disruption period. Under DWP, the consumer surplus increased during disruption, making it favourable for the customers also. Thus, DWP can aid in creating a win-win strategy for all the supply chain partners during asymmetric disruption. Later as an extension to the study, the authors analysed the impact of the consumer transfer factor and found that it plays a crucial role in the optimal decisions of the channel partner during DWP.

Very scant literature analyses the intersection of DWP and disruptions. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study, for the first time uses DWP as a tool to help the disadvantageous supply chain partner during asymmetric disruptions. The study findings will assist the government, market regulators and manufacturers in revamping the wholesale pricing policies and strategies to help the disadvantageous supply chain partner during asymmetric disruption.

Private labels (PLs) have flowed into a wide range of categories and continue to expand especially in the mass channel. This paper aims to investigate the optimal PL sourcing strategy for a retailer and the impact of different sourcing strategies on the interaction between the upstream national brand (NB) manufacturer and the downstream retailer in a dyadic supply chain.

The authors develop a game-theoretic model that allows for vertical differentiation, where a retailer may choose between two types of PL sourcing strategies, i.e. fringe and NB manufacturer sourcing (NBMS). Under fringe manufacturer sourcing, the procurement cost is low but the PL recognition is also low. There exists a group of loyal consumers who only choose the NB. Under NBMS, the procurement cost is high but the loyal consumers may switch between two products. The channel members engage in a three-stage sequential game and the authors analyze the subgame perfect equilibrium by comparing the retailer’s best profits in the two subgames, i.e. fringe and NBMS.

The model shows that the retailer inclines to source from the NB manufacturer if the size of the loyal consumer group is relatively large, which provides a rationale for the existence of NBMS. It is also shown that the NB quality plays a positive role on NBMS. As the NB quality becomes higher, the retailer is more likely to procure the PL from the NB manufacturer instead of the fringe manufacturer. In addition, both channel members can be better off and more consumer surplus is provided by expanding the market under NBMS. Overall, sourcing from the NB manufacturer may improve channel profit, consumer welfare and social welfare.

The research contributes to explaining why the practice of sourcing PLs from NB manufacturers is widely adopted by retailers and can help retailers to make appropriate PL sourcing strategies under various circumstances.

This case chronicles the events in the life of a security guard who would like to enroll his five-year-old daughter in a private school under the Right to Education Act (RTE). Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act mandates that private schools reserve at least 25% of their seats for children from marginalized and economically weaker sections of society. This case can be used for classroom discussion in a course that deals with e-governance, ICT for Development or Technology deployment/digital service delivery in developing countries. It helps students think of an evaluation framework for assessing an e-governance solution for the disadvantaged and use the framework to critically assess the Gujarat government's digital solution for the RTE programme.

Literature in entrepreneurial marketing (EM) continues to grow in volume and diversity. This paper aims to examine the topical structure of EM’s literature toward guiding research in the field.

A four-phase bibliometric research design is implemented, encompassing co-citation and bibliographic-coupling analyses, network analysis, factor analysis and correspondence analysis.

In total, 14 EM literature clusters, comprising 7 topical meta-clusters, are mapped and discussed: the 7 clusters are resources and capabilities, entrepreneurial orientation (EO), measurement, EO/marketing orientation (MO) integration, MO, international entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship.

These topical streams confirm, refine and extend prior bibliometric studies. A more comprehensive, extensive and reliable picture of EM’s literature is provided, the result of using over twice as many references as prior studies and peer-reviewed journals only. Results will help guide EM research, contributing toward the field’s empirical/theoretical development.

The purpose of this paper is to report a literature review which was conducted to trace the quality journeys occurring in industrial and educational scenarios.

First, the literature was reviewed to trace the efforts made to implement quality models in industrial scenarios. Quality models include International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 9000 certification, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA), Deming Prize and European Quality Award (EQA). Next, the literature was reviewed to trace the quality journey being undertaken in an engineering educational scenario.

Modern Engineering Educational Institutions (EEIs) are required to first accredit their programs by following Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)‐based stipulations. Then, these EEIs have to strive to implement quality models.

Because of the low volume of research conducted, relatively very few papers dealing with ABET and quality models could be reviewed. However, the exhaustive review of most of these papers has overcome this limitation.

First, modern EEIs should gain accreditation to ABET and then strive to obtain quality models. This endeavour would make fresh engineers employable in industrial scenarios.

It appears that no researcher has so far attempted to examine the implementation of quality models in an engineering educational scenario. In this context, the results of the literature review reported in this paper could be utilized while implementing quality models in EEIs via ABET‐based accredited programs.

The purpose of this study is to present validation evidence of a Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale, an instrument within the framework of the Self-Determination Theory, suitable for both Brazil and Portugal.

The current study demonstrates the suitability of this version in both Portugal (N = 999) and Brazil (N = 720). The authors applied confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and tested the invariance between samples.

Results from CFA found the same structural dimensions as in the original study, invariant across both samples. Convergent and discriminant validity were shown through correlations between motivation subscales with affective commitment and emotional exhaustion.

Overall, the data provided strong evidence for the reliability and validity of the Portuguese version of the scale and reinforces the instrument as a cross-culturally valid measure of work motivation.

O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar evidências de validação de uma versão portuguesa da Escala Multidimensional de Motivação para o Trabalho, um instrumento enquadrado na Teoria da Autodeterminação, apropriado para utilização no Brasil e em Portugal.

O presente estudo demonstra a adequação desta versão da escala tanto em Portugal (N = 999), quanto no Brasil (N = 720). Realizámos Análise Fatorial Confirmatória e testámos a invariância da medida entre as amostras.

Os resultados da Análise Fatorial Confirmatória mostram a mesma estrutura fatorial encontrada no estudo original, assim como invariância entre as presentes amostras. As validades convergente e discriminante foram evidenciadas pelas correlações com as escalas de comprometimento organizacional afetivo e exaustão emocional.

Em geral, os dados mostraram forte evidência de confiabilidade e validade da versão da escala para português e reforça a validade intercultural desta medida de motivação para o trabalho

motivação para o trabalho, Escala multidimensional de motivação para o trabalho, Teoria da autodeterminação.

Artigo de pesquisa

El objetivo de este estudio es presentar evidencia de validación de una versión portuguesa de la Escala Multidimensional de Motivación Laboral, un instrumento en el marco de la Teoría de la Autodeterminación, adecuado tanto para Portugal como para Brasil.

El presente estudio demuestra la adecuación de esta versión de la escala tanto en Portugal (N = 999) como en Brasil (N = 720). Realizamos un análisis factorial confirmatoria y probamos la invariancia de medición entre muestras.

Los resultados del análisis factorial confirmatorio muestran la misma estructura factorial encontrada previamente en el estudio original, así como la invariancia entre las medidas. La validez convergente y discriminante se mostró mediante correlaciones con las escalas de compromiso organizacional afectivo y de agotamiento emocional.

En general, los datos mostraron una fuerte evidencia de confiabilidad y validez de la versión en portugues de la escala y refuerza la validez intercultural de la medida de motivación laboral.

motivación laboral, Escala multidimensional de motivación labora, Teoría de la autodeterminación

Artículo de investigación

Weather forecasting is the trending topic around the world as it is the way to predict the threats posed by extreme rainfall conditions that lead to damage the human life and properties. These issues can be managed only when the occurrence of the worse weather is predicted in advance, and sufficient warnings can be executed in time. Thus, keeping in mind the importance of the rainfall prediction system, the purpose of this paper is to propose an effective rainfall prediction model using the nonlinear auto-regressive with external input (NARX) model.

The paper proposes a rainfall prediction model using the time-series prediction that is enabled using the NARX model. The time-series prediction ensures the effective prediction of the rainfall in a particular area or the locality based on the rainfall data in the previous term or month or year. The proposed NARX model serves as an adaptive prediction model, for which the rainfall data of the previous period is the input, and the optimal computation is based on the proposed algorithm. The adaptive prediction using the proposed algorithm is exhibited in the NARX, and the proposed algorithm is developed based on the Grey Wolf Optimization and the Levenberg–Marqueret (LM) algorithm. The proposed algorithm inherits the advantages of both the algorithms with better computational time and accuracy.

The analysis using two databases enables the better understanding of the proposed rainfall detection methods and proves the effectiveness of the proposed prediction method. The effectiveness of the proposed method is enhanced and the accuracy is found to be better compared with the other existing methods and the mean square error and percentage root mean square difference of the proposed method are found to be around 0.0093 and 0.207.

The rainfall prediction is enabled adaptively using the proposed Grey Wolf Levenberg–Marquardt (GWLM)-based NARX, wherein an algorithm, named GWLM, is proposed by the integration of Grey Wolf Optimizer and LM algorithm.

This paper examined mediating effect of customer loyalty on the influence of customer orientation and technology orientation on the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This study adopted and modified items from previous studies. Also, data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Additionally, a PROCESS Macro mediation test was used.

The study's findings indicated that customer orientation and technology orientation positively and significantly affect customer loyalty. Moreover, the findings indicated that customer loyalty has a positive and significant effect on the performance of SMEs. Finally, customer loyalty was found to mediate the influence of customer orientation and technology orientation on the performance of SMEs.

The study recommends on business performance improvement through enhancing customer and technology orientations and customer loyalty. So, SMEs should make sure their internal environment is conducive to accommodate customer and technology orientations, which will help them come up with effective ways to get loyal customers and improve their business.

The study adds value to the existing literature by introducing customer loyalty as an intervening variable between the effect of customer orientation and technology orientation on business performance of SMEs.