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The purpose of the study is to understand what impact the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 had on the income and food security of rural households in India and whether it differed across socioeconomic factors. Moreover, the study assesses the needs of rural households and determines whether they had received adequate support services during the lockdown.

The study adopted a repeated-measures quantitative survey design with 1,319 rural women from 16 states of India and conducted a telephonic survey.

The lockdown had directly impacted rural households' employment status and income but the impact differed depending on the type of employment. For example, working in a salaried job or on one's farm led to a lower likelihood of a complete decline in income in states other than Kerala as the lockdown continued. The study also revealed a change in the pattern of food consumption, with higher consumption of subsidized staple foods. It also became evident that the aid announced by the government reached the rural population with some delay.

A limitation of the study was that many respondents refused to participate in phase 2, which reduced the sample size when comparing the two phases because the women did not own mobile phones. Instead, they were using their husbands' phones.

The study's findings can help better understand the needs of rural populations during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This can help to plan better and build preventive actions for such populations once their needs are understood. In addition, this can aid disadvantaged people for a minimal level of preparedness and security during such a crisis in the future.

The study aims to co-create a “priority action roadmap for women's economic empowerment” based on women's top priorities to charting recovery directions. Doing so contributes to the growing body of knowledge on COVID-19 literature in at least four areas: assessing COVID-19 impacts on women entrepreneurs; mapping these impacts with four interdependent women's entrepreneurial ecosystem components; innovating a co-creation methodology based on remote participatory research; and providing a replicable model to perform action-oriented research in the context of COVID-19 impacts.

A co-creation methodology is proposed, combining systems-thinking and remote participatory research to engage women entrepreneurs and institutional stakeholders to prioritize impact, response actions and recovery needs in the wake of COVID-19. A ranking exercise using the analytic hierarchy process was used to derive ranking and assess user inputs' consistency.

The study exemplifies the integration of participatory methods and mathematical tool to engage stakeholders in prioritizing recovery work. PARWEE action items ranked by entrepreneurs and vetted by institutional stakeholders cover: access to finances, capacity building, health care, public and private partnership, marketing opportunities and formation of active advocacy groups to voice out women entrepreneurs' needs to institutional stakeholders. Results show a slight difference in the ranking of priority actions between experience owners and fresh starters.

This study innovated a new co-creation methodology for remotely engaging stakeholders of the women's entrepreneurial ecosystem, which is grounded in evidence and provides a replicable model for performing action-oriented research.

This study aims to investigate the effect of externally applied magnetic force and heat transfer with a heat source/sink on the Couette flow with viscous dissipation in a horizontal rotating channel. The magnetic force is added to the governing equations. The effects of fluid flow parameters are observed under the applied magnetic force. In this system, the magnetic force is applied perpendicular to the plane of the fluid flow. In recent years, the magnetic field has renewed interest in aerospace technology. The physical and theoretical approach in the multidisciplinary field of magneto fluid dynamics (MFD) is applied in the field of aerospace vehicle design.

Authors use the perturbation method to solve and find the approximate solutions of differential equations. First, convert the partial differential equation to ordinary differential equation and calculate the approximate solutions in two cases. The first solution got by assuming heat generating in the fluid and the second one got when heat absorbing. After applying the external magnetic force, the effects of various fluid parameters velocity, temperature, skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number are found and discussed using tables and graphs.

It is found that the velocity of the fluid has decreased tendency when the rotation of the fluid and magnetic force on the fluid increases. The temperature of the fluid, Prandtl value and Eckert number increased when the heat source generated heat. When heat absorbs the heat, sink parameter increases and the temperature of the fluid decreases. Also, while heat absorbs, the temperature increases when the Prandtl value and Eckert number increase.

The skin friction coefficient on the surface increases, when the rotation parameter and the magnetic force parameter of the fluid increase. In the case of heat generating, the Nusselt number increased, while the Eckert number and Prandtl numbers increased. Also, the Nusselt number has larger values when the heat source parameter has near the constant temperature, and it has smaller values when the temperature varies. In the case of heat-absorbing, the Nusselt number decreased when the Eckert and Prandtl numbers increased. Also, the Nusselt number varies up and down while the heat absorbing parameter increases.

In this era of Industry 4.0, characterized by disruptive technologies, there is a need to identify and understand the role of the quality function in the excellence journey. Quality 4.0 refers to the digitalization of quality work in the context of Industry 4.0. As Quality 4.0 is a new concept, empirical research on the subject is extremely scant. Therefore, this study aims to identify and understand the criticality of the dimensions of Quality 4.0.

The present research identifies 12 axes (dimensions) of Quality 4.0 based on literature review and inputs from experts. The identified axes have been prioritized using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique.

The study concludes that the 12 dimensions contribute to outcome indicators such as organizational performance, agility and sustainability. It further adds that though technology is vital for Quality 4.0, elements of traditional quality such as leadership, quality culture, customer focus, quality systems, compliance, competence, analytical thinking, data-driven decision making, etc. are mandatory for the transformation journey. In today's context except for a few matured organizations, others are even struggling to implement the traditional aspects of quality.

Cues to further research are provided which would help in the better understanding of Quality 4.0 and its role in the Industry 4.0 scenario.

This research would help the practitioners understand the determinants of Quality 4.0 system and their effects on organizational performance, agility and sustainability.

The present research work strives to throw light on the criticality of the dimensions of Quality 4.0, thereby contributing to theory building, especially given the paucity of literature in Quality 4.0.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the best practices for Purple Hiring, a new paradigm for workplace inclusivity that emphasizes the recruitment and retention of Persons with Disabilities (PWD).

The paper is based on a review of existing literature and interviews with experts in the field of disability inclusion.

This paper explores the best practices for Purple Hiring, including tailored interview processes, assistive technology integration, flexible work arrangements, mentorship and peer support, accessibility audits and design thinking, inclusive leadership training, diversity and inclusion committees, collaborative partnerships, recognition and awards and continuous learning and adaptation.

Purple Hiring is a new paradigm for workplace inclusivity that has the potential to transform the way the people work and live. By embracing the unique talents and capabilities of PWD, organizations can create a more diverse, equitable and productive workplace.

Numerous attempts at installing six sigma (SS) have faced challenges and fallen short of the desired success. Thus, it becomes vital to identify the critical factors and characteristics that play a pivotal role in achieving successful adoption. In this study the research has aimed to highlight that a considerable number of corporate SS initiatives, around 60%, fail primarily due to the improper incorporation of essential elements and flawed assumptions.

To validate the influence of critical success factors (CSFs) on SS accomplishment, the study employed a research design combining exploratory and mixed-methods approaches. A Likert-scale questionnaire was utilized, and a simple random sampling method was employed to gather data. Out of the 2,325 potential participants approached, 573 responses were received, primarily from Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden. The analysis focused on 260 completed questionnaires and statistical methods including structural equation modeling (SEM), exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were utilized for data analysis.

The study acknowledged four essential components of CSFs that are imperative for sustaining the success of SS: (1) Competence of belt System employees; (2) Project management skills; (3) Organizational economic capability and (4) Leadership commitment and engagement. These factors were identified as significant contributors to the maintenance of SS’s success.

The practical implications of this research imply that institutions, practitioners, and researchers can utilize the four identified factors to foster the sustainable deployment of SS initiatives. By incorporating these factors, organizations can enhance the effectiveness and longevity of their SS practices.

The investigation's originality lies in its contribution to assessing CSFs in SS deployment within the European automobile industry, utilizing a mixed-methods research design supplemented by descriptive statistics.

In light of the recent changes in the internal audit (IA) landscape, the role of auditors has undergone a significant transformation. This paper aims to investigate the effects of applying Lean Six Sigma (LSS) techniques on the effectiveness and efficiency of IA.

The study used a quantitative approach, surveying Iranian internal auditors with a sample size of 384 participants. Data analysis involved confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling.

The analyses demonstrate a significant association between LSS application and IA effectiveness and efficiency. In addition, an exploratory analysis indicates that the application of LSS techniques by less experienced internal auditors had a reverse effect on IA function quality as a component of IA competency. However, IA motivation factors, including education and position, did not mediate the impact of LSS on IA effectiveness and efficiency.

This study was conducted with Iranian internal auditors, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other countries. However, the primary academic implication of this research lies in its novel perspective on emphasizing the concept of continuous improvement in IA through the use of LSS techniques. By focusing on the need for internal auditors to add value to the business in new ways, this research contributes to the literature on IA quality.

This study has significant implications for the effective management of IA departments. By promoting the application of LSS techniques in IA, lean auditing is enhanced, and IA can create value by improving the quality of its functions. Moreover, IA regulators can benefit from this study as it emphasizes providing guidance and training on LSS techniques to enhance IA skills.

This research is pioneering in applying LSS methodology to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of internal auditing. It also considers the integration of lean thinking into current audit practices, making it unique and valuable in internal auditing research.

The aim of the study is to attempt to analyze the trends and patterns of institutional credit flow, deployed by the CBs, SCBs and RRBs, for production and investment purposes in agriculture and allied activities in India in the light of banking sector reforms initiated in the early 1990s.

The study is based on secondary data collected from the Handbook of Statistics of Indian Economy, 2009‐2010 published by the Reserve Bank of India, Agricultural Statistics at a Glance, Economic Survey of India, etc. The data relating to institutional credit at the all India level were collected for 1971‐1972 to 2007‐2008. The period from 1971‐1972 to 1980‐1981 is considered as the beginning of multi‐agency approach and bank branch expansion, from 1981‐1982 to 1990‐1991 is regarded as the pre‐reform period, from 1991‐1992 to 2007‐2008, as the post‐reform period. In order to examine the extent of institutional credit flow for development of agriculture and allied activities, the indictors such as the average institutional credit per hectare cultivated area and as percentage of agricultural GDP were estimated, besides the CAGR during different periods.

The study found that the annual growth rate of total institutional credit for agriculture and allied activities was much higher during the reform period as compared to that of pre‐reform period. The average institutional credit per hectare and as a percentage of agricultural GDP has gone up significantly during the reform regime. The RRBs followed by the SCBs registered highest growth rates of production credit as compared to that of CBs during the entire period; it was higher during the reform than the pre‐reform period. The growth rate of investment credit was highest for SCBs followed by the RRBs as against the CBs during the reform period. It has been observed that the CBs have lost their historical prime position in provision of agricultural credit. The growth pattern of production as well as investment credit constituted what can be described as the “U‐shaped” curve. This implies that the bulk of the increase in institutional credit for agriculture and allied activities during the reform period was attributed to the banking sector reforms initiated in the early 1990s.

The data on institutional credit provided by the SCARDBs and PCARDBs were not included under the co‐operative sector prior to 1999‐2000, and it covered credit by only PACs. Hence, the temporal comparability of data on institutional credit under the co‐operative sector for the period 1998‐1999 to 2007‐2008 with that of earlier periods may be erroneous.

Adequate and timely inflow of both production and investment credit for development of agriculture and allied activities through further reforms in the banking sector would go a long way in sustained growth of agriculture and food security for a great majority of the rural masses in India.

The study establishes the “U‐shaped” curve for the growth pattern of institutional credit for development of agriculture and allied activities in India. This follows that the increase in the growth rates of institutional credit during 1991‐1992 to 2007‐2008 was largely due to the banking sector reforms.

This paper aims to focus on the issue of high employee turnover in the Indian tech industry. An integrative review is conducted to analyse the past and current state of literature, as well as prepare a research agenda for future studies.

A pool of 72 articles published between 2010 and 2022 is reviewed with a special focus on Indian tech employees. This study elucidates the extent and impact of employee retention strategies through content analysis.

Two broad perspectives have been established in the literature: the reasons for quitting and the explanations for staying. By means of a comprehensive review, this paper combines these two aspects of literature and suggests factors under organization’s control to retain competent tech employees.

The study is designed to integrate the two theoretical viewpoints of employee turnover literature by consolidating the reasons behind quitting behaviour and staying intention. Codes combining the two aspects are presented as a valuable resource to retain tech talent.

Owing to high competition in education sector, quality in education has become utmost important criteria to deliver better education service. For this purpose, it is required to monitor the quality of education. This paper aims to prioritize National Board of Accreditation (NBA) quality parameters in engineering education as per student’s needs using quality function deployment (QFD).

This study is conducted among students of an institute of National importance in three stages. Stage 1 involves conducting interview with 23 students to find the student’s requirement from an institute. Further Stage 2 involves importance rating collection through questionnaire survey method. In this stage, 228 students have given a rating of each student’s requirement. Finally, Stage 3 involves establishing correlation between student’s requirement and NBA quality parameters that has been done by 20 academic experts and finally making a QFD matrix for ranking of each NBA quality parameter.

The result of the study first indicates that among all students’ requirements, job-oriented requirement is the most important need, and ergonomics-based requirement is the least important need of students. Further, to fulfill their needs, an institute has to focus on each NBA quality parameter. But among all NBA quality parameters, student’s performance is highly desirable quality parameter.

This study will help top management of engineering institutions in making better policies and strategies for preparing their quality framework. These strategies will indirectly fulfill the customer needs that help in attracting more number of students toward those institutes.

In India, NBA is one of the leading bodies that monitor the quality of education. On the other hand, the institution has to satisfy the need of customer of education sector; therefore, prioritization of NBA quality parameter as per student’s need is one of the important needs that will help engineering institution to focus on a certain parameter to get a good quality certificate and also attract a number of meritorious students.