Abstract of the talk

This study explores consumers' perceptions of purchasing fast food items through online platforms. The central idea of this research is to practically assess the various elements impacting the consumers' perceptions of online purchasing of fast food items and find out the factors with high importance and performance value. A quantitative research approach was used to collect data from 402 participants in the form of a pen-and-paper-based method using a 5-point Likert scale. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and importance-performance analysis. Theory of planned behavior and technology acceptance model form the basis for this research. The findings indicate that constructs such as convenience, perceived quality and perceived healthiness positively influence consumers' perceptions of online purchasing of fast food items. On the other hand, competitive prices, discounts and promotions (CPDP) and online shopping experience have no significant impact on perceived value for money. A constraint of this study is that it was done in a particular geographical location, which restricts the generalizations of the findings. The study only examined consumers' perceptions of online fast food purchasing, and future research could explore consumers' actual behaviors toward personalized fast food recommendations by online sellers. The research supports and extends the existing literature by comprehensively understanding consumers' perceptions of purchasing fast food online. These findings can help online fast food sellers improve their services and develop targeted marketing strategies.

About the Speaker

Mr. Abhay M. Vyas is a BE graduate from NIT Nagpur and holds an MBA degree. He is UGC-NET certified and is currently in the final stages of his PhD in Consumer Behaviour, Marketing, and Sustainability from NIT Bhopal. He has extensive experience in academia (teaching, NAAC processes, conference organization, placements, and NIRF data management) as well as in industry. He has published 6 papers in SCIE-Q1 and Scopus-indexed journals and has served as a reviewer for British Food Journal and SN Business & Economics. Abhay possesses fine-tuned thinking, analytical, and troubleshooting skills, along with superior verbal and written communication abilities. He excels in design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting using multivariate regression (STATA and Excel) and structural equation modelling (Smart PLS).

Abstract of the talk

In an era of hybrid AI-human service ecosystems, understanding how consumers cognitively respond after service recovery is critical for long-term brand engagement. Across five experimental studies, this research introduces and empirically examines the role of post-recovery vigilance, a consumer's sustained psychological alertness following a resolved service failure. We distinguish between two qualitatively different forms: defensive vigilance (driven by suspicion and symbolic risk) and proactive vigilance (driven by instrumental monitoring and cognitive control). Results show that the direction of agent transition (AI->Human vs. Human->AI) systematically shapes the type and intensity of vigilance, mediated by psychological contagion and moderated by factors such as symbolic repair, modality distance, brand integrity, and AI explainability. A final longitudinal study links vigilance to downstream behaviors, including trust renewal, choice deferral, and help-seeking, establishing its predictive and ecological validity. This research advances service recovery theory by moving beyond episodic satisfaction to explain durable cognitive consequences of hybrid service transitions. The findings carry actionable implications for designing omnichannel recovery strategies that minimize relational damage while preserving consumer agency and trust.

About the Speaker

Dr. Souvik Singha is a marketing scholar with a PhD from the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode. His research lies at the intersection of marketing, consumer behavior, and artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on AI–human service systems, algorithmic decision-making, and consumer responses to emerging technologies. He has published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services and has several papers under review in leading journals, alongside conference presentations at international forums such as AMA and EMAC. In addition to his research, he has developed and taught courses in areas such as digital marketing, neural networks for managers, and AI infrastructure and operations for managers. His teaching approach combines conceptual clarity with practical, application-oriented learning. Before entering academia, he gained industry experience as a Management Trainee at Nainital Bank, where he worked on credit appraisal, branch operations, and customer handling.

Abstract of the talk

Online Behavioural Advertising (OBA) is a marketing technique of providing personalized advertisements to targeted customers, because it involves personal data collection that consumers feel privacy-conscious. This study aims to establish inter-linkages between the knowledge about OBA, privacy concerns, customer attitude and OBA acceptance in the context of Indian consumers. Based on literature review, it was identified that the knowledge about OBA and privacy concerns are the two consumer-controlled factors. A study framework was developed to guide the study based on literature review. With the help of an online survey, a sample of 104 responses was collected, and the results were identified with equal number of males and females. The results suggest that increasing the knowledge about OBA with reduction in the privacy concerns is the need of the hour. Marketers and other stakeholders must work to increase the knowledge about OBA among consumers. Reducing the privacy concerns could increase the positive attitude towards OBA. This will further increase the chances of OBA acceptance. The observations of the current study could be used by future researchers as well as by marketers while formulating their policies involving targeting advertising.

About the Speaker

Dr. Priyanka holds a Ph.D in Management and brings over two years of teaching and academic experience as an Assistant Professor, along with a strong Commitment to teaching, research, and academic service. Her doctoral research titled 'Online Behavioral Advertising: A Study of Psychological Ownership and Social Influence on Behavioral Intention' reflects her core interest in consumer behavior. Her broader research interests include psychological ownership, data-driven marketing, public policy, rural marketing, and sustainability which closely align with the ongoing research work in your department. Dr. Priyanka has published and presented my research in several peer-reviewed journals, including high quality impact journals indexed in SCOPUS, Web of Science. She continues to actively pursue high-quality research publications. She is proficient in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, including SEM, SPSS, Regression Analysis, Survey design. She is also keen to contribute funded research projects, interdisciplinary collaborations, and postgraduate supervision.

Abstract of the talk

This study focuses on a finite queueing model with multiple servers, incorporating an admission control F-policy and considerations for customers' balking and server breakdown. The F-policy concept is used to control the flow of incoming customers, making the model formulation more realistic. Implementing the admission control F-policy, along with adding additional servers, can effectively alleviate congestion issues for customers by reducing the formation of queues and decreasing the frequency of customers opting out of the queue due to extended waiting time. To conduct a mathematical analysis of the model, we formulate the steady-state equations and solve them using a recursive technique. The probability distributions allow us to develop system performance measures, including expected system size, expected number of busy permanent servers, and probability of server breakdown. These measures are utilized to assess the effectiveness of the model. The non-linear cost function is also created to compute the optimal values of the decision variables. Grey wolf optimization and particle swarm optimization algorithms are applied to deal with the cost optimization problem.

About the Speaker

Nidhi has recently submitted her Ph.D. thesis under the supervision of Dr. Sudeep Singh Sanga in the Department of Mathematics at SV National Institute of Technology, Surat, India. She holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Delhi, New Delhi, and an MSc in Mathematics from the National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, India. Her research interests include queueing models, control policies, and optimization techniques. She has published research papers in renowned SCI journals, including Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics and Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, and has presented her work at prestigious conferences, including SocPros at IIT Roorkee, MIMAR at Université de Lorraine France, and ORSI and ICBAI at IISc Bangalore.

Abstract of the talk

This study focuses on a finite queueing model with multiple servers, incorporating an admission control F-policy and considerations for customers' balking and server breakdown. The F-policy concept is used to control the flow of incoming customers, making the model formulation more realistic. Implementing the admission control F-policy, along with adding additional servers, can effectively alleviate congestion issues for customers by reducing the formation of queues and decreasing the frequency of customers opting out of the queue due to extended waiting time. To conduct a mathematical analysis of the model, we formulate the steady-state equations and solve them using a recursive technique. The probability distributions allow us to develop system performance measures, including expected system size, expected number of busy permanent servers, and probability of server breakdown. These measures are utilized to assess the effectiveness of the model. The non-linear cost function is also created to compute the optimal values of the decision variables. Grey wolf optimization and particle swarm optimization algorithms are applied to deal with the cost optimization problem.

About the Speaker

Nidhi has recently submitted her Ph.D. thesis under the supervision of Dr. Sudeep Singh Sanga in the Department of Mathematics at SV National Institute of Technology, Surat, India. She holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Delhi, New Delhi, and an MSc in Mathematics from the National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, India. Her research interests include queueing models, control policies, and optimization techniques. She has published research papers in renowned SCI journals, including Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics and Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, and has presented her work at prestigious conferences, including SocPros at IIT Roorkee, MIMAR at Université de Lorraine France, and ORSI and ICBAI at IISc Bangalore.

Workshop Overview: In the current governance landscape, shifting focus from financial outlays to tangible results is critical. This workshop is designed to equip participants with a robust understanding of the Output-Outcome Monitoring Framework (OOMF). The session aims to bridge the gap between policy design and impactful implementation through rigorous monitoring standards.

Bio Sketch of the speakers

Dr. Devi Prasad Bhukya

Dr. Devi Prasad Bhukya is Senior Director at DMEO, NITI Aayog, with 21 years in Monitoring & Evaluation, ICT services, Project Management, R&D Planning, and Performance Engineering. Before NITI Aayog, he served as Sr. Principal Scientist/Principal Scientist/Senior Scientist/Scientist at CSIR (Ministry of Science & Technology); post-doc fellow at Institute of Telecommunications, Aveiro, Portugal; Senior Software Engineer at Wipro Technologies; and Technical/MTS roles at C-DAC's Supercomputer Division, Bangalore.

He coordinates NITI's key programs: Output Outcome Monitoring Framework (OOMF), Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI), SFC/EFC comments, integrated DMEO portals, and major scheme evaluations. At CSIR, he launched missions like Jigyasa (Scientist-Student Connect), Analyticsir platform, and CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative. Dr. Bhukya holds degrees from JNTU, IIT Madras, and Osmania University, and has authored several research papers in performance engineering and R&D management.

Dr. Monika

Dr. Monika Kulshreshtha is an accomplished anthropologist and Monitoring & Evaluation Lead at DMEO, NITI Aayog, with over eight years of experience in public health research, evaluation, and capacity building. At DMEO, she institutionalizes evidence-based frameworks: leads annual Output-Outcome Monitoring Framework (OOMF) with Union Budget; trains 500+ Indian/international officials on OOMF, Logical Frameworks, Theory of Change, and Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI); conducts sector-wide evaluations of major GoI schemes.

She holds a B.Sc. (H), M.Sc., and Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Delhi, with pioneering research on Kathak’s impact on health. Dr. Kulshreshtha has published over 10 research papers and is skilled in quantitative and qualitative methods, including SPSS, R, and NVIVO. A UGC-SRF awardee, she is also an ISAK-certified anthropometrist and Dance Movement Therapy facilitator. She is an active member of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science and a Life Member of the Indian Science Congress.

Soumya PS

Soumya PS is an Economics and Policy Research professional with over five years of experience in policy research, performance monitoring, and evaluation. She currently works as a Young Professional at DMEO, NITI Aayog, focusing on assessing government interventions through initiatives like the Output Outcome Monitoring Framework (OOMF) and the Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI). Her role includes conducting evaluation studies and strengthening monitoring systems. Previously, she served as a Research Associate at the Ministry of Finance’s Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management. Soumya holds a BA (Hons) in Economics from Miranda House, University of Delhi, and a Master’s in Economics from Maharshi Dayanand University, and is UGC NET qualified.

Abstract of the talk

In this talk, Dr. Sourav Ray will share some perspectives on how to think about novelty in research. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools has disrupted many areas of learning and scholarship, forcing many researchers to reconsider how they approach research sooner than they might have preferred. The talk will be less about trying to read the tea leaves correctly, and more about helping researchers reorient their methodological moorings as they navigate this disruption. It will also reflect on the doctoral student experience and offer some frameworks for navigating the research journey in an increasingly AI-infused ecosystem.

About the Speaker

Dr. Sourav Ray is the Lang Chair Professor of Marketing, and Director, Marketing Analytics Centre, Gordons S. Lang School of Business and Economics, University of Guelph, Canada. Dr. Ray's research addresses several interwoven themes across inter-organizational governance, distribution channels, retailing, pricing, and innovation. His papers have appeared in premier marketing and economics journals such as, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Marketing Science, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science (JAMS), Journal of Monetary Economics, Journal of Law and Economics, Economica, Journal of Business Venturing etc. Dr. Ray currently serves as Associate Editors of the journals, Decision Science Journal (DSJ) and Journal of Business Research (JBR). He is a founding co-chair of the Canadian Empirical and Theoretical (ET) Symposium on Marketing Strategy, and a founding co-director of the Marketing and Supply Chain Analytics (MiSCAN) Lab in McMaster University, Canada. Dr. Ray joined University of Guelph in 2022. Prior to that, he was the Michael Lee-Chin Family Professor of Strategic Business Studies and Professor of Marketing at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, and an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University. He has supervised several doctoral students who are now established in their own careers. Dr. Ray has a PhD in Marketing from University of Minnesota, and Aerospace engineering degrees from Texas A&M University and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur in India.

Abstract of the talk

This session explores the transformative potential of Behavioral Design and "Nudges" in mobilizing the next generation toward the 2030 Agenda. While youth are often the most vocal advocates for sustainability, a significant gap remains between climate awareness and daily habit formation. By integrating the rigorous frameworks of professional social work with the agility of NGO leadership, this talk demonstrates how subtle, strategic interventions—or nudges—can bridge the intention-action gap among young people.

The discussion highlights the pivotal role of NGOs as catalysts for these behavioral shifts, providing the necessary platforms for grassroots implementation where academic theory meets real-world action. By empowering youth as primary drivers of this change, the session illustrates how young leaders can move beyond advocacy to become architects of "choice architecture" within their own communities. Drawing on recent global advocacy and youth-led initiatives, participants will gain practical insights into how NGOs can support young people in creating sustainable defaults that make eco-friendly living the path of least resistance. Ultimately, this approach fosters long-term environmental resilience, proving that when youth-led NGOs nudge sustainable shifts today, they secure a future-proof planet for tomorrow.

About the Speaker

Dr. Vivek Trivedi is a distinguished social development strategist and academic leader with a Ph.D. in Social Work from Panjab University, Chandigarh. His career is defined by a commitment to bridging grassroots social action with global policy frameworks, particularly in the realms of sustainability and organizational strengthening. Currently serving as a Social Development Officer with the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, Dr. Trivedi oversees critical urban livelihood initiatives, building on a foundation of expertise in program management, monitoring and evaluation, and high-level administration.

His influence in the international arena is marked by decades of advocacy and leadership within the United Nations ecosystem. As the founder of the Association of Professional Social Workers and Development Practitioners (APSWDP), he was instrumental in securing Special Consultative Status under UN-ECOSOC, as well as observer status under UNEP, UNEA, and the UNFCCC. Dr. Trivedi’s early work as a Climate Reality Fellow at the 2009 Asia Pacific Summit in Melbourne and his selection for the International Youth Parliament in 2004, Sydney established him as a key voice in global environmental dialogues. His contributions to the Nagoya Declaration in 2014, as a drafting committee member for the UNESCO ESD Youth Statement, further solidified his role in shaping international education for sustainable development.

In recognition of his meritorious service in social and public affairs, Dr. Trivedi has been conferred several prestigious honors, including two State Awards from the Chandigarh Administration in 2014 and 2020. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and his consistent dedication to humanitarian causes led to his recognition as one of the 50 Leading Lights of the Asia Pacific for Kindness and Leadership in 2025. Additionally, he has been honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Panjab University and the Hindustan Times Brightest Young Climate Leadership Award by the British Council. Beyond his professional portfolio, he is a passionate author, a dedicated photographer, and a global traveler who continues to explore the intersections of human culture and environmental resilience.

Abstract of the talk

Consumers rapidly assess packaging through a mix of conscious and unconscious processes, which play a crucial role in shaping their engagement and purchase decisions. Grounded in dual process theory, this exploratory sequential multi-method research investigates how ingredient-based illustrations (realistic vs caricatured), on front-of-pack (FOP) designs shape consumer engagement, defined as a multidimensional construct encompassing cognitive, emotional, and behavioural engagements. Across four complementary studies, we investigate how illustration type influences preference (behavioural engagement), visual attention (cognitive engagement), emotional intensity (emotional engagement), cognitive load (cognitive engagement) and implicit evaluations (emotional engagement). Challenging prior findings, the results reveal that caricatured ingredient illustrations evoke positive cognitive, emotional and behavioural engagements than realistic illustrations. By positioning these diverse measures within a single customer engagement framework, the present research contributes novel empirical insights to the consumer behavior literature by elucidating how ingredient-based illustrations impact consumer engagement, especially in online shopping contexts. The research also offers novel managerial implications for product and brand managers; by emphasising how caricatured ingredient-based illustrations may strengthen the connection between ingredient and its perceived authenticity, enhancing customer engagement through more intuitive and emotionally engaging visuals.

About the Speaker

Raveena Gupta is a research scholar in the area of Consumer Neuroscience and Neuromarketing at the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi. Her research examines unconscious decision-making, focusing on how non-verbal/visual cues shape consumer engagement, preferences, and choices. Her pioneering work in neuromarketing and neuropolitics has been featured in international journals and leading neuromarketing yearbooks.

With nearly a decade of corporate experience in marketing and innovation roles across Accenture, Ernst & Young, Airtel, and Reliance, she has contributed to several strategic initiatives at the industry front. She holds an MBA in Marketing from Symbiosis, Pune (SIU) and a B.E. from the Institute of Technology and Management, Gurgaon.

Raveena is also the co-founder of KTW Consultancy, a venture that works at the intersection of neuromarketing, anthropology, and marketing research to decode human behavior and wellbeing in consumer contexts.

Abstract of the talk

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, the integration of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) into supply chain networks represents a transformative shift, promising to redefine the paradigms of logistics and transportation. In this talk, I will investigate the impact of AVs on supply chain performance, with a particular focus on network design, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Employing the advanced simulation capabilities of anyLogistix tool (ALX) and a hybrid discrete event simulation (DES)-agent based systems (ABS) approach, the study constructs the digital twin of a conventional supply chain network, encompassing suppliers, production facilities, distribution centers, and customer endpoints. A case study for yogurt supply chain digital twin is proposed. The research methodically integrates AVs into this intricate network, aiming to unravel the multifaceted effects on transportation logistics including transit times, cost-efficiency, and sustainability. The production flows are modelled using discrete event simulation while the impact of AVs on supply chain is studied using agent-based approach. Different AV scenarios are modelled and coupled with the supply chain digital twin to investigate the gains in profits, lead times and Co2 emissions. The resulting insights offer a strategic framework for industry stakeholders, guiding the adoption of AVs to foster a more efficient, responsive, and sustainable supply chain ecosystem.

Keywords: Autonomous Vehicles; Agri food supply chains; Simulation; Digital twin; Anylogistix; Scenario analysis

About the Speaker

Dr. Anjali Awasthi is a Full Professor at the Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering (CIISE), Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, and the past President of the Canadian Operational Research Society (CORS) from 2024-2025. She served as a Tier II Concordia University Research Chair (2019–2024), where she advanced research on sustainable supply chains, smart city operations, and decision-support systems. Dr. Awasthi has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications in international journals and conferences and has supervised numerous doctoral and master's theses. She is the recipient of prestigious honors including the CORS Eldon Gunn Service Award and the IEOM Society International Special Recognition Award. Her research is widely recognized for bridging theory and practice in operations research, multicriteria decision-making, and intelligent systems. She is also actively engaged in mentoring, professional service, and advancing diversity and inclusion in engineering and operations research communities.

Abstract of the talk

In this paper, we investigate the resilience of alternative electric grid configurations by adopting a stylized approach based on graph theory, probabilistic analysis, and simulation. We consider two alternative classes of electricity network topology: binary trees and rectangular lattices. For each topology, we find the probabilities that customers located at various nodes in the network will continue to have power following a disaster, depending on the locations of resources (e.g., generators, storage units) in the network. Then, these probabilities are incorporated into the problem of optimally placing resources throughout the network. This is a cost–benefit problem that weighs the benefits of placing resources closer to customers – that is, pursuing a distributed resilience strategy – against the higher total cost of deploying a greater number of smaller resource units. Our analytical and numerical results thus shed light on the general circumstances in which centralized or distributed resilience strategies are preferable. While optimal resource placements depend on various assumptions, such as the probability that power lines fail and the strength of economies of scale, we find that distributed resilience strategies are more often preferred in the binary tree topology than in the rectangular lattice topology. Rectangular lattices feature greater redundancy in terms of paths between nodes in the network, enabling the system to be fairly resilient even with centralized resources.

About the Speaker

Dr. Balasubramanian Sambasivam is an Assistant Professor at Mahindra University, Hyderabad. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, where his research focused on electricity demand-side management using optimization and quantitative modelling frameworks. He earned his master's degree from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany. He completed postdoctoral research in the Operations Research and Industrial Engineering Department and the Centre for Transportation Research at the University of Texas at Austin, USA, and also held a postdoctoral position at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research integrates optimization techniques, data analytics, and systems modelling to support strategic decision-making in sustainable energy, transportation, and infrastructure systems. He has received fellowships including DAAD, JST, and the UT Austin Staff Council Professional Development Grant.

Abstract of the talk

Traditional knowledge commons (TKC) are embedded in rural communities, with collective ownership of these sociocultural resources, which contribute to the overall well-being of rural communities. However, these knowledge forms are vulnerable to erosion due to the dominance of explicit forms of knowledge under the profiteering and neoliberal logic, resulting in their neglect, poor market integration leading to distress migration of artisans and knowledge bearers, and overall structural degradation. The problem is further exacerbated, pushing TKC to the margin as they struggle to integrate with contemporary digital markets dominated by platform-based enterprises due to their inherent ‘tacitness’, which restricts their transmission. The existing literature underscores the importance of TKC for rural communities and the potential of digital platforms in enhancing rural resilience. Literature also underscores the significance of patron-run alternative platforms in the mainstreaming of traditional knowledge in moralised markets. However, how these platform cooperatives organise TKC remains underexplored and ambiguous in the extant literature. Bridging this gap is crucial for instituting democratic platforms that are sensitive to their socio-cultural valence for communities, enabling them to engage with place-based production systems, generate livelihoods, and preserve their cultural identity. In this vein, we ask a fundamental question: how can platform cooperatives organise the TKC and contribute to rural revitalisation? We adopt an abductive, multi-case study design, utilising open-ended interviews and archival data sources from three platform cooperatives: Looms of Ladakh, SEWA, and Kudumbashree. We utilise nexogenous development theory and the quintuple helix model as a theoretical vehicle for synthesising a processual framework, which is then empirically validated and refined through within-case and cross-case analysis. We establish that platform cooperatives serve as institutional intermediaries, proactively scouting TKC from rural communities, which act as living repositories, codifying and activating them, and translating them into market offerings. We also present how platform cooperatives scaffold complementors across the quintuple helix strands and facilitate interaction, resulting in the mainstreaming of TKC and contributing to the overall well-being of rural communities.

Keywords: Nexogenous Strategies; Platform Cooperatives; Quintuple Helix; Social Marketing

About the Speaker

Dr Neeraj Singh currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Marketing Area at the Indian Institute of Management Rohtak. He earned his PhD from the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow and an MPhil from the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal. His research focuses on rural marketing and social marketing, particularly rural platform ecosystems and platform cooperatives. His work, grounded in qualitative case research methods, has been published in internationally ranked ABS/ABDC journals, including Journal of Rural Studies, Electronic Markets, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, and Technology Analysis & Strategic Management. At IIM Rohtak, he teaches MBA and Executive Education courses on Rural Marketing, Social Marketing, and B2B Marketing.

Abstract of the talk

This Lifecycle Framework Would Encompass Innovation & Conceptualization including “Paper Studies”; Launch Decisions based on product viability, program economics and projected marketplace opportunity capture; Technology Readiness, or Technology Development for product, manufacturing and field support; Product definition and Realization (Manufacturing); Certification; Field Operations & Support. While the holistic nature of the overall process is critical and alignment and integration with overall objectives has to be maintained, each stage of the process focuses on its activities and outcomes using appropriate specialized techniques, methods, tools and practices. Consequently, objectives and metrics are both global and local. Such Life Cycle frameworks also require appropriate management and governance frameworks AND process and technology infrastructure. Important overall drivers will be discussed, such as “time to market”, “quality” defined as conformance to specifications, and “first time right” outcomes. In addition to product performance, reliability and safety metrics, economic and financial metrics also play a critical role. Carefully designed metrics support accurate monitoring relative to the overarching goals, as well as local sub goals. For example, metrics related to elapsed time and quality/conformance also have a strong relationship with program economic and financial performance and can frequently signal looming program risks and problems with potential impact on marketplace perception and reputation. It is important to recognize that successful product development requires excellence in each of innovation, analysis and integration, with appropriate “industrialization” of the product. Successful product systems result from integration. The concepts to be presented are generic but critical for product development and Life Cycle Management. For specific domains, they are then tailored into specific appropriate architecture, for specific product and technology environments. My illustrative examples will be drawn mainly from aerospace/defense. automotive/industrial and communications (e.g. switching computer systems, pioneering Telstar communication satellite).

About the Speaker

Mr. Harsh Manglik is a Distinguished Alumnus Awardee (2008) of IIT Kanpur (BT/ME ’70) and a highly respected leader in global corporate roles and management consulting. He served as Chairman & Geography Managing Director of Accenture-India and was a member of Accenture’s Global Executive Leadership Team. He also held the position of Chairman of NASSCOM and was an invited member of the National Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

He started as a Management Trainee at Metal Box India. Later, beginning his professional career at Booz, Allen & Hamilton, he went on to senior leadership roles at Pratt & Whitney/United Technologies Corp and at IBM, including Vice President for Asia-Pacific Consulting and Global Vice President for Product Life Cycle consulting and services.

Beyond corporate leadership, Mr. Manglik has served on various business and academic boards, including Cyient Ltd. and the Board of Governors of IIT Kanpur, and held roles such as Distinguished Executive in Residence and Adjunct Professor of Management at Tepper School, Carnegie Mellon University, as well as Senior Advisor and Practice Professor at the Indian School of Business. He also represented United Technologies Corp at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a member of the launch Operating Committee, for the Leaders for Manufacturing Program (now Leaders for Global Operations), a joint offering of the Graduate School of Engineering and Sloan School of Management.

Mr. Manglik was recognized by The Economic Times (India) as one of the Top 10 Most Powerful MNC CEOs. He was featured on the cover of Forbes magazine and accompanying lead story, worldwide.

Abstract of the talk

This talk will be based on a course on leadership that I developed and taught at the Tepper School, Carnegie Mellon University. The course was offered as a second year MBA elective course. I also converted and taught this course in a form suitable for a remote online offering. That offering included both asynchronous and synchronous elements plus to two “bookend” in-person sessions. The course focuses on fundamental concepts and facets of leadership, rather than offer a prescription of How-To practices. The primary premise was that while foundational concepts are common to all styles of leadership, specific styles of leadership are unique to individual leaders, against the backdrop of their personal makeup and personalities and the context in which they operate. Another foundational belief in developing the course has been that excellence in leadership is a lifelong evolutionary process and requires the evolving leader to take ownership and drive the evolutionary process, aided by reflection, calibration and guidance.

About the Speaker

Mr. Harsh Manglik is a Distinguished Alumnus Awardee (2008) of IIT Kanpur (BT/ME ’70) and a highly respected leader in global corporate roles and management consulting. He served as Chairman & Geography Managing Director of Accenture-India and was a member of Accenture’s Global Executive Leadership Team. He also held the position of Chairman of NASSCOM and was an invited member of the National Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

He started as a Management Trainee at Metal Box India. Later, beginning his professional career at Booz, Allen & Hamilton, he went on to senior leadership roles at Pratt & Whitney/United Technologies Corp and at IBM, including Vice President for Asia-Pacific Consulting and Global Vice President for Product Life Cycle consulting and services.

Beyond corporate leadership, Mr. Manglik has served on various business and academic boards, including Cyient Ltd. and the Board of Governors of IIT Kanpur, and held roles such as Distinguished Executive in Residence and Adjunct Professor of Management at Tepper School, Carnegie Mellon University, as well as Senior Advisor and Practice Professor at the Indian School of Business. He also represented United Technologies Corp at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a member of the launch Operating Committee, for the Leaders for Manufacturing Program (now Leaders for Global Operations), a joint offering of the Graduate School of Engineering and Sloan School of Management.

Mr. Manglik was recognized by The Economic Times (India) as one of the Top 10 Most Powerful MNC CEOs. He was featured on the cover of Forbes magazine and accompanying lead story, worldwide.

Abstract of the talk

Coal is a major contributor to anthropogenic climate change and one of the leading causes of premature mortality resulting from local air pollution. However, coal is mostly concentrated in specific regions in most countries where the economy relies on its mining, transportation, electricity generation, industrial production and exports. The Paris climate change agreement and subsequent national pledges to attain net-zero emissions, along with recent innovations in renewable energy technologies, have put pressure on these regional economies to transition away from coal in a time bound manner. Although global and national scale climate-energy-economy models have studied the question of coal transitions, they provide limited insights on how these transitions will have an impact on the coal-dependent communities. In this presentation, I will discuss a modelling framework we are developing to study the optimal pathways for a coal phase-out within a small, open, regional economy. Taking the perspective of a social planner who maximizes regional welfare, the framework employs optimal control theory to study the conditions under which coal mining and thermal power generation are phased out, depending on preferences, technology investment costs and energy prices. The preliminary results provide a systematic analysis of the dynamic processes associated with technology transitions in coal-based regional economies, including the scope for multiple equilibria. The results are relevant for regional and national governments looking to undertake equitable and just transitions away from coal. I shall conclude the discussion with limitations of this approach and future research plans based on the modelling framework.

About the Speaker

Omkar Patange is a research scholar with the Economic Frontiers Program at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria. His research interests are in the areas of energy and climate policy with focus on mitigation strategies and their implications for just transitions. At IIASA, he is the principal investigator for a project titled “Modelling the regional welfare impacts of coal transitions (JUSTCOAL).” He is also working on the IIASA Strategic Initiative, JustTrans4ALL, focusing on the empirical analysis of input-based indicators for decent living standards. He received his PhD in Public Systems from IIM Ahmedabad. Previously, he has worked on clean energy access with rural communities in north India, focusing on indoor air quality assessment and the adoption of clean cookstoves and fuels.

Abstract of the talk

We investigate the influence of national culture on Bitcoin pricing and examine how cultural distance contributes to cross-country Bitcoin price deviations. Our results show that cultures characterized by individualism and uncertainty avoidance have a significant impact on Bitcoin prices. Furthermore, we find that greater cultural distance between countries is associated with wider Bitcoin price deviations: a one-standard-deviation increase in cultural distance corresponds to a 22.5% change in price deviations. By isolating the cultural component from overall price deviations, we demonstrate that culturally driven price deviations are persistent, but difficult to exploit due to limited trading volumes outside the United States.

About the Speaker

Prof. Edward R. Lawrence is Chair of the Department of Finance and holds the Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA) Professorship at Florida International University. He earned his PhD in Business Administration and MBA from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Nebraska, and a BTech from IIT Kanpur. A distinguished scholar in finance, his research interests include investments, asset pricing, banking and financial institutions, and behavioral finance. Prof. Lawrence's work has been widely published in leading academic journals. He has received the "Best Professor Award" and "Best Course Award" for his finance course consistently from 2009 to 2025. In addition to his research contributions, he has played a key leadership role in advancing finance education, mentoring students and faculty, and strengthening engagement between academia and the financial services industry. He also served as Co-Chair of the Academy of Behavioral Finance and Economics Annual Conference, Managing Editor of the Journal of Behavioral Finance and Economics, a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Business Theory and Practice, and a member of the Educational Committee of the Florida International Bankers Association.

Abstract of the talk

Cyberloafing, a term that refers to employees using the internet for personal purposes during work hours, has become a significant concern for organisations, among the numerous phenomena observed in workplaces. In the Indian IT sector, where technology-driven work is pervasive, cyberloafing presents unique challenges for human resource management and organizational effectiveness. Although prior research has identified several antecedents of cyberloafing, these factors are often examined independently, limiting understanding of their structural relationships.

This study employs Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) to identify and hierarchically organize the key determinants of cyberloafing among Indian IT professionals. Further, MICMAC analysis is used to classify these determinants based on their driving and dependence power. The analysis reveals that cyberloafing is shaped by an ordered structure of interrelated organizational and work-related determinants, rather than being driven solely by individuallevel tendencies.

The seminar will explain how ISM and MICMAC can be effectively applied within human resource management and organizational behaviour research to capture the structural dynamics of cyberloafing determinants. Practical implications for HR policies and managerial interventions aimed at regulating cyberloafing in technology-enabled organizations will also be discussed. The study contributes to a more structured and integrative understanding of cyberloafing behaviour in the Indian IT context.

About the Speaker

Dr. Nivedita Jha holds a Doctorate in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour from Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida, and an MBA in Human Resource Management and Marketing. Her research interests focus on contemporary workplace behaviours, with particular emphasis on cyberloafing, perceived overqualification, and job crafting. Her work examines employee behaviour in technology-driven organizational contexts, particularly within the Indian IT sector. She has published in Scopus-indexed journals and actively engages in academic discourse through seminars and conferences. Her broader interests include workplace behaviour and leadership.

Abstract of the talk

The global energy transition is increasingly driven by the need for sustainable, secure, and resilient energy systems. Bioenergy provides over half of renewable energy and nearly 10% of global energy supply. India, with 10% of global cropland, generates 500 MMT of crop residue annually, of which 20% is burned, worsening emissions. National green initiatives underscore the need for efficient, sustainable agri-waste biomass supply chains with strong bioenergy potential and multidimensional relevance. It also supports reduced import dependence and energy resilience. This talk identifies key research gaps in the Indian biomass supply chain context and outlines a proposed optimization-based, data-driven methodology for strategic and tactical decision-making with a case study on Uttar Pradesh.

About the Speaker

Dr. Aditi Mahajan earned her doctorate from the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at IIT Roorkee in 2024. She obtained her Bachelor of Technology degree in Industrial and Production Engineering from NIT Jalandhar in 2018. Currently, she is working as Project Fellow at IIT Roorkee contributing to academic and research activities. With prior teaching experience as Assistant Professor at Amity School of Business Administration, Amity University Punjab and industrial experience at Fleet Management Solutions, Tata Motors Ltd as a Senior Manager and as a Graduate Engineer Trainee, Dr Aditi brings strong industry–academia integration to teaching and research. Her research interests include data driven decision making, supply chain analytics, decision support systems, sustainable manufacturing.

Abstract of the talk

This work presents an efficient numerical method for solving the Black-Scholes partial differential equation (PDE), which governs the pricing of European options. The methodology employs the backward Euler scheme to discretize the time derivative and incorporates the non-symmetric interior penalty Galerkin (NIPG) method for handling the spatial derivatives. The study aims to determine optimal order error estimates in the L2-norm and discrete energy norm. Additionally, the proposed method is utilised to determine Greeks in option pricing. The theoretical results are verified using numerical experiments.

About the Speaker

Sachin Kumar is a researcher in computational finance and numerical analysis, currently completing his Ph.D. at the Dept. of Mathematics, IIT Guwahati. His work focuses on developing high-order numerical schemes for derivative pricing and risk management. He has contributed to the advancement of discontinuous Galerkin and weak Galerkin finite element methods for solving generalized Black–Scholes equations and multi-asset option models. More recently, he has explored the use of physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) to model nonlinear financial systems, including the Leland model with transaction costs. A recipient of the GATE and CSIR Junior Research Fellowships, he has published his research in leading journals such as Computers & Mathematics with Applications and Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations.

Abstract of the talk

The study examines the conceptual and empirical understanding of workplace ostracism through qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative research first examines potential antecedents, consequences and prevention measures for workplace ostracism. Thirtytwo senior and middle-level employees from different public and private sector organizations participated in semi-structured interviews. Second, I empirically examine the conceptual understanding of workplace ostracism. The quantitative study tests the proposed conceptual model based on the variables resulting from the qualitative study. The hypotheses were tested using SEM and PROCESS macros.

About the Speaker

Dr. Sushant Ranjan is a dedicated academician and professional with a strong foundation in both engineering and management. He holds a Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Rohtak, in Organizational Behavior & Human Resource Management. Prior to his doctoral studies, he completed a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the NPTI, Nagpur (an institute under the Government of India). Sushant has authored multiple research papers published in reputed national and international journals, reflecting his commitment to academic rigor. Currently based in Mumbai, he is working with an organization, where he continues to apply his research insights and technical expertise to real-world government challenges.

Abstract of the talk

This paper explores the effects of innovational investments in information technology (IT) on the productivity performance of firms. We employ a micro-level dataset of 3582 firms from Indian manufacturing spanning 1998 to 2016 to identify some critical channels through which IT investments may impact productivity. We find a significant impact of inter-industry network spillovers, suggesting that the convenience drawn from IT assets transmits to firms in other sectors of the economy without the recipient firms paying for it. These spillovers are higher for firms in the top 50 percentile of the industry in terms of their IT assets. Our results also show strong complementarities between IT, R&D, and disembodied technology purchased by the firm. We find that these technological inputs offer a synergistic effect on productivity. Our results also highlighted that these synergies vary by ownership and export status. IT also seems to mitigate the diminishing gains to R&D as firms scale their R&D effort. Overall, we show that IT investments not only provide crucial productivity returns but also synergize other technological investments to produce superior overall gains.

Keywords: productivity; information technology; endogeneity; production function estimation; panel data; firm-level

About the Speaker

Dr. Rupika is a faculty in the Economics and Public Policy area at the Indian Institute of Management Rohtak. She completed her doctoral studies at the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow. Her research interests are understanding manufacturing productivity and its drivers, information technology spillovers, infrastructure, governance quality, and panel data methods. She has published in international journals such as Economic Letters, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Economic Modelling, Applied Economics, etc. She has served as a reviewer for many high-ranking journals. Her doctoral thesis essays have won best-paper awards at IIM Bangalore and IIT Kanpur. At IIM Rohtak, she has taught courses on Macroeconomics, Money, Banking and Financial Markets, Managerial Economics, Contemporary Indian Economy, Business Government Relations in India.

Abstract of the talk

Solar started as an additional energy source in India's energy mix but has transitioned into a strategic energy source and a key element of India's energy and climate commitments. Solar capacity has reached half of India's coal capacity and generates about 8% of electricity. While prior studies discuss opportunities, challenges, and policies, systematic evaluations remain scarce. This study adopts an institutional approach to analyze India's solar sector growth using latest numbers available in the reviewed literature, discuss future challenges, and the impacts on emissions and jobs. Using mixed-method research, including discourse analysis, we find purpose-built entities have been at the centre of solar growth in a coordinated effort from other layered organizations to target specific solar applications. Much of the growth came from lateral consensus-building and coordination on solar policies across the central government agencies. Institutions and policies supported mainstreaming solar by increasing installation, generation, and use of solar as an energy source. The focus on domestically produced solar panels and other equipment is now gaining traction. We find that from 2010 to 2024, solarization has saved 409–488 Mt CO2 emissions and created over 21,000 full-time and 210–262 thousand temporary jobs. We identify four challenges that could adversely affect the speed and scale of future solar growth, namely land availability, investment needs, structural issues, and target setting, called the ‘LIST challenges in the solar sector’. The growth in solar now requires consensus-building and coordination amongst national entities and subnational entities and policies to catalyze the strategic integration of solar.

About the Speakers

Dr. Mousami Prasad is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management Sciences (DoMS) IIT Kanpur since 2022. Prior to joining IIT Kanpur, she was a research fellow at the Australian National University and later a Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions (ICEDS) at the Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, and a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Malaya, Malaysia. She earned her PhD from the Shailesh J Mehta School of Management, IIT Bombay, India. Her teaching and research focus on the economics of energy and climate change, with a particular emphasis on the intersection of technology and economics and their policy implications. She is currently working on green steel, green hydrogen, solar energy, steel, and biofuels. Dr Prasad has published her work in peer-reviewed journals of repute, written magazine articles, and also expressed her opinion in print and online media. She also engages in industry training and capacity building on issues of business sustainability, climate change and climate investments.

Abstract of the talk

Conspiracy theories are narratives that claim that powerful, hidden, and evil forces act behind the scenes in society. Much of the academic literature has so far focused on definitional concerns and the seemingly puzzling question of why otherwise rational people may hold such irrational beliefs. Consequently, remedial approaches to the social problem of conspiratorial thinking have pivoted on fact-checking and debunking the false beliefs (we call these belief-driven approaches). However, as has been well-documented by now, belief-driven approaches often fail to disabuse adherents of their conspiratorial notions, and may even backfire. We argue that the failure of belief-driven approaches in addressing conspiracy theories is arising from the failure to recognize the heterogeneity and plurality in the motivations of the members in a conspiracy community. We develop the concept of a conspiracy community as a loosely held coalition of actors who signal their allegiance by narrative repetition. Considering the functional roles of the members in a conspiracy community, we may identify epistemic manipulators, foot soldiers, and truth seekers among others. Membership in the conspiracy communities may not be hinged necessarily on belief, instead these communities may be held together by opportunistic compatibility of goals. Therefore, responses to conspiratorial thinking must also be multi-pronged and heterogeneous, taking into account not just the type of the conspiracy theory, but also the position of the actor in the conspiracy community.

About the Speakers

Prof. Sushruth Ravish
Dr. Sushruth Ravish is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur. He earned his PhD from IIT Bombay, following an MA from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a BE from the National Institute of Engineering, Mysore. His research spans ethics, epistemology and political philosophy. A recipient of the Naik and Rastogi Award for Excellence in PhD Research at IIT Bombay, Dr. Ravish has published in leading journals such as Philosophia and the South African Journal of Philosophy.

Prof. Jothsna Rajan
Dr. Jothsna Rajan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management Sciences, IIT Kanpur. She earned her PhD in Public Policy from IIM Bangalore in 2021, following a PGDM from IIM Indore and a B.Tech. from College of Engineering Trivandrum. Her research interests lie at the intersection of policy evaluation, public administration, and partnerships between public and private or non-governmental actors. One of her noted works is a study on the impact of technology on student learning outcomes in India, published in World Development.

Abstract of the talk

Remanufacturing helps firms achieve sustainability and gives them a competitive advantage. Many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) acquire used-products from third-party collectors (3PCs) due to benefit from economies of scale. In this study, we consider an OEM who remanufactures two types of products– high-grade and low-grade, using high-quality and low-quality used-products, respectively. The OEM faces two types of 3PCs: high-type 3PC and low-type 3PC. The used-products supplied from high-type 3PC have a higher proportion of high-quality used-products than those from low-type 3PC. We first explore the complete information framework in which the OEM knows the 3PC's type (high or low). However, often the OEM is unaware of the type of 3PC and this information is crucial in determining the proportion of high-quality used-products being collected. Hence, in an incomplete information framework we design a menu of contracts that OEM offers to 3PC. The choice from the menu of contracts reveals the type of 3PC and assigns 3PC with the appropriate contract. We extend the complete information case to allow remanufacturing of both high and low-grade products from any quality level of used-products. We also extend the incomplete information case to the situation when the OEM contracts 3PC, whose efficiency levels lie on a continuum. We find that the profit of the OEM increases with high-quality used-products up to a certain threshold. Further, we observe that 3PC's effort does not increase the proportion of high-quality used-products. However, there is scope for better outcomes if OEM invests in marketing strategies and R&D.

About the Speaker

Dr. Sri Vanamalla V is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management Sciences, IIT Kanpur since 2012 and teaches courses like Probability and Statistics, Operation Research for Management, Introduction to Game Theory, Advances Decision Models, Quantitative Methods for Decision Making. Her research interests are in Applied Operations Research, Optimization, and Game Theory. Her work has been published in journals like Annals of Operations Research, Computers & Industrial Engineering, and Journal of Operations Research Society. She completed Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. She was conferred Prof. M.N. Gopalan award for the best PhD thesis by Operational Research Society of India (ORSI-2010).

Abstract of the talk

This talk presents research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, optimization, and decision sciences, with applications in sustainable supply chain management. Drawing on my doctoral work at IIT Roorkee, I will first highlight four major themes: (i) sustainability-based ranking of sugarcane-producing countries using classical and ensemble MCDM techniques, (ii) production and yield forecasting through advanced ensemble learning models and statistical benchmarking, (iii) cultivation cost minimization via nonlinear optimization solved using metaheuristic algorithms, and (iv) occupational safety and health (OSH) risk assessment in farming through a novel hybrid bidirectional MCDM framework enhanced with machine learning. These contributions integrate real-world data, methodological innovation, and practical insights for agriculture-driven supply chains.

Building upon this foundation, I will outline my proposed postdoctoral research plan, “Building Resilient and Sustainable Supply Chains through AI, Optimization, and Decision Sciences”. This work seeks to extend AI-enabled forecasting, robust optimization, and multicriteria decision-making toward developing adaptive, human-centered supply chain frameworks that balance efficiency, resilience, environmental sustainability, and worker wellbeing. The aim is to provide theoretical advancements and practical tools that contribute to both academic research and policy-making in sustainable operations.

About the Speaker

Dr. Sumit Kumar completed his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Scientific Computing at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee under the supervision of Prof. Millie Pant. He holds an M.Phil. in Mathematics with a Gold Medal and an M.Sc. in Mathematics from Chaudhary Charan Singh University Campus, Meerut. His doctoral research focused on AI-driven optimization and sustainability assessment in agricultural supply chains, contributing to ensemble learning for forecasting, multi-criteria decision-making, nonlinear cost optimization, and occupational safety and health (OSH) risk evaluation. His research integrates artificial intelligence, optimization techniques, and statistical modelling with practical applications in sustainable systems. He has teaching and mentoring experience in optimization, applied mathematics, and machine learning. Alongside research, he is currently serving as an Assistant Professor (Guest) at the University of Delhi.

Abstract of the talk

This study examines if governance through audit committee impacts the effect of RPTs (Related party transactions) on firm performance in India and China. This is the first study to examine the impact of audit committee characteristics such as audit committee size, audit committee independence and the presence of women director in the audit committee on RPTs in the context of India and China. The use of the DID (difference in difference) approach to examine the impact of audit committee on RPT makes this study different from other studies. This study further examines if audit committee moderates the impact of RPTs on firm performance. This study is also distinctive due to compiling of data on audit committee characteristics such as number of directors in the audit committee and number of independent directors in the audit committee and hand collected data on number of women directors in the audit committee. The study contributes to the literature that evaluates the impact of regulations in better governance to reduce scandals and protect the investors.

Our results show that among audit committee characteristics, audit committee independence and women directors have positive impact on RPTs in India which indicates that audit committee members and women directors in the audit committee are encouraging RPTs to transfer the resources among the firms. We further find that audit committee independence and women directors in the audit committee have negative impact on tunnelling in India implying that independent directors in the audit committee are mitigating the tunneling activities through their monitoring. Overall, the results are consistent with agency theory, which states that the presence of audit committee in the board can ensure the reliability of financial statements and protects interest of minority shareholders. RPTs and tunneling are found to decrease performance of the firm in India and China. The interaction effect of audit committee independence and RPTs shows that audit committee with more independent directors are encouraging RPTs in India to enhance firm performance. Similar is the result for the interaction effect of presence of women directors and RPTs in India. The interaction effect of audit committee size and tunneling have negative impact on firm performance in India and China which indicates that audit committee members are unable to constrain tunneling activities since they are protecting the interest of the controlling shareholders than minority shareholders. But the interaction effect of presence of women directors in the audit committee and tunneling has positive impact on firm performance in India and China, indicating that women directors are minimising tunnelling kind of activities to enhance firm performance. Overall, the findings suggest that the audit committee members and the presence of women directors in the audit committee can reduce the financial misreporting on RPTs, which in turns improves the performance of the firm

The results imply that proper monitoring by the audit committee ensures investors protection and the firms are complying with the regulatory framework in India and China. Hence, regulators may have to evolve different audit committee norms based on value of RPTs to achieve the purpose of effective monitoring. Further, this study can be extended other advanced economies, which lacks evidence on related party transactions and role of audit committee.

About the Speaker

Dr. Aghila Sasidharan is an Assistant Professor in the area of Financial Management at the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal. She has over four years of prior academic experience at the Jindal Global Business School, O.P. Jindal Global University, and currently serves as a Visiting Faculty at Nalanda University (Rajgir, Bihar), IIT Guwahati, NIAM Jaipur, and IIT Patna.

Her teaching and research interests lie in Financial Accounting, Corporate Governance, Family Business Management, Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing, and Managerial Accounting. She is passionate about teaching and mentorship and is known for using innovative pedagogical approaches that encourage critical thinking and practical application of financial theories.

Dr. Sasidharan did her Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, where her doctoral research focused on Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance. She has published several research papers in reputed journals and actively presents her work at national and international forums.

In addition to her academic contributions, she participates in professional platforms and policy discussions, reflecting her commitment to bridging the gap between academic research and real-world financial practices.

Abstract of the talk

The old global order was the one dominated by the Washington Consensus of 1989, which imposed a draconian regime of de-regulation and liberalisation (both internal and external) on the emerging market economies that wanted help from the two global institutions, the World Bank and the IMF. It was hoped that unshackling of free enterprise forces will cure the evils of widespread poverty and stagnation, the two major problems that the old regimes of state led development had failed to solve.

But the new dispensation failed to deliver adequately on its promises and resentment and pushbacks emerged within a short time. Prominent features of the new global order are rolling back de-regulation of the labour market and the rigours of 'fiscal discipline', rethinking on inequality and environmental damage and retreat into regionalism in foreign trade.

India's gains have been mixed, some very positive ones going with deeply negative aspects. As it dreams of being a 'fully developed' nation by 2047, serious challenges will have to tackled. These factors will be discussed in the context of the current world situation where the USA has opted to go back to mercantilist anti-trade policies.

About the Speaker

Prof. Soumyen Sikdar is a distinguished academic economist. He studied economics at Presidency College, Calcutta, and earned his PhD from the University of Minnesota. Over a career spanning several decades, he has held faculty positions at Presidency College, Calcutta; Osaka University, Japan; Calcutta University; and the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, among other institutions in India and abroad. His research interests cover applied microeconomic theory, macroeconomics of developing countries, and international economics. Prof. Sikdar is a recipient of the S.N. Sen Memorial Award, awarded by the Bangiya Arthaniti Parishad. A major contribution of Prof. Sikdar to the discipline of economics is his textbook Principles of Macroeconomics (Oxford University Press), which, in its third edition, continues to remain a standard reference for teaching macroeconomics across the country. His latest book, published earlier this year, is titled - Fiscal Policy in Focus: Responsibilities and Limitations of Governments (Routledge).

Abstract of the talk
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About the Speaker

Dr. Abhijeet Kumar Gaurav is an academic in Marketing with research interests in numerical cognition, branding, and loyalty programs. He successfully defended his doctoral thesis at the Indian Institute of Management Indore in February 2025 and has been serving as an Assistant Professor of Marketing at UPES Dehradun since June 2025. His research has appeared in reputed journals, including the Australasian Marketing Journal (ABDC-A), and his recent work has been accepted for publication in the European Journal of Marketing (ABDC-A*). Committed to producing high-quality, impactful research, Dr. Gaurav seeks to advance the understanding of consumer behavior and marketing strategy. He is equally passionate about teaching and mentoring, fostering curiosity and critical thinking among students.

Abstract of the talk

Talk 1: Large Language Model Inference Under Bursty Workload Distribution

Abstract: Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Claude have rapidly gained popularity for information retrieval and problem-solving. To support their growing demand, recent research has focused on optimizing LLM inference through improved scheduling algorithms, achieving notable gains in both throughput and latency. However, most of these approaches assume request arrivals follow a Poisson process with a constant rate — an assumption that fails to capture the bursty nature of real-world workloads. Studies such as BurstGPT (Wang et al. (2024)) and ELIS (Choi et al. (2025)) show that LLM request patterns are highly variable, often better modeled by bursty processes like the Markov Modulated Poisson Process (MMPP). To address this, we propose a simple modification to the state-of-the-art WAIT algorithm [Ao et al. (2025)], enabling it to adapt to dynamically changing arrival rates without prior knowledge of the workload distribution. Our approach estimates request arrival rates online using observed interarrival times. We evaluate our modified algorithm on synthetic workloads composed of multiple request types with MMPP-based arrivals and compare its performance against Sarathi-Serve (Agrawal et al. (2024b)) and vLLM (Kwon et al. (2023)), demonstrating superior adaptability and performance under bursty traffic.

Keywords: LLM Inference, Bursty Workload, Request Scheduling

Talk 2: Research, Teaching, Publication: Three Pillars for Academia

Abstract: Academic Research is the process of systematic investigation of an idea with the intention of deciphering a hypothesis so that it facilitates the progress of the body of knowledge in the respective field of work. To disseminate the idea of academic work, one needs to showcase the output through various outlets namely, experimentation, working papers, monographs, master/doctoral theses, case studies, technical papers, review papers, survey papers, reports, books, book chapters, seminars, colloquium, conference proceedings, etc. All of these can be termed as academic publications which generally contain original research results or reviews existing results and are usually peer reviewed. Publications in fields of sciences, social sciences, humanities are generally categorized with respect to audiences, reach, applicability, focus, funding, future scope, etc. On the other hand, through teaching, experienced researchers transmit expertise, instill curiosity, ignite passion amongst all students who are expected to carry on the lofty paths of knowledge creation for the future generation.

About the Speaker

Dr. Raghu Nandan Sengupta is a professor in the Department of Management Sciences, IIT Kanpur since 2014 and teaches courses like Probability & Statistics, Stochastic Processes & their Applications, Management Decision Analysis, Financial Risk Management, etc. His research interests are in Sequential Analysis, Statistical & Mathematical Reliability, Optimization and its use in Financial Optimization. His research work has been published in journals like Metrika, European Journal of Operational Research, Sequential Analysis, Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Communications in Statistics: Simulation & Computation, Quantitative Finance, etc. He completed his bachelor's in engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi India and his FPM (PhD) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, India with specialization in Operations Management. He is also the recipient of IUSSTF Fellowship 2008 and visited Operations Research & Financial Engineering department at Princeton University, USA, ERASMUS MUNDUS Fellowship 2011 to Warsaw University, Poland, EU-NAMASTE Fellowship 2015 to IST, University of Lisboa, Portugal, DAAD Fellowship 2015 to TU Dresden, Germany.

About the Workshop

This one-day seminar explores the key stages of a doctoral research journey, guiding you through a systematic approach from start to finish. Designed to be interactive and cross-disciplinary, this workshop helps you identify crucial Do's and Don'ts in your research process.

The Octet I (8I) Model focuses on eight essential components: Induction, Indication, Incorporation, Innovation, Inculcate, Inference, Invention, and Inform.

Please register through the link to secure your spot: https://forms.gle/8zvJC2CNvuPLKMN2A

Note: The workshop does not have any registration fees.

The brief details on the workshop Click here

A Brief on the Speakers

Dr. Uday Maitra: Dr. Uday Maitra is an acclaimed Indian organic chemist and Honorary Professor (INSA Senior Scientist) in the Department of Organic Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. A recipient of the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (2001), he earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University and completed postdoctoral work at UC Berkeley. His research focuses on supramolecular chemistry—designing photoluminescent metallogels, bile acid–based materials, and paper-based biosensors for rapid detection of enzymes, antibiotics, and metals. With over 140 publications and 7,500+ citations, Dr. Maitra also actively contributes to chemistry education and outreach in India

Dr. Premnadh Kurup: Dr. Premnadh Kurup is a Lecturer in STEM Education at La Trobe University, Melbourne. As a Chartered Chemist affiliated with esteemed institutions including the Royal Society of Chemistry, his research emphasizes STEM pedagogy, interdisciplinary teaching, and teacher preparedness. Dr. Kurup's work notably addresses preservice teachers' beliefs, technology-enhanced feedback literacy, and international educational collaborations. He actively engages in initiatives bridging Australian and Indian education contexts, contributing significantly to global teacher competencies and curriculum development. His extensive publications and projects underscore his commitment to advancing innovative educational practices that integrate practical applications of science and technology into effective classroom methodologies.

Dr. Xia Li: Dr. Xia Li serves as a University Statistics Consultant and distinguished researcher at La Trobe University in Melbourne. With a PhD in Statistics from Renmin University of China (2010), followed by roles at Capital Medical University (China), University College Cork (Ireland), and visiting positions at Johns Hopkins and UC Berkeley, she specializes in applied and biostatistics—longitudinal, survival, latent variable, and spatial analysis. Dr. Li has authored over 150 publications with an h-index exceeding 40 and 3,700+ citations . Her work spans health epidemiology, environmental statistics, and research-methods consulting. She also contributes to training and platform development through La Trobe's Statistics Consultancy Research Platform, further enhancing institutional research capacity

Dr. Pradip Swarnakar: Dr. Pradip Swarnakar is currently the Head of Department of HSS at IIT Kanpur and leads the Climate & Energy Policy Research Laboratory (CEPRL). He is the founder of the Just Transition Research Centre, pioneering policy frameworks that support equitable sustainable energy transitions. Holding a PhD in Environmental Sociology from IITK, Dr. Swarnakar's multidisciplinary research spans environmental sociology, social movements, and climate justice, with over 40 publications and 160 citations . His work includes international fellowships (Fulbright-Nehru, UTS Distinguished Scholar) and collaborative outreach with governments and civil society to inform just-transition policies.

Abstract of the talk

This section highlights two interlinked research directions. The first part presents my Doctoral work focused on designing metaheuristic algorithms for solving constrained optimization problems, emphasizing algorithmic efficiency, constraint handling, and realworld applicability. In the second part, the idea of my proposed research is mentioned that integrates metaheuristics with advanced Deep Learning architectures to predict supply chain risks in the context of COVID-19 restrictions. In other words, this work is expected to propose novel hybrid algorithms to mitigate shipment risks by predicting whether a shipment can be exported from one source to another despite pandemic-related disruptions. The proposed deep learning pipeline consists of three main stages: data pre-processing, feature extraction, and classification. By combining the global optimization strength of metaheuristics with the predictive accuracy of deep learning, this research aims to provide valuable insights for resilient supply chain decision-making under uncertainty.

About the Speaker

Dr. Rajeev Das is a dedicated researcher specializing in Optimization and Soft Computational Techniques. He earned his Ph.D. from National Institute of Technology Silchar, where he designed Metaheuristic frameworks for solving constrained non-convex optimization problems. His current research focuses on developing hybrid algorithmic frameworks for predicting supply chain risks in times of COVID-19 restrictions. Dr. Das has contributed to 8 peer-reviewed journals and 3 conferences and is actively involved in interdisciplinary collaborations. He recently applied his expertise to estimate impact of Parking Fee on On-Street Night Parking Demand in Delhi using Machine Learning. Known for his strong commitment to continuous learning, Dr. Das continues to explore advanced Deep Learning architectures for applications in agricultural supply chain management and address complex challenges across interdisciplinary fields.

Abstract of the talk

Maritime freight is a crucial part of global trade due to its cost-effectiveness and efficiency. However, as international trade expands, emissions from ships are rising, especially near coastal areas, leading to environmental concerns. To tackle these challenges, Industry 4.0 enabled key digital technologies - such as Blockchain, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data - offer promising solutions. These tools help improve ship operations, reduce delays, save energy, and cut emissions. This talk explores how integrating these technologies can make maritime freight efficient and sustainable. The study applies descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analyses to examine trends, predict emissions, and suggest sustainable strategies. It aims to guide freight managers and policymakers in developing effective, technology-driven approaches for a more sustainable maritime sector.

About the Speaker

Dr. Suneet Singh is a researcher specializing in sustainable maritime freight, focusing on integrating digital technologies like AI, Big Data Analytics, Blockchain, and IoT. Her research interests include Multi-Criteria Decision-Making methods, sustainability, optimization, freight logistics systems, and circular economy. She has published 6 journal articles, including 3 in ABDC ‘A’ category journals (all Web of Science indexed), and has 4 more under review in prestigious journals. She has completed certified courses in Supply Chain Digitalization & Management (NITIE Mumbai), Metaheuristics: a class of intelligent search methods in AI (NIT Rourkela), and Google Data Analytics (Coursera). She is proficient in Advanced Excel, SQL, SPSS, AMOS, and VOSviewer. Additionally, she serves as a reviewer for respected journals such as Computers & Industrial Engineering and Operations Management Research.

Abstract of the talk

This thesis contains four inter-related studies. The first study assesses the social impact of National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. Nine hundred fifty-seven households were surveyed from Bihar ad Haryana. Despite the increase in availability and accessibility of food grains, the households were not getting the recommended amount of food grains in the scheduled time and more than 80% of the beneficiary and of non-beneficiary families had calorie deficits. The beneficiaries are close to the non-beneficiaries on calorie intake and BMI. The second study examines the factors associated with food security after three years of implementation of the NFSA. Fifteen hundred and fourteen households from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana states of India were surveyed. Data were analysed using binary logistic regression. Findings suggest that compared to non-beneficiaries, the beneficiaries had more employment in families, normal and deficit calorie intake, used cow dung cake as fuel, more children enrolment in primary and secondary schools, and adoption of family planning measures. The third study reviews the food security status during the COVID-19. Food insecurity occurred due to disruptions in food production, food supply chain, implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), employment, and income. Lockdown had adversely affected the sowing of crops and harvesting in India apart from food processing and supply chain. Distribution of free rations till November 2020, apart from entitlement under NFSA did not solve the problem of food insecurity. Retrenchment of workers from firms, migration to their villages, and saturation of rural farm wages have decreased people’s income and changed their food security status. The fourth study examines the impact of food insecurity on the mental health and cognitive abilities of subgroups of younger (10-14 years) and older (15-19 years) adolescents Younger and older adolescents participated, 100 each from food insecure and food secure families. On mental health, food insecure adolescents are found to be more anxious and depressed than food secure adolescents and younger adolescents were more anxious and depressed than older adolescents. On cognitive abilities, food secure adolescents faster complete the design configuration, and auditory sequence than food insecure adolescents. Older adolescents performed better than younger adolescents on design configuration. It improves the capabilities on arresting hunger, furthering employment and income, improving physical, mental health, and cognitive competencies, increasing school attendance of children, and making people aware of social and physical environment. Implications of findings are discussed.

Keywords: Beneficiary, NFSA, COVID-19, mental health, cognitive abilities

About the Speaker

Dr. Amit Kumar is currently working as Senior Survey Scientist, Misra Centre of Finance Markets and Economy at IIM Ahmedabad, since 1st January, 2024 till now. He received Junior Research Fellowship from MHRD and did his Master of Science and Ph.D. degree from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (India) in the domain of food security and mental health. He is graduate and post-graduate in social work from University of Delhi and Kurukshetra University. He did his schooling from Patna Central School Patna. His research interests are in areas of Food security, Mental health, Gerontology, Happiness and Well Being, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, and Ease of Doing Business. He has worked in centrally and state government funded four mega projects. He has two research projects in his credit of INR 2970000 from Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation and INR 2000000 from Dr. Ramdayal Munda Tribal Research Project. He has Published four research papers in journal of repute and one book chapter.

Abstract of the talk

AI based service recommendation platforms often advise individuals on how to allocate their resources. For example, advisory platform might advise individuals on how to allocate financial resources across investment portfolios or how to allocate time across different activities. If individuals do not like the advice of the agentic AI, they may not follow such advice, and as such, it becomes important for AI based service platforms to understand what kind of resource allocation advice is acceptable to individuals. While resource allocation can happen in various ways, this research shows that the acceptability of the advice is highest when recommendation received from agentic AI is such that it structures the resources equally across all the options. Five experimental studies that cover a range of contexts, including time allocation and financial planning show that consumers prefer resource allocation plans that follow the equal allocation of resources rather than an unequal allocation of resources. This research also establishes that perceived structure and ease of justification mediates the relationship between the type of allocation and the acceptability of the plan. Equal allocation is seen as more structured and is also seen to be easy to justify. This preference for purchasing plans with equal allocation of resources attenuates if the avenues for the allocation are categorized. Also, when individuals have a complex decision objective the acceptability for equal-allocation plan reduces. The results contribute to the rather nascent literature on acceptability of advice from agentic advisors. Individuals typically use and also like an "equal division approach" in decision-making, including resource allocation and purchasing plans. This research contributes to consumer behavior, service marketing and decision-making processes.

About the Speaker

Dr. Alisha Dhal is currently serving as an Assistant Professor (Marketing) at the Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad. She holds a Ph.D. in Marketing from IIM Indore. Her research interests include consumer decision-making, goal pursuit, loyalty programs, joint consumption, referral mechanisms, resource allocation, and AI-driven recommendations— primarily explored through experimental methods. She has taught courses such as Integrated Marketing Communication, Critical Analytical Thinking, and Marketing Management. Her work has been published in journals like the Australasian Marketing Journal and Journal of Public Affairs, and she has presented at reputed conferences including the Association for Consumer Research (ACR), Society for Consumer Psychology (SCP), NASMEI, and INDAM. She is keen to offer courses like Business Research Methods, Neuro Pricing, New Product Development, and AI and decision making.

Abstract of the talk

Product handling systems are integral to the operational efficiency of logistics within warehouse management organizations, ensuring optimal flow, storage, and retrieval of goods. This research work proposes a novel queueing system for a warehouse management system (WMS), where order processing times are categorized as premium or ordinary based on retailer preferences. The proposed model considers a double-orbit retrial of a single server queueing system with two types of retailers, incorporating the additional services. The arrival process follows a Poisson distribution, while the service process for both types of retailers follows an exponential distribution. The system includes facilities for premium and ordinary waiting spaces for the retailers. If one of the retailers is not satisfied after the first service, they may request an additional service. The queue size distribution and various performance metrics are evaluated using the probability generating function approach. Numerical experiments are conducted using illustrative examples. We first formulate a single-objective optimization problem to minimize the total cost, followed by a bi-objective optimization problem aimed at minimizing both the expected cost of the system and the expected waiting time for retailers. The GA and NSGA-II algorithms are implemented, respectively, with NSGA-II used to obtain Pareto optimal solutions. Finally, the regression models are proposed to predict the minimum cost and the corresponding optimal service rates, given the maximum acceptable value for the expected number of product orders. The established models provide insights into the optimal solutions, and our numerical findings offer valuable guidance for decision-makers and warehouse managers.

About the Speaker

Sibasish Dhibar received his Ph.D. degree in 2024 from the Department of Mathematics at the IIT Roorkee, India. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow (May-2024-Ongoing) in the Department of Entrepreneurship and Management at IIT Hyderabad, Hyderabad. His current research interests include Operations Research, Stochastic Model, Optimization, Game Theory, and Supply Chain Management. He earned his M.Sc. in Mathematics in 2015 from Visva-Bharati, a central university in India. His work has been published in reputed international journals such as Applied Intelligence, Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, Journal of Supercomputing, and Evolutionary Intelligence. He actively serves as a reviewer for journals including the International Journal of Fuzzy Systems, ISA Transactions, Journal of Supercomputing, and OPSEARCH.

Abstract of the talk

Selecting the gender of a celebrity for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) advertising presents a strategic challenge. While prior research has extensively compared celebrity and non-celebrity endorsers, it has often overlooked the nuanced impact of male versus female celebrities. This study bridges that gap by combining traditional and neuromarketing methodologies. Using eye-tracking technology via RealEye, combined with questionnairebased surveys, an integrated Information System was developed to process gaze data, generate heatmaps, and correlate visual attention with consumer trust. These insights are crucial for both academic research and commercial strategy, offering a data-driven approach to optimizing celebrity selection in FMCG advertising. This research also underscores the role of Information Systems in enhancing data-driven decision-making by integrating consumer analytics, optimizing marketing strategies, and improving endorsement selection through structured Decision Support Systems (DSS) and Marketing Information Systems (MIS) in FMCG advertising.

About the Speaker

She is an accomplished academic and researcher with a PhD in Neuromarketing from the Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad. Her doctoral research, titled “Visual Attention and Consumer Preferences: An Eye Tracking Study of Celebrity Endorsement in FMCG Advertising,” reflects her expertise in marketing and consumer behavior. She also holds an MBA from MONIRBA, University of Allahabad, and a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Allahabad. Her research contributions include publications in esteemed peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Eye Movement Research, and presenting papers in conferences at IIM Kozikode (AIMS-20) and IIM Sirmaur, where she has explored topics ranging from FMCG advertising to advancements in e-commerce within the neuromarketing domain. Her work focuses on understanding decision-making processes and enhancing marketing strategies using innovative tools like eye-tracking.

Abstract of the talk

Supply chains have undergone a remarkable transformation over the centuries. Not too long ago, they were slow-moving, manual operations. Orders were written by hand, inventory was tracked in dusty ledgers, and goods were transported by rail, truck, or ship in a laborious, static process. It was a world where time was lost, and inefficiencies ruled (Forbes, 2023). However, the mid-20th century brought a wave of change. The Third Industrial Revolution sparked the rise of automation through IT and computers. This era of digitization enabled businesses to transition from paper-based processes to digital systems. Yet, even with those advancements, traditional methods still dominated the supply chains, and operations remained largely disconnected and inefficient (Gartner, 2023). The Fourth Industrial Revolution, emerging in the mid-2010s, took digitization to the next level by introducing the concept of Industry 4.0. This revolution emphasized the digitalization of manufacturing and industrial processes, giving rise to Smart Factories, where machines, systems, and humans interact seamlessly to optimize production. While Industry 4.0 transformed manufacturing, modern supply chains required more than just factory-level improvements. Hence, the focus gradually shifted from isolated operational efficiencies to a more holistic revolution across the entire supply chain.

Today, we are in the midst of this revolution that is far more profound. We have entered the age of Digital Transformation – an era where supply chains are no longer just about the movement of products, but about harnessing the power of data, connectivity, and intelligence (Calatayud et al., 2019). In just the past two decades, advancements in technology has completely redefined what is possible. Businesses are no longer constrained by time and distance; instead,

they can now predict demand, manage inventory in real time, and optimize every step of the supply chain journey (Li & Zhao, 2024).

This new wave of transformation is what we call Supply Chain Digital Transformation (SCDT). It represents a connected, intelligent, and integrated digital ecosystem powered by advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, blockchain, cloud computing, big data, IoT, digital twin, augmented reality, and virtual reality. These innovations enable greater flexibility, agility, and accuracy, improving forecasting, decision-making, cost- efficiency, and the overall customer experience (Ernst & Young, 2023; Rana & Daultani, 2023). SCDT is rapidly reshaping industries (Fang et al., 2023). According to a McKinsey report, it can improve customer satisfaction by 20-30% and increase economic gains by 20-50% (McKinsey & Company, 2023). The global digital transformation market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.1%, reaching $3.9 trillion by 2027 (Forbes, 2023). In manufacturing, the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.4%, from $367.6 billion in 2024 to $876.1 billion by 2029. By 2026, over 50% of organizations will operate as collaborative digital ecosystems, sharing inputs, assets, and innovations. Machine learning will augment decision-making in more than 50% of supply chain organizations (Gartner, 2023). In Asia-Pacific, the digital revolution is growing fastest, with China, Japan, and India leading the way. China’s government is driving digital technologies in manufacturing, Japan leads in robotics and automation, and India’s “Make in India” and “Digital India” initiatives are accelerating digital transformation (Mordor Intelligence, 2024).

While digital transformation is gaining significant traction across industries, the journey to successfully implement and sustain digital initiatives in supply chains remains a formidable challenge (Guo et al., 2023). According to a recent BCG research, while 80% of organizations are pursuing digital transformation, only 30% have successfully turned a profit from their efforts (Boston Consulting Group, 2020). This gap is not just theoretical; it has tangible, real-world consequences. In 2018, Revlon attempted to integrate its supply chain with a cloud-based ERP system, however it failed miserably, leading to a sharp decline in retail sales and a cascade of operational problems. Unfortunately, Revlon’s experience is far from unique. Other major brands like P&G, HP, Hershey’s, Nike, and Nokia also suffered heavy financial losses due to poor digital transformation strategies. In contrast, companies like Henkel and Pfizer have excelled in their digital transformation strategies, benefiting from increased efficiency and profitability (Correani et al., 2020). So, why do some businesses struggle while others are able to thrive during this Technological Renaissance?  This question lies at the heart of this research.

This study focuses on the ‘HOW’ of digital transformation – How can organizations effectively initiate and sustain a successful SCDT journey, ensuring alignment with strategic goals? To explore this, our first essay investigates the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that drive digital transformation while fostering resilience and sustainability in supply chains. To capture the intricate causal relationships between CSFs and key objectives such as resilience and sustainability, this study employs a novel causal modeling approach known as Grey Causal Modeling. Based on Grey Systems Theory, this approach effectively handles decision-making under uncertainty, complex interdependencies, incomplete data, and multi-objective systems. The analysis is based on the insights of industry experts who are actively engaged in SCDT initiatives within Indian manufacturing firms. The findings emphasize that ‘Digital Transformation Roadmap,’ ‘Cost-Benefit Analysis,’ ‘Coordination & Collaboration,’ and ‘Digital Culture & Talent,’ are the prominent factors for the success of SCDT, particularly when resilience and sustainability are prioritized as objectives. This demonstrates that SCDT is not solely about

strategy or technology but also deeply reliant on the “soft aspects” like people, skills, and organizational culture that enable meaningful and sustainable transformation. The study proposes a Digital Transformation Impact Matrix, which can serve as a critical tool for answering the ‘how’ of digital transformation. By prioritizing high-impact factors and identifying key areas for improvement, this matrix can enhance strategic decision-making, providing a clear pathway for organizations to effectively initiate and sustain their digital transformation journey.

 

Keywords

Supply Chain Digital Transformation, Critical Success Factors, Resilience, Sustainability, Grey Causal Modelling.

 

References

Boston Consulting Group. (2020). Flipping the Odds of Digital Transformation Success. Retrieved from https://www.bcg.com/publications/2020/increasing-odds-of-success-in-digital-transformation.

Calatayud, A., Mangan, J., & Christopher, M. (2019). The self-thinking supply chain. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 24(1), 22–38.

Correani, A., De Massis, A., Frattini, F., Petruzzelli, A. M., & Natalicchio, A. (2020). Implementing a digital strategy: Learning from the experience of three digital transformation projects. California management review, 62(4), 37-56.

Ernst & Young. (2023). How global supply chain strategy is changing and what comes next. Retrieved from https://www.ey.com/en_us/coo/what-is-next-for-digital-supply-chain-strategy.

Fang, M., Liu, F., Xiao, S. S., & Park, K. (2023). Hedging the bet on digital transformation in strategic supply chain management: A theoretical integration and an empirical test. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 53(4), 512-531.

Forbes. (2023). Digital Transformation In Supply Chain Management. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebanker/2023/04/09/digital-transformation-in-supply-chain-  management/?sh=1b7a9b183311.

Gartner. (2023). Supply Chain Technologies and Digital Transformation. Retrieved from https://www.gartner.com/en/supply-chain/topics/supply-chain-digital-transformation.

Guo, C., Ke, Y., & Zhang, J. (2023). Digital transformation along the supply chain. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 80, 102088.

Li, P., & Zhao, X. (2024). The impact of digital transformation on corporate supply chain management: Evidence from listed companies. Finance Research Letters, 60, 104890.

McKinsey & Company. (2023). Digital transformation: Raising supply-chain performance to new levels. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/digital-transformation-raising-supply-chain-performance-to-new-levels.

Mordor Intelligence. (2024). Digital Transformation in Manufacturing Industry Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts. Retrieved from https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/digital-transformation-market-in-manufacturing.

Rana, J., & Daultani, Y. (2023). Mapping the Role and Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Applications in Supply Chain Digital Transformation: A Bibliometric Analysis. Operations Management Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12063-022-00335-y.

 

About the Speaker

Dr. Jeetu Rana has completed her Doctoral program from IIM Lucknow in Operations Management area. She has a B.Tech. degree from College of Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand and a PGDIE from IIM Mumbai (formerly NITIE) with specialization in Operations and Supply Chain Management. She is a UGC NET-JRF qualified professional in Management. She has a corporate work experience of about three years in the manufacturing and service sector. She has also served as a Teaching Assistant in Operations Management area at IIM Calcutta.

Her thesis on “Supply Chain Digital Transformation” addresses a critical area in contemporary supply chain management. She has presented her work at reputed conferences and has publications in reputable journals, including: Business Strategy and the Environment, Measuring Business Excellence, and Operations Management Research.

Abstract of the talk:

Despite the pervasive presence of various types of family planning interventions world over, impact on fertility rates and adoption of contraception remain low in developing countries. In this paper, we explore whether a multidimensional policy incorporating these various facets like actively enhancing information dissemination and providing easier access to contraception can be a potential solution to this problem. Using a quasi-experimental estimation framework, we show that one such multi-faceted family planning initiative in India, Mission Parivar Vikas, led to a decline in fertility rates as well as an increase in adoption of family planning methods. We find that men are more likely to use contraception and the stated fertility preferences of both men and women changed. We construct a theoretical model to show that a mediating channel for these results is information on family planning, in line with the alternative-based search representation theory which suggests that individuals may end up at a socially undesirable optimal choice as the information about the desirable choice was not available prior to intervention. The intervention expands the search set and makes the desirable choice available by influencing the societal coercion parameter.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Sarthak Agarwal recently completed a Ph.D. in Economics and Public Policy from IIM Lucknow. He holds an undergraduate degree from Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, and an MBA from IIM Lucknow. An applied microeconomist, his research focuses on health, gender, and development, with an emphasis on public policy in developing economies. His work applies rigorous empirical methods to examine issues such as intimate partner violence, fertility, health burden transmission, and governance. With his training as a management student and three years of experience in management consulting and banking, he brings a practical perspective to research and teaching. Passionate about data-driven policymaking, he aims to contribute meaningful insights to economics and public policy.

Abstract of the talk:

"As Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) regulations are changing the market dynamics, there is a growing need for board members with expertise in sustainability and ESG. To address this talent gap and meet the expectations of all stakeholders, firms are actively seeking individuals with experience in this rapidly evolving field. To make this a reality, women should be given priority due to their high emotional and social traits, making them more considerate when fulfilling their societal and environmental responsibilities. Moreover, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 5, which focuses on gender equality, seeks through its sub-target 5.5 to ""ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life."" However, women directors account for less than a quarter, or 23%, of all board seats globally. The situation is bleaker for leadership positions, as women hold around 6% of CEO roles globally (Deloitte, 2023). In this talk, I present my research work aimed at analyzing the relationship between board gender diversity and ESG disclosures in an emerging economy such as India using the theoretical underpinning of critical mass. I investigate this relationship using the system generalized method of moments (SGMM) panel regression on a sample of firms from the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty 100 Index from 2013 to 2022. The results indicate that female directors, being in the minority, 17%, have little bearing on ESG disclosures of Indian companies. From the standpoint of an emerging economy like India, which has statutory CSR mandates and board gender quotas for firms, this research adds a fresh perspective on the relationship between female directors and corporate responsibility by employing critical mass theory, which is augmented by the use of system GMM as a robust methodology. I will conclude my talk by outlining the vision and future direction of my research."

About the Speaker:

Dr. Priti is an Assistant Professor in Accounting and Finance at the Indian Institute of Management Bodhgaya. She did her Fellow Programme in Management from the Management Development Institute Gurgaon. She is a commerce graduate from Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi. Priti specializes in ESG, CSR, Corporate Governance, and Sustainable Finance. Priti has published her research in reputed journals, including the Journal of Applied Accounting Research, International Journal of Bank Marketing, and IVEY publishing, and has presented at international conferences, including India Finance Conference and Elsevier Finance Conference. Her long-term research goal is to streamline the environmental and social responsibilities of businesses along with their financial responsibilities and she is keen to work actively with institutional bodies and industry in this direction.

Abstract of the talk:

In reality, some items deteriorate over time but maintain their original quality for a while. However, it is not possible to estimate the deterioration start time for a specific item as many factors affect the degradation in the inventory system. In this talk, an inventory control policy for delayed degradable products is investigated, where the deterioration start time is a random variable and can be extended by making use of preservation investment. The supplier mandates that a fraction of the purchasing price is to be paid upfront by the retailer, and in exchange, the supplier offers a discount on the total purchasing price. To deal with a mixed integer optimization problem associated with the inventory system, metaheuristic optimization approaches, viz., differential evolution (DE) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), have been employed.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Praveendra Singh is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Govt. College Kherwara, Udaipur, India. He holds a Ph.D. from IIT Roorkee, specializing in Inventory Control and Supply Chain Management. His research focuses on optimizing inventory models for deteriorating items using metaheuristic algorithms. With multiple publications in high-impact journals, Dr. Singh integrates mathematical modeling with computational intelligence to solve real-world supply chain challenges. He has presented his work at international conferences and actively collaborates on interdisciplinary research. Passionate about innovation in supply chain optimization, Dr. Singh is dedicated to advancing research that bridges theory with industry E1applications.

Abstract of the talk

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Multi-objective optimization plays a crucial role in many fields, where multiple conflicting objectives often need to be optimized simultaneously. This talk explores key methodologies for tackling multi-objective optimization problems using the trust region technique. Here, all the objective functions of the problem are not necessarily convex functions. Convergence analysis of the proposed algorithms is established. Numerical results are provided to show the efficiency of the algorithm.

About the Speaker

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Dr. Nantu Kumar Bisui holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, completed in 2024. He earned his M.Sc. in Mathematics from IIT Kharagpur in 2017 and a B.Sc. from Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, in 2015. His research focuses on numerical optimization, with a specialization in multi-objective optimization. His work has been published in reputed journals, including Optimization Methods and Software and the Journal of Applied Mathematics and Computing. Additionally, three of his manuscripts are currently under review. Dr. Bisui has actively participated in several prestigious conferences, including IMS 2022 at BITS Mesra, Ranchi; ISOGTDM 2023 at ISI Delhi; and the SIAM Conference on Optimization 2023 in Seattle, Washington, USA.

Abstract of the talk

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Omnichannel strategy is increasingly seen as crucial for a retailer to evolve and offer differentiating value to their customers. Channel integration is a key element of this strategy, referring to the degree to which a retailer coordinates functions across its different off- and online distribution channels. This coordination provides significant value to consumers, enabling seamless transitions in their journey across different channels. We offer a theory to suggest that this value notwithstanding, consumer expectations and coordination costs impose significant boundary conditions determining retail business outcomes. As the adoption of omnichannel grows, the emerging capabilities in the industry inevitably drive runaway consumer expectations, which the retailer is unable to fulfill without a high degree of channel integration. However, such high levels of integration require synchronizing myriad operational interfaces that come at high coordination costs. Using data of 81 publicly traded U.S. chain retailers for 2008-2019, we find while channel integration can deliver on their value proposition, runaway consumer expectations can dent these outcomes and that, surprisingly, advertising can exacerbate this effect. Our theory reveals how certain characteristics of coordination costs can derail the strategic dividends from such channel integration. Retailers with greater potential for coordination efficiencies tend to benefit more from channel integration.

About the Speaker

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Dr. Sourav Ray is a Professor of Marketing, Gordons S. Lang School of Business and Economics, University of Guelph, Canada. Dr. Sourav Ray’s substantive interests are in the general domain of Marketing Strategy, with applications in Strategic Pricing, Technology Management, Retailing and Distribution Channels. He has a special interest in marketing of multi-component system products - both in consumer and industrial markets. His research endeavour has three defining characteristics: (a) a focus on managerially driven real-life problems; (b) convergence of different theoretical perspectives; and (c) multi-method approach, with a focus on quantitative analyses. Sourav’s work has been published in top-tier Marketing and Economics journals such as, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Marketing Science, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science (JAMS), Journal of Monetary Economics, Journal of Law and Economics, Economica, Journal of Business Venturing etc. Sourav currently serves as an Associate Editor of the journal, Journal of Business Research (JBR), and as a Senior Editor of the journal, Electronic Commerce Research and Applications (ECRA). He is a co-founder and co-chair of the Canadian Empirical and Theoretical (ET) Symposium on Marketing Strategy, and co-founder and co-director of the Marketing and Supply Chain Analytics (MiSCAN) Lab in McMaster University, Canada. Sourav joined University of Guelph in 2022. Prior to that, he was the Michael Lee-Chin Family Professor of Strategic Business Studies and Professor of Marketing at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, and an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University. Sourav has supervised several doctoral students who are now established in their own careers. Sourav has a PhD in Marketing from University of Minnesota, and Aerospace engineering degrees from Texas A&M University and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur in India.

Details of Workshop

Workshop on Mathematical Optimization

About the workshop

This workshop will present several mathematical optimization tools that can be utilized to address various real-world optimization problems across domains such as power systems, healthcare, aerospace structures, and inventory management.

LECTURE 1 : Deterministic Integer Programs: Modeling and Algorithms

LECTURE 2 : Stochastic Integer Programs

LECTURES 3 & 4 : Distributionally Robust Programs, Stackelberg Games and Network Interdiction Problems under Uncertainty

Abstract of the talk

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Operations research is a multidisciplinary field that employs mathematical and analytical methods to optimize decision-making and problem-solving processes within organizations. Optimization problems lie at the core of operations research, representing a fundamental aspect of decision-making and resource allocation. These problems involve finding the best possible solution from a set of feasible alternatives to optimize a specific objective function, subject to various constraints. Common optimization problems include linear programming, integer programming, and nonlinear programming. Linear programming finds its most significant and successful application in optimizing the physical distribution of goods, commonly referred to as the transportation problem. The efficient movement of goods plays a crucial role in the financial development of a country and can be a determining factor in the survival and growth of enterprises. However, precise mathematical models often fall short as real-life data is not always deterministic. To address this inherent imprecision and uncertainty, several theories such as probability theory, fuzzy set theory, rough set theory, etc. have been introduced by the researchers. These theories have broadened the scope of linear programming and transportation models, making them more applicable to the real-life situations by enabling the consideration of tolerances for decision variables in a natural and direct manner. Rough set theory introduced by Pawlak has higher practical implications than other theories since it takes into consideration the opinion of all involved experts and respects their knowledge by lower and upper approximation intervals, respectively.

This work delves into the investigation of optimization problems, specifically focusing on the transportation problems, where the parameters are uncertain in the context of globalized markets and uncontrollable factors. Various scenarios are explored, including the unbalanced multi-objective fixed-charge transportation problem, the multi-objective fractional transportation problem and the multi-objective transportation problem for waste management. Emphasizing environmental sustainability, the analysis delves into a multiobjective model for sustainable transportation, incorporating ANPR technology, driving behaviour analysis, and electric vehicles. To address the complexity of both small-scale and large-scale non-linear fixed-charge transportation problems, novel variants of particle swarm optimization algorithm are developed and compared with existing heuristic and metaheuristic approaches, providing insights into effective solutions for these problems.

About the Speaker

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It is my great pleasure to introduce Ms. Shivani, a doctoral candidate at the National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar. She has completed her PhD research and submitted her thesis in June 2024, and is now awaiting her final viva. Her research area is “Operations Research,” with an emphasis on multi-objective programming problems in transportation and related fields. During her PhD, Ms. Shivani has published eleven research papers in leading international journals, including Applied Soft Computing, Swarm and Evolutionary Computation, Complex & Intelligent Systems, and Soft Computing. In addition, she has presented several research papers in renowned international conferences. Ms. Shivani has cleared UGC-CSIR NET and GATE, and is also a recipient of the MHRD Senior Research Fellowship (SRF), a prestigious recognition for her contributions to research.

Abstract of the talk

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A 360° virtual tour experience integrates videos and smartphones to evoke tourists’ cognition, emotion, and heightened intentions. The present study investigates the impact of perceived destination attributes on information-seeking and destination visit intention when tourists are presented with a 360° virtual tour experience. The Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework is extended to investigate this mechanism by incorporating perceived destination attributes as a stimulus, tourists’ perceived confidence, confirmation, and satisfaction as an organism, and information seeking and visit intention as a response. Data was collected from 260 tourists in India. The results reveal the strong influence of 360° media in generating perceived destination attributes, which has a significant and positive association with tourists’ perceived confidence and destination satisfaction. Findings based on Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) reveal that destination satisfaction is a strong predictor of information-seeking, and confirmation is a predictor of destination visit intention. The implications provide valuable insights to Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs), VR content creators, and policymakers for effectively promoting VR videos for tourism.

About the Speaker

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Dr. Saumya Dixit completed her PhD in Marketing from the Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad in 2014. She brings significant expertise in teaching a wide range of subjects, including Consumer Behavior, Product Management, Marketing Management, Marketing Research, and Organizational Management. Her research primarily explores the adoption and continued use of emerging information and communication technologies, with a focus on enhancing well-being and promoting sustainability. Her work has been published in prominent international journals such as Tourism Recreation Research, Journal of Brand Management, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, and Resources, Conservation and Recycling, among others. Her contributions have advanced the understanding of both marketing theory and practice, with a special emphasis on technology-driven innovations.

Abstract of the talk

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While evidence suggests the significant role played by personality traits in affecting the usage of inappropriate and unethical negotiation strategies, studies have rarely examined the dark core. Considering, negotiation frequently involves choosing between economic outcomes and relational gains, this research primarily examines the effect of dark core and the mediating role of relational interdependent self-construal (RISC) in affecting the usage of inappropriate negotiation strategies (SINS), at the person level (Study – 1) (n = 283, managers, India). Further, it evaluates the individual and interactive effect of dark core with two situation level variables, namely, Interdependence and Incentives in a dictator game design (Study – 2) (n = 221, business school postgraduates, India). It was observed that, while at the person level, the effects of dark core were significantly mediated by RISC, at the situational level, the increasing degree of interdependence with the actor and the additional economic incentives offered, significantly interacted with dark core to predict the endorsement of a variety of inappropriate negotiation strategies. In summary, the study examines the role of dark core, clarifies its self – interested nature, propensity for favoring economic gains at the cost of deteriorated relationships and highlights the role of two important situational elements in negotiation.

About the Speaker

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Dr. Sujit has a BTech (IGIT Sarang), MTech (IIT Kharagpur), MBA – HRM (XIMB), and PhD (IIM Lucknow). Subsequent to completion of his PhD, he joined IIM Ranchi as an Assistant Professor in the OB – HRM area. At IIM Ranchi, he was involved in offering various subjects such as Total Rewards Management, Competency Management, Trading Psychology in Indian Markets and Occupational Testing Methods. Further, Dr. Sujit’s research interests are primarily related to the Dark Triad of Personality and its effects on human behavior. He regularly contributes to this area by publishing his findings in academic journals. Additionally, he has also published a book on “Contemporary Organizational Behavior”. Lastly, Dr. Sujit is an avid stock market enthusiast and regularly trades the market as a past time.

Abstract of the talk

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As the global environment continues to change, companies worldwide are increasingly compelled to go beyond financial performance and to incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns into their strategic planning. In an organisation, the board of directors and the top executives are responsible for formulating the company's ESG strategy given the complexity of climate risk, evolving ESG regulations, and rising stakeholder activism. In this talk, I present my research work aimed at analyzing the relationship between the board’s structural attributes and sustainability disclosures in an emerging economy such as India. I investigate this relationship using the system generalized method of moments (SGMM) panel regression on a sample of firms from the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty 100 Index from 2013 to 2020. This econometric framework controls endogeneity among the variables, which has been lacking in the previous studies. The results indicate that board structural attributes, such as board size, gender diversity, chief executive officer (CEO) duality, and independence, have little bearing on sustainability disclosures of Indian companies. However, the board of directors, through the board’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) committee, strives for sustainability practices in Indian organizations. The bigger companies, based on their assets size, are more willing to disclose on their ESG efforts compared to the smaller ones. From the standpoint of an emerging economy like India, which has statutory CSR mandates for firms, this research adds a fresh perspective to the relationship between corporate governance and corporate responsibility by employing stakeholder theory, which is augmented by the use of system GMM as a robust methodology. My work also highlights the significance of a mandatory CSR committee as a facilitator of sustainability practices and reporting in emerging economies. I will conclude my talk by outlining the vision and future direction of my research.

About the Speaker

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Dr. Priti is an Assistant Professor in Accounting and Finance at the Indian Institute of Management Bodhgaya. She did her Fellow Programme in Management from the Management Development Institute Gurgaon. She is a commerce graduate from Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi. Priti specializes in ESG, CSR, Corporate Governance, and Sustainable Finance. Priti has published her research in reputed journals, including the Journal of Applied Accounting Research, International Journal of Bank Marketing, and IVEY publishing, and has presented at international conferences, including India Finance Conference and Elsevier Finance Conference. Her long-term research goal is to streamline the environmental and social responsibilities of businesses along with their financial responsibilities and she is keen to work actively with institutional bodies and industry in this direction.

About the Speaker

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Aswin Kannan is currently a Faculty member and Group Leader at Humboldt Universitaet zu Berlin in Germany. He holds a Doctorate from Penn State, US (2014, Advisor: Dr. Uday Shanbhag), a Masters from Univ. of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, US (both in Industrial Engineering), and a Bachelors from College of Engineering Guindy (India). Prior to joining Humboldt, he had worked for IBM Research (2015-2021), Oracle Analytics, and Argonne National Labs (in the US and India).

Abstract of the talk

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Globally, most countries have hard and soft commitments to reduce emissions in the next few years. While this is an arduous task in itself, with a decade of experience after the Paris Agreement, it may be noted that hardly any country has succeeded even in reducing emissions since then. Nevertheless, many countries are coming up with detailed plans to net zero pathways. The implications of these on the global and national economies as well as the trade-offs and opportunities offered by such pathways to the poorer countries in the world have not been explored yet in the literature. A related and interesting issue to explore is the impact of such plans on Global Value Chains. We fill this gap in the literature by looking at South East Asia and Africa, in a global multi-country multi-sectoral computable General equilibrium framework.

About the Speaker

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Dr. Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan serves NITI Aayog - Government of India, as a Non-Resident Fellow, wherein he previously headed the verticals of Trade and Commerce, Strategic Economic Dialogue, International Cooperation and Vision India@2047. Prior to joining the GoI, he has been an economist working to analyse a wide range of economic (mainly international trade), disruptive technology, environmental/energy, labour and public health policies. He has informed the process of decision making in several major economic policies such as free trade agreements, technology regulations, etc., both through his academic research and consulting/advisory projects. Dr. Badri completed his doctoral degree in Economics from the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai. Since 2015, he has been an affiliate Faculty Member and Senior Economist, _Center for International Trade in Forestry, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences_, University of Washington, Seattle. He is the co-founder of an economics consulting firm, Infinite Sum Modelling.

Abstract of the talk

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Autonomous driving technology stands at the forefront of innovation, promising safer and more efficient transportation systems. Central to its success is the ability to accurately detect and classify objects in real time, particularly in dynamic and unpredictable road environments. However, current CNN architectures, while effective to a degree, exhibit limitations in handling challenges inherent in road object detection, such as occlusions, varying lighting conditions, and complex traffic scenarios. My research endeavored to address some of these limitations by proposing and developing advanced CNN architectures tailored explicitly for both large and small road object detection tasks in autonomous driving scenarios. I aimed to push the boundaries of detection accuracy, robustness, and efficiency through innovative architectural modifications while considering complexity and integrating cutting-edge techniques from computer vision. Building upon the findings of my PhD work, the postdoctoral research work intends to address the identified limitations and advance the state-ofthe-art in autonomous driving object detection. We will conduct an extensive review of the literature to identify gaps and challenges in existing approaches. Drawing insights from recent advancements, we will design and implement novel frameworks optimized for road object detection. This research will focus on some key aspects like improving generalization performance through dataset fusion, exploring the depth information of the images, and addressing energy efficiency considerations. Dissemination of our findings will be a priority, with plans to publish results in top-tier conferences and journals in the fields of computer vision and autonomous driving. By sharing our research outcomes, we aim to contribute to the wider scientific community and facilitate further advancements in autonomous driving technology. In conclusion, my postdoctoral research aims to address key challenges in road object detection for autonomous driving systems by refining existing methodologies and introducing novel approaches. Through extensive validation, we seek to advance the state-of-the-art in autonomous driving technology and contribute to the development of safer and more reliable autonomous vehicles.

About the Speaker

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Dr. Bharat Mahaur received PhD degree in the Computer Science and Engineering Department from MNNIT Allahabad, India in Dec 2023, MTech degree in Computer Science and Engineering from GLA University Mathura, India in 2018, and BTech degree in Computer Science and Engineering from AKTU Lucknow, India in 2016. His areas of interest are deep learning, wireless networks, and autonomous vehicles.

Abstract of the talk

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Abstract of the talk:

Purpose – This study aims to empirically examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) and financial performance (FP) in Indian firms.

Design/methodology/approach – Data for CSRD is collected by conducting content analysis of CSRD in annual reports of the sampled firms. A multidimensional measure of CSRD is constructed based on the stakeholder theory, consisting of six stakeholder groups – employees, customers, investors, community, environment and others. The aggregate CSRD measure is created by combining disclosure of the six CSR dimensions. Multiple regression analysis is used to examine the CSRD–FP linkage, controlling for the confounding effects of size, risk, age, industry, ownership and period.

Findings – The results of this study indicate that the aggregate CSRD measures, both for quality and quantity, have a positive association with the accounting measures of firms’ FP. However, the market measure of FP is observed to have a statistically insignificant association with aggregate quality and quantity of CSRD of Indian firms.

Practical implications – The results reveal that adopting transparent and extensive CSRD is relevant for the profitability of firms, and that government interventions are required to promote CSR programs, with a specific focus on the CSR dimensions that provide no apparent financial gains.

Social implications – This study recommends the adoption and reporting of CSR practices by Indian firms for their stakeholders.

Originality/value – This study contributes to the scarce literature on the CSRD–FP linkage in the context of emerging economies by using a more inclusive data set, creating a reliable measure of CSRD applicable to a large universe of firms and including relevant control variables that affect the CSRD–FP relationship.

Keywords: CSR disclosure, Content analysis, Financial performance, Emerging economy

Paper type: Research paper

About the Speaker:

Dr. Aditi Singh is an Assistant Professor at O.P Jindal Global University, India. She has also served as assistant dean of academics and course coordinator of the B. Com Capital Markets Program at Jindal School of Banking and Finance. She holds a PhD in Finance and Accounting from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (India). Her research interests are corporate social reporting, corporate social responsibility, and corporate finance. She holds an MBA from the University of Lucknow.

Abstract of the talk:

Purpose:

This research aims to develop a comprehensive model for prioritizing climate finance interventions in India, focusing on establishing essential infrastructure to support climate finance initiatives. By integrating financial economics and climate finance insights, this research addresses critical constraints in mobilizing resources for climate-compatible projects and offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, investors, and practitioners. The urgent need to confront climate change and develop infrastructure conducive to climate finance in India underscores the significance of this model. This proposal emphasizes the importance of robust institutional frameworks to effectively finance and implement climate-related projects, ensuring the country can effectively mitigate and adapt to climate challenges.

Methods:

This study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods to comprehensively explore challenges and opportunities in mobilizing resources for climate finance in India. Quantitative methods include surveys administered through online platforms and in-person, employing stratified random sampling to ensure representation across diverse demographics. Financial data analysis is conducted using various research tools, such as NVivo and AMOS, examining existing financial flows and investments in climate projects. Qualitative methods involve in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, facilitated by a semistructured interview guide, and case studies selected based on specific criteria. These rigorous research techniques enable a robust examination of the effectiveness of current financial mechanisms and inform the proposed comprehensive model for prioritizing climate finance interventions. Additionally, snowball sampling will complement the sampling strategy by identifying initial participants who meet the study’s criteria and asking them to refer other potential participants, thereby expanding the sample size.

Novelty:

This manuscript contributes novelty by proposing a novel framework integrating financial economics, sustainability, and climate finance. By prioritizing price-based national policies, the model offers a forward-thinking approach to addressing climate change while advancing sustainable development objectives. The emphasis on aligning international climate finance with local priorities and ownership represents a novel contribution to the discourse on climate finance mobilization. Implications: The findings of this study have several implications for policymakers, investors, and practitioners. Firstly, it underscores the need for policymakers to prioritize the development of robust institutional, fiscal, and regulatory frameworks to attract private investment in climateresilient investments. Secondly, the proposed model highlights the importance of aligning international climate finance mechanisms with local priorities and ensuring recipient ownership to maximize the impact of climate finance interventions. Thirdly, the emphasis on price-based national policies suggests the potential for leveraging carbon pricing as a critical instrument for driving climate mitigation efforts and sustainable development.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Pooja Chaturvedi Sharma, an Assistant Professor specializing in Accounting and Finance at Apeejay School of Management, Delhi, boasts over 13 years of academic experience. With a strong background in management (finance), she is dedicated to delivering quality education, mentoring students, and fostering critical thinking. Dr. Pooja has authored 24 research publications and contributed to books on behavioral and sustainable finance. She plays pivotal administrative roles in outcome-based education, alumni relations, event organization, and campus life enrichment. Dr. Pooja contributes actively to the National Education Policy and Accreditation Committees for NBA and NAAC. Actively engaged in national and international conferences, workshops, and faculty development programs, she continuously enhances her research prowess. With a Ph.D. in Finance, she strives to ascend to the associate professorship, driven by her scholarly contributions and educational leadership.

Abstract of the talk:

Stochastic modeling has played a crucial role in supporting scientific and industrial advancement by providing the tools necessary to achieve goals of interest, such as analyzing system performance and making optimal strategic decisions. This proposed work aims to contribute to the revolution of the industrial landscape by integrating Machine Learning (ML) approaches, the Internet of Things (IoTs), and big data analytics, focusing on development aspects that involve performance prediction and optimal parameter selection. This research addresses the complexities of delay service stations where analytical methodology-based techniques encounter difficulties. The study is driven by three objectives: 1) identifying the strengths and needs of training-based predictions and metaheuristics optimization techniques in stochastic delays; 2) enhancing system performance by analyzing equilibrium strategies to understand strategic behavior from a game-theoretic perspective; and 3) collaborating with industrial experts to provide recommendations for enhancing system efficiency, addressing optimization issues, and choosing necessary control policies.

About the Speaker:

Dr Shobha completed her Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) from CCS University Meerut, India, in year 2012. Then she pursued Master of Science (M.Sc.) in mathematics from the CCS university Meerut in year 2014.

In 2023, Shobha earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. Her doctoral research, titled "Performance Modeling and Analysis of StateDependent Markovian Queues". Research interests are diverse and include Queueing Systems, Optimization Techniques, Machine Learning Algorithms, and Metaheuristic Techniques. She has a good experience with computational tools and programming languages, including MATLAB, Maple, and Python.

Abstract of the talk

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A multi-state weighted K-out-of-n system is of great importance in system engineering due to its generalized nature. Previous studies often assumed that all components of this system were steady in nature, but in reality, the state of components can change over time. To address this, the current study introduces an algorithm based on Lz -transform to determine the reliability of multi-state weighted K-out-of-n systems in a dynamic setting. The system's parts are assumed to follow a Markov process and are repaired only when they completely fail. This study calculates reliability, availability, expected performance at any moment, and performance deficiencies for the system. Finally, a case study of a warship's power system is also used validate the proposed approach.

About the Speaker

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Dr. Vaibhav Bisht is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Chandigarh University, Mohali. Prior to that, he completed his Ph.D. in April 2024 from G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India. His area of research is Reliability Theory. He has published several research articles in international journal of repute. Last year, he was also awarded the Young Scientist Award by Govt. of Uttarakhand at UCOST-2023.

Abstract of the talk

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Despite rising global steel production, the share of steel in global exports has dropped to 22%. However, the sector contributes to about 8% of total emissions, leading many major steel-producing countries to implement decarbonization policies.

As a net-steel importer, the EU has taken measures to limit its domestic carbon emissions through stringent commitments. Since international trade of goods contributes to about 27% of global CO2 emissions, the EU intends to control embedded emissions from imported goods. This is proposed through the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). However, this mechanism could have negative effects on the growth and trade prospects of developing economies like India, which is a net-steel exporter with a diversified supply chain.

Using a partial equilibrium approach, the present study estimates the export demand and supply responsiveness with changes in product prices. Using these estimates, an estimate of the effect of CBAM on India’s exports of steel products to the EU is made. Applying the GTAP-E-based model, a more detailed analysis is undertaken. The study results indicate that CBAM is likely to have a major impact on India’s steel exports to the EU, causing a fall in India’s steel exports to the EU in the range of 8-14%, which in certain circumstances could go up to 34%.  The paper also gauges if the imposition of CBAM would lead to a significant reduction in carbon emissions and finds that a reduction of 1% in aggregate emissions will occur in the global steel industry.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Poulomi Bhattacharya completed her Ph.D. from Jadavpur University, Kolkata on firm-level issues related to ‘Corruption and Red tape’. Further, she also has teaching experience in the Techno India University, Kolkata for a brief period. Her research interests broadly lie in the intersection of New institutional economics and the Economics of Climate Change, interspersed with financial development issues. She has working knowledge on climate modelling using general equilibrium model and wishes to further her skills on that. She has presented in national and international conferences, has worked with government organisations for projects at ICRIER, and has been involved in several academic knowledge sharing engagements at different forums. She has published in reputed national and international journals. Recently she won the Women Young Scientist Award by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow for her research contribution.

Abstract of the talk

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We examine the spillover effect of Federal Reserve Board of Governors' speeches on sovereign credit risk and find that the tone of speeches negatively impacts sovereign credit spreads. Speeches that are forward-looking have a stronger impact. Cross-sectionally, the impact is stronger for countries with high external debt and those with high exchange rate stability. We further decompose the sovereign credit spread to examine the impact of speeches on the credit risk premium and find a significant positive impact on it. Our results indicate that while Fed speeches contain important information about economic conditions in the US, they can have a major influence on the perceived creditworthiness of other countries as well.

Keywords Federal Reserve Speeches; Speech Tone; Sovereign Credit Risk; Credit Default SwapsJEL Classification: G12, G14, G18, M41

About the Speaker

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Abhinav Anand is a financial economist and game theorist currently working as faculty in the Finance & Accounting Area at IIM Bangalore. Prior to joining IIMB, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Financial Mathematics and Computation Cluster at University College Dublin; and before that, he did his PhD in economics from SUNY Stony Brook.

Abhinav's research output has appeared in leading international peer reviewed journals such as the Journal of Banking and Finance; Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory; Operations Research Letters; European Financial Management etc. His research interests include banking, corporate finance, mathematical and quantitative finance, game theory and mechanism design among others. Abhinav has also consulted for the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India; DBS Bank Limited; Federal Bank; and the Union Bank of India.

Abstract of the talk:

Prior research examining unethical behaviour within organizations, from the observing employees’ perspective, have primarily concentrated on the observers’ negative emotions and its subsequent effect on their behaviour. In this study, we argue that observers may also feel positive emotion if the observed unethical behaviour has a pro-organizational context, i.e., unethical proorganizational behaviour (UPB). Using the moral foundation theory (MFT), we proposed that individuals would differ in their feeling of positive emotion of admiration as per their loyalty and fairness inclination. Further, we propose that this admiration emotion may subsequently induce the prosocial silence (organization focused and peer focused) among the observers. We have collected two-phased data in vignette-based field surveys from 285 full time employed individuals. We found that observers experienced greater admiration in case of UPB, and admiration was positively related to prosocial silence- organization-focused but not peer focused. The loyalty moral value was found to be moderating the relationship but not the fairness. Our study underlines the potential dark side of admiration emotion and indicates how individual loyalty may protect organizational wrongdoing.

Keywords Unethical pro-organizational behavior, Moral foundation theory, Silence, Admiration.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Vivek Mishra has completed his B.E. in 2010 in Marine engineering from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Then, he joined one of the largest shipping company- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Japan as a Marine engineer. After approximately 9 years in the shipping industry, he joined IIM Lucknow in 2019 to pursue his Ph.D. in OB&HRM area. His research topic was Unethical proorganizational behavior. He received his Ph.D. degree on 16 March 2024. He has two published articles in ABDC-A category journals; three AOM proceedings and many others articles are in the advanced stages. He has presented his work at many renowned conferences, such as AOM2022 & 2023, Pan-IIM 2023 and INDAM-2023 & 2024. He has also received best paper awards at international conferences at IIM-Lucknow and MDI-Gurgaon. He has joined Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow as Assistant Professor on 29 Feb 2024.

Authors: Subhamoy Ganguly, David J. Robb

Abstract of the talk:

Food Loss and Waste (FLW) is a major problem for humanity, with a third of all food grown for human consumption being wasted. While FLW happens at every stage of the food supply chain, in developed economies, 40% of the wastage happens in households (FAO 2011). The extant literature identifies several factors that drive wastage in households, but scalable interventions to reduce this wastage remain elusive. We contend that the idiosyncratic nature of households’ behaviour in regards purchase, consumption, and wastage makes such interventions difficult, and that an analytical model characterising these behaviours will be helpful for furthering work in this direction. With this goal, we develop an analytical model incorporating factors (parameters) that influence consumption and wastage in households. While our model applies generally to perishable items including dairy products, we focus on Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (FFV) as it constitutes a large fraction of food wasted in households, even as many people consume far less FFV than the amount recommended for a healthy diet. Using numerical experiments for a range of parameter values obtained from the extant literature and from a survey, we identify the parameter combinations that result in larger volumes of wastage. Our findings will be useful for future research focusing on recommendations for reducing wastage and improving intake of FFV in households.

About the Speaker:

Prof. Subhamoy Ganguly is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland Business School.

Subhamoy has a B.E. from Bengal Engineering College (now IIEST, Shibpur), an MBA from Michigan State University, and PhD from University of Colorado Boulder. Before moving to New Zealand, he has been a faculty member at IIM Udaipur and a visiting faculty member at Purdue University. Prior to becoming an academic, he has worked as an information technology analyst and as a supply chain manager.

Subhamoy’s research uses optimisation methods to address problems in operations and supply chains. His current research interest includes understanding and reducing food wastage, particularly in the lower levels of the supply chains – in households and in retail stores.

Abstract of the talk:

In this work, we develop Frank-Wolfe-based first-order algorithms for composite convex optimization problems. More specifically, for problems whose objective involves a logarithmically-homogeneous, self-concordant function. Recently developed first-order methods for this class of problems assume that we can solve linear optimization (sub)problems over the given feasible set exactly. In our work, we relax this assumption and propose a first-order method (a variant of Frank-Wolfe method) for this class of problems. Our method relies on an approximate (rather than exact) solution to the linear optimization (sub)problem. We show that our ‘inexact’ first-order method enjoys a similar convergence guarantee to the ‘exact’ version proposed in the literature, while at the same time allowing more flexibility in solving the linear (sub)problem. In particular, our approach is applicable in both cases: when (sub)problem can be solved approximately up to (1) some prespecified ‘additive’ error, or (2) up to some prespecified ‘relative’ error. Furthermore, we also develop a first-order algorithm that can handle the situation where, with some nonzero probability, the (sub)problem might fail to generate an approximate solution within the prespecified error. The motivation for our ‘inexact’ method comes from large-scale semidefinite programming problems, where solving the (sub)problem exactly is not practical. Finally, we implement our method compare its performance against existing first-order methods, and show that the performance of our method (in terms of the number of iterations required for convergence) is similar to that of existing methods.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Nimita Shinde is a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Lehigh University. Prior to this, she was a postdoctoral fellow at ICERM, Brown University. She received her Ph.D. in 2023 jointly from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IE&OR) and Monash University (ECSE). She has been awarded the IEOR Alumnus Endowment: Excellence in Doctoral Dissertation Award in 2023, and Institute Silver Medal in 2016 at IIT Bombay. Her research interests include convex optimization, large-scale optimization techniques, semidefinite programming, and data clustering problems including subspace and manifold clustering. She also has about 3 years of industry experience, including experience in developing models and methodologies for classical problems in road transportation.

Abstract of the talk:

Global supply chains are largely driven by container shipping with container seaports being critical nodes in the supply chain network. Container ports are traditionally very capital-intensive thanks to civil infrastructure for mooring ships and heavy machinery used to handle the containers unloading from a ship or loading on it, or being stacked in container yards while awaiting the next move. Labour scarcity has also led to more automated container handling operations in ports. On the other hand, daily operational planning has also become more knowledge intensive to cope with increased variability in demand from shipping lines and shippers (cargo owners), and optimise capacity utilisation. Some of the complexities are peculiar to a major transhipment port like Singapore which could connect well over 300 ships calling regularly every week and exchanging more than 250,000 containers between them! Increasingly, Digitalisation and Environmental Sustainability are 2 critical ingredients to deliver what the customers need from the supply chains -- cost efficiency (just in time) and risk-resilience (just in case). In this context, Data Analytics capability has become very important to generate insights into the behaviour of customers, equipment, labour and planning/control policies and algorithms, and other stakeholders, and thereby uncover wastages which are also opportunities to reduce costs and increase service levels by streamlining processes and improving efficiency. The current wave of AI applications are heavily data intensive and built on the foundations of predictive and prescriptive analytics. The talk aims to introduce the above topics and highlight some of the challenges and opportunities along the way.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Satya graduated from IIT Kanpur in 1991 with a MTech in IME. Previously, he had worked with Eicher Goodearth Limited at Pithampur/Indore (Eicher Motors) and Alwar (Eicher Tractors) for a year in Automotives Quality Control after graduating from IIT Kanpur in 1988 with a BTech in Mech Engg. He received his PhD in Economics from IGIDR Mumbai in 2000 and was a PhD Fellow at United Nations University Tokyo/Institute of Advanced Studies in 1996.

He started work in Singapore in 1998 as Operations Research Consultant and since 2002 has been placed in a similar role with PSA Corporation Limited (www.singaporepsa.com), which is a fully owned subsidiary of the leading global port operator PSA International (www.internationalpsa.com), both of them headquartered in Singapore. He is currently heading the Insights and Analytics function for PSA Singapore and is focussed on container port and adjacent logistics businesses. PSA Group has port operations in India too: Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Tuticorin, and they also provide cargo logistics and trade solutions in India through PSA BDP (www.psabdp.com), which is also a Group company headquartered in Philadelphia (USA).

Abstract of the talk:

The research shed light on maximizing resource efficiency, by creating facilities for a circular economy-based supply chain to handle the massive e-waste generated by solar PV panels in India. Results show that India expects 2.95 million tonnes of waste from EOL solar PV and its BOS beteween 2020 and 2047. This waste is worth 645 billion USD, out of which 70% of the waste (worth 452 billion USD) could be recovered only by recycling while revenue of 779 billion can be generated if we use the concept of the circular economy. Waste generated in 2021 itself is sufficient for running 229 Recycling plants of 1850 tone with a gross profit of 440933$ while with the CE (Recycling, remanufacturing, Reuse) 23 Remanufacturing plants, 149 refurbish plants and 57 recycling plants can be run with profit gross profit of 58779$. This study address CE by expanding the conventional forward and reverse supply chain analysis to CSC design and providing the policy modifications for better implications of the CE. The study can be a database for future researchers to explore the area. Proposed CEBM can help stakeholders to understand and apply circular economy for EOL solar PV and other e-waste in developing countries by modifying the current policies of EPR and PRO

About the Speaker:

Dr. Ayush Gautam was a fulltime research scholar at Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India. Presently, he is working as Analytics and Modeling Specialist at Accenture. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He earned his MTech from CTRANS, IIT Roorkee. His areas of interest include supply chain management, circular economy and sustainable transportation. Currently, he is working in the area of modeling circular supply chain business model for waste management. Ayush was selected for prestigious Newton Bhabha PhD fund by British council, he visited Loughborough University, UK for four months as Visiting Scholar during his PhD.

Abstract of the talk

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Seller and product authentication problems are inherent in online markets, particularly in the time-constrained setting of online auctions. While trust-building mechanisms such as seller feedback can mitigate these problems, they are retrospective, providing information about a transaction only after it is completed. Also, they have only _indirect effects_ on buyers' trust in sellers because they are not based on direct interactions between a trustor (buyer) and a trustee (seller). On the other hand, direct engagement between transacting parties during an online auction, particularly open and public engagement, reduce information asymmetry between buyers and sellers and has a _direct effect_ on buyers' trust. In this paper, we analyze how public buyer-seller engagement via Q&A (question and answer) during online auctions impacts bidding behavior. Analyzing auction data from a large auction platform that supports public Q&A between buyers and sellers, we show that the seller's engagement with buyers during an auction can significantly impact the behavior of both buyers who ask questions as well as lurkers who passively observe the engagement (spillover effect). Our analysis also shows that the impact of the seller's engagement depends on features such as product type and seller reputation. A key insight from our study is that the impact of seller engagement on bidding behavior is moderated by seller feedback ratings, which indicates that trust-building mechanisms in online markets interact in their effects on buyers' decision-making. As sellers gain positive (negative) feedback, the impact of buyer-seller engagement on bidding behavior increases (decreases); furthermore, the cost of an additional negative feedback rating outweighs the benefit of a positive one. Overall, this study provides valuable insights for online auction platforms and their stakeholders.

About the Speaker

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Arvind Tripathi is an Associate Professor of Analytics and Information Systems at the University of Kansas. He received his PhD in Management of Information Systems from the University of Connecticut. His research interests are in digital markets, online communities, open innovation, and social media. He has served/or serving on editorial boards of ISR, POMS, MISQ, etc., and has published in top-tier academic journals such as Management Information Systems Quarterly, Information Systems Research, Production and Operations Management Journal, Journal of Retailing, Research Policy, and European Journal of Operations Research, among others.

Abstract of the talk:

In recent years, researchers have considered green entrepreneurship critical for creating new business opportunities in circular economy for sustainable development. Though many studies have been carried out in this domain recently, there are dearth of studies on how enablers of green entrepreneurship help businesses and progress toward achieving a circular economy. To fill this research gap, this study aims to identify the enablers of green entrepreneurship in the circular economy in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of the manufacturing sector. The aim also includes prioritizing and developing a contextual and hierarchical relationship between the identified enablers. Enablers are identified via a comprehensive literature review under the purview of management theories (namely “Dynamic Capability Theory,” “Critical Success Factor Theory,” and “Stakeholder Theory”) and are validated by expert opinions. The “Best Worst Method” (BWM) and the “Interpretive Structural Modelling” (ISM) have been used to prioritize and develop a hierarchical contextual relationship among the identified enablers respectively. Moreover, “fuzzy Matrice d'impacts croisés multiplication appliquée á un classment” (MICMAC) analysis is employed, to compute the driving and dependence power of the enablers. The obtained result revealed that “technology-based enablers” and “effective technological infrastructure facilities” are the key enablers of green entrepreneurship under main and sub-category enablers. The findings highlight the strength of the relationship among the enablers of green entrepreneurship based on the corresponding “driving” and “dependence” power. The result also suggests that ‘social norm and culture’, ‘an attitude towards acceptance of new technology,’ ‘R&D innovation capability,’ and ‘environmental regulation and waste management policies are critical in influencing the driving green entrepreneurship enablers of the circular economy. The study contributes to the decision-making process of government, policymakers, and all other stakeholders and also acts as a point of reference for entrepreneurs to run green-driven business practices and create sustainabilitydriven goods to offset the socio-economic and environmental challenges that mankind faces.

About the Speaker:

Sourav Mondal is a Ph.D. scholar in Management Studies & Industrial Engineering at IIT Dhanbad. His research focuses on Circular Economy, Digital Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Development. With a background in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from NIT Durgapur, he brings a diverse skill set. Sourav has published in reputable journals, presented at international conferences, and contributed to a book chapter. He published various papers in international journals of repute like the Journal of Cleaner Production, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Environment, Development, and Sustainability, and Global Business Review. His expertise extends to teaching areas like Green Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management. As a reviewer for various journals, including Business Strategy and the Environment, he actively contributes to the academic community.

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In this research, the aim was to study the impact of team sponsorships on IPL viewers' purchase intention and word of mouth related to the sponsor. Specifically, a conceptual model linking attachment points, team identification, event-sponsor fit, attitude towards the team sponsors, and behavioral intentions concerning the team sponsors in the context of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was tested and validated. The moderating effects of age and gender were also examined. A quantitative approach was employed, and data was collected through a questionnaire-based survey method. Existing scales available in the literature were used to design the survey instrument. Non-probability sampling, particularly the convenience sampling (snowball sampling) technique, was used to collect data from 1,053 participants through online and offline surveys. Data analysis included exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings revealed that attachment points influenced team identification formation, which, in turn, affected attitudes towards the team sponsors. Notably, player attachment had the most significant impact on team identification. Age and gender were found to have a moderating effect on the study's constructs. Team identification was stronger among females due to their attachment to sports, whereas males exhibited stronger team identification based on player attachment. In terms of age, the 21-30 age group had a stronger attitude towards sponsors based on the perceived degree of fit between the event and the team sponsors. The younger age group (under 21 years) demonstrated a greater intention to spread positive word of mouth compared to other age groups considered in the study.

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Dr. Giridhar B. Kamath is an Associate professor in the Department of Humanities and Management, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, Karnataka. He holds a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, a Master's in Engineering Management, an MBA in Marketing, and a PhD in Marketing. He has 3 years of industrial experience and over 11 years of teaching experience. He has a strong interest in exploring interdisciplinary research opportunities. His current areas of research interest are consumer behavior, sports marketing, and sustainable tourism, and has nearly 30 journal publications in various Scopus-indexed, Web of Science, and ABDC-indexed journals. He has published in journals such as the Journal of Travel Research, and the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship.

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Pricing is the single most critical management function that generates profitability and revenue for the firms. In the era of global competition, determining price is not a one-time decision, due to the dynamic nature and size of the business market, which are growing at an exponential rate and creating intense market rivalry and tremendous pricing pressure among firms, mainly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) functioning in developing nations with an unstable and unpredictable market environment and a lack of pricing transparency. In such conditions, the notion “pricing capability” enters into the picture, and has increasingly piqued the interest of practitioners and researchers alike in the industrial pricing domain. Nevertheless, a thorough examination of pricing capability literature has discovered some potential and substantial research gaps, including a shortage of contextual emphasis and a limited number of antecedents and consequences, all of which demand further attention from academics.

To address the aforesaid research gaps, the present study draws on theoretical rationale of organizational learning and resource-based view for identifying market-focused learning and firm innovativeness as potential antecedents of pricing capability, whereas pricing value and business performance are consequences. The composite data collection technique, including online-email and onsite-paper based questionnaire surveys, was employed and obtained 384 valid responses from the Indian SMEs functioning in service and manufacturing industries. The collected data was statistically tested with the help of partial least square structural equation modeling technique, viz., measurement model and structural model.

The research findings indicate that market-focused learning and firm innovativeness have a substantial and direct effect on pricing capability, which in turn positively affects both pricing value and business performance. Moreover, pricing value acts as a partial mediating effect on the relationship between pricing capability and business performance. From the theoretical perspective, it adds to the pricing capability literature by showing that market-focused learning and firm innovativeness contribute substantially to the development of pricing capability. From the practical perspective, SME managers need to understand the relevance of pricing capability development in delivering superior pricing value to their clients and achieving greater business performance.

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Piyush Ranjan is currently working as an Assistant Professor of Marketing at XLRI - Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur. As an Assistant Professor of Marketing, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role, providing valuable insights to students and colleagues alike.

Having completed his Doctoral Degree in Marketing Specialization at the Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, Dr. Ranjan has demonstrated a profound understanding of contemporary marketing theories and practices. His research interests primarily revolve around the dynamics of SMEs, price decision-making processes, and the impact of pricing capability on SME business performance, making him a thought leader in the ever-evolving landscape of business marketing.

His research work has been published in the Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing and Australasian Marketing Journal. He also reviews articles in reputed journals like the Journal of Strategic Marketing, Marketing Intelligence and Planning, Management Decision, and Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics.

Committed to fostering a stimulating learning environment, Dr. Ranjan is deeply invested in mentoring and guiding aspiring marketing professionals, encouraging them to think critically and creatively in the ever-changing realm of marketing. With his passion for research and teaching, Dr. Piyush Ranjan continues to make a significant contribution to the academic and professional landscape of marketing.

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This study aims to test the relationship between repurchase intention and its influencing factors by applying a meta-analysis approach. Also, the moderating effect of culture on the relationship between repurchase intention and its influencing factors is examined. The relationship between repurchase intention and its influencing factors is identified using a systematic literature review. A total of 41 closely related empirical studies are employed to produce combined effects. From the results, trust, perceived shopping value, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, convenience and e-service quality are found the major influencing factors of online repurchase intention. Except for the perceived risk, all hypotheses have shown a significant positive relationship with repurchase intention. Further, the study presents a moderating effect of culture between the relations of repurchase intention with three influencing factors, i.e. trust, perceived shopping value and perceived usefulness.

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Dr. Ajay Kumar is Assistant Professor in the Marketing area with a passion for research and teaching. Currently, He is associated with Sharda University, Greater Noida. He did his Ph.D. in Business Management (Marketing) from the Department of Business Studies, Dr. Harisingh Gaur Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar (A Central University). Dr. Kumar published 11 research papers in high repute journals (ABDC & Scopus) and presented papers in various national and international conferences. His area of research interests includes marketing, consumer behaviour, online shopping. He is a guest reviewer of several journals; Emerald, Sage, Elsevier, Taylor & Francis. He has worked as a Research Assistant on a research project titled "Assessing the User Satisfaction of NPTEL and Extricating Policy Implications for E-Learning in India" funded by the IMPRESS scheme sanctioned by MHRD.

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This study aims to investigate the relationship between oil prices and stock returns of renewable energy firms in India under different market conditions. The authors use the panel quantile framework with Fama–French– Carhart’s (1997) four-factor asset pricing model. All renewable energy firms listed in the National Stock Exchange of India are considered in this study. The West Texas Intermediate spot price is used in the regression. The analysis is done for the whole sample and its subgroups. This study finds that the relationship between oil price and stock returns of the renewable energy sector firms is significant and positive. This relationship is stronger in the bearish market conditions. The contribution of the study is explained as follows. First, this study helps to explore the relationship between oil and stock returns of the renewable energy sector under different market conditions in the Indian context. Second, existing studies explore the effect of oil prices on stock returns of the renewable energy sector at the industry level, and most of the studies are in developed countries. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in the context of India. Third, this is a firm-level study.

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Latatendu Mishra is a research scholar (submitted thesis and is waiting for viva-voce) at the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Management (SHSSM) of the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal in the area of finance and accounting. He qualified the UGC NET assistant professor examination in 2012. He has both extensive academic and industry experiences. He has two publications in the peer reviewed journals indexed in Web of Science, Scopus and ABDC (International Journal of Energy Sector Management and OPEC Energy Review). He also served as a reviewer for the Financial Innovation Journal.

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Dr Mohit Kumar have earned his PhD in the area of marketing focused on organizational learning and knowledge management in delivering customer satisfaction. Apart from that he has done MBA and has qualified NET eligibility test for Assistant professorship. He has experience of more than 7 years (pre and post PhD total) in academics as an Asst. Professor in a PG College located at Prayagraj itself. Some published research works of his are categorized in journal of high repute (ABDC & SSCI) like Journal of Knowledge management, Journal of business and industrial marketing, South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, etc. that shows his exposure to business research and academic research.

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In food supply chains (FSCs), sustainability is much more challenging. The most considerable difficulty humankind will confront is how to feed a population of 10 billion people sustainably by 2050. Nearly one-third of the globe's total food production is currently lost or wasted. About 70% of all wasted food consists of perishable food products. Wastage of these foods results in the loss of a tremendous quantity of natural resources, which accounts for a significant percentage of the resources that could be used for the food products' manufacture, distribution, and marketing. The sustainability of the perishable food supply chain presents a significant obstacle in India. This country accounts for approximately 17% of the global population, nearly half of whom are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. The agricultural economy is under severe strain, employing half of the population and generating substantial waste, contributing to a lag in accomplishing the aspects of the triple bottom line (TBL). However, there is potential for improvement concerning TBL sustainability in the realm of perishable food supply chains in India. Thus, determining the significant obstacles to perishable food supply chain sustainability would be the main focus of the proposed study.

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He has recently completed his Ph.D. in management area at Aligarh Muslim University. Before his Ph.D., he did his MBA and B.Tech. from AMU, Aligarh, and JNTU, Hyderabad, respectively. During his doctoral programme, he has published four research papers in reputed ABDC-listed journals (3 papers in the B-category and 1 in the A-category). He could also present six research papers at both international and national conferences. His current research focuses on achieving sustainability in the perishable food supply chain.

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Title: Fuzzy Predictive Modeling for the Hierarchical Structure of Strategic Innovation Management.
Total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) constructs a hierarchical structure with interpretations of nodes and interrelationship links. While TISM performs qualitative research when conceptual modeling is preferred, it lacks quantitative capabilities at present. Conducting a quantitative study on TISM is difficult, especially when the model elements are qualitative. TISM enables the development of a predictive model based on fuzzy set theory. The proposed methodology benefits from using surrogate variables to quantify qualitative variables and fuzzy set theory to simulate the hierarchical model. The proposed method is exercised to conduct a simulation-based study on the existing hierarchical model of strategic innovation to generate multiple scenarios. Additionally, through simulation and scenario building, relevant decisions can be made to enhance productivity and performance in particular functional areas. In this article, multiple scenarios generated by the simulation provide a comprehensive view of the system's behavior in new ventures, which aids in the multicriteria decision-making process.

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Dr K Dinesh has a PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Dr K Dinesh’s research focuses on strategic innovation, current and emerging issues in strategic management, systems thinking, system dynamics, technology management, and entrepreneurship. From a research methods point of view, his research interests also extend to interpretive research methods. His work has been published in journals, including the IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Benchmarking: An International Journal, Journal for Global Business Advancement, and Journal for Internal Business and Entrepreneurship Development. His research has been well-received by peers and cited in several other studies. Apart from publications, he is also a peer reviewer for the Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Technology in Society, Scandinavian Journal of Management, International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness, and the International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management. He has substantial research experience in international project work besides doctoral work. For the project “COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out” by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), he has experience in handling research tasks and publishing papers out of studies from project work. One of his recent studies from the project on COVID-19 has been published in the journal Vaccines.

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Title: AUTOREGRESSIVE CONDITIONAL DYNAMIC SEMIVARIANCE MODELS WITH VALUE-AT-RISK ESTIMATES
A variant of the autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic (ARCH) process called as autoregressive conditional dynamic semivariance process (ARCDS) that closely relates to semivariance in the residuals is introduced in the volatility formulation. As in ARCH formulation, the conditional volatility varies over time. The conditions for stationarity and regularity for the ARCDS process and the information matrix for the process are derived. To test whether the disturbances follow the ARCDS process, the Lagrangian multiplier test is adopted, where the squared ordinary least square residuals are regressed on the squares of the minimum of the past residuals and zero. A second model employs the peaks over the threshold (POT) approach. The Hill estimators are used to estimate the parameters and the threshold is computed based on the mean excess function. The model is used to forecast mean, volatility and value-at-risk (VaR) in the returns of the equity growth funds in India during November 2012 to December 2021. With an exception, the model provides superior 90% in-sample and out-samples forecasts. Combination of the ARCDS process with POT approach provides superior VaR forecasts in comparison to normal distribution across various significance levels.

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Sree Vinutha V completed Ph.D from IIT Bombay and taught at IIT Kharagpur, Great Lakes Institute of Management and IIM Rohtak. Prior to joining IIT Bombay, she worked in the Analytics division of GE and subsequently pursued Financial Risk Management from IIM Bangalore. Her graduation was in Mathematics and post graduation was in Management. Her current areas of interest include Financial Econometrics, Financial Management, Econometrics and Investment Analysis. She has also presented papers in the conference organized by the International Finance and Banking Society in UK in association with the University of Cambridge, University of Warwick and University of Leicester and has published in risk management, the journal of quantitative economics, international journal of finance and economics. She is currently working with Mphasis on optimization.

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Title: Deregulating labour laws in Rajasthan: A boon or a bane?
The existing theoretical and empirical understandings of the association between labour market institutions and economic outcomes are ambiguous. Against this background, we analyse the impact of deregulations in labour laws on the employment and performance of establishments. After several years, in 2014, the Indian state of Rajasthan deregulated the labour laws in four major Acts, namely, Industrial Disputes Act (1947), the Factories Act (1948), the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act (1970), and the Apprentices Act (1961). We exploit this unique quasi-natural experiment and apply a difference-in-difference framework using the longitudinal data of organised manufacturing establishments in India to analyse the impact of the reforms. We find the deregulations in the labour laws to cause a decline in labour. The decline is disproportionate for directly employed permanent workers, whereas the use of contractual workers increased, indicating a deterioration in both quantity and quality of employment. The reforms positively impacted capital, gross value added, and emoluments but reduced inputs, productivity, and profits. The efficacy of these effects varies depending on the underlying industry and reform structures. The evidence-based assessment of the labour reforms holds several critical policy implications.

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Diti Goswami is working as an assistant professor (on contract) in Economics and Public Policy at the Indian Institute of Management Rohtak. She completed her Ph.D. on July 2022 from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Prior to joining IIM Rohtak, she worked as an Assistant Professor at the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies and as a research fellow at the Centre for Sustainable Employment, Azim Premji University. Her research has been published in high-quality peer-reviewed journals like the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, International Journal of Manpower, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal. Her work has been presented at many international conferences and has also served as a reviewer for some reputed journals.

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Topic: Driving Electric Vehicles Into the Future With Battery Management Systems
Electric vehicles are poised to replace diesel and gasoline-based vehicles all over the developing world. The benefits are many, from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to reducing overall design complexity leading to lower repair costs. One central area of investigation in this regard is battery’s efficient operation. Estimating the battery's health is essential in successfully adapting electric vehicles. Two critical parameters of interest in the battery management system are the state of charge (SOC) and a cell's state of health (SOH). The state of charge depicts the battery capacity percentage. It informs the end user about the remaining performance in the current cycle. The state of health suggests the battery’s remaining life before it must be replaced. This research work proposes a simulation model approach to understand a Lithium-ion battery’s dynamic behavior. The model precisely describes the behavior of the lithium-ion battery, with high concordance between simulation results and reality. Further, a prediction-based model is introduced with the help of crucial battery parameters. The data synthesis, eventually estimates possible failures and life of the battery. In the next step, it has been observed that the data has been created through a simulation model only; this demands an application to real battery system. Hence, we endeavor to develop an accurate physical model and collect real-time data when it moves on different roads. A product prototype has been developed to verify and validate the results obtained for battery’s performance. The work then presents comparison results and identifies avenues for future work.

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Dr. Shikha Singh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management Studies & Industrial Engineering at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, India. She holds her Ph.D. degree from IIT, Kanpur and B.Tech. degree from IIT (BHU), Varanasi. Prior to joining IIT Dhanbad, she worked as a visiting faculty in IIM, Amritsar. Before starting her academic journey, she has worked with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, India, for over a decade and has hands-on experience in international and national aerospace projects. Her research interest lies in Industry 4.0 technology management, Product Lifecycle Management, product development, Product data management and other allied domains. During her academic journey she has published her research works in esteemed journals such as IJPR, IJPE, IEEE TEM, BPMJ, IJQRM etc. She is a senior member of IEEE and recognized as a certified PMP professional.

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Topic: An analysis of privacy policies of public health and disaster management apps
Governments around the world are utilizing their digital ecosystems for public health and disaster management. To increase awareness among the beneficiaries about privacy risks, they must proactively publish the data handling practices for their digital initiatives through appropriate privacy policies. This study analyzes the privacy policies of public mobile applications (apps) introduced to provide public health and disaster management support during the recent pandemic in India. We found a total of 63 such government initiated apps in India out of which 38% were found to have an app-specific privacy policy. These policies were analyzed further to assess their coverage of key data protection principles, such as "Purpose," "Data Categories," and "Data Retention," derived from legal requirements. We also analyzed the extent of the specificity of policies with a high coverage. In India, only one national-level app stood out to have both considerable coverage of key principles as well as a high level of specificity. Other apps fail to display the desired levels of coverage and/or specificity. The broader policy recommendations of this study are that the government should better address privacy concerns regarding its existing and future public health and disaster management apps as well as its other digital initiatives by (a) establishing and enforcing a comprehensive legislative framework for data protection and (b) increasing privacy awareness among the beneficiaries.

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Sourya Joyee De is an Assistant Professor in Information Systems area at IIM Raipur since 2019. She is a Fellow of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (PhD). Prior to joining IIM Raipur, she held research positions at Inria, France from 2015 to 2019. Her research has been funded by French ANR project BIOPRIV, Cisco San Jose, USA and Samsung GRO Grant. Sourya was also a Visiting Scientist at Indian Statistical Institute Kolkata, India. Her research interests include data protection, privacy, and security. She has published in various reputed journals and conferences. She has also published two books with Morgan & Claypool Publishers, USA. Sourya teaches various courses to MBA, executive MBA, Senior Management Programme, and General Management Programme batches at IIM Raipur.

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Mr. Sivananth Ramachandran leads Morningstar Indexes in Mumbai. He is responsible for new Product Development and Index Management functions within Indexes. A professional with over 10 years of experience in the investment industry while holding positions in a variety of leadership roles in research, business development over the course of his career at Morningstar and MSCI. His expertise includes portfolio construction, factors, and sustainability research.

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Mr. Alok Gupta is the Strategic Marketing & Business head with 17 years of work ex. across India & International markets with blue-chip MNCs like Hewlett Packard, Philips, Cargill foods (FMCG foods) & LG Electronics in the Consumer good domain. His key mandate is to build lifestyle premium brands, profitable businesses across mature & emerging markets of Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, South East Asia, SAARC & India region. A strategic business leader with expertise in Organization building, General Management, and People development. Inspirational team leader with agility and positive leadership skills are few of his long list of responsibilities. He has a strong Sales & Marketing background with expertise in Business Strategy, Brand Management, Marketing, Product Management, New product development, Market research & Channel development.

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Associate Professor and Baker Chair of RMI, Missouri State University.

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Mr Aniruddha Khekale is in charge of strategic oversight for Human Resources - Emerson Automation Solutions Group, India. He has 24 years of experience at Leadership Positions for Large and Medium Multinational and Indian Organizations. His key mandate is to create strategic direction and lead the Human Resources vertical of company that binds all the other departments together. A culture of happiness, high engagement and a work climate that improves the workplace productivity and support Business Growth are a few of his long list of responsibilities .He has also done extensive work in the area of Organization Development, Talent Management, Organization Design, Mergers and Acquisitions, Integrating and Assimilating new businesses, Positive Employee Relations, Developing HR Systems and Infrastructure.

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Mr. Sameer Seth , Media professional with 14Yrs+ diverse experience in P&L Management, Business Planning, Revenue & Content Strategy, Brand Management, Marketing Communications & Sales. He has handled brand launches (including a category launch) & brand repositioning mandates across some of India's largest Media Corporations and in the Consumer Durable Category. Disruptive marketing leading to delivery of high impact marketing campaigns, while being innovative in operational management & creating non-conventional revenue opportunities is his forte. He has previously worked for Network18 Media & Investments Limited, Star TV Network, CNN-News18 and so forth and an alumni of Delhi University, XLRI Jamshedpur.

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Mrs Tandon is a self-motivating and innovative HR Professional with an illustrious career spanning over 15 years. For starters roles of, Talent Acquisition Head at Stryker, Ex-Associate Director- HR, Snapdeal. She has worked in diverse industries like Medical Technology, E-commerce, Automobile, ITES and has proved her mettle in numerous areas like Talent Acquisition, Employer Branding, Organisation Design and change management amongst others. Fittingly so, her extraordinary contributions to the organisations that she has been associated with have manifested into coveted honours such as Golden Peacock Award for HR Excellence, Best in Candidate Experience in TA League Awards, and Best in Diversity Practices in LnD League awards, for the organisations she has been a part of. Adding to this, her individual brilliance has also been recognised with The Magical Motivator Award and The Best in HR Excellence Award. She has an impeccable level of passion for innovative HR practices and her zeal for developing new Talent Acquisition Strategies is unparallel.

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