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Working Papers | 2003

A Probabilistic Tabu Search Algorithm for the Generalized Minimum Spanning Tree Problem

Diptesh Ghosh

In this paper we present a probabilistic tabu search algorithm for the generalized minimum spanning tree problem. The basic idea behind the algorithm is to use preprocessing operations to arrive at a probability value for each vertex which roughly corresponds to its probability of being included in an optimal solution, and to use such probability values to shrink the size of the neighborhood of solutions to manageable proportions. We report results from computational experiments that demonstrate the superiority of this method over the generic tabu search method.

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Working Papers | 2003

An Institutional Economics Approach to the Problems of Small Farmer Credit in India.

Samar K. Datta

This paper applies the tools of institutional economics-especially those pertaining to informational asymmetry and transaction costs - for studying the credit problems of small farmers in India, who, in spite of a vast network of credit institutions developed over a long period of time under government ownership and/or control, are alleged as not getting a share of formal sector credit commensurate with their statistical dominance. It uses data collected by the Agro-economic Research Centers and Units under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India from a carefully selected sample of 700 borrower households across the country over a period of three years (1997-1998 to 1999-2000) to provide a preliminary explanation of the various dimensions of a credit package in terms of variation in borrower's village, household and other loan attributes.

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Working Papers | 2003

Property Rights, Incentives and Performance of Cooperative Training Institutes In India

Ravindra H. Dholakia, Samar K. Datta, and Vijay Paul Sharma

The paper attempts to find determinants of variation in performance of the 19 institutes of cooperative management (ICM) representing the in-housetraining facilities within the cooperative sector in India by examining the distribution of property rights and incentives. The property rights are so distributed that there is a mismatch between the rights of residual claimants and of residual controllers. As a result, there is a clear efficiency loss and under-utilisation of capacity across ICMs. The performance of ICMs is measured through two indicators of demand and two indicators of supply of training. The paper finds that the supply of training in the ICM system in India is largely governed by the availability of training equipments like the number of PC, OHP, library books, and the qualitative aspects of labour input such as the average research papers, cases, and notes produced by faculty, and number of sessions conducted by guest faculty. The demand for training is not determined by the felt need of cooperatives, but by clients' perception of the training infrastructure, facilities and capability of ICMs as well as the image and experience of ICMs in conducting paid programmes.

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Working Papers | 2003

The Marginal Unit Shadow Price and its relationship to the Average Shadow Price

Saral Mukherjee and Chatterjee Ashis K

The economic significance of the average shadow price for integer and mixed integer programming problems has been established by researchers (Kim and Cho 1988), (Crema 1995). In this paper we introduce the concept of the marginal unit shadow price to deal with the integer programs where the right hand side resource availability can only be varied in discrete steps. We show that for integer programs, a sufficient condition for the marginal unit shadow price to equal the average shadow price is that the Law of Diminishing Returns should hold. The polyhedral structures that will guarantee this equivalence have been explored. Identification of the problem classes for which the equivalence holds greatly simplifies the existing procedure for determining shadow price for such integer programs.

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Working Papers | 2003

Productivity and efficiency at public and private sector banks in India

T. T. Ram Mohan and Ray Subhash C

India public sector banks (PSBs) are compared unfavourably with their private sector counterparts, domestic and foreign. This comparison rests, for the most part, on financial measures of performance, and such a comparison provides much of the rationale for privatisation of PSBs. In this paper, we attempt a comparison between PSBs and their private sector counterparts based on measures of efficiency and productivity that use quantities of outputs and inputs. Efficiency measures a firm's performance relative to a benchmark at a given point in time; productivity measures a firm's performance over time. Both measures are relevant in attempting a comparison between the private and public sectors. We employ three measures: Tornquist total factor productivity growth, Malmquist efficiency and revenue maximisation efficiency. We attempt these comparisons over the period 1992-2000, comparing PSBs with both domestic private and foreign banks. Out of a total of six comparisons we have made, there are no differences in three cases, PSBs do better in two, and foreign banks in one. To put it differently, PSBs are seen to be at a disadvantage in only one out of six comparisons. It is difficult, therefore, to sustain the proposition that efficiency and productivity have been lower in public sector banks relative to their peers in the private sector.

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Working Papers | 2003

Motivation For and Cost of HACCP

Satish Y. Deodhar

To remain quality competitive in the post-WTO regime, Indian food processing firms would have to adopt a food safety management system - Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). It is necessary to understand, therefore, in what way the system benefits firms, and, what are the costs of HACCP implementation. This paper does that. Data on reasons for and cost of HACCP implementation was generated through questionnaire survey of food processing firms. Analysis was performed using factor analysis, contingency tables and chi-square tests. While quality and production related factors motivate firms to employ HACCP, trade associations are not at all instrumental in promoting the system. Set-up cost and operating cost vary with the type of food sub-sector and the size of firm. Government and trade associations may facilitate sector specific concessional loans for HACCP implementation and initiate training programmes. Economies of scale are important in HACCP adoption, hence Indian firms may want to go for horizontal and/or vertical integration.

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Working Papers | 2003

Health insurance and third party administrators: Issues and challenges

Bhat Ramesh and Babu Sumesh K

With the growth of private voluntary insurance in the unregulated healthcare market, costs of healthcare are likely to go up. Managed care organisations in many developed countries play important role in containing costs. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has paved the way for insurance intermediaries such as third part administrators (TPAs) which are going to play pivotal role in setting up managed care systems. TPAs have been set -up with the objective of ensuring better services to policyholders and mitigate some of the negative consequences of private health insurance. However, given the demand and supply side complexities of private health insurance and health care markets, insurance intermediaries face challenging tasks to achieve these objectives. Right in the early stages of its development IRDA has defined the role of TPAs to manage claims and reimbursements. Their role in controlling costs of health care and ensuring appropriate quality of care remains less defined.

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Working Papers | 2003

Net-Based Promotions: Practices, Prospects and Challenges

Kureshi Sonal and Vyas Preeta

The dynamic technological advancement brought around increasing use of electronic communication. Net as a medium is endowed with unique characteristics that has assisted the growth of e-commerce and in turn increased use of net-based sales promotions. For this study net-based promotions are defined as those sales promotion offers which are announced on internet and are to be availed either/ or online/ off-line. The paper examines the characteristics, practices, prospects and risks of consumer sales promotions through this medium. To gain insight into current practices, consumer sales promotion on three different sites, general, specialised and e-commerce sites were studied. The most frequently promoted product categories across sites were apparel, phones, airlines, books, and watches. Price-off followed by free gift offer was the most commonly used type of net- based promotions. Managerial issues relating to product, design and communication are discussed.

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Working Papers | 2003

Talking Up: Study of Upward Influence Strategies

Asha Kaul

In organizations with emphasis on transparency, flexibility, informal talks and open door policies, subordinate-superior relationships and communication patterns are a significant deviation from the norm. This study analyzes transcripts of 23 pieces of interviews for identification of Upward Influence (UI) strategies in a multi-national FMCG company, with aforementioned cultural traits. Extensively discussed strategies like, imitation, reason and logic, and upward appeal, were identified through conversation analysis. Two new strategies, emerged in the course of the analysis, viz. reasoned aggression and nonchalance. The study describes the choice and use of UI strategies in this particular organization. It proceeds to discuss the need for improved understanding of UI strategies in isolation and combination, and in relation to culture, team affiliations, and interpersonal relationships.

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Working Papers | 2003

The Road Map For Tomorrow

Parikh Indira J

"The Road Map for Tomorrow", looks at the woman and the workplace within the Indian context. The authors discuss the paradoxical situation in India, the complexities of the country, the vast differences between rural and urban India and the baffling mix of tradition and modernity. The seemingly conflicting demands of the workplace and of motherhood and other societal roles is explored with a view to finding a Golden Mean, a new paradigm which may be possible in tomorrows world, given the advent of enabling technologies and globalization. The crucial role that women can play not only in the organizational context but also in the process of nation building is discussed. The importance of Education and "Teacher Leaders" is emphasized. Women can play a vital role in this process of social transformation. The old saying, "The Child is the Father of Man" can be replaced by "the Girl Child is the Mother of Mankind". Indian women carry the legacy of a civilization thousands of years old. This legacy is a mixed blessing, in that it is both a burden and a source of inspiration. The challenge is to distill the best from the past, transform ancient wisdom into modern day paradigms and not be shackled by the bondage of age- old dogmas and beliefs. The new millennium may well usher in an era, where not only women, but the entire human race can more easily achieve self-actualization and both professional and personal satisfaction. The leaders of tomorrow should be identified not by their gender, but by their capability and merit. The paper ends with the hopeful note that men and women will both create spaces and roles to enjoy multi-dimensional lives which are fulfilling at work and home and which allow for individual choices for personal and professional growth.

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