• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2013

According to the Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) published by A.T. Kearney (2012), India is the $5^{th}$ most attractive retail destination in the world. The retail industry in India has been largely fragmented with small businesses dominating the retail landscape, with very few large players having multiple retail outlets. However, in the last few years, the industry has witnessed a significant growth in the number of large retailers having a chain of outlets across the country. This growth in the organised retail sector has driven primarily by large Indian retail organisations and conglomerates. With the government reducing the restrictions on foreign participation in Indian retail business by increasing the FDI cap on both single and multi-brand retail outlets, the industry is likely to see an explosive growth in the organised retail sector which accounts for only 8 percent of the total industry. With more foreign retailers poised to enter into the country, one of the key issues that the industry may face is finding the right quality of manpower. Literature suggests that in an industry which is characterised by players offering similar kinds of product assortments at similar price levels, success would be governed by the quality of service, which entails employees having the right skills and attitudes for offering quality service. Therefore, the two key issues that may be of importance for retailers are levels of skills and the motivation of the employees. However, according to the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC, 2009), a significant skill gap exists in the industry, which may widen further in the years ahead, leading to greater challenges for organisations. This paper highlights some of the challenges and issues which characterise the industry in India, and suggests how companies could look at these challenges and seek ways to overcome these challenges.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.5-15
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• 2015

Purpose - This paper aims to identify and rank factors that influence impulse buying behavior among shoppers in Dubai. Research design, data, and methodology - Questionnaires were collected from 168 Dubai shoppers using non-probability quota sampling. Factor Analysis was completed to identify factors triggering impulse buying traits. Results - Six antecedent factors were identified: hedonism, in-store influences, product related influences, socialization, promotional activities, and convenience. Surprisingly, product related influences were the most significant in stimulating impulse buying behavior. Conclusions - This research suggests that a multitude of factors affect shopper propensity for impulse buying, with non-economic factors like product and in-store related influences having a significant impact. Hence, retail managers should concentrate on these in merchandising and promotional efforts. Against the backdrop of Dubai, one of the biggest retail destinations, this study contributes to present knowledge on impulse buying behavior. In terms of shopper inclinations and likeliness to purchase products, it highlights how shoppers respond to special in-store displays and discount offerings. For marketers, the findings regarding relative significance of various factors may help in strategies to attract consumers.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.5-15
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• 2015

This research paper has been attempted to inventory the atmospheric factors, contributing to better sales. Exploratory study was undertaken to identify various signs of store atmospherics variables that influence the buying behaviour of buyers. Thirty-four variables identified from this study were used to create a structured questionnaire. This questionnaire was then administered among shoppers in NCR Delhi using non-probability convenience sampling. To determine the atmospheric factors, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) along with Varimax Rotation was attempted. Using principal component factor analysis on the data collected, nine factors were identified to have impact on the store atmospheric. These were Querulous, Music, Sensitive, Budget Seeker, Sensuous, Light, Idler, Space seeker and Comfort Seeker. Contrary to the various earlier studies where music, space seeker and comfort seeker were considered to be most significant factors, light and querulous have emerged out to be the major factor that influences the store atmospheric. This study shows that customers are sensitive, space seekers and sensuous. Constituents of these factors reveal distinct patterns. This research may be used as guidelines for development and management of shopping malls in emerging countries. Retail marketers in India can take this cue in designing their strategies to attract consumers.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2014

Purpose - This study aims to examine the Indian consumers'mall shopping patronage with the application of theory of planned behavior (TPB). The research intends to extend the TPB components (attitude, self-efficacy, subjective norms) with the addition of self-image and study their effect on Indian consumers' mall patronage intention. Research design, data and methodology - The research employed factor analysis to verify correct loading of items on corresponding factors and to confirm the applicability of constructs in the Indian context. The model was tested using stepwise regression analysis. Results -The results indicate a positive relationship between self-efficacy and intention to mall patronage. The findings show that self-image, attitude, self-efficacy, subjective norm significantly influence the mall patronage intention. Self-efficacy, which signifies self-competence and confidence in one's ability as a mall shopper indicates that as the self-efficacy increases Indian consumers' will eventually patronize malls. Conclusions - Self-image congruency plays a salient role in predicting mall-shopping patronage. The mall management should ensure that the mall marketing strategies incorporate it along with the other components of TPB to warrant decent footfall.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.5-12
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• 2016

Purpose - The present study examines the interrelationship between various components constituting shopping experience in the context of the Indian shopping malls. Research design, data, and methodology - Extracting components of shopping experience from the literature review, the study used Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) to propose a conceptual model. The study adopted a mixed methods research involving theoretical constructs from past research, qualitative assessment of relationship between the constructs and imposing definite order and direction to qualitative relations based on mathematical computations. Results - Proposed model indicates that the five components of shopping experience (ambience, physical infrastructure, convenience, marketing focus and safety and security) do not converge directly into shopping experience. Rather, they operate following a hierarchy of influences in which marketing focus plays the role of the initiator. Conclusions - This model points at the order of preference of different components of shopping experience and can be a useful guide for retail industry, especially mall developers and supermarket/hypermarket, may use the findings in key decisions about development of physical infrastructure, which are based on marketing focus.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.624-651
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• 2023

The study makes several contributions to not only the adoption literature by examining the influence of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Big-Five traits on adoption of Augmented Reality (AR) but also given its utility in both industry and research, it contributes to the interesting inter-disciplinary domain of psychology, information systems, and human behaviour. A quantitative based approach using a sample of 275 respondents was undertaken. It is found that emotional intelligence influence both perceived ease-of-use and perceived usefulness. They in turn influence intention to use. Another important observation is that personality traits (openness and agreeableness) have a significant moderating effect on the relation between attitude and intention to use AR. This research will help academicians and executives working on the adoption of AR in various sectors ranging from retail industry to the education sector. The originality of this study is that it explores the impact of EI on the acceptance of AR and helps in extending the literature in interdisciplinary research.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2014

Shopping malls have become key players in the Indian retail space. Even in upcoming Indian towns, malls have been mushrooming. Raipur, the capital city of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh has witnessed the growth over the last few years. However, this unplanned growth of malls in cities is expected to lead to oversupply of mall space in the near future, making things difficult for mall developers. The study is an attempt to identify appropriate strategies for mall developers to iron out such kinks. This paper presents 'shopping experience' as a tool to compete, succeed and explore its composition in terms of its constituent factors. The paper uses Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) on a non-probability sample of 350 respondents. It condenses a set of twenty-two mall variables into five factors that directly influence the shopping experience. These factors included ambience, infrastructure, marketing focus, convenience and safety and security. In terms of significance, shoppers assigned different weightage to each of these factors. The study shed light on interesting insights regarding the expectations of mall shoppers in the city of Raipur. The results though interesting, may be extended to different social, economic and geographic contexts to check the universality. While strategizing, mall developers must assign proportionate effort on the factors based on the respective contribution to shopping experience. In light of intensifying competition in Raipur, the study is significant for future prospects of malls. In the absence of a scientific and objective basis, the developers run risk of making wrong investment and management decisions. This paper is a useful addition to the body of knowledge on management of shopping malls in India and is unique in terms of its focus on mall shoppers in the smaller Indian cities like Raipur.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.5-9
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• 2014

Purpose - This paper aims to critically examine capital market developments in India before and after liberalization. Research design, data, and methodology - The paper examines the Indian capital market from its inception to the latest developments related to both primary and secondary markets, and also discusses recent initiatives of capital markets to enhance the expected level of services to the investor community. It also sheds light on the regulatory framework for investor protection. Results - The study further highlights the future roadmap for the radical development of the Indian capital market. The paper identifies the various initial obstacles and intricacies that affect the smooth functioning of the Indian capital markets. Hence, the paper articulates that these concerns should be addressed by the regulatory authorities and at the policy level at the earliest for further strengthening the capital markets in the interests of the economy in general and retail investors in particular. Conclusion - This is a topic of utmost contemporary importance to worldwide national economies, and calls for novel methods and techniques in dealing effectively with the menace facing capital markets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.738-744
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• 2008

In most developing countries consumers purchase retail cuts from hot carcasses and prepare traditional meat products as per their convenience and requirements. In this study, effects of different post mortem handling practices on quality of meat curry from culled sheep meat have been studied. After slaughter, leg cuts were subjected to nine commonly prevalent handling conditions in India viz. deboning (boning out) and cooking within 2-3 h (1), deboning immediately and cooking after 5-6 h (2), deboning after 5-6 h and cooking (3), deboning immediately, storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 24 h and cooking (4), chilling for 24 h at $4^{\circ}C$, deboning and cooking (5), deboning after 5-6 h, storage for 24 h at $4^{\circ}C$, and cooking (6), deboning after 5-6 h, storage for 48 h at 4??C and cooking (7), deboning after 5-6 h, freezing and cooking (8), deboning after 5-6 h, storage for 24 h at $4^{\circ}C$, freezing and cooking (9). Significant differences were observed in pH, water-holding capacity, cooking loss and shear force values. Sensory scores were significantly higher in conditions (1), (5) and (9), and significantly lower in conditions (4) and (6). From the results, it was concluded that, to have the best quality product, meat should be cooked either immediately after slaughter or should be deboned just before cooking. Storage of deboned meat at refrigerated temperature must be avoided.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.121-137
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• 2010

This work presents inexpensive inorganic precursor formulations to yield submicron range symmetric ceramic microfiltration (MF) membranes whose average pore sizes were between 0.1 and $0.4{\mu}m$. Incidentally, the sintering temperature used in this work was about 800 to $950^{\circ}C$ instead of higher sintering temperatures ($1100^{\circ}C$) that are usually deployed for membrane fabrication. Thermogravimetric (TGA) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were carried out to evaluate the effect of temperature on various phase transformations during sintering process. The effect of sintering temperature on structural integrity of the membrane as well as pore size distribution and average pore size were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The average pore sizes of the membranes were increased from 0.185 to $0.332{\mu}m$ with an increase in sintering temperature from 800 to $950^{\circ}C$. However, a subsequent reduction in membrane porosity (from 34.4 to 19.6%) was observed for these membranes. Permeation experiments with both water and air were carried out to evaluate various membrane morphological parameters such as hydraulic pore diameter, hydraulic permeability, air permeance and effective porosity. Later, the membrane prepared with a sintering temperature of $950^{\circ}C$ was tested for the treatment of synthetic oily waste water to verify its real time applicability. The membrane exhibited 98.8% oil rejection efficiency and $5.36{\times}10^{-6}\;m^3/m^2.s$ permeate flux after 60 minutes of experimental run at 68.95 kPa trans-membrane pressure and 250 mg/L oil concentration. Based on retail and bulk prices of the inorganic precursors, the membrane cost was estimated to be $220 /$m^2$ and $1.53 /$m^2$, respectively.