Business Perspectives and Research, Ahead of Print.
Coffee is one of the largest traded agri-plantation commodities consumed as a popular beverage across the globe. India exports 75% of its coffee to Europe, the USA, and other developed countries; however, prices depend upon multiple factors of national and international importance. This study makes an in-depth analysis of the US dollar, crude oil, International Coffee Organisation’s (ICO) coffee spot, and futures on Indian coffee auction prices of Arabica and Robusta. The study adopting causal research method examined cointegration and relative effect by administering Johansen cointegration, vector error correction model under VAR environment, VEC-Granger causality, and block exogeneity Wald test. The study found cointegration and long-run association of the US dollar index and crude oil on Arabica than Robusta coffee. Hence, any change in the prices of ICO spot, Arabica coffee futures, crude oil, and the US $ index leads to long-term change in the Indian Arabica coffee auction prices. Coffee exporter should hedge their currency risk on Arabica export and coffee farmers may anticipate increase in domestic prices against sharp rise in US dollar.
La Rioja in a Cheese
International Journal of Rural Management, Volume 19, Issue 2, Page 319-329, August 2023.
The ways in which people produce and consume food reveal both historical and contemporary dynamics attached to environmental and social factors. La Rioja is a Spanish region located in the northern area of the Iberian Peninsula which is famous for its wine. However, it also has a cheese which dates to the Medieval Ages. La Rioja landscapes and lifestyles are embedded in Camerano cheese, which is made in the Sierra de Cameros with a Protected Designation of Origin. The value chain of Camerano cheese is based on a close connection between people, places and practices. Drawing from a case study method and supported by a visual auto ethnography, results reveal the relevance of Camerano cheese and its trajectory from ancient to modern times from the perspective of local actors. While La Rioja wine may eclipse La Rioja cheese, this article adds to the understanding of local products as part of the narratives of food as a path to protect and promote local identities.
The ways in which people produce and consume food reveal both historical and contemporary dynamics attached to environmental and social factors. La Rioja is a Spanish region located in the northern area of the Iberian Peninsula which is famous for its wine. However, it also has a cheese which dates to the Medieval Ages. La Rioja landscapes and lifestyles are embedded in Camerano cheese, which is made in the Sierra de Cameros with a Protected Designation of Origin. The value chain of Camerano cheese is based on a close connection between people, places and practices. Drawing from a case study method and supported by a visual auto ethnography, results reveal the relevance of Camerano cheese and its trajectory from ancient to modern times from the perspective of local actors. While La Rioja wine may eclipse La Rioja cheese, this article adds to the understanding of local products as part of the narratives of food as a path to protect and promote local identities.
Financial Leverage and Financial Performance of Savings and Credit Co-operative Societiesin Tanzania
International Journal of Rural Management, Volume 19, Issue 2, Page 214-233, August 2023.
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between financial leverage and financial performance of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Tanzania (SACCOS). The study used a panel data set of 115 SACCOS in Tanzania in the period 2011–14 and fixed-effects models for analysis. The study considered the direct relationship between financial leverage and financial performance and the moderating effect of board meetings on the relationship between financial leverage and the SACCOS’s financial performance. The results show that financial leverage is negatively and significantly related to SACCOS financial performance. Also, board meetings have the significant and positive moderating effect on the financial leverage–financial performance relationship. Finally, the study suggests that SACCOS in Tanzania need to embrace more on mobilising internal funds from their members instead of relying on debt. This can reduce the dependence on debt which has been one of the operational costs’ drivers of the SACCOS in Tanzania.
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between financial leverage and financial performance of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Tanzania (SACCOS). The study used a panel data set of 115 SACCOS in Tanzania in the period 2011–14 and fixed-effects models for analysis. The study considered the direct relationship between financial leverage and financial performance and the moderating effect of board meetings on the relationship between financial leverage and the SACCOS’s financial performance. The results show that financial leverage is negatively and significantly related to SACCOS financial performance. Also, board meetings have the significant and positive moderating effect on the financial leverage–financial performance relationship. Finally, the study suggests that SACCOS in Tanzania need to embrace more on mobilising internal funds from their members instead of relying on debt. This can reduce the dependence on debt which has been one of the operational costs’ drivers of the SACCOS in Tanzania.
Operationalizing Organizational Capacity Assessment for Identifying Capability Gaps in the Indian Hospital Sector
Business Perspectives and Research, Ahead of Print.
This study interprets the development and validation of the organizational capacity assessment tool, which is designed to evaluate the gaps in capabilities of hospitals across India. This assessment tool was tested on 300 managers working in hospitals across 16 states of India, with a majority coming from small-sized hospitals. The 40-item measure assessed six factors of organizational capabilities, namely, organizational foundation, organizational resources, organizational capacities, core task implementation, benefits and impacts, and external relations. Gaps in the capacities were identified. Internal consistency was evaluated using the Cronbach’s alpha. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the inclusion of the items in the questionnaire. In addition, structural equation modeling was conducted to evaluate the goodness of fit of the model demonstrating the relationships between the study variables. It was found that individual factors such as core task implementation and organizational foundation significantly influenced benefits and impacts as well as external relations. Similarly, organizational resources positively impacted evaluation capacity outcomes. In contrast, organizational capacity had no significant influence on either benefits and impacts or external relations. This study only validates the capacity assessment tool; however, it needs to be measured with varied types of work personnel within the healthcare sector as there is a huge diversity in the work force of this area. Based on this empirical study, many future research implications were suggested.
This study interprets the development and validation of the organizational capacity assessment tool, which is designed to evaluate the gaps in capabilities of hospitals across India. This assessment tool was tested on 300 managers working in hospitals across 16 states of India, with a majority coming from small-sized hospitals. The 40-item measure assessed six factors of organizational capabilities, namely, organizational foundation, organizational resources, organizational capacities, core task implementation, benefits and impacts, and external relations. Gaps in the capacities were identified. Internal consistency was evaluated using the Cronbach’s alpha. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the inclusion of the items in the questionnaire. In addition, structural equation modeling was conducted to evaluate the goodness of fit of the model demonstrating the relationships between the study variables. It was found that individual factors such as core task implementation and organizational foundation significantly influenced benefits and impacts as well as external relations. Similarly, organizational resources positively impacted evaluation capacity outcomes. In contrast, organizational capacity had no significant influence on either benefits and impacts or external relations. This study only validates the capacity assessment tool; however, it needs to be measured with varied types of work personnel within the healthcare sector as there is a huge diversity in the work force of this area. Based on this empirical study, many future research implications were suggested.
International competitiveness and currency internationalization: an application to RMB internationalization
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Defining Cooperative Member Activism: Evidence from Oil Palm Farmers’ Cooperatives
Business Perspectives and Research, Ahead of Print.
This study provides a narrative view of the cooperative activism concept. Mutual incentives theory suggests a typology of activism: true believers, supporters’ club, loyal customers, and free riders. Insights from focus group discussions suggest that cooperative members can be divided into these four categories and distributed unevenly, with the minority and majority as true believers and free riders, respectively. Given that the majority of cooperative members remain in the free-rider category, their demand for financial return dominates and forces true believers involved in cooperative management to work toward the demutualization of cooperatives that emphasizes financial return. This study also suggests indicators to measure cooperative member activism for future research. The implication is for cooperatives to address issues related to members’ activism, such as openness to new ideas, new generation glass ceiling, improving participation, and instill belief in cooperative concept among members.
This study provides a narrative view of the cooperative activism concept. Mutual incentives theory suggests a typology of activism: true believers, supporters’ club, loyal customers, and free riders. Insights from focus group discussions suggest that cooperative members can be divided into these four categories and distributed unevenly, with the minority and majority as true believers and free riders, respectively. Given that the majority of cooperative members remain in the free-rider category, their demand for financial return dominates and forces true believers involved in cooperative management to work toward the demutualization of cooperatives that emphasizes financial return. This study also suggests indicators to measure cooperative member activism for future research. The implication is for cooperatives to address issues related to members’ activism, such as openness to new ideas, new generation glass ceiling, improving participation, and instill belief in cooperative concept among members.
Understanding What Informs the Choice of Agro-Processing Firm Siting: Evidence from a Developing Country
International Journal of Rural Management, Volume 19, Issue 2, Page 189-213, August 2023.
This article investigates the complexity of factors that influence the location choice for agro-processing firms from a developing country and SME perspective. It further examines the underpinning role of government policies regarding the siting, operation and effectiveness of agro-processing firms. Using a quantitative methods research design, 124 randomly sampled agro-processing firms were surveyed. The collected data was analysed using exploratory factor analysis and logistic regression analysis. It emerged that business support, economic and socio-cultural factors had a direct impact on decisions regarding the siting of agro-processing firms. Also, the availability of raw materials and cheap labour equally contributes to such decisions. Government policies turned out to be ineffective in influencing decisions on the siting of agro-processing firms. In terms of policy, there is a need to refocus efforts to incentivise agro-entrepreneurs, open up access to sustainable funding options and build the innovative capacity of agro-processing firms. This is critical to attracting agro-processing investments to remote areas such as Northern Ghana to revamp the local economy. This article highlights the impact of policy on the location of agro businesses in developing countries and also demonstrates the nexus between the location of a business and its performance.
This article investigates the complexity of factors that influence the location choice for agro-processing firms from a developing country and SME perspective. It further examines the underpinning role of government policies regarding the siting, operation and effectiveness of agro-processing firms. Using a quantitative methods research design, 124 randomly sampled agro-processing firms were surveyed. The collected data was analysed using exploratory factor analysis and logistic regression analysis. It emerged that business support, economic and socio-cultural factors had a direct impact on decisions regarding the siting of agro-processing firms. Also, the availability of raw materials and cheap labour equally contributes to such decisions. Government policies turned out to be ineffective in influencing decisions on the siting of agro-processing firms. In terms of policy, there is a need to refocus efforts to incentivise agro-entrepreneurs, open up access to sustainable funding options and build the innovative capacity of agro-processing firms. This is critical to attracting agro-processing investments to remote areas such as Northern Ghana to revamp the local economy. This article highlights the impact of policy on the location of agro businesses in developing countries and also demonstrates the nexus between the location of a business and its performance.
How anxiety relates to blood donation intention of non-donors: the roles of moral disengagement and mindfulness
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Organizational Justice and Employee Well-being in India: Through a Psychological Lens
Business Perspectives and Research, Ahead of Print.
This research paper reports the relationship of organizational justice, work engagement, and psychological capital of employees with their well-being. The predictive strength of organizational justice was tested for employee well-being. Along with this, the mediating effect of work engagement and the moderating effect of psychological capital of employees were tested on this relationship. Out of 479 participants who were asked to fill the organizational justice scale, Utrecht work engagement scale, psychological capital questionnaire, and mental health continuum, the data of 458 (269 males and 189 females) were retained after data screening. Regression analyses and structural equation modeling were conducted to test the relationship between the three predictor variables and one criterion variable. Results indicated that all three predictor variables predict well-being significantly. The relationship between organizational justice and employee well-being was completely mediated by work engagement and moderated by psychological capital of employees. The mediation effect of work engagement and the moderation effect of psychological capital on the relationship between organizational justice and employee well-being have not been explored previously. The possibility of self-reporting bias due to the self-report nature of questionnaires used is a major limitation of this study.
This research paper reports the relationship of organizational justice, work engagement, and psychological capital of employees with their well-being. The predictive strength of organizational justice was tested for employee well-being. Along with this, the mediating effect of work engagement and the moderating effect of psychological capital of employees were tested on this relationship. Out of 479 participants who were asked to fill the organizational justice scale, Utrecht work engagement scale, psychological capital questionnaire, and mental health continuum, the data of 458 (269 males and 189 females) were retained after data screening. Regression analyses and structural equation modeling were conducted to test the relationship between the three predictor variables and one criterion variable. Results indicated that all three predictor variables predict well-being significantly. The relationship between organizational justice and employee well-being was completely mediated by work engagement and moderated by psychological capital of employees. The mediation effect of work engagement and the moderation effect of psychological capital on the relationship between organizational justice and employee well-being have not been explored previously. The possibility of self-reporting bias due to the self-report nature of questionnaires used is a major limitation of this study.