69 research outputs found
Role Of Team Diversity on Team Performance and Ambidexterity: Case study of product and service-based teams from semi-conductor industry
No full textDiversity as a topic is increasingly becoming important aspect of organizations and society in general. Team diversity could bring different perspectives and thus diverse teams could reap the benefits such as better performance, innovation, and problem-solving abilities. Teams face challenge of deciding between alignment activities focused on organizational goals vs adaptability activities helping organizations adapt to changing external environments. Teams that balance both types of activities are known as ambidextrous teams. Through literature review, it was found that there is knowledge gap in understanding the link between team diversity, performance, and ambidexterity. This thesis tries exploring various diversity factors and its relation to team performance and ambidexterity. Further the thesis investigates if there are any differences in the link between team diversity, performance and ambidexterity based on firm types, that is product vs service-based firms.To find the solution to the link, semi-structured case interviews was conducted. 6 team managers from product-based firms and 4 managers from service-based firms participated in the research. Data from these 10 semi-structured case interviews was analyzed using AtlasTi software and results of qualitative research is presented in the thesis. Various ways in which one can conceptualize diversity, advantages & disadvantages of diversity and its effect on team performance & ambidexterity is presented in this thesis based on the qualitative analysis of semi-structured case interviews.The exploratory study indicates that semi-conductor team mangers conceptualize diversity from both social and information/decision making perspectives. Common surface level diversities such as function, experience, gender etc. were reported. At the same surface level diversities such as working style, task motivation, etc. were reported. The results indicate that teams various diversity factors can lead to divergent thinking and elaboration of task-relevant information thus improving team performance. Some of the reported benefits of diversity include increased knowledge base, better service to customers, better decision making, etc. Realization of diversity benefits is not straightforward; it comes with challenges. Some of these challenges due to diversity include complex team management, increased conflicts, increased time and effort. Thus, it is important for organizations to provide necessary support and environment for reaping the benefits from diversity. Such organizational control is more in terms of structures of teams in case of product-based firms; structural decisions drive ambidexterity and division could take place based on diversity types such as functional diversity, experience diversity etc. However, decentralized structures and informalization of non-routine activities in firms can enable better exploration. And diversity types such as experience, function or skills act as deciding factors in determining extent of structural decentralization and informalization of non-routine activities. Decentralization of non-routine activities can thus enable ambidexterity. Contrary to product-based firm, all the service-based firms reported that employees need to have skills and abilities to capture customer needs and deliver them on time. Therefore, it is evident that all the employees in service-based firms could be involved in exploration. Thus, naturally the employees in service organizations are involved in both the types of activities. Diversities such as skill and working style can thus enable contextual ambidexterity in service-based firms by enabling employees to serve customers better.Management of Technology (MoT
Studies on Alpha Glucosidase Enzyme Inhibitors and its Production from Fungal Sources.
No full textThis Dissertation / Report is the outcome of investigation carried out by the creator(s) / author(s) at the department/division of Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore mentioned below in this page
Preparation of Ready to Eat Product from Pigmented Rice
No full textThis Dissertation / Report is the outcome of investigation carried out by the creator(s) / author(s) at the department/division of Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore mentioned below in this page
Efficient Disease Identification Method for Crop Leaf using Deep Learning Techniques
No full textMany prime grain-producing nations have implemented steps to limit export of grains as COVID-19 has expanded over the globe; food security has sparked significant worry from a number of stakeholders. One of the most crucial concerns facing all nations is how to increase grain output. However, the diseases occur in crops remain a challenge for countless farmers, therefore it is critical to understand their severity promptly and precisely to guide the them in taking additional measures to lessen the chances of plants being affected furthermore.
This paper describes a deep learning model for the identification of crop diseases that can achieve high accuracy with low processing power. The model, called the inception v3 network, has been tested on a tomato leaf dataset and has obtained a average identification accuracy of 98.00% and further the ensemble of two inception v3 models with slight diversity achieved an accuracy of 98.11%. The results suggest that this model could be useful in improving food security by helping farmers quickly and accurately identify crop diseases and take appropriate measures to prevent further spread
Towards Barrier Free Contacts to n-type CNTFETs using Graphene Electrodes
No full textThis work illustrates the performance of n-type carbon nanotube field effect transistors (CNTFET) contacted with few layer graphene. The true barrier height at graphene-CNT junction is estimated using temperature dependent I-V measurements. Thermionic emission model for carrier transport in CNTs is used in the study. The calculated barrier height values for electron transport are extremely small and slightly negative signifying the Ohmic contact of graphene with the conduction band of CNTs
Effects of non-foaming WMA additives on asphalt binders at high performance temperatures
No full textDesign of a robotic thumb for prosthetic application
No full textThe replacement of a missing human hand with a prosthetic has become a definitive need recently. The prosthetic hand shall serve as a proper replacement both in terms of cosmetic and functional aspects. The functional aspects of the prosthetic hand have seen a range of developments and innovations in the past 40 years from passive wooden hands to multifunctional electronic hands. This research is still ongoing as the need to effectively compensate for the functionality of the human hand still exists.
The thumb plays a prominent role in the hand allowing it to perform a variety of tasks. It is also considered the evolutionary paradigm shift in terms of limbs functionality. Hence, there is a dire need to restore and improvise the functionality of the thumb in the prosthetic hand. The difficulty arises in the design of thumb due to its unique geometry and movements compared to the other fingers. The thumb can change its orientation from opposable to lateral position depending on the need. The thumb also performs the flexion/extension movement like the other fingers, but the range of motion is greater, as this motion can be coupled with the thumb abduction/adduction. Therefore, the thumb has two separate axes of rotation and the challenge in the prosthetic thumb is to obtain both these movements maintaining the dexterity but not compromising with other geometrical concerns such as weight and size of the thumb. Hence, efforts are made to perform both these movements with a single actuator by realizing a mechanism.
The design of the mechanism has been approached by setting a set of prerequisites that define the boundaries to explore design inspiration. The prerequisites have been divided in terms of quantitative and qualitative parameters. The primary difference in between them is that the quantitative parameters can be measured directly, and the quantitative parameters need a different mode of measurement. The quantitative parameters are
• Size- The size of the prosthetic thumb must be comparable to the standard human hand and is considered as a very important prerequisite
• Weight- Weight is an important feature in terms of user comfort and shall be made to be as close to the human hand
• Grip force- The grip force determines the level of usage permissible with the prosthetic limb. Hence is kept as a feature that needs to be matched with the human hand as close as possible
• Speed- speed and grip force cannot be realized at the same time as they can be considered as tradeoffs. As we increase one, the other is compromised. Therefore, the speed of the thumb shall be less important than the rest of the prerequisites.
• Nonback-drivability- This feature enables to hold the position and allows to maintain the force without the continuous supply of power. This is an essential feature in the prosthetic as it can help with fatigue and power concerns.
The quantitative parameters are
• Adaptability- this feature determines the adaptable nature of the thumb with respect to the holding object. This cannot be directly determined. Hence, it is realized as a resultant feature of an adaptive grasp mechanism. This feature is not considered as a very important feature.
• Complexity- the level of complexity employed in the prosthetic thumb determines the level of innovation. When the need to encapsulate both the flexion/extension and abduction/adduction movements into one single mechanism, the complexity arises. Therefore, this feature is considered, yet kept as a less important feature.
• Reliability- The reliability of the prosthetic thumb reduces with increases with increase in the number of parts employed in the mechanism. The more the number of parts in the mechanism, the more risk of them failing and resulting in a critical failure. Therefore, this feature is considered very important
• Dexterity- As already proclaimed, the most intriguing feature of the thumb is its dexterity, and it can be measured by checking the number of grasps achievable.
Keeping these design prerequisites, a different state of the art prosthetics was studied and compared. The comparison was made on the basis of mechanisms used and its resultant performances. The state of the art was divided as commercial prosthesis and research prosthesis. The commercial prosthesis was a design that has been successful and has been engaged with the market that gives definitive feedback. The research prosthesis explores different innovations and can give scope for the betterment. These hands were compared by type of mechanism, type of actuation technique and evaluated against the design prerequisites proclaimed previously by using quality function deployment in House of Quality.
• Ilimb
• Bebionic
• Vincent
• Manus
• Smarthand
• Vanderbilt
• SSSA-MyHand.
Using the data obtained from comparison from the House of Quality four designs were proposed. The designs were classified as semi-passive and passive abduction mechanisms. The semi-passive designs have an abduction/adduction movement assisted by the actuator in only one direction. The opposite direction shall be realized manually. The passive abduction mechanism operates independently without any assistance from the actuator and only relying on the external manual force.
Design 1- The design utilizes a worm gear mechanism to perform the flexion motion. Due to the use of the worm gear mechanism, the nonback-drivability is an inherent property of the mechanism of flexion/extension. The abduction/adduction mechanism is performed by a gear that engages with a toothed abduction block when the thumb performs a hyperextension and undergoes abduction mechanism. The Cad model for the mechanism was presented and the meshing of the gears with precision was a huge problem and the design was not presented further.
Design 2- The design has a similar feature as to design 1 and performs exactly in the flexion/extension movement. The abduction/adduction movement is realized by a friction wheel attached as an extension to the back of the thumb and engages with abduction block when the thumb performs hyperextension. The rotation of the motor continuous the abduction movement in one direction. The nonback-drivability of the abduction/adduction is ensured by employing a ratchet and pawl mechanism. The opposite return of the thumb is performed by a hyperadduction and engages a snap mechanism that returns the thumb to its primary opposition position
Design 3- The design is a passive abduction/adduction mechanism. It uses the same worm gear mechanism for flexion but for the abduction/adduction movement it uses a button trigger that releases the position and allows it to adjust the desired position. This trigger can be accessed manually of also using an external constraint such as pressing against an object. The disadvantages of the mechanism were the amount of friction that developed and trying to fix an accessible position for the trigger button.
Design 4- This mechanism keeps the flexion mechanism same as previous but for the abduction uses a pin that engages and disengages due to an external force. The mechanism is very simple yet, effective and complies with all the prerequisites efficiently.
The design 4 was manufactured to scale to test further its effectiveness and has been able to retain it. The thumb in overall complies exactly with the size and weight constraints of the human thumb. The thumb weights 58.6 g including motor and gear reduction mechanism, excluding the cover and other electronics. This is close to 1/5th of the weight of the natural human hand. The reliability fares high too due to its simplistic mechanism and a minimal number of parts. The thumb exhibits 22.7 N of force during flexion.
The design 2 even though has some disadvantages due to the stresses developed can be further developed and presented an optimal solution for the prosthetic thumb. This work shall be carried out in the future
A Study on the Anti-Takeover Defence Strategies Used by the Corporates at the Time of Mergers & Acquisitions
No full textMergers and acquisitions (M&A) have become a common strategy for companies looking to grow and expand their operations. However, the potential benefits of M&A can also attract unwanted attention from potential acquirers, which can lead to hostile takeover attempts. To protect themselves from hostile takeovers, companies often implement anti-takeover defense strategies. Anti-takeover defense strategies refer to a range of defensive tactics that target companies can employ to deter or prevent hostile takeovers. These strategies can take various forms, including structural defenses, governance defenses, and financial defenses.
This research paper examines anti-takeover defense strategies in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) using secondary data sources. The paper provides an overview of the various types of anti-takeover defense strategies that are commonly used by companies, including structural, governance, and financial defenses. The paper also analyzes the various anti-takeover defense strategies adopted in protecting shareholder value and limiting competition. The regulatory frameworks governing anti-takeover defense strategies in different jurisdictions are also explored, including the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Japan.
The findings of this study indicate that the use of anti-takeover defense strategies can be effective in protecting shareholder value, but may also limit competition and potentially result in lower acquisition premiums. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for companies involved in M&A transactions, and the need to balance the protection of shareholder interests with the potential benefits of being an attractive target for acquisition.
Overall, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of the complex landscape of anti-takeover defense strategies in M&A transactions, based on secondary data sources. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of the role of anti-takeover defense strategies in M&A transactions and the considerations that must be taken into account by companies when implementing these strategies
A simple and rapid nuclear staining method for Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn
No full textAbstractWe developed a modified staining technique using acridine orange to stain the nuclei of Rhizoctonia solani. Acridine orange solution was prepared in acetic acid buffer, pH 7.2. Staining for 15 min was critical for observing the nuclei. All of the isolates were found to be multinucleated. The nuclei appeared bright green with light orange background. This method is simple, rapid and reproducible
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