An outline of topics of internally funded
seed money research projects of SCMS is
given below.
The Emerging Metamorphosis in Rural
Retailing The objective is to find out
the changes in the composition of
rural retail shelf. This is based
on primary data collected from rural
retail shops in Ernakulam District.
The Emerging Metamorphosis in Urban
Retailing Indian Urban Retailing is transforming
itself to a new direction. “The
Wheel of Retailing” concept
coined by Hollander, decades back,
need to be re-looked in the Indian
context. The present study is based
on the data collected from various
forms of retailing, functioning in
Kochi city. The study specifically
tries to find out the reasons for
the emergence of new retail culture
such as “Mall Culture”.
The study also captures the extent
of percolation of retailing transformation,
now visible in metro cities, to cities
such as Cochin.
Study on Lifestyles of Various Segments
of Consumers The purpose of the study is
to understand the reasons behind lifestyle
changes among various segments of
consumers, especially from the younger
generation. There are a large number
of young professionals whose lifestyles
are changing in a new way. This has
ramifications for marketing communicators,
consumer product marketers and service
marketing institutions. The study
also tries to compare the speed of
new life style adoption by young consumers,
especially management and IT professionals.
The study also identified the social,
economic and psychological factors
and influence of role models and reference
groups on defining “desirable
lifestyles.” The Study is based
on primary data collected from professionals
in Cochin City.
BPCL-KRL Merger – A Managerial
Analysis This is a project to analyse
the factors which has relevance for
management professionals in a merger
situation. Since Kochi Refineries
Ltd. (KRL) is a locally based public
sector, the team of researchers found
it worth following as a case study.
The study is based on interviews with
managers at different levels in KRL
and workers. The study uses other
published secondary data for analysis.
ICT for Rural Development-A Case study The objective is to study the
role of Information and communication
technology in development planning
at grass root level. The study proposes
to measure the utility of Information
Technology in the development of rural
areas. The research team identified
and studied the much-acclaimed ‘Akshaya
Project’. They undertook a survey
of selected Akshaya centers. The research
team has come out with ideas for the
development of a plan for the extension
of the project to another district.
Managerial Strategies in Micro Enterprises
The micro enterprises ventures belonging
to the Self Help Groups of Kudumbashree
units were studied. Emphasis was given
to the various management issues faced
by a few successful and not-so-successful
units.
As per the Economic Census of 1990,
India had 24 million micro-enterprises,
constituting 97% of all enterprises,
which provided employment to at least
43 million people and employing 63%
of all non-agricultural workers. The
density of employment in micro-enterprises
in India is approximately 54 workers
per 1,000 persons. However a larger
proportion of rural non-agricultural
workers are employed in micro-enterprises
(75%) as compared to urban areas (52%).
Given the above employment structure,
the management issues in such enterprises
are surely a major concern for the
nation.
Managerial Issues in Informal Sector
The dimension in which this sector
makes its presence felt makes it the
obligation of an Indian manager to
be interested and involved in the
issues connected with it. According
to NSSO, this sector contributes 60%
of India’s National Income.
The objective is to gain a first hand
knowledge of the operational details
of these sectors and get a feel of
the volume of business activity taking
place in these sectors. The management
issues/problems that exist in the
units that the research team interacts
with are studied in depth. Of the
twenty odd areas identified as informal
sectors, the ‘Thattukadas’(Fast
Food eat outs) are chosen as the area
of interest. Over fifty units of various
sizes in Ernakulam have already been
surveyed.
Role of IT in Development Management The objective of the study
is to analyse and evaluate novel concepts
like e-bazar, e-choupal etc., which
are the need of the hour in a developing
country like India. The students are
supposed to evaluate e marketing and
are asked to develop a business plan
for a small district, which concentrates
in the production and export of coir
products. The research team in ICT
project is also involved in this project.
Social Marketing Programme Management
(with specific reference to AIDS) We are developing a social
marketing programme to spread awareness
about AIDS to truck drivers. The objectives
of the study are to understand the
current level of awareness about AIDS
among the truck drivers and to develop
a social marketing programme to enhance
their level of awareness.
Truck
drivers are found to play a crucial role
in spreading STDs and HIV infection throughout
the country. The role of social marketing
in the prevention of this mass killer is
really crucial where; the prevention requires
an attitudinal shift of the people. A change
in social behaviour can only be effected
by adapting to techniques of social marketing.
