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Lean Six Sigma competitiveness for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME): an action research in the Indian context
Purpose: The aim of the article is to ascertain the challenges, lessons learned and managerial implications in the deployment of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) competitiveness to micro, small and medium Enterprises (MSME) in India and to establish doctrines to strengthen the initiatives of the government. Design/methodology/approach: The research adopts the Action Research methodology to develop a case study, which is carried out in the printing industry in a Tier III city using the LSS DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) approach. It utilizes LSS tools to deploy the strategy and to unearth the challenges and success factors in improving the printing process of a specific batch of a product. Findings: The root cause for the critical to quality (CTQ) characteristic, turn-around-time (TAT) is determined and the solutions are deployed through the scientifically proven data-based approach. As a result of this study, the TAT reduced from an average of 1541.21303.36min, which in turn, improved the sigma level from 0.55 to 2.96, a noteworthy triumph for this MSME. The company realizes an annual savings of USD 12,000 per year due to the success of this project. Top Management Leadership, Data-Based Validation, Technical Know-how and Industrial Engineering Knowledge Base are identified as critical success factors (CSFs), while profitability and on-time delivery are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the MSME. Eventually, the lessons learned and implications indicate that LSS competitiveness can be treated as quality management standards (QMS) and quality tools and techniques (QTT) to ensure competitive advantage, sustainable green practices and growth. Research limitations/implications: Even though the findings and recommendations of this research are based on a single case study, it is worth noting that the case study is executed in a Tier III city along with novice users of LSS tools and techniques. This indicates the applicability of LSS in MSME and thus, the modality adopted can be further refined to suit the socio-cultural aspects of India. Originality/value: This article illustrates the deployment of LSS from the perspective of novice users, to assist MSME and policymakers to reinforce competitiveness through LSS. Moreover, the government can initiate a scheme in line with LSS competitiveness to complement the existing schemes based on the findings of the case study. 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Learn, unlearn, and relearn: A step towards bringing resilience in business organizations in the post-COVID-19 regime
The world on a whole has undergone a paradigm shift in its journey with the onset of the COVID-19 threat. Business houses of any stature tremendously suffered towards their consistent and competitive survival. Means and measures are few to implement and very challenging in reaping the benefits. Sheer fall in GDP, dropping in the rate of industrialization and productivity are no unknown facts in the present-day scenario. Indians are unfortunate to embrace the pandemic at the juncture of planning and forecasting of India becoming a five trillion dollar economy by 2025. 2022, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Learners' intention to adopt virtual experiences in higher education
Virtual- experience technologies enable the creation of virtual classrooms and immersive learning experiences that are more engaging and effective than traditional methods. The chapter has made use of a descriptive research design, which utilizes a purposive sampling technique to collect data from the students of Higher Education Institutions in the National Capital Region of India. Primary data was collected with the help of a formalized and concealed questionnaire having closed- ended multiple- choice questions on a five- point Likert scale. It was found that digital citizenship, experience, Self- efficacy, and institutional support influence the adoption of virtual experiences in Higher education. Gender has no influence on the adoption intention, but people belonging to different age brackets have different opinions on the adoption of technology, and a greater inclination has been witnessed among the younger generation respondents. 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Learning analytics for academic management system enhancement: A participatory action research in an Indian context
A common thread noted in many academic management system implementations was the stagnation and deterioration of their usage after the initial hype. This action research study was aimed at addressing this decline in a higher education institute after undertaking a reflective analysis of the waning usage patterns and taking appropriate initiatives to enhance their usage. The authors have attempted this as participants driving the change. As change agents, the academic management system implementation was advanced to move closer to a stage where the committed use occurred and intended benefits were realised. Several initiatives were introduced to propel this change. The scope of this article was confined to gauging the impact of the trigger factors; memos, and training on the academic management system usage. Their effects were measured by applying learning analytics to various sources of usage and performance data. This further led to analysing the relationship between usage and performance of the stakeholders; students, and faculty. 2021 British Educational Leadership, Management & Administration Society (BELMAS). -
Learning and assessment of English language in expeditionary learning (EL) among undergraduate university students
This paper aims to enhance readers understanding of the Learning and Assessment of English language through Expeditionary Learning (EL) Model. The study presents the findings and implications of an experiment conducted among undergraduate university students. The design principles of EL Model are enumerated along with the kinds of expeditions being explained. Learning and Assessment in EL is elaborated by detailing the Facilitators role and the classroom environment required for implementation of this model. The advantages of using the EL model for Learning and Assessment is analyzed by the investigator and presented with findings from the experiment. The study also makes observations that the EL model is a learner-centric model and the psychological principles of learning is incorporated in the design principles of the model. 2020, IJSTR. -
Learning From Global Cultures for a Sustainable Tomorrow With the Help of Immersive Tech in Education
With rising global and domestic environmental and social challenges, integrating traditional cultural knowledge with immersive education technologies offers a path to sustainability. This chapter explores how Indigenous and local knowledge systems can merge with Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to foster deeper understanding and promote sustainable behaviors. It highlights traditional ecological practices in agriculture, water use, marine management, and architecture as models of sustainable living, emphasizing the ethical role of Indigenous education. The chapter also examines how immersive technologies enhance experiential learning, gamification, and cultural knowledge sharing, while aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It envisions a future where educational systems use immersive tools to cultivate environmentally responsible, empathetic, and globally conscious citizens. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Learning Science: A Joyful Experience
Learning science and particularly subjects like chemistry is challenging for the gen zee students. The imaginative and thoughtful interventions by the teachers can tackle this to a great extent and make it enjoyable for the learners. This manuscript examines the basic concepts of learning sciences and the role of teachers in facilitating a joyful learning. A set of techniques for good learning to be reinforced and a set of wrong techniques which needs to be avoided are looked into. Concepts like adult learning, significance of history of science and lifelong learning are also discussed. This manuscript provides a good reading for the teachers who are new to the profession and students of science. 2025 National Science Teaching Association. -
Learning through Play: Gamification of Learning A Systematic Review of Studies on Gamified Learning
According to Gartner's Hype Cycle, gamification is poised for large-scale adoption in the coming years. The construct of gamification has received considerable interest, especially in the context of learning. Over the past five years, research in the area has grown. The current study looks at consolidating the conducted research and attempts to provide a snapshot of the work carried out in the last five years. The chosen studies have explored the role of gamification in learning activities and have attempted to provide empirical evidence to support gamified learning. The purpose of the study is to review existing literature, in terms of the outcomes, outcome variables, context of the study, and research methodology used. This would not only add to the knowledge in the field but would also guide future research. Additionally, practitioners would benefit from a consolidated view of five years of research into the practice of gamification. 2022 University of Tehran, Faculty of Management, Sridevi Nair and Jain Mathew -
Legacy of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara and CMI and CMC congregations: educational modernity in Kerala
Education plays a predominant role in modernising society. It has the power to transform society by dismantling out-dated superstitions and promoting progressive social change. The present study explores the educational initiatives of St. Chavara and his followers, the CMI and CMC, and their role in shaping the modernity of nineteenth century Kerala, India. The study highlights how St. Chavaras visionary leadership in education contributed to modernisation in Kerala. The study focuses on his key initiatives such as secular education, inclusive education, women education, universal education and new educational support programmes which led to modernity of Kerala. The study reveals that St. Chavara's educational initiatives had a profound impact on both individuals and society of nineteenth century Kerala. The study emphasises the continued impact of St. Chavaras educational legacy through the institutions led by his followers, the CMI and CMC, which played a significant role in driving the modernisation of Kerala. 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Legal and Bioethical View of Educational Sectors and Industrial Areas of 3D Bioprinting
Recent advancements in three-dimensional printing (3D printing) within the medical field, particularly in the realm of 3D bioprinting, have shown tremendous potential in transforming various medical therapies, offering new approaches to treat organ failure and injury. However, amidst this optimism, several significant ethical and legal challenges remain unresolved before the application and transplantation of 3D bioprinted technology and organs in human subjects can become a reality. This chapter focuses on exploring the ethical and legal constraints associated with 3D bioprinting technology from both educational and industrial perspectives, recognizing their crucial roles as cornerstones for future applications. Furthermore, the analysis of 3D bioprinting technology will be conducted through the lens of the fundamental medical ethics principle, Primum non nocere; First, do no harm. Moreover, the pressing need for effective and timely standalone laws to regulate the subject of 3D printing is emphasized. This urgency arises from the grave concerns posed by the future implications of this technology on Indias scientific research and medical practice. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive examination of the ethical and legal challenges posed by 3D bioprinting technology. By considering both educational and industrial perspectives, this research seeks to shed light on the complexities surrounding the application and transplantation of 3D bioprinted organs. Additionally, the analysis through the principle of Primum non nocere will contribute to the understanding of the ethical implications inherent in this innovative technology. Ultimately, this study advocates for the formulation of appropriate regulations and guidelines through the implementation of effective standalone laws, ensuring the responsible development and utilization of 3D printing technology in the realm of scientific research and medical practice in India. 2024 Scrivener Publishing LLC. -
Legal conundrums of space tourism
Private commercial space tourism carrying passengers to outer space is no longer a distant or far-fetched fantasy, rather it is at verge of becoming an affordable reality with exponential development in space technology including development of Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), increasing involvement of private companies like Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, Blue Origin etc. into research and funding of space tourism explorations and applications. It is also receiving huge attention from the public. These developments reflect the infinite possibilities and inevitability of space tourism in near future. However, space tourism may also pose many critical legal issues which must be addressed to ensure the consistent and sustainable development of space tourism, and to secure the rights of all stakeholders involved including operators, passengers, launching State etc. The research paper would highlight the crucial legal issues associated with the space tourism. The paper would critically analyze the efficiency of the present international space treaties in dealing with these issues. At the end, the paper would also attempt to provide few suggestions and solutions to these legal conundrums relating to space tourism. 2021 IAA -
Legal Framework and Ethical Challenges in Patenting AR/VR Innovations in Healthcare Under the Indian Patent Act, 1970
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are gradually becoming significant to various industries, such as gaming, education, industrial design sectors, and healthcare. Even though augmented and virtual reality breakthroughs have already revolutionised healthcare by enhancing diagnosis, treatment, medical education, training and rehabilitation, granting patents to these technologies-imposed challenges when it comes to legal and moral concerns. Section 3(k) of the Patents Act 1970 forbids patenting softwaredriven discoveries and therapy-oriented applications. Such a legal constraint could be challenging for augmented reality and virtual reality technologies in healthcare, as it mostly depends on algorithmic procedures and therapeutic functions to develop breakthroughs. Other challenges could be section 3(b) of the Patents Act of 1970, which prohibits inventions that are contrary to public order or morality or cause harm to the environment, as ethics and morality play a crucial role in patenting AR/VR healthcare technology. The primary purpose of patent law is to encourage inventions, but it can cause medical care by creating a monopoly and allowing limited access to society. Patenting AR/VR technologies is essential to address moral and ethical concerns, as patenting these technologies in healthcare will promote inequality in patient care. The purpose of the present article is to analyse the ambiguity of the patentability of AR/VR technology in healthcare under the Patents Act of 1970 while addressing moral values with references to the principles of ethics. The paper further examines secondary data on patent grants on biomedical devices that integrate AR/VR across medical disciplines. 2026 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. -
Legal personality in the metaverse: A jurisprudential examination
One of the novel legal issues we see developing in the metaverse is whether or not avatars and AI agents should be given standing as legal people? This chapter advances a jurisprudence that discusses the rights, responsibilities and autonomy of digital entities in virtual spaces and assesses elements of jurisprudence, such as corporate personhood, which may be relevant in the absence of physical presence. Through examples of both popular, widely known platforms sites like Second Life and Decentraland as well as recent blows to idealism around digital legal spheres through experimental governance projects like Estonia's e-Residency program, the chapter addresses some current junctures to discuss challenges about issues such as accountability, jurisdiction, and intellectual property. It draws attention to the necessity of creative legal mechanisms and global norms for regulating new digital frontiers, propelling the conversation on how we apply our jurisprudence to digital environments forward. 2025, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Legal Perspective on Access to Medicines and Innovation: Balancing Right to Health With Patent Protection
This chapter examines the intricate legal and policy conflicts between the right to health and the global intellectual property system that regulates pharmaceutical patents. Although patents encourage innovation, they frequently result in obstacles to the affordable availability of essential medicines, especially in low-and middleincome countries. This chapter explores the legal bases of the right to health, the TRIPS Agreement along with its flexibilities, and investigates ways in which national and international legal structures can align the need for innovation with public health needs. Case studies from India, Brazil, and South Africa demonstrate the challenges and opportunities associated with reform. It also assesses different innovation models and provides legal and policy suggestions for reconciling patent law with human rights duties, especially regarding global health emergencies like COVID-19. It concludes by pinpointing future research avenues, such as legal strategies for addressing new biotechnologies and readiness for worldwide pandemics. 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Legal protection and rights of tribals of Sundarbans: Addressing health impacts and climate change resilience
The Sundarbans are home to diverse tribal communities whose rights and health are increasingly threatened by climate change and environmental degradation. Legal protection for these communities is essential to safeguard their rights, culture, and access to resources. The recognition of their land rights is crucial, as displacement due to rising sea levels and extreme weather events disrupts their traditional livelihoods. Legal frameworks must incorporate indigenous knowledge and practices to enhance resilience against climate impacts. Health services need to be tailored to reflect the environmental realities faced by Sundarbans tribals, including increased incidence of waterborne diseases and mental health issues linked to climate anxiety. Strengthening community involvement in decision-making processes, along with access to legal recourse, can empower tribals to advocate for their needs. Collaborative efforts between local governments, NGOs, and tribal leaders can foster sustainable development while preserving the unique cultural heritage of the Sundarbans. 2025 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
LegalMind System and the LLM-based Legal Judgment Query System
LegalMind-GPT represents a notable advancement in legal technology, specifically tailored for the finance sector. This research paper introduces LegalMind-GPT, a system that integrates Large Language Models (LLMs) to develop a Legal Judgment Query System for financial legal contexts. The study focuses on the application of LLMs, particularly LLAMA-2, Claude AI, and FLAN-T5-Base, for interpreting and analysing complex legal documents in finance. The aim is to evaluate the system's effectiveness in providing accurate legal judgments and insights. The comparative analysis of these LLMs shows that LegalMind-GPT, powered by these models, significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency of legal analysis in the finance domain. 2024 IEEE. -
Legitimacy and Public Perception of Private Higher Education Institutions
This chapter examines how legitimacy shapes the status, credibility, and societal value of private higher education institutions (PEIs) across Asia. Despite significant growth, PEIs often face entrenched stigma linked to colonial hierarchies, media narratives, and regulatory frameworks that privilege public universities. Drawing on institutional legitimacy theory, the chapter analyses how regulatory, normative, pragmatic, and symbolic forms of legitimacy influence public trust, student choice, and policy treatment. Case studies from Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Vietnam illustrate diverse strategies used by PEIs to strengthen legitimacy, including employer engagement, branding, alumni visibility, accreditation, and mission-led identity work. The chapter argues that legitimacy must be reclaimed through purpose, inclusion, transparency, and demonstrable educational value, rather than mimicry of public sector norms. Copyright 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global Scientific Publishing is prohibited. Use of this chapter to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is expressly prohibited. The publisher reserves all rights to license its use for generative AI training and machine learning model development. -
LENN: Laplacian Probability Based Extended Nearest Neighbor Classification Algorithm for Web Page Retrieval
Web page prediction is the area of interest that enables to tackle the problem of dealing with the massive collection of the web pages, mainly, in retrieving the highly relevant web pages. The hectic challenge of the web page prediction methods relied on time-effective and cost-effective management. The problem of dealing with the issue is tackled using the efficient web page retrieval algorithm. The paper proposes a new classifier called, Laplacian probability based Extended Nearest Neighbor (LENN)that is formed through the integration of the Laplacian probability with the Extended Nearest Neighbor (ENN)classifier. The proposed LENN classifier determines the nearest web pages of the query. Accordingly, the web page retrieval is done in three important steps, such as pre-processing, feature indexing and web page retrieval. The key words are stored in the database for performing the feature match such that the highly relevant web page is retrieved based on the maximum value of the score. The experimentation using five benchmarks prove that the proposed method is effective compared with the existing methods of web page retrieval. The maximum precision, recall, and F-measure of the proposed method is found to be 98%, 96.7%, and 97.3%, respectively. 2019 IEEE. -
Lesion detection in women breasts dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using deep learning
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and the second foremost cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. Recent technological advances in breast cancer treatment offer hope to millions of women in the world. Segmentation of the breasts Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) is one of the necessary tasks in the diagnosis and detection of breast cancer. Currently, a popular deep learning model, U-Net is extensively used in biomedical image segmentation. This article aims to advance the state of the art and conduct a more in-depth analysis with a focus on the use of various U-Net models in lesion detection in womens breast DCE-MRI. In this article, we perform an empirical study of the effectiveness and efficiency of U-Net and its derived deep learning models including ResUNet, Dense UNet, DUNet, Attention U-Net, UNet++, MultiResUNet, RAUNet, Inception U-Net and U-Net GAN for lesion detection in breast DCE-MRI. All the models are applied to the benchmarked 100 Sagittal T2-Weighted fat-suppressed DCE-MRI slices of 20 patients and their performance is compared. Also, a comparative study has been conducted with V-Net, W-Net, and DeepLabV3+. Non-parametric statistical test Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test is used to analyze the significance of the quantitative results. Furthermore, Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is used to evaluate overall performance focused on accuracy, precision, sensitivity, F 1 -score, specificity, Geometric-Mean, DSC, and false-positive rate. The RAUNet segmentation model achieved a high accuracy of 99.76%, sensitivity of 85.04%, precision of 90.21%, and Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of 85.04% whereas ResNet achieved 99.62% accuracy, 62.26% sensitivity, 99.56% precision, and 72.86% DSC. ResUNet is found to be the most effective model based on MCDA. On the other hand, U-Net GAN takes the least computational time to perform the segmentation task. Both quantitative and qualitative results demonstrate that the ResNet model performs better than other models in segmenting the images and lesion detection, though computational time in achieving the objectives varies. 2023, The Author(s). -
Let there be Light, but not too much: The Need to Legally Address Light Pollution in India
Electricity and artificial lights were synonymous with economic growth and development. Unfortunately, over usage of artificial lights has proven adverse effects. Research shows that excessive light impacts human health and endangers ecological balance, disturbs wildlife, causes decline in insect, moth, reptile pollution and depletes energy resources. Countries around the world have gradually started recognising light pollution as an emerging challenge and have brought in regulations to curb it. However, India is yet to recognise the threat of light pollution. Against this backdrop, the authors have established the need to recognise light pollution as a matter requiring dedicated and concerted focus. This was achieved through the analysis of recent and credible journal articles category with a cite score of over ten. Reliance was also placed on the light pollution map to understand the intensity of the problem, especially in India. The authors next conducted a study of legal regimes governing light pollution and artificial light, in different jurisdictions around the globe. The paper draws upon the best practices from these jurisdictions and suggests that India adopt techno-legal legislation, at the earliest, to combat light pollution. 2023- Kalpana Corporation.