South Asia's groundwater economy stands at the threshold of a revolution in adoption of solar irrigation pumps (SIPs). This has potential to unlock the region's perverse energy-groundwater nexus. In much of South Asia, the price of energy used in irrigation, the only surrogate for water price, fails to signal the abundance or scarcity of groundwater, resulting in myriad distortions. We analyse these in South Asia's eight distinct energy-groundwater interaction settings. We then explore SIP promotion policies to ease pressure on scarce groundwater in South Asia's 'groundwater depletion zone' and accelerate groundwater irrigation for poverty reduction in its 'groundwater abundance zone'.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the meaning and operationalisation of quality in the context of higher education institutions (HEIs). Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review is performed of 308 articles published in various peer-reviewed journals between 1999 and 2017. Findings The findings reveal that the quality constructs of student learning, engagement, service quality and satisfaction have received the greatest attention, followed by total quality management, quality assurance, benchmarking and accountability. The most popular approach is empirical, and surveys and single case studies are the most popular methods. Europe leads research on quality in HEIs, followed by North America and Asia. Research limitations/implications This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by presenting a comprehensive synthesis of articles addressing quality in HEIs. Practical implications Policymakers and academic administrators can use the findings of this study to conceptualise student satisfaction along the educational value chain. The operationalisation of quality constructs will help policymakers create teaching excellence. Originality/value This paper highlights the importance of quality in HEIs.

PurposeThis paper aims to conceptualize the role of service quality in the manufacturing supply chain, present a scale to measure the same, and a model that proposes that internal and external service quality initiatives lead to loyalty and satisfaction of supplier, which in turn are determinants of competitive advantage and organizational performance of the focal organization.Design/methodology/approachThe research design for this paper includes a combination of literature review, exploratory interviews with scholars and practitioners, and a survey of 156 practitioners in three automobile‐manufacturing companies in North India. Structural equation modeling has been used for data analysis.FindingsThe paper has developed a scale to measure service quality in the supply chain, and presented a model and set of propositions related to service quality in the supply chain. The model proposes linkages of service quality with loyalty, satisfaction, competitive advantage and organizational performance. The author has empirically tested the model at supplier‐manufacturer dyad and found that the data fit the model.Research limitations/implicationsFuture researchers could validate this scale, and empirically test the proposed model. Insights derived from supplier‐manufacturer dyad may be transferred to other dyads of supply chain such as manufacturer‐distributor, distributor‐retailer, and manufacturer and its own employees.Practical implicationsThis study would be of interest to manufacturing industry practitioners interested in internal and external service quality improvements. This study finds support for strengthening relationships between a focal organization and its suppliers. Service quality‐based business processes can help strengthen business relationships, develop synchronized linkages between supply chain members, and consequently gain competitive advantage.Original/valueThere are few empirical studies that measure service quality in manufacturing industries or the supply chain. The role of internal and external service quality and their linkages with loyalty, satisfaction, competitive advantage and organizational performance has previously not been conceptualized.

Food processing industries are assuming greater importance and processed food is now not a matter of choice but it is a necessity. As a result there is greater awareness of safety concerns, emerging risks and challenges in the context of food products. Consumers want guarantees for food characteristics, thus, calling for transparency and effective response in case of any food related health problem. This paper presents a framework for transparency, traceability and information flow for management of dairy supply chain networks. This paper follows a case study approach and presents findings from three types of dairy supply chains as prevalent in India. The paper analyses complexity of dairy products as well as processes in terms of intrinsic and extrinsic factors and their effects on the underlying dairy supply chain networks (DSCN). Governance mechanisms dovetailing various stages of the DSCN are presented in terms of their gaps and adequacy. Key components of the presented frameworks are harmonization of national standards with codex standards, hygiene control, strengthening quality control systems, enhancing information flow across stages, animal health care, disease free zones and formation of cooperatives of small dairy processors (CSDP) in line with the present dairy cooperative society (DCS). CSDP aims at collective action and public-private partnerships by the unorganized sector units to face the competition from large organized processors of dairy products in terms of quality, transparency, traceability and information flow. Transparency of a DSCN is the extent to which all its stakeholders have a shared understanding of and access to the product related information without loss, noise, delay and distortion. Given the perishable nature of dairy products, an effective traceability system is an important tool not only to manage food quality and safety risks, but also to promote the development of effective dairy supply chain management. This paper contributes to the nascent literature on transparency and traceability issues of dairy supply chain networks. Findings would be useful for policy makers in framing standards and effective regulations. Analysis of complexity would be useful for dairy industry managers.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the service quality (SQ) literature in order to understand issues involved in its conceptualization and operationalization. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses systematic literature review method. The unit of analysis is peer-reviewed journal articles published during 1984 to 2017. Findings Findings suggest manufacturing, banking, information technology, higher education, healthcare are the top sectors contributing to the SQ literature. More than 60 models of the SQ have been identified. Service-driven capabilities may be structured along adaptation with strategic drivers and imperatives, learning and alignment, and problem structuring. In doing so the SQ literature is evolving across overlapping phases of conceptualization, expansion, re-conceptualization and integration. Research limitations/implications The paper contributes to the body of knowledge by presenting a unified synthesis of more than 814 articles published in the last three decades. Practical implications Insights from the paper will help practitioners in understanding customers’ expectations and accordingly configuring effective service delivery systems, setting standards and communicating value to end-customers. This in turn helps them in developing service-based competencies and achievement of competitive advantage. Social implications Insights from the paper may help in conceptualizing and delivering SQ-driven public services. Originality/value The paper synthesizes and presents various facets of the SQ as a unified body of knowledge.

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ABSTRACT.Purpose: To investigate and report the reliability of detection and grading of diabetic retinopathy by direct ophthalmoscopy through a dilated pupil by general physicians (non-ophthalmologists) and optometrists who have undergone a short period of training. Methods: A total of 400 eyes of 200 diabetes patients were examined by two non-ophthalmologists. Their observations were compared with an ophthalmologist's diagnoses for the same patients. Results: The diagnoses made by the general physician (kappa = 0.8381, SE = 0.041) and the optometrist (kappa = 0.7186, SE = 0.051) showed good rates of agreement with the ophthalmologist's diagnoses. Conclusions: The provision of appropriate screening protocols and follow-up parameters can enable primary care physicians and support personnel to reliably screen individuals for retinopathy in diabetes. This will reduce the workload of tertiary hospitals, and provide optimal services to the huge majority of the Indian population that has limited access to eye care services.

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