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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on library operations and services, with many libraries having to adapt quickly to provide more digital resources and services to patrons. This study examines the impact of the pandemic on library services and presents a strategic approach to overcome the challenges faced by libraries during COVID-19. In this study, nine strategic approaches have been identified for managing libraries in the post-COVID period to facilitate efficient library management and offer better services to library users. The Best-Worst Method, a multi-criteria decision-making technique is used to evaluate these strategies and determine their importance in library management. The present study has revealed that the most significant strategies on which libraries will focus in the post-pandemic era are "Academic Library Strategy and Budgeting" and "Promotion of Online Content (e-books, exhibitions, tutorials, events, and concerts)." This research concludes that the pandemic has led to a shift toward digital resources and services, and as a result, libraries need a strategy to continue providing access to information and resources while safeguarding users and employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opportunity as a construct has been widely examined in for-profit entrepreneurship research, but it is scarcely studied in the context of social entrepreneurship. It is being observed that many entrepreneurs venture into social enterprise because they perceive it as an opportunity. This study aims to address this phenomenon by extensively identifying the opportunity indicators that promote entrepreneurs to pursue social entrepreneurship. We accomplish this by employing a mixed-methods approach wherein we used both quantitative and qualitative data from experts and analysed it using a hybrid approach of Delphi rounds and the best-worst method. We identified 13 opportunity indicators from the literature, and in the first round of Delphi, four new indicators were added to the list by a panel of 24 experts drawn from industry and academia across India. In the second round of the Delphi method, 18 of the 24 experts took part and rated the importance of each indicator on a 5-point Likert scale. Depending on the availability of the experts, both rounds of Delphi were held in person and virtually. Based on the cut-off levels for standard deviation, interquartile range, and probability of occurrence, experts agreed on 16 indicators. Furthermore, a best-worst method approach was used to prioritise these indicators based on the opinions of industry and academic experts. The study used a theoretical lens of entrepreneurial opportunity and its two different views: objectively discovered and subjectively perceived. The results revealed a consensus among academicians and practitioners for objectively discovered opportunity indicators, which gave the highest priority to "institutional support" and "funding opportunities." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green buildings (GB) show performance gaps despite a plethora of materials, technologies and stringent certification systems. India is predicted to shape the global energy demand shortly; hence, its recent GB mandate of Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) will contribute significantly to the global Agenda 2030. However, its success depends on a holistic relook beyond the myopic design approach focused on energy efficiency. Therefore, a multi-criteria decision support system (DSS) based on the Best-Worst method was developed. It integrates ECBC and BIM-based energy simulation while facilitating maintainability performance prediction in the early phase of design of the GB envelope. The top five options out of 72 common envelope combinations for wall, fenestration and roof materials were chosen for energy performance. The DSS is flexible to accumulate other decision-making criteria as per project-specific requirements. Its efficacy was analysed with a GB located in a warm-humid climatic zone of India. Here, the material availability criterion was also added. The framework provides probing insights and facilitates decision-makers to act appropriately in the early design phase to ensure efficient performance in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study is to identify the vital indicators of environmental sustainability (EN) that are utilised in the manufacturing sector. Identifying vital indicators of environmental sustainability in manufacturing becomes important due to the large uneven number of indicators for sustainability assessment. The research work identifies and proposes a list of vital indicators of environmental sustainability (EN) through exhaustive review of the literature using statistical technique of decision-making 'Pareto Analysis'. Further, these indicators were prioritised and ranked with the help of the Best-Worst method, which is a new multi-criteria decision-making technique. This technique is implemented to rank and arrange the ENs in accordance with their criticality by assigning them a weight. This work will be helpful in successful implementation and/or evaluation of sustainability assessment particularly in manufacturing industries in India. This research work may be helpful to the academicians, researchers and other concerned stakeholders, in order to understand the severity, importance, implementation, and success of sustainability practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to benchmarking the governance performance of Indian states.Design/methodology/approach This paper provides a framework to measure governance performance at the state level. Using the data on 28 key indicators, the authors evaluate Indian states on seven broad dimensions of governance quality covering several aspects of public service delivery, regulatory quality and law and order. The empirical methodology involves the application of multi-criteria decision making techniques in two steps. The authors, first develop suitable weights of the identified dimensions and criteria under each dimension by applying the inputs of an expert-based decision-panel in a best-worst framework. Next, using these weights, the authors evaluate ranking of each state using TOPSIS and PROMETHEE-II methods.Findings The results indicate wide disparities in the governance performance of Indian states. Based on different indicators, the paper evaluates the rank of all the major Indian states. Results reveal that "Social Service Delivery(S)" is the most influencing dimension for the development of a state. Overall, the authors find Andra Pradesh, NCT of Delhi and Goa to be the leading states in terms of governance quality.Research limitations/implications The paper provides policy makers with easy to use operational indicators to analyse the governance performance of Indian states. These would help in better monitoring of these states through competitive goal-setting for continuous improvement.Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first formal assessment of governance quality in the Indian states in a multi-criteria framework. To this end, the paper addresses the issue of wide regional disparities in the country. The findings of the paper provide powerful insights to policy makers in setting up appropriate strategies to eliminate these disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food waste management is a growing environmental and economic issue for a developing country like India. This exploratory paper aims to prioritize key practices as "criteria" for food supply chains that lead to food waste reduction to ensure green waste management. Twenty-five criteria from the existing literature and expert inputs were assessed to resolve food waste reduction issues in food supply chains, especially in the agricultural sectors. The study identifies and ranks the intensities of each of the listed criteria. In the study, the Best-Worst Method, a multi-criteria decision-making approach, is applied. According to the findings, waste prevention at the earlier stages of food supply chains is given more priority compared to food waste minimization and treatment at the later stages. Hence, the study concludes "skill and training" as the highest ranked criteria, followed by "protection and infrastructure." Further, the study infers that understanding the individual intensities of criteria within a food supply chain can affect waste generation at each level, having a significant impact on waste reduction. The data in this research was evaluated in the Indian context. • Explores the green waste management problem in food supply chains. • 25 sub-criteria & 5 main criteria are listed in the circular economy context. •Conducted an empirical case study in the Uttarakhand region in India. • The Best Worst Method is used to evaluate the outcomes. • Training of growers is ranked as the topmost criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Identified major challenges in sustainable supply chains of electric vehicle batteries. • Used hybrid approach comprising of Delphi and Best Worst Method for analysing their importance. • Ineffective recycling and reuse of batteries, insufficient charging infrastructure, dependency on high concentration on the supply chains in East Asia are found major challenges. • Findings would contribute in developing effective strategies by policy makers for sustainable growth of EVs. • Findings are validated with the help of survey data collected from 87 experts having experience on this field. Due to global warming and fast depletion of fossil fuels, the option of battery-operated electric vehicles (EVs) has emerged as one of the most popular alternatives for sustainable transport. In the present study, India is considered as a case country to explore the challenges in sustainable supply chain of electric vehicle batteries. India, being the second most populated country after China and having limited reserves of fossil fuels, has great potential to excel in electric vehicle supply chains. In addition, growth of electric vehicle markets in India is in the emerging phase. With increasing demand for EVs, the industry is facing many challenges for sustainable supply chain of electric vehicle batteries. The lithium-ion battery is a major component of electric vehicles. Many challenges for sustainability of electric vehicle battery supply chains have been extracted through literature review and discussions with industry experts. These challenges may be categorized as operational, technological, economic, environmental and social. Delphi technique is utilized to finalize major challenges for analysis. For further prioritization of these challenges, Best-Worst Method (BWM) is used. Finally, findings of the BWM are validated through an empirical study by collecting responses from 87 respondents. It is observed that ineffective recycling and reuse of batteries, disposal of batteries, and insufficient charging infrastructure are the three most important challenges in EV battery supply chain in India. The findings may be equally relevant in many developing countries having similar technological and infrastructure constraints. It will help policymakers in developing strategies for sustainable transport systems in developing countries. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]