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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the outcomes of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the light of COVID-19 concerning the students of higher educational institutions (HEIs) in India. The COVID-19 has disrupted the normal teaching-learning role across the world and has put everyone in a nightmare. HEIs are now requesting students to take up MOOCs to explore and attain knowledge and the same is even followed by the corporate institutions. MOOCs are one of the crisis management solutions to ensure that education is continuous and not disrupted. Design/methodology/approach: The data included in this research has been collected from students of HEIs across India using a convenient sampling method. The collected data was exposed to a factor analysis using a principal component analysis (PCA) technique to reduce multiple dimensions. Findings: The various stakeholders such as the government, HEIs and the MOOC providers have to play a crucial role in developing intellectual human assets for the nation's growth and progression by extending flexible and cost-effective learning facilities. Education should be free to boost up the learning motivation, and hence it is the responsibility of the stakeholders to provide few courses free of cost, which will increase the rate of enrolment and student participation. Research limitations/implications: From the research, it is well understood that MOOCs are useful to keep oneself updated with the market and industry trends especially when the world is focusing on business analytics, artificial intelligence and other technologically driven topics and concepts. Practical implications: The present study contributes to the growing body of evidence that MOOCs play an important role in providing flexibility in learning. In the future, if there are similar crisis, which will disrupt education, then the best alternative will be MOOC through which many stakeholders will benefit. Education should be free to boost up the learning motivation, and hence it is the responsibility of the stakeholders to provide few courses free of cost, which will increase the rate of enrolment and student participation. Social implications: Education is a service for the society which will have a long-term positive impact on improving the standard of living of the people. Hence, MOOCs can be one of the educational elements to provide learning opportunities to all age groups. Originality/value: This study has explored the perception of MOOCs among the students of HEIs in India in the COVID-19 pandemic. The fresh data collected from the students is a reflection of their experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown. Indeed, it is quite surprising to know that majority of the respondents have arranged to learn during the pandemic, which shows the thirst and urge to learn. Digital technology and tools are welcomed and accepted by the student community.

Purpose - This research aims to study the students perspectives on synchronous and asynchronous learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Both synchronous and asynchronous learning approaches used in online education have positive and negative outcomes. Hence, the aim is to study online educations positive and negative consequences, reflecting sync and async approaches. This research followed a mixed research approach. The key stakeholders of this research are the Indian educational institutions and students.

Purpose – This research aims to study the recent changes in consumer behaviour and purchase pattern during the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 pandemic has forced consumers to stockpile, which has its own consequences. The article proposes the importance of “minimalism in consumption” to avoid greed in consumer behaviour. Design/methodology/approach – The data are collected from consumers across India using an online survey during the first lockdown from March 2020 to May 2020. A simple random sampling technique is used for data collection, and the collected data are analysed using SPSS version 26. Findings – The study states that there will be a shift in the purchase pattern of the consumers if lockdowns are imposed in the future or during any other crisis. However, at present, consumers have developed a stockpiling mentality fearing the unavailability of essentials. Research limitations/implications – Pandemic has stimulated a drastic change in consumer behaviour, which is a situational effect. Each crisis affects consumer behaviour in a different way. In this research, we have considered only fear, greed and anxiety in the light of Covid-19. On the other hand, the research intends to draw realistic conclusions based on consumers' experiences during the lockdown. Practical implications – The study proposes solutions that will help marketers frame exclusive strategies for a future crisis. Analysing the change in consumer behaviour and the shift in purchase patterns will emphasize the importance of market research to know consumer expectations during a crisis situation in order to cater to their new demands. Social implications – Consumers who stockpile should realize the unavailability of goods to other consumers who are in need. They also have to understand the importance of “minimalism in consumption” during a crisis. Originality/value – The data are collected during the most taxing crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic. Data are collected at the peak time of the first wave of Covid-19 in India, during a major shift in consumers' behaviour and purchase pattern. The article brings to the larger consciousness and also preaches a life lesson to all consumers to execute their responsibilities in consumption without over-demands and expectations.

Purpose- Enhancing job satisfaction through motivation and Work-Life Balance (WLB) and checking the overall impact on Emotional Intelligence of mystery shopping professionals is the aim of this research. The work depends on factors such as sudden demand, high workload, on-time submission of assignments, a new area for exploration and fluctuation in pay scale. Design- The data were collected from mystery shopping professionals through social media platform using a questionnaire link (N=338). The sampling technique employed in this study was a convenient sampling technique. CFA (Confirmatory Factor Analysis) using AMOS software was performed. The questionnaire instrument SSREI, GJSS, WEIMS and (Tasdelen’s WLB) were adopted for this study. Findings- The study revealed that motivation has a positive impact on Work-life balance and intern enhances the job satisfaction of mystery shoppers. However, the overall impact on EI is negative. The Goodness of Fit Index such as (AGFI, NFI, TLI, CFI, RMSEA, RMR, and AVE) indicates a good fit of the Structural Equation Model. Originality/Value: The study reflected on the four essential concepts, which has evolved in the domain of HRM and OB for many years. In the context of mystery-shopping professional, it has been used and the recommendations will help the market research agencies and the mystery shoppers. Exploring Work-Life Balance (WLB) as a mediating variable between motivation and Job satisfaction and the overall impact on EI of mystery shopping professionals is a new insight.

Low-carbon steel is a common structural material, but additively manufactured structural component of this material is rare due to its inhomogeneous properties. In this article, the wire arc additive manufacturing method was used to achieve near homogeneous properties of a low-carbon steel structural component. The process heat input was optimised for the desired layer geometry, and then the optimal energy was applied with a time delay to deposit individual layers. The time delay was used to achieve cyclic heating and cooling treatment of deposited layers. The best possible robotic tool path movement with multi point arcing was further adopted in the study to achieve proper thermal distribution across the structural component. The microstructure of layers was dominated by quasi-polygonal ferrite morphology and pearlite precipitation, with little variation in quantity across the component. The hardness profile was almost consistent with the average hardness of ∼176.92 HV. The proof stress slightly increases with decrease in grain size and increase in ferrite/pearlite ratio, however, the overall tensile behaviour is homogeneous with average σ0.2, σu and ε% values of 427.78 MPa, 527.89 MPa and 22.31%, respectively. The quasi-ductile fracture was generally occurred due to void coalescence around larger inclusions. The overall analysis showed that more than 90% of homogeneity was achieved in microstructural and mechanical behaviour of the deposited component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]