Ashok Natarajan – författare

This new volume explores the new paradigm that is Industry 4.0—the application of information-intensive technologies that integrate software, hardware, and biology (cyber-physical systems) for effective manufacturing and related industries. This volume focuses specifically on leadership that can respond quickly and effectively to changing conditions in the Industry 4.0 environment. It looks at leadership skills needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, skills that can be applied to many other changing conditions as well. The authors consider the role of virtual leadership in an age of working from home; present case studies that provide valuable lessons for the agile leader; and examine the crucial role of human resources in providing agile leadership to an organization. The volume aggregates original theoretical, conceptual, and empirical research on challenges and opportunities in the context on Industry 4.0.

Attempts to eliminate or reduce gender inequality have been made by governments, international organizations, NGOs, policymakers, and private organizations. However, the evidence still shows that the gender gap exists from womb to tomb, from parental treatment to corporate leadership, and even the genders’ psychologically different identity for that matter. The question, however, arises with laws and regulations formed on gender disparity, bills becoming acts, society becoming broader in their outlook, and adopting inclusivity in terms of gender in different spheres: Are we still able to claim that we are addressing gender inequality enough? This volume explores the disparity between genders in terms of the labor market and career advancement, child-rearing practices, education, financial literacy, work-life balance, pay gaps, and economic development, to name a few areas. It focuses on the robust themes of the gender gap from a modern perspective to enhance our understanding of gender inequality in today's world.

Digital transformation of education is happening at a rapid pace, especially with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet the transformation is not yet complete because it was implemented in a willy-nilly way. This volume examines the current status of digitalization in higher education, with emphasis on lessons to be learned for the ongoing transformation—what it bodes for the future and how we may shape the direction and scope of the change.Digitalization in Higher Education: Opportunities and Threats examines the policies of governments, higher education institution management, leadership styles to aid digitalization, the use of online teaching tools, changes in educational pedagogy, the impact of educational technology on the attitudes of students and educators to learning, and more.Topics include:opportunities in higher education that were made available by a digitalization processdigital management leadership of the HEIsgovernmental initiatives introduced in conjunction with new education policyhow digitalization makes the process of learning more efficient and effectivestudents and teachers’ acceptance of digitalizationpsychological constructs of model cognitive, behavioral, and affective effects of e-learningopen educational resources and learning management systemspositive and negative aspects of moving to an online platformmarginalization of the individual due to inadequate resourcesThe role of capitalism and neo-liberalism in the digitalization process of HEIsThis book will be of value to educators and public policy officials as it provides important updates to what is happening in the field of higher education and also make several policy recommendations that may be of interest to administrators and leaders in public policy areas.

Educational institutions have invested greatly in the introduction and development of new teaching methods in recent years, especially during and after the pandemic. Despite these new approaches, relevant questions related to learning objectives, suitable methodologies, and impact assessment remain unanswered. This book, Interdisciplinary Approaches in Managerial Education, aims to address these unanswered questions regarding best practices, laboratory methods, policies, and protocols in the areas of education and managerial training.The book covers several topics related to practical approaches to managerial education and training. It provides detailed explanations in relation to active methodologies such as problem-based learning (PBL), co-creation, team-based learning (TBL), etc. This book takes an integrated approach towards the new paradigm of management education, ensuring that both teacher and student comprehend the interdisciplinary approach between ideas and concepts across different domains of study.The book presents 16 chapters on various themes to consolidate the understanding of interdisciplinary management education. It includes chapters relating to employability, digitalization and digital technologies, and sustainability, providing not just an introduction to these factors in an interdisciplinary approach, but also a look at the future of management education due to the ever-growing requirement of interdisciplinarity. Topics include hybrid teaching tools, such as gamification in management education; role of applied mathematics in financial management education; how management education can lead to achieving sustainable development goals; the impact of ITC in managerial education during times of economic crisis; strengthening industry-academia linkages; industry demands in terms of employability skills among management students; and more.This book will enrich its readers with contemporary ideas on interdisciplinary management education and world-wide best practices. Primarily geared toward an academic audience (academics, university teachers, researchers, and post-graduate students), this book will also be of benefit to public and private institutions, educational developers, and researchers in managerial training education.

Because water access, distribution and quality are the most urgent challenges for societies across the world, this book focuses on the current and future demands and challenges in the areas of water scarcity we may face and possible solutions in terms of technology and management including infrastructure changes that are needed for the future smart cities. Readers of this book shall gain an increased understanding of water supply and its demands and shall learn some of the research trends to overcome global water scarcity and urban growth by creating smart cities.