Benchmarking Indian general insurance firms

Benchmarking performance of governance quality in Indian states using MCDM techniques

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.

Sustainability of microenterprises: an empirical analysis

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the facilitators and impediments of business sustainability of the microenterprises. The study also proposes a framework of social sustainability through women microentrepreneurs in India.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to fulfill the objectives, primary data have been collected and analyzed by employing binary logit model. Additionally, in-depth interviews and focus group interviews were conducted to get more precise insight on the issue.

Findings

The study finds out the factors determining sustainability of microenterprises. The economic, political, demographic factors along with family contribution are found to be important factors in determining sustainability and success of microenterprises. The study also show that microenterprises emerging from self-help groups (SHGs) are adding value to the society by overall women empowerment.

Research limitations/implications

The study will pave the way for further research about the sustainability factors of microenterprises in emerging economies.

Practical implications

The finding of this paper will give directions to policy makers as well as to stakeholders as small businesses are becoming way of life in all developing countries.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by identifying how microentrepreneurs emerging from SHGs are achieving societal goals of poverty eradication. It determines the indicators of business sustainability for small businesses run by women. Empirical and in-depth study explores the issues those have policy implications.