Marketing strategies relatives to MSMEs in India still suffers from the old dichotomy of a modern sector and its dynamic marketing strategies on the one hand, and a traditional marketing network, directed and moulded by the government. This study looks into the trend and progress of these strategies, and attempts at facilitation of competitive marketing modules for MSMEs.
In the present information era, the role of ICT for development of MSMEs has been increasingly emphasized. However information, as a commodity, is often not at the reach of MSMEs. This study looks into the present information needs of the sector, and examines how public policy can be turned to such needs.
This project discusses the current economic slowdown in the context of neo liberal economic policies in India. The study shows that the return programme kick started in 1990, could not develop adequate alternative mechanisms for ensuring the level planning ground for MSMEs. The study specifically discusses the experience of competition regime in several countries and how the Indian initiatives in this area remained relatively weak. The study shows that, irrespective of ideological positions, India’s opportunities on the SME front need more detailed discussion.
Promotion of Entrepreneurship in the Renewable Energy Sub sector in South Asia: A Study of India and BanglaDesh
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Institutional Intervention and Informalism: The Kerala Experience
Public policy in the industrial sector has two components: 1)Direct public sector initiatives; and2) initiatives of the private sector, within the overall regulatory system prevailing in the country. The latter policy option provides essentially decides the course of industrial development in regions where the government plays a rather passive role. It also influences to a significant extent, the level of informalisation of production, which has obvious developmental consequences.
This study looks into the role of caste groups and communities in shaping informalism, as also in shaping the overall practice of development intervention in the state of Kerala. The study shows that ,programmes meant for promotion of enterprise and livelihoods have been ,to a significant extent, hijacked by such groups.
The study was commissioned by the Indian Council of Social Science Research.
Innovation in the SME Sector: European Experience and Lessons for India
With the coming into being the active phase of globalization, and especially with the coming into play of the new trade regime, innovation has become a crucial aspect of SME promotion. While public policy in the European Union has, during the last one decade, focused its SME policy in this specific area, developing countries, including India, have not initiated any integrated policy framework in this area. In India, for example, the policy regime remains still compartmentalized.
The findings of the project are based on extensive field research in India and Netherlands by P.M.Mathew. The study was commissioned by the Indo-Dutch Programmed for Alternatives in Development.
Responsible Business: The Social Capital Dimension
While responsible business as an area of academic enquiries and practice has come to prominence since the last one decade, it has largely been viewed in terms of the basic tenets of the Carroll?s Pyramid. It assumes a crucial relation between the business and society, essentially on a patron-client mode. Social capital and its role as a responsible business arena, which is most relevant in the context of developing countries, has not received adequate attention so far. While in Europe and America, social capital has been articulated in quite different premises, some of the best practices in this area have significant replicability and adaptability.
This project by P.M.Mathew at ECT Ltd, a social enterprise in Western London, also provides insights into the macro policy constraints faced by such enterprises. The Study was sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the Government of United Kingdom
Change and Choice in Gender Structure: A Study on Declining Female Labour Participation in the Industrial Sector
Declining female labour participation is a key feature of Indian Industry since 1980s.This trend is crucial in the context of decentralized sector as well. This study ,sponsored by the Department of Women and Child Development ,Ministry of Welfare, Government of India, looks into the emerging trend in female labour participation in the SME sector.
Towards a Policy Framework for Women?s Industrial Enterprises
With the launching of the International Women?s Decade in 1975,gender mainstreaming has become a key feature of public policy in India .However, SME policy in the country is often contained by issues such as inconsistencies and lack of focus. This study, sponsored by the Ministry of Welfare, Government of India, outlines a policy framework, with special focus on HRD, technology and information.
A Study on Electrical Engineering Industry in Kerala
This study, sponsored by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, examines the present status and potential of the electrical engineering industry in the State.
An Evaluative Study of Women?s Organisations in Kerala
With the enhanced mainstreaming of gender, it is crucial to have a realistic characterization and typologising of women?s organization. Sponsored by the Centre for Women?s Development Studies, this research project looks into the background and typologies of women?s organizations and their developmental role in the context of Kerala.
The Hidden Dimensions of Entrepreneurial Performance: A Study on Parentage.
Entrepreneurship develops in a particular socio economic context. There are certain discernible influences which, if typologised, can act as major inputs for public policy. This study comes out with the hypothesis of ?dependent entrepreneurship?. This study was sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research.
The Economics of Energy in Marine Fisheries: A Study on the Lower South West Coast ofIndia.
The focal area of most studies in fisheries economics is the cost of operation of fishing units. However, there are not many studies which specifically deal with energy use and its cost implications. This is a joint project of ISED and the Marintek, Trondheim, under the Indo-Norwegian Bilateral programme on Energy conservation, under the aegis of NORAD and the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.
The researchers were, P.M.Mathew, Gunnar Aegesson and M.K.Sukumaran Nair.
Can Flexible Specialisation be the Alternative? An Exploratory Study on Bamboo and Ruttan Subsector.
The flexible specialization debate has produced an array of literature on various industries and economic activities around the world. Much of such literature has been in the context of organized industry. This study looks into the relevance of flexible specialization debate in the context of craft production. While raising the theoretical issues in the area, the study examines the specific case of bamboo and rattan subsector in India
The study was commissioned by the Asian Productivity Organisation, Tokyo.
An Approach Paper on Development of Small Enterprises in Kerala
The Kerala model of development has been well documented in development literature. A characteristic feature of the model is the lopsidedness of the Kerala economy. While there has been a tautological thrust on industrial development, and more specifically, small industry, the policy approach is often vague. This study outliney approach to Kerala small industry development, against the backdrop of the policy thrusts at the national level.
A Situational Analysis of Small Industry Associations in India
Small Business Membership Organisations ( SBMOs) are envisaged to play a crucial role in the emerging scene of globalization. The focus of such a new thrust is on demand-driven services, which these Associations can perform better ,based on their vast experience and exposure.
This all-India research was commissioned by the Swiss Agency for Development and Co operation.
Towards a New Approach to Understanding the Bamboo Economy
The bamboo and ruttan subsector is one of the traditional industrial sectors in India, which has its presence in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and the North East. While its importance as a craft tradition has well been recognized for long, the opportunities of value addition and for using it as a major tool for local economic development, has not yet received adequate attention. This techno- economic study, commissioned by the Small Industries Development Bank of India, looks into such opportunities. The project identifies some innovative produce -lines as also opportunities for initiatives at the organizational level.
Energy Conservation in Marine Fisheries: A Study on Attitudes and Knowledge
This is a sub-project of the Indo-Norwegian energy Conservation Project .The project partners are ISED and Marintek, Trondheim. The project specifically looks into the knowledge ,attitude and practice relating to energy conservation, by marine fishing units in the South-West coast of India. The study was carried out by P.K. Sasikumar and P.M.Mathew.
Rural Development Programmes in West Bengal
This project of the Ministry of Rural development, Government of India, looks into the process of key activity selection under SGSY, the flagship programme of the Ministry. Focusing on two districts, Birbhum and Jaipalgudi, the study identifies a few innovative key activities for the State. The study was carried out by a team led by Anil Ittiyerah and P.M.Mathew
Industry Associations: Issues in change and choice: A study on Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is a state with the earliest of history on SME Associations. Based on a historical review of the Association culture and practice in the State, the study identifies a few of the demand-driven services which can be offered by the Associations to their members. The study was commissioned by the Swiss Agency for Development and Co operation.
Industrial Stagnation and the ?Blurred Sectors?: A Study on Kerala?s Industrial Backwardness
This research project is an attempt to offer a n alternative explanation to the industrial backwardness of Kerala, with special focus on informalism. The hypothesis of ?crises and cushions? is characterized by its multidisciplinary dimension.
Urban Planning and the Informal Sector
In most policy exercises relating to urban planning, the informal sector is considered as a exogenous agent. Naturally., the question of space acts as a constraint on planning for the informal sector. This project by Biswaroop Das attempts a meaningful role for the informal sector in urban planning
Capital, Caste, Class and Gender: The Political Economy of Women?s Organisations in an Indian State (1880-1984)
Women in Kerala has a lead in the country relating to education, and other indicators, as also their social position. In achieving such heights, the role of women?s organizations is commendable. This project sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, looks into the origin and growth of women?s organizations in a political economy perspective.
Rural Industrialisation: The Science and Technology Gaps
In discussions on rural industrialization the technology dimension is only of recent interest. This project sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, identifies areas of gaps relating to technology in rural development oriented public programmes.
Utilisation of Coconut Shell Resources: A Techno-economic Study.
The Coconut subsector contributes significantly the economy of Kerala. However, economic activities in this subsector is largely confined to consumer applications of coconut. Coconut shell is a major byproduct which can have significant opportunities for value addition. This project was sponsored by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation.
Dependent Entrepreneurship and Industrialization Strategies: Some Preliminary Observations
In most industrialisation strategies, the focus has been significantly on capital formation. The type of entrepreneurship available, and the environment in which entrepreneurship take shape, need more close examination in industrially backward regions. This project sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, puts forward the hypothesis of ?dependent entrepreneurship?
Swarnajayanthi Gram Swarogar Yojana: A Study on Uttar Pradesh.
SGSY, as a collective programme of rural development, is innovative. However, a major issue relating to its implementation is the identification of activity clusters. This study sponsored by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, examines these operational problems, and attempts at a methodological approach.
Selection of Activity Clusters Under SGSY: A study on Gujarat.
This theoretical-methodological study has the objective of evolving the relevant criteria for identifying activity clusters in the State.
New Opportunities and Challenges for Small Business Associations in India
A joint project of ISED and the Durham University Business School, the study looks into the challenges and opportunities of SME Associations in the context of globalization. The project also outlines the opportunities of training interventions. The project was jointly initiated by P.M.Mathew and Tim Atterton.
Decentralised Planning for Small Enterprise Development, An Experiment at Kalady, Kerala, South India
While in many developing countries, including in India,,political decentralization has become a reality, they need to go a long way in the path of local economic development .In the process of local economic development, enterprise development, at the atomic level ,has a key role to play .Entrepreneurial atomism ,essentially means development of SMEs, which needs hard core planning at the local level. This project, sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, offers a methodological approach to decentralized planning for enterprise development.
Eleventh Five Year Plan of Kerala: Some Recommendations on the SME Sector
In the Eleventh Five Year Plan of Kerala, a Special role for SMEs has been envisaged. Kerala?s Eleventh Five Year Plan has a new approach which focuses on the creativity and drive of an energized entrepreneurial class. To translate such a new approach into actionable strategies, the Government of Kerala, through the State Planning Board , has appointed a Working Group, under the chairmanship of Dr. P.M.Mathew, Director of ISED and with Dr. P.Mohanan Pillai, Fellow, Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum, as Co-Chairman. The Working Group puts forward an innovative strategy package.
Employment in Women-preferred Industries: A Study on Garment Industry in Kerala, India.
Employment of women in low-paid industrial activities is an emerging phenomenon. However, the problem is industry-specific. Garment industry is one case where the role of the nimble hands has often been highlighted. The study offers some suggestions for improvement of job quality.
Towards a Vibrant Small Enterprise Economy in India
This is a sub-project initiated in the context of the Dr S.P .Gupta Committee on Development of Small Enterprises, at the Planning Commission, in which ISED was a n expert member. The study looks into India?s opportunities in the SME sector, against the international experience in the area. The Project was directed by P.M.Mathew.
Small Industry Associations in Andhra Pradesh: Agents of Progress or Retardation?
Andhra Pradesh is one state where the traditional forms of SME associations still prevail. The role played by the se Associations in the developmental context is the them of this study by T. Nirmala Devi .The Study was sponsored by the Swiss Agency for Development and Co operation.
The Bamboo Economy of Kerala, South India: An Analysis of Production-to-Consumption System.
This project, sponsored by the International Network of Bamboo and Ruttan (INBAR) forms part of a wider project which had the objective of evolving a methodological approach for analysis of the bamboo system in five countries, viz., India, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The study was focused on the case of Kerala. The project came out with the conceptual framework of? Bamboo Village Network.?
Poverty Alleviation Programmes and Structural Changes in the Rural Economy
This longitudinal study on anti-poverty programmes ,forms part of a wider programmed of the Planning Commission, New Delhi. The findings of the study are based on field research in Vypin Islands, Kerala.
Rural Development Programmes in Idukki District, Kerala
This project is a comprehensive evaluation exercise of all rural development programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development.
Small-scale Industry in India (1960-1999):A Bibliography
While the small industry sector has been accorded a high policy priority, academic contributions in this area are not substantial. Even the available studies have not been properly documented. Following the First Survey on the Sector by K.K. Subrahmaniyan and S.P Kashyap, under the ICSSR Survey Series, this study was initiated by the ISED .the study was sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research.
Collective Approach to Poverty Alleviation in India: A National Study
This national study, based on field research in five states of the Country, was designed to evolve an operationally meaningful approach to rural development programmes in the Country. The study was initiated by P.M.Mathew and Anil Ittiyerah.
WTO and the SME sector in India: A Study of Medicinal Bio-technology Sub-sector
With the ushering in of the WTO regime, SMEs in developing countries are exposed to several constraints and opportunities. The UNIDO initiated a series of projects in identified sub sectors and to evolve strategies. Base on the findings of the project initiated by ISED, the Ministry of Small scale Industries, Government of India, announced the National Programmed of Biotechnology in the SME Sector.
Enterprise Development for the Returning Migrants in Kerala, India
While the contribution of the Indian diaspora in terms of their contribution to foreign exchange earnings has been widely appreciated, and there has also been attempts to mobilize their savings, enterprise development with such resources has not received adequate attention. The International Labour Organisation and the ISED joined together to develops a programmed for the return migrants. This project forms part of a wider collaborative programmed of these two agencies. This project was coordinated by JM.I .Sait.
Employment Generation in the Agro and Rural Industries Sector in India: A National Study
The report of the Dr S.P. Gupta Committee on development of Small Enterprises, came out with striking figures on the phenomenon of? jobless growth? in India. The Committee identified much larger opportunities for job creation in the agro and rural industries, with a new policy approach. Under this project, ISED prepared an action Plan for the Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries, Government of India.
Globalisation and SMEs in India: A Report
This report documents the findings of a large programmed of ISED, the Programme on Globalisation and SMEs. The project comes out with some actionable strategies at various levels.
Media and Kerala?s Industrial Development
What role can media play in shaping the industrial development agenda of a region? Is it passive, active, exploitative or benign? This project initiated against the backdrop of the Global Investors Meet ,which was held in Cochin in 2001,examines in detail, several cases of reactiveness and proactiveness of media ,in the context of major development debates.
An Evaluation of Water Supply and Sanitation Programmes
The Institute, has a long-term programme which looks into developments in India?s water sector. In India, the new initiatives in the public water supply programmes are anchored on some fundamental principles, which need to be adhered by the Union and State Governments and the implementing agencies:
?demand riven.
? community driven.
? Initiated on campaign mode.
? focus on IEC.
? innovative delivery mechanisms.
? strong focus on school sanitation and hygiene.
? strong grassroot level involvement, such as through co-operatives, women groups, self help groups, youth clubs, NGOs, and local governments.
? cost sharing in operation and maintenance.
Based on the above fundamental principles, periodic field studies are carried out by the Institute and the results have been brought out. The major findings emerging from the latest report are the following:
? The Rural Sanitary Mart/Production Centres are not functioning effectively; people?s awareness also remain relatively poor.
? The officials of the local governments, are not well informed in the programme; the database available also is not satisfactory.
? There are many incomplete toilets.
? people are still not able to break their practise of open defection and IEC activities need to be stepped up.
? children in schools have to develop the habit of using toilets.financial irregularities in the construction of toilets, as it relates to recording of beneficiary contributions have been noticed in some places.
Understanding Informalism:Towards a Theoretical-Methodological Approach
The concept of informal sector coined by the Kenya Mission of the ILO , has unleashed significant debates in theory and policy circles during the last three decades of the past century, much of the international literature on the subject relates to Latin America and African countries. In the Indian context, also, there are a few studies on the Urban Informal Sector of Bombay, Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore and some other smaller towns. Despite the mushrooming of literature, a major issue that stands out, is stage of development of the economy and inter dependence between the rural and the urban segments of the informal sector.
This project, commissioned by the Indian Planning Commission, looks into the consexual and operational meaning of Informal Sector in the Indian context. The study is based on field research in South India.
Profiles of Successful Women Entrepreneurs
Success and failure are relative concepts. In the context of women?s enterprises and entrepreneurship, the concept is much more blurred, because of the overemphasis on projecting much of the women?s initiatives as? success stories? from the point of view of policy formulation and evolution of appropriate developmental strategies, one need to look into both the entrepreneurship-related as also the gender-related issues as part of a matrix. The objective of this study was to prepare a n assessment of the situation based on concrete profiles. The study spells out twelve success factors which are relevant for those who design programmes for women entrepreneurship development.
What explains the successful performance of women entrepreneurs? Why some such entrepreneurs are more successful than others? This project, sponsored by the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of India, identifies a few such success factors. It also makes some policy suggestions for promotional agencies.
Coconut Husk and its Utilisation.
Coconut husk is a rich agro resource on which the the household industry in states like Kerala,Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are based.This study ,sponsored by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation,looks into the present and potential use of cocnut husk,with special reference to Kerala.
Urban Micro Enterprise Development Programme: A Manual.
Modelling of micro enterprise development is a badly neglected area in India.,though governments and several funding agencies actually implement and/or support such programmes. Naturally, most such programmes rnd up as failure stories.
The DFID-aided Cochin Urban Poverty Reduction Project, jointly implemented by the Cochin Corporation and the DFID, appreciated the initiatives of ISED in the area of entrepreneurship development ,and requested the services of the Institute for designing a model for implementation in the City Corporation area.
