Research

In collaboration with the Institute Research Committee and QIC at SCMS NOIDA, the International Cell organised an insightful pre-conference workshop on 'Transformative Research and Evaluation: Ways of Impacting People, Communities, and Businesses' on 30 January 2025. The resource person for the workshop was Professor Bob Townley, a distinguished social scientist with over 30 years of experience in social policy, skills development, labour markets, and organizational studies. The session aimed to provide valuable insights into the role of transformative research in driving social impact and fostering meaningful change across various sectors.

Professor Bob Townley, currently serving as Senior Lecturer and Director of Postgraduate Programmes at the School for Business and Society, University of York, brought his vast academic and practical expertise to the discussion. With a career spanning three decades, he has made significant contributions to the fields of social policy and labour market research, making him a prominent voice in evaluating the societal impact of research.

During the workshop, Professor Townley emphasized the importance of conducting research that goes beyond academic boundaries and directly benefits communities and businesses. He discussed various methodologies for impactful evaluation, highlighting how well-structured research can influence policy-making, drive organizational improvements, and contribute to social development. The interactive session provided attendees with practical frameworks and case studies to understand the real-world applications of transformative research. Professor Townley also offered insights on evaluating research outcomes to measure their impact on society effectively.

The workshop concluded with a lively Q&A session, where participants had the opportunity to engage with Professor Townley, seek advice on their research projects, and gain further clarity on applying transformative research techniques. This insightful session not only enriched the participants' understanding of impactful research practices but also reinforced the institution's commitment to fostering academic excellence and socially relevant research.

In collaboration with the Institute Research Committee and QIC at SCMS NOIDA, the International Cell organized an insightful pre-conference workshop on ‘Human Flourishing, Purpose, and Sustainable Business' on 30 January 2025. The session was conducted in collaboration with Rutgers School of Public Health, USA. It featured Professor Wendy M. Purcell, PhD FRSA, a distinguished academic known for her expertise in sustainability, public health, and global business. Professor Wendy Purcell is a Full Professor and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice at Rutgers School of Public Health, USA.

During the session, Professor Purcell addressed global megatrends shaping the business and public health landscape. She explored pressing global risks from 2023 to 2025, including economic instability, climate change, technological disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainties, offering a comprehensive analysis of their impact on industries and societies. She also discussed the disruptions caused by the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world, highlighting businesses' need to foster resilience, innovation, and ethical leadership to navigate these challenges. A key theme of the session was human flourishing and inequality, where she emphasised the growing socioeconomic disparities worldwide and their implications for businesses and society. She advocated for purpose-driven leadership that prioritises well-being, inclusivity, and sustainable development.

To illustrate these concepts, Professor Purcell presented real-world case studies showcasing organisations that successfully integrate sustainability, social impact, and business growth. She encouraged faculty members to explore the intersection of business, sustainability, and social responsibility in their research, urging them to contribute to academia with work that addresses critical global challenges. Through this workshop, SCMS NOIDA reaffirmed its commitment to fostering research excellence and interdisciplinary learning, equipping faculty with the knowledge and frameworks necessary to drive meaningful change in academia and industry.

In collaboration with the Institute Research Committee and QIC at SCMS NOIDA, the International Cell organized an engaging pre-conference workshop on ‘How to Publish in Top-Tier Journals: Navigating the Market and Maximizing Impact’ on 30 January 2025. The session featured Professor Ernesto D.R. Santibañez Gonzalez, a distinguished academic from the University of Talca, Chile, and an Academic Visitor at London Business School (LBS), UK. Renowned for his interdisciplinary approach to sustainability, climate change, and quantitative research methodologies, Professor Santibañez shared his expertise on the publication process in leading academic journals. With a career dedicated to addressing global challenges, Professor Santibañez specializes in integrating big data, prescriptive analytics, mathematical models, game theory, network equilibrium, and complex heuristics to analyze the impact of climate change and sustainability practices on businesses, cities, and entire regions.

During the session, he provided a structured roadmap for faculty members and researchers looking to publish in high-impact scientific journals. He emphasized the importance of understanding the academic publishing market and strategically selecting the right journal to maximize research visibility and impact. He guided participants in crafting assertive manuscript abstracts and effectively communicate the research’s significance and originality. Professor Santibañez also highlighted the importance of attention to detail throughout the publication process, from structuring the manuscript to adhering to journal-specific formatting and citation guidelines. He provided an in-depth overview of the peer review process, explaining how to navigate reviewer comments, revise submissions effectively, and respond to editorial feedback to increase the chances of acceptance.

Through this workshop, participants gained valuable insights into best practices for publishing in top-tier scientific journals. By breaking down the intricacies of academic publishing, Professor Santibañez equipped faculty members with the tools needed to enhance their research contributions and position their work for more outstanding academic and industry influence. With this initiative, SCMS NOIDA continues strengthening its commitment to fostering research excellence and global academic engagement.

The International Cell in collaboration with the Institute Research Committee and QIC at SCMS Noida organized an engaging pre-conference workshop on 'Publishing in Applied Academic Journals' on 24 January, 2025. The workshop was conducted in collaboration with University of York's School for Business and Society. The session featured Dr. Bob Townley, Senior Lecturer and Director of Postgraduate Programmes at the University of York's School for Business and Society. He is renowned for his extensive expertise in academic leadership and innovative educational strategies. The resource person for the session was Professor William Newburry, a renowned academic, serving as Professor and Ryder Eminent Scholar of Global Business at Florida International University (FIU). He shared valuable insights on writing articles, its impact on authors, and the process of getting published.

During the session, Prof. Newburry highlighted his experience as an editor, he provided the attending faculties with practical and detailed insights on publishing articles. Prof. Newburry shared sample articles and detailed structures to guide the participants in crafting their submissions. By breaking down the submission process step by step, he emphasized the importance of clarity, originality, and practical relevance in academic writing. His guidance also covered essential aspects such as adhering to formatting guidelines, proper citation practices, and responding effectively to editorial feedback.

Prof. Newburry also informed about his editing journal, AIB insights, that focuses on articles related to International Business. AIB insights is highly user-friendly platform, supported by editors who ensure that submissions are processed and published within a six-month timeframe.He also explained that for authors, the platform provides clear and concise explanations of the processes involved after submitting their work.

These valuable resources and expert advice aim to empower faculty members to contribute meaningfully to the field of research, increasing their chances of successful publication. Through this initiative, Symbiosis University continues to strengthen its commitment to fostering a culture of research excellence, encouraging faculty to engage in high-impact academic contributions that shape the future of global business studies.

The Quality Improvement Cell (QIC) and the Institute Research Committee (IRC) organized an inhouse Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on "Basic Statistical Analysis for Empirical Research" from January 16-17, 2024. This programme aimed to equip faculty members with essential knowledge of statistical tools and techniques critical for empirical research.

The primary objectives were to familiarize participants with the basics of quantitative research and provide hands-on experience in data handling and manipulation using SPSS and WAR-PLS. The FDP featured four intensive sessions led by Dr. Kriti Priya Gupta, Professor at SCMS NOIDA, held in Computer Lab-1.

During the sessions, participants delved into the fundamentals of research, including constructs, indicators, and levels of measurement. They explored descriptive statistics and learned about Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and reliability testing using SPSS to ensure data validity. The sessions also covered hypothesis testing, parametric tests, and normality testing using SPSS, providing a comprehensive understanding of statistical methods.

On the second day, the focus shifted to advanced topics such as regression and logistic regression, offering insights into analyzing relationships between variables. Participants engaged in practical applications of parametric tests using SPSS and were introduced to Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using WAR-PLS, a sophisticated technique for empirical research.

The FDP successfully provided participants with crucial insights and practical skills to enhance their research capabilities. By investing in such development programmes, the university continues to support its faculty in achieving academic excellence and making significant contributions to empirical research.

From August 16-18 and December 14-15, 2023, a five-day workshop on "Methods of Writing and Teaching: Case Studies and International Journal Publication" was held in the Conference Hall at SCMS Noida. This workshop aimed to equip participants with practical skills in crafting compelling case studies and navigating the process of publishing in reputed international journals.

The primary objectives of the workshop were to teach practical methods for writing case studies that are informative and impactful, guide participants on submitting case studies to reputed international journals, and provide insights into the peer-review process and strategies for successful publication. The workshop sessions covered critical topics such as understanding the structure and components of a case study, techniques for gathering and analyzing data, and writing styles to make case studies engaging and informative. Ethical considerations in case study research were also discussed, along with selecting appropriate journals for publication, preparing manuscripts according to journal guidelines, and navigating the peer-review process, including responding to reviewers' comments.

The workshop featured interactive sessions, practical exercises, and discussions. Participants engaged in hands-on activities to develop case study drafts, peer feedback sessions to enhance quality, and mock peer-review exercises to simulate the journal submission and review processes. Q&A sessions with journal editors and experienced authors provided additional insights. The participants gained an enhanced understanding and proficiency in writing case studies, practical knowledge of manuscript preparation and submission processes, and insights into practical strategies for navigating the peer-review process. The workshop also boosted their confidence in approaching international journal publications.

Participants were encouraged to refine their case studies based on workshop feedback, actively seek opportunities to submit manuscripts to reputed international journals, and continue learning and applying best practices in academic writing and publishing. This workshop underscores the university's commitment to fostering academic excellence and supporting faculty in their scholarly endeavors.

A Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on "Data Analysis using R" was organized by the Quality Improvement cell (QIC) and Institute Research Committee (IRC) during 10, 12 and 13 Jan 2023. This FDP was intended to enhance the knowledge and skills of faculty members on statistical data analysis.

The objectives of the FDP were:

• To familiarize the participants with R programming language
• To provide hands on experience in handling and manipulating data in R
• To apply appropriate quantitative/statistical methods and tools in R for conducting research

A total of 12 sessions were conducted during the FDP out of which 11 sessions were conducted by Dr. Kriti Priya Gupta, Professor - SCMS NOIDA and 1 session was conducted by Dr. Sunita Dwivedi. During the programme, the participants learnt about the following topics:

• Difference between R and R Studio
• Creating and manipulating various Objects in R
• Applying F-test, t-tests, ANOVA, and chi-square test in R
• Correlation analysis, Multiple Linear Regression and Logistic Regression using R
• Network Analysis in R

The participants were involved in a continuous learning process using the datasets / resources provided in the FDP. The FDP received good feedback from the participants.

Workshop on "Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) using MS Excel"

A Workshop on "Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) using MS Excel" was organized by the Institute Research Committee (IRC) on 12 January 2021. This workshop was intended to equip faculty members with multi-criteria decision making skills using AHP technique, to produce good quality research.

The objectives of the FDP were:

• To understand the applications of AHP in decision making
• To provide hands-on experience in applying AHP technique using MS Excel

Dr. Kriti Priya Gupta, Professor - SCMS NOIDA was the resource person for the workshop.

Thirteen faculty members of SCMS NOIDA attended the workshop. During the workshop, the participants learnt about applying AHP for prioritizing factors (and sub-factors) influencing a particular phenomenon, as well as for selecting the best alternative based on multiple criteria. They also acquired knowledge of writing good quality research papers based on the AHP technique.