Expiry dates are an important aspect of the retail industry today. Managing perishable items pose a significant challenge in the supply chain environment. These perishable items have a finite usable lifetime, and pass many hands during its movement from source to destination. Understanding the implications of this fact in the backdrop of India's ever growing retail scenario was what interested Narasimha B. Kamath four years ago into research. And his quest has borne results. Kamath, a Fellow Programme alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, has won the prestigious 2007 Emerald/EFMD Outstanding Doctoral Research Awards for his thesis on 'Supply Chain Management of Perishable Items: Channel Dynamics And Integrated Decision Making'. Kamath is the first Indian to receive this recognition. EFMD Award-winning candidates are expected to receive a cash prize of €1,500 (approximately Rs 87,000), a certificate and an offer of publication in the sponsoring journal.

With more than 650 member organisations from various backgrounds such as academics, business, public service and consultancy in 75 countries, European Foundation for Management Development or the EFMD provides a unique forum for information, research, networking and debate on innovation and best practice in management development. Based in Brussels, Belgium, EFMD is globally recognised as an accreditation body of quality in management education. The foundation has established accreditation services for business schools and business school programmes, corporate universities and technology-enhanced learning programmes.

Kamath's doctoral thesis has been chosen by the editors of the 'International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management' and their judging panel, as a "highly commended award winner" of the 2007 Emerald/EFMD Outstanding Doctoral Research Award in the category of Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

Kamath was guided by Subir Bhattacharya, professor of management information systems (MIS), IIM Calcutta, for this project. "Kamath has been one of my brightest students and a person who is completely dedicated towards his goals," says Bhattacharya. "At the moment, he is working with i2 Technologies as Senior Consultant. but we hope he will come back one day to deliver his services in an academic foundation like IIMC," says Bhattacharya.

"Generally students are not very keen on going for the doctoral programmes due to the time taken to finish a thesis. But now I hope Kamath's success will encourage more students to take up the research programmes under our Fellow Program," says Professor Anindya Sen, the IIM-C dean (programme initiative).

"India Should Encourage Research Students"

In an interview with BW's Chetna Mehra, award winner Narasimha B. Kamath explains what this award means to him and why research students should receive enough support. Excerpts:

What makes your thesis different from what others have done in the same field?
The research was focused mainly on the supply chain management (SCM) of the perishable items, a deviation from the broad term of SCM. The study of the supply chain of perishable products is particularly important because they account for more than 50 per cent of supermarket sales, and the potential for extra profit from managing these items has been estimated at 15 per cent. Thus, it has great implications in retail sector, which is budding very fast in India. So, the entire subject becomes more relevant and significant especially in the current scenario.

Did you face any hurdles while carrying out your research?
The initial two years of the programme is a normal MBA. To become the fellow students one has to keep the grades up through out these two years. This is tough, but I managed to secure first position in that batch. This was an achievement for me. It takes six months to figure out the area one wants to research on. Also, one of the parameter to enter the doctoral programme is to publish articles in the international journals. Fulfilling that criterion also calls for a lot of hard work.

What are your future plans?
At the moment, I am working on few more projects which are based on the broader concept of supply chain management. Through application of this research, we might succeed in getting some patents for the companies as well. I would also like to pursue a career in academics, maybe join the IIM faculty, say, in 10 years.

How are your friends, parents and teachers reacting to this recognition?
A lot of people who supported me during my research, all my friends helped me a lot. My family is absolutely delighted.

Discuss the role of IIMC in the whole process?
The faculty at IIMC was a great help. When I was carrying out my research they provided the right environment, guidance and access to start my research. Infosys Technologies funded my research.

What is the potential for research in India?
In India, research work does not get the desired recognition. There are no sufficient funds, very low pay and many other restricting factors. The acknowledgement I have received shall help the interested students to take up doctoral researches with better confidence.