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1 – 10 of 31Saima Sajid, Syed Saqlain Ul Hassan, Shafique Ur Rehman, Maryam Arooj and Md Nazmus Sadekin
Prioritizing the shift from a traditional economy towards complex integrated economies has been the top priority among policymakers to achieve sustainable development goals…
Abstract
Purpose
Prioritizing the shift from a traditional economy towards complex integrated economies has been the top priority among policymakers to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). Countries involved in economic integration must safeguard their labor markets. The Developing-8 (D-8) is an alliance of economic cooperation including Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey, all of which are among the world’s largest labor-abundant countries but have insufficient attention toward labor market policies, especially in gender roles. This issue motivated this study, which aims to investigate the impact of economic complexity on trade through with the interaction of gender equality.
Design/methodology/approach
The annual data for the panel of D-8 countries from 1990 to 2020 were collected. The Driscoll and Kraay (D-K) regression was employed for empirical investigation after observing the presence of autocorrelation, heteroscedasticity and cross-sectional dependency (CSD) across the sample.
Findings
Findings show that the economic complexity index (ECI) and gender equality (GE) have a significant impact on trade openness (TO). Moreover, the interaction of GE and ECI strengthens the relationship between ECI and TO. Therefore, both factors worked together to enhance the trading system by supplying the nation with highly sophisticated and complex products.
Research limitations/implications
Policymakers in D-8 countries should enable equal access to resources, investment and decision-making for both men and women. This leads toward stubble, innovative and complex products that enhance trade and goodwill in the international market.
Originality/value
This study incorporated GE as an interaction term in economic complexity and TO in D-8 countries for the first time, to the best of the authors' knowledge.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-11-2023-0908
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Mohamed Mousa, Doaa Althalathini and Beatrice Avolio
The aim of this paper is to answer the question: What stimulates artisan entrepreneurs to act as responsible leaders?
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to answer the question: What stimulates artisan entrepreneurs to act as responsible leaders?
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research method was employed and semi-structured interviews with 30 artisans working in four different artisanal activities were used to gather the data. Thematic analysis was subsequently applied to the interview transcripts.
Findings
The findings suggest that the main factors causing artisan entrepreneurs to act responsibly are as follows: autonomy (the authority artisans exercise in managing their businesses; preserving socio-cultural identity is an artisan’s main duty; proving an individual competency in implementing society-related priorities), competence (adhering to generally accepted business practices; simplicity of developing and maintaining the social agenda of artisan enterprises; meeting the clients’ desire in exercising a social awareness) and relatedness (returning social favours; necessitating involvement with different stakeholders; contributing to the common good).
Originality/value
This paper contributes by filling a gap in the literature on artisan entrepreneurship, responsible leadership and research in tourism and hospitality, in which empirical studies on the responsible practices of artisan entrepreneurs have been limited so far.
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Alireza Moghayedi, Kathy Michell and Bankole Osita Awuzie
Facilities management (FM) organizations are pivotal in enhancing the resilience of buildings against climate change impacts. While existing research delves into the adoption of…
Abstract
Purpose
Facilities management (FM) organizations are pivotal in enhancing the resilience of buildings against climate change impacts. While existing research delves into the adoption of digital technologies by FM organizations, there exists a gap regarding the specific utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) to address climate challenges. This study aims to investigate the drivers and barriers influencing the adoption and utilization of AI by South African FM organizations in mitigating climate change challenges.
Design/methodology/approach
This study focuses on South Africa, a developing nation grappling with climate change’s ramifications on its infrastructure. Through a combination of systematic literature review and an online questionnaire survey, data was collected from representatives of 85 professionally registered FM organizations in South Africa. Analysis methods employed include content analysis, Relative Importance Index (RII), and Total Interpretative Structural Modeling (TISM).
Findings
The findings reveal that regulatory compliance and a responsible supply chain serve as critical drivers for AI adoption among South African FM organizations. Conversely, policy constraints and South Africa’s energy crisis emerge as major barriers to AI adoption in combating climate change challenges within the FM sector.
Originality/value
This study contributes to existing knowledge by bridging the gap in understanding how AI technologies are utilized by FM organizations to address climate challenges, particularly in the context of a developing nation like South Africa. The research findings aim to inform policymakers on fostering a conducive environment for FM organizations to harness AI in fostering climate resilience in built assets.
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Wilhelm K.K. Abreu, Tiago F.A.C. Sigahi, Izabela Simon Rampasso, Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de Moraes, Lucas Veiga Ávila, Milena Pavan Serafim and Rosley Anholon
This research aims to understand the primary challenges encountered by entrepreneurs operating in emerging economies, where entrepreneurship plays a vital role. The study places a…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to understand the primary challenges encountered by entrepreneurs operating in emerging economies, where entrepreneurship plays a vital role. The study places a particular emphasis on entrepreneurs in Brazil.
Design/methodology/approach
The research methodology involved the analysis of data obtained from interviews, using both content analysis and Grey Relational Analysis techniques.
Findings
The analysis revealed several prominent difficulties that entrepreneurs face in these domains. These challenges encompassed issues such as grappling with intricate taxation systems and the associated tax burden, navigating government bureaucracy, securing access to essential financing and initial investments, contending with the absence of supportive government programs and addressing the dynamic nature of market conditions. The findings on the most critical barriers reveal potential pathways for entrepreneurs, policymakers and universities to act in developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in emerging economies.
Originality/value
The insights garnered from this research have the potential to inform the formulation of robust public policies aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in emerging countries. Furthermore, these findings can serve as a valuable resource for planning initiatives designed to train engineers to become successful entrepreneurs.
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Jon Iden, Kjersti Berg Danilova and Tom Eikebrokk
This study investigated the interplay between business process management (BPM) and digitalization in organizations and developed principles for designing their interaction.
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigated the interplay between business process management (BPM) and digitalization in organizations and developed principles for designing their interaction.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was explorative and used a questionnaire-based survey that involved experts in BPM and digitalization who were actively engaged in these two domains in their organizations to come up with the design principles. The survey and the design principles were based on Rosemann and vom Brocke's (2010) six core elements of BPM.
Findings
Digitalization was seen as influencing how BPM is practiced in organizations by strengthening organizations’ focus on BPM, and conversely, BPM was perceived as beneficial for digitalization and digitalization outcomes. In addition, based on Rosemann and vom Brocke’s six core elements of BPM, we proposed six principles for designing the interplay of BPM and digitalization in organizations.
Research limitations/implications
Our empirical investigation was situated in a Norwegian context and included 104 respondents. While we have no reason to believe that our findings should not be valid and useful in other regions, this is a limitation in generalizing our findings, and a natural follow-up would be to investigate our research questions in other geographical areas. We are also aware of the potential response bias in our sample. Moreover, to outline the principles for designing the interactions of BPM and digitalization, we applied the six core elements of BPM by Rosemann and vom Brocke (2010) as our theoretical lens. We acknowledge that there are more issues related to the interplay of BPM and digitalization than we have dealt with in this study.
Practical implications
This study has several implications for organizations. First, managers may use our proposed design principles to decide how to integrate BPM and digitalization. Second, although this study showed that each discipline nurtures its own culture, building an organizational culture that combines values from each discipline can enable a process-oriented organization to innovate its operations and services with digital technology. Third, managers should align the responsibilities and tasks of process owners with the demands for the digitalization of business processes. Fourth, managers, when integrating BPM and digitalization, should take care not to impede the generative attributes of each discipline.
Social implications
Processes and digital technologies play important roles in society at all levels. BPM seeks to understand how processes unfold and explores how new practices may better serve individuals, organizations and society (vom Brocke et al., 2021), while digitalization is concerned with how various kinds of modern digital technologies may trigger organizational and social changes (Markus and Rowe, 2023; Suri and Jack, 2016).
Originality/value
This study is one of the first studies to investigate the interplay between BPM and digitalization – how digitalization affects BPM practices in organizations and how BPM influences digitalization outcomes. In addition, this study offers novel principles for designing the interaction between BPM and digitalization.
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Hayford Pittri, Kofi Agyekum, Edward Ayebeng Botchway, João Alencastro, Olugbenga Timo Oladinrin and Annabel Morkporkpor Ami Dompey
The design for deconstruction (DfD) technique, a contemporaneous solution to demolition by optimizing disassembly activities to enable reuse, has recently emerged with several…
Abstract
Purpose
The design for deconstruction (DfD) technique, a contemporaneous solution to demolition by optimizing disassembly activities to enable reuse, has recently emerged with several promises to promote the circular economy. However, little attention has been given to its implementation among design professionals, especially in the Global South. Therefore, this study aims to explore the drivers for DfD implementation among design professionals in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI).
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a mixed research approach (explanatory sequential design) with an initial quantitative instrument phase, followed by a qualitative data collection phase. Data from the survey were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, one-sample t-Test, and normalization value (NV) test after a review of pertinent literature. These data were then validated through semistructured interviews with ten design professionals with in-depth knowledge of DfD.
Findings
The findings revealed that although all ten drivers are important, the eight key drivers for the DfD implementation were identified as, in order of importance, “Availability of computer software applications regarding DfD,” “Inclusion of DfD in the formal education of design professionals,” “Increasing public awareness of the concept of DfD,” “Organizing workshops/seminars for design professionals on the concept of DfD,” “Availability of DfD training,” “Regulation regarding DfD,” “Industry guidance regarding DfD” and “Establishing a market for salvaged construction components.”
Originality/value
This study's findings provide insights into an under-investigated topic in Ghana and offer new and additional information and insights into the current state-of-the-art on the factors that drive DfD implementation.
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Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a series of drivers that prompt the blockchain technology (BT) adoption decisions in circular supply chain finance (SCF) and also assesses their degrees of influence and interrelationships, which leads to the construction of a theoretical model depicting the influence mechanism of BT adoption decisions in circular SCF.
Design/methodology/approach
This study mainly uses the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, which focuses on the aspects based on the nature of innovation, intra-organizational characteristics and extra environmental consideration, to identify the drivers of blockchain adoption in circular SCF context, while the significance and causality of the drivers are explained using interpreting structural models (ISMs) and the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method.
Findings
The findings of this study indicate that government policy and technological comparative advantage are the underlying reasons for BT adoption decisions, management commitment and financial expectations are the critical drivers of BT adoption decisions while other factors are the receivers of the mechanism.
Practical implications
This study provides theoretical references and empirical insights that influence the technology adoption decisions of both BT and circular SCF by practitioners.
Originality/value
The theoretical research contributes significantly to current research and knowledge in both BT and circular SCF fields, especially by extending the existing TOE model by combining relevant enablers from technological, organizational and external environmental aspects with the financial performance objectives of circular SCF services, which refer to the optimization of the financial resources flows and financing efficiency.
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Hend Monjed, Salma Ibrahim and Bjørn N. Jørgensen
This paper aims to examine the association between perceived firm risk and two reporting mechanisms: risk disclosure and earnings smoothing in the UK context.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the association between perceived firm risk and two reporting mechanisms: risk disclosure and earnings smoothing in the UK context.
Design/methodology/approach
This study juxtaposes three competing views, the “null”, the “divergence” and the “convergence” hypotheses, and empirically investigates whether risk disclosure and earnings smoothing affect firm perceived risk for a sample of large UK firms with rich and poor information environments. This study also uses the global financial crisis as an external shock on overall risk in the economy to investigate when and how managers use these two reporting mechanisms to shape the firm perceived risk.
Findings
This paper documents that risk disclosures have no significant effect on investors’ risk perceptions, consistent with risk disclosures containing boilerplate and generic statements about firm risk. This paper also finds that earnings smoothing reduces investors’ risk perceptions, reflecting investors’ interpretations about future firm performance. Additional tests reveal that earnings smoothing is not associated with perceived firm risk for firms with rich information environments and expanded risk disclosures. Furthermore, reporting smooth earnings decreases perceived firm risk following the global financial crisis. These findings are robust to alternative specifications and measures of earnings smoothing as well as post-filing perceived firm risk.
Research limitations/implications
This study does not distinguish between the garbling role and the informational role of earnings smoothing. The risk disclosure measurement used in this study, developed based on UK annual reports, may limit the generalizability of findings to other countries.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that managers should revise their risk disclosure strategies to provide in-depth details on firm risk. Investors might require information and thorough assessment to evaluate investment risks when firms provide generic risk disclosures and smoothed earnings by consulting sources like financial intermediaries. Regulators should keep an eye on firms reporting boilerplate risk disclosures and on how smoothing earnings impacts the firm perceived risk following economic turmoil, to guide interventions that promote market stability.
Originality/value
The findings provide new insights into when and how managers use their financial reporting discretion to make firms appear less risky and, therefore, influence investors’ risk perceptions.
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Ziwang Xiao, Fengxian Zhu, Lifeng Wang, Rongkun Liu and Fei Yu
As an important load-bearing component of cable-stayed bridge, the cable-stayed cable is an important load-bearing link for the bridge superstructure and the load transferred…
Abstract
Purpose
As an important load-bearing component of cable-stayed bridge, the cable-stayed cable is an important load-bearing link for the bridge superstructure and the load transferred directly to the bridge tower. In order to better manage the risk of the cable system in the construction process, the purpose of this paper is to study a new method of dynamic risk analysis of the cable system of the suspended multi-tower cable-stayed bridge based on the Bayesian network.
Design/methodology/approach
First of all, this paper focuses on the whole process of the construction of the cable system, analyzes the construction characteristics of each process, identifies the safety risk factors in the construction process of the cable system, and determines the causal relationship between the risk factors. Secondly, the prior probability distribution of risk factors is determined by the expert investigation method, and the risk matrix method is used to evaluate the safety risk of cable failure quantitatively. The function expression of risk matrix is established by combining the probability of risk event occurrence and loss level. After that, the topology structure of Bayesian network is established, risk factors and probability parameters are incorporated into the network and then the Bayesian principle is applied to update the posterior probability of risk events according to the new information in the construction process. Finally, the construction reliability evaluation of PAIRA bridge main bridge cable system in Bangladesh is taken as an example to verify the effectiveness and accuracy of the new method.
Findings
The feasibility of using Bayesian network to dynamically assess the safety risk of PAIRA bridge in Bangladesh is verified by the construction reliability evaluation of the main bridge cable system. The research results show that the probability of the accident resulting from the insufficient safety of the cable components of the main bridge of PAIRA bridge is 0.02, which belongs to a very small range. According to the analysis of the risk grade matrix, the risk grade is Ⅱ, which belongs to the acceptable risk range. In addition, according to the reverse reasoning of the Bayesian model, when the serious failure of the cable system is certain to occur, the node with the greatest impact is B3 (cable break) and its probability of occurrence is 82%, that is, cable break is an important reason for the serious failure of the cable system. The factor that has the greatest influence on B3 node is C6 (cable quality), and its probability is 34%, that is, cable quality is not satisfied is the main reason for cable fracture. In the same way, it can be obtained that the D9 (steel wire fracture inside the cable) event of the next level is the biggest incentive of C6 event, its occurrence probability is 32% and E7 (steel strand strength is not up to standard) event is the biggest incentive of D9 event, its occurrence probability is 13%. At the same time, the sensitivity analysis also confirmed that B3, C6, D9 and E7 risk factors were the main causes of risk occurrence.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a Bayesian network-based construction reliability assessment method for cable-stayed bridge cable system. The core purpose of this method is to achieve comprehensive and accurate management and control of the risks in the construction process of the cable system, so as to improve the service life of the cable while strengthening the overall reliability of the structure. Compared with the existing evaluation methods, the proposed method has higher reliability and accuracy. This method can effectively assess the risk of the cable system in the construction process, and is innovative in the field of risk assessment of the cable system of cable-stayed bridge construction, enriching the scientific research achievements in this field, and providing strong support for the construction risk control of the cable system of cable-stayed bridge.
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