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Article
Publication date: 13 May 2014

Samuel Adomako and Albert Danso

Regulatory environment, environmental dynamism, and political ties are typically modelled as separate antecedents of firm performance. However, the boundary conditions for such…

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Abstract

Purpose

Regulatory environment, environmental dynamism, and political ties are typically modelled as separate antecedents of firm performance. However, the boundary conditions for such models are less examined in a developing country context where regulatory environments have been argued to be weak. Accordingly, drawing on institutional and social capital theories, the purpose of this paper is to examine the interrelationship between regulatory environment, political ties, environmental dynamism, and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses primary data gathered from 372 entrepreneurial firms in Nigeria, a Sub-Saharan African country.

Findings

The findings of the paper suggest that that regulatory environment is negatively related to firm performance. However, political ties and environmental dynamism moderate the regulatory environment-firm performance relationship such that such relationship is positive and significant.

Research limitations/implications

First, the study provides important insights on how weak and underdeveloped regulatory environment negatively affect the performance of firms. In other words, the study represents a response to call for the development of better regulatory environment since regulatory environment plays significant role in firm performance. Second, this study also demonstrates the importance of political ties and environment dynamism on firm performance in an emerging economy such as Nigeria where regulatory environment is weak.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first study from the perspective of Sub-Saharan Africa that examine the moderating role of political ties and environmental dynamism on regulatory environment-firm performance relationship.

Details

Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, vol. 21 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1462-6004

Keywords

Content available
Article
Publication date: 19 May 2012

357

Abstract

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 59 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Article
Publication date: 20 September 2023

John Chung-En Liu and Ting-Yu Kan

This study aims to evaluate the current situation of education for sustainable development, climate change education and environmental education in a nationwide context…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the current situation of education for sustainable development, climate change education and environmental education in a nationwide context. Methodologically, this study calls for more research to go beyond case studies and take a similar approach to examine university curricula and facilitate cross-country comparisons.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines the status of climate and sustainability curricula in Taiwan’s higher education system. Using the course catalog for the 2020–2021 academic year, the authors constructed a unique data set that includes 1,827 courses at 29 major universities in Taiwan. In each institution, the authors search for course titles that include “climate,” “sustainable/sustainability” and “environment/environmental” as keywords and code the courses according to their disciplines.

Findings

The finding highlights the variations across institutional types and subject matters. Public universities have an average of 4.94 related courses per 1,000 students, whereas private universities have only 3.13. In general, the relevant courses are more concentrated in the STEM and bioscience fields. The curricula, however, are seriously constrained by the disciplinary structure and foster few transdisciplinary perspectives.

Originality/value

The authors seek to go beyond case studies and offer one of the most comprehensive curricula samples at the national level. Taiwan adds an important data point, as the current literature focuses heavily on the USA and Europe.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 25 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 March 2023

Lara F. Horani

This research aims to explore various definitions of sustainability and sustainable design and determine the researcher's understanding of sustainable design concepts. In the past…

Abstract

Purpose

This research aims to explore various definitions of sustainability and sustainable design and determine the researcher's understanding of sustainable design concepts. In the past decades under the three elements of sustainability, between 1975 and 2021. This study is to conceptually construct sustainable design. It enhances and widens previous research to comprehend sustainable design. To this aim, a systematic review of the relevant collection of literature on sustainability and sustainable design will be conducted, guided by two questions: What is sustainable design? Do the sustainable design definitions involve economic, social and environmental elements? Since the concept of sustainability is to balance environmental, economic and social elements in product and service design.

Design/methodology/approach

The author conducts an inductive content analysis of concepts and definitions mentioned or discussed in several journals, a total of 573 articles were published, with a clear definition of sustainable design included in the review process. In the analysis, 56 definitions have been used.

Findings

In the analysis, 56 definitions for environments, environmental design, environmental innovations, social design, eco-efficiency, eco-design, ecological product, environmentally friendly product and the concept of sustainable design have been used. The most often used definition, according to the research analysis, is sustainable design. This research found sustainable design definitions might be unclear and the concepts could be misunderstood. Thus, the goal of this research was to provide an effective system for sustainable design definitions, with adequate flexibility to create obvious differences to encourage further research in this field to develop comprehensive definitions for essential concepts, the different definitions of sustainable design show a lack of understanding of the real meaning of the concepts. As a result, these inconsistencies are likely to restrict future research and the adaptation of sustainable design concepts in the industry.

Originality/value

The development of sustainable design concepts and definitions, as used by many authors and organizations, is aided by the availability of numerous information sources. As a result, lots of new terms have emerged in the sustainability field, or old ones have been developed, but definitions and conceptual meanings haven't received sufficient analysis. Because the meanings of certain phrases are poor, identical or just differ slightly, the variety of definitions generates significant misunderstanding regarding their usage.

Details

Technological Sustainability, vol. 2 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2754-1312

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 October 2023

N. Harikannan, S. Vinodh and Jiju Antony

The purpose of this study is to discuss the construction of a structural measurement model utilizing structural equation modelling (SEM) to confirm the link between Industry 4.0…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to discuss the construction of a structural measurement model utilizing structural equation modelling (SEM) to confirm the link between Industry 4.0 technologies, sustainable manufacturing practices and organizational sustainable performance. Relationship among the paradigm has yet to be fully investigated, necessitating a more conceptual and empirical examination on what impact they have on organizational sustainable performance when used together.

Design/methodology/approach

Industry 4.0 and sustainable production practices aim to progress a company's business competitiveness, forming sustainable development that benefits manufacturing companies. The aim of the study is to analyze the relationship between constructs that lead to operational excellence in firms that use Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable manufacturing techniques. Experts from diverse automotive industries, who are applying both Industry 4.0 and sustainable manufacturing practices, provided data for the study.

Findings

Statistical estimations (hypotheses) are created to substantiate the measurement model that has been developed. The structural model was analysed, and the findings were discussed. The statistical estimate is either approved or rejected based on the findings. According to the conclusions of this study, strong link exists between Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable manufacturing practices that affect organizational sustainable performance environmentally, economically and socially.

Practical implications

The research was conducted in the framework of automobile component manufacturing companies in India. The outcomes of the study are practically feasible.

Originality/value

The authors' novel contribution is the construction of a structural model with Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable manufacturing practices into account.

Details

The TQM Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-2731

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 June 2019

Konstantin Kiyanenko

The topics “environment,” “environmental design” and “environment and behavior studies” are important and promising in architectural discourse. The academic culture of the global…

Abstract

Purpose

The topics “environment,” “environmental design” and “environment and behavior studies” are important and promising in architectural discourse. The academic culture of the global west plays a unique role in the development of the knowledge within the field of environmental design research (EDR), from which these concepts originate. This paper examines the western names, works and ideas related to EDR that have spread into Russian architectural discourse. The purpose of this paper is to consider the status quo of Russian knowledge of EDR and its connection with the western EDR tradition.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of research in this paper is the analysis of references and keywords of architectural publications from the largest Russian academic online library – e-library.ru.

Findings

The origin, evolution and current state of environmental architectural knowledge in Russia are discussed. Its segmentation including the presence of several self-organized spheres within the EDR domain and the variety of “dialects” of environmental language are illustrated. The connections of each segment of Russian knowledge with western authors and sources are traced. Further, conclusions are drawn regarding the similarities and differences between Russian and western knowledge in the field of EDR.

Originality/value

The relationship of Russian architectural theory with western EDR knowledge has not previously been the subject of a comparative scientometric study.

Details

Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, vol. 13 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2631-6862

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 July 2019

Kristijan Mirkovski, Robert M. Davison and Maris G. Martinsons

Drawing on transaction cost economics (TCE) and social exchange theory (SET), the purpose of this paper is to explain why and how external environment, governance structures and…

Abstract

Purpose

Drawing on transaction cost economics (TCE) and social exchange theory (SET), the purpose of this paper is to explain why and how external environment, governance structures and interpersonal relationships influence information and communication technology (ICT)-enabled information sharing in supply chains (SCs) of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from developing economies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt a theory-building approach using a multiple case study design, including four SMEs operating in SCs from two developing economies (i.e. Republic of North Macedonia and People’s Republic of China), in which the authors conduct both within-case and cross-case analyses.

Findings

Social bonds (known as vrski in Macedonian and guanxi in Chinese) were found to govern buyer–supplier exchanges by supporting the establishment of personal trust and the reduction of distrust. These social bonds compensate for the institutional deficiencies in developing economies and thus encourage ICT-enabled information sharing by SMEs in their SCs.

Research limitations/implications

By applying the theoretical perspectives of TCE and SET to the cross-case analysis, the authors develop nine propositions to explain ICT-enabled information sharing and its interdependencies with external environment, governance structures and interpersonal relationships in developing economies. Further research is recommended to refine and test the generalizability of the theoretical model.

Practical implications

Firms have to develop and nurture social bonds with their suppliers from developing economies to reduce risks related to the environmental uncertainty and institutional voids. This can increase trust and decrease distrust associated with ICT-enabled information sharing.

Originality/value

The study examines why and how external environment (environmental uncertainty and institutional environment), social bonds (vrski and guanxi) and interpersonal mechanisms (trust and distrust) influence ICT-enabled information sharing of SMEs operating in developing economies.

Details

The International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. 30 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0957-4093

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 1995

Roland Vandenberghe

Taking into consideration the scope and pace of change in educationat the start of the 1990s, it is not at all surprising that manyresearchers asked questions about the changes in…

1356

Abstract

Taking into consideration the scope and pace of change in education at the start of the 1990s, it is not at all surprising that many researchers asked questions about the changes in the role of principals. Groups these changes in the principalship under two broad categories: changes in internal operations (internal leadership) and alterations in relationships with the larger school environment (environmental leadership). One common theme underlying both types of leadership is the expectation that principals justify permanently the general and specific decisions they make. Considers this justification to be one of the main requirements for creative leadership. Data from four different studies in primary schools in the Dutch‐speaking part of Belgium are used to illustrate how principals organize and structure this justification task. The data illustrate clearly that teachers are confronted with different justification styles and that principals do differ a great deal as far as creative management is concerned.

Details

Journal of Educational Administration, vol. 33 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0957-8234

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 1994

René Parenteau

Environmental management and planning is now considered as a new fieldof professional expertise. There are even associations groupinginterested professionals. So far, urban…

992

Abstract

Environmental management and planning is now considered as a new field of professional expertise. There are even associations grouping interested professionals. So far, urban environmental management has only been considered as part of environmental management. But, since the Rio Conference in 1992 and along with the new focus of urban management on environmental problems, urban environmental management can be looked at as a new professional field. Traces the emergence of the field and tries to identify the new skills required. Raises the question of formal training, in higher education, for a new type of professional. Refers to an initiative taken by the Asian Institute of Technology (Bangkok) to propose and offer a new graduate programme in this field.

Details

Environmental Management and Health, vol. 5 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0956-6163

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 4 December 2018

Mark Anthony Camilleri

The tourism marketing environment consists of internal and external forces which could impact the organisations’ performance. To be successful, companies must adapt to ongoing…

Abstract

The tourism marketing environment consists of internal and external forces which could impact the organisations’ performance. To be successful, companies must adapt to ongoing trends and developments in their macro- and micro-environments. When organisations scan their marketing environment, they will be in a position to deal with any possible threats from the market and to capitalise on any available opportunities. Therefore, this chapter explains the external environmental factors of tourist destinations, including political, economic, social and technological influences. It also considers their internal environmental factors, including capital structures, resources, capabilities and marketing intermediaries, as it identifies competitive forces from differentiated or low-cost service providers.

Details

The Branding of Tourist Destinations: Theoretical and Empirical Insights
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78769-373-9

Keywords

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