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Book part
Publication date: 28 September 2015

Md Shah Azam

Information and communications technology (ICT) offers enormous opportunities for individuals, businesses and society. The application of ICT is equally important to economic and…

Abstract

Information and communications technology (ICT) offers enormous opportunities for individuals, businesses and society. The application of ICT is equally important to economic and non-economic activities. Researchers have increasingly focused on the adoption and use of ICT by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the economic development of a country is largely dependent on them. Following the success of ICT utilisation in SMEs in developed countries, many developing countries are looking to utilise the potential of the technology to develop SMEs. Past studies have shown that the contribution of ICT to the performance of SMEs is not clear and certain. Thus, it is crucial to determine the effectiveness of ICT in generating firm performance since this has implications for SMEs’ expenditure on the technology. This research examines the diffusion of ICT among SMEs with respect to the typical stages from innovation adoption to post-adoption, by analysing the actual usage of ICT and value creation. The mediating effects of integration and utilisation on SME performance are also studied. Grounded in the innovation diffusion literature, institutional theory and resource-based theory, this study has developed a comprehensive integrated research model focused on the research objectives. Following a positivist research paradigm, this study employs a mixed-method research approach. A preliminary conceptual framework is developed through an extensive literature review and is refined by results from an in-depth field study. During the field study, a total of 11 SME owners or decision-makers were interviewed. The recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed using NVivo 10 to refine the model to develop the research hypotheses. The final research model is composed of 30 first-order and five higher-order constructs which involve both reflective and formative measures. Partial least squares-based structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) is employed to test the theoretical model with a cross-sectional data set of 282 SMEs in Bangladesh. Survey data were collected using a structured questionnaire issued to SMEs selected by applying a stratified random sampling technique. The structural equation modelling utilises a two-step procedure of data analysis. Prior to estimating the structural model, the measurement model is examined for construct validity of the study variables (i.e. convergent and discriminant validity).

The estimates show cognitive evaluation as an important antecedent for expectation which is shaped primarily by the entrepreneurs’ beliefs (perception) and also influenced by the owners’ innovativeness and culture. Culture further influences expectation. The study finds that facilitating condition, environmental pressure and country readiness are important antecedents of expectation and ICT use. The results also reveal that integration and the degree of ICT utilisation significantly affect SMEs’ performance. Surprisingly, the findings do not reveal any significant impact of ICT usage on performance which apparently suggests the possibility of the ICT productivity paradox. However, the analysis finally proves the non-existence of the paradox by demonstrating the mediating role of ICT integration and degree of utilisation explain the influence of information technology (IT) usage on firm performance which is consistent with the resource-based theory. The results suggest that the use of ICT can enhance SMEs’ performance if the technology is integrated and properly utilised. SME owners or managers, interested stakeholders and policy makers may follow the study’s outcomes and focus on ICT integration and degree of utilisation with a view to attaining superior organisational performance.

This study urges concerned business enterprises and government to look at the environmental and cultural factors with a view to achieving ICT usage success in terms of enhanced firm performance. In particular, improving organisational practices and procedures by eliminating the traditional power distance inside organisations and implementing necessary rules and regulations are important actions for managing environmental and cultural uncertainties. The application of a Bengali user interface may help to ensure the productivity of ICT use by SMEs in Bangladesh. Establishing a favourable national technology infrastructure and legal environment may contribute positively to improving the overall situation. This study also suggests some changes and modifications in the country’s existing policies and strategies. The government and policy makers should undertake mass promotional programs to disseminate information about the various uses of computers and their contribution in developing better organisational performance. Organising specialised training programs for SME capacity building may succeed in attaining the motivation for SMEs to use ICT. Ensuring easy access to the technology by providing loans, grants and subsidies is important. Various stakeholders, partners and related organisations should come forward to support government policies and priorities in order to ensure the productive use of ICT among SMEs which finally will help to foster Bangladesh’s economic development.

Details

E-Services Adoption: Processes by Firms in Developing Nations
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78560-325-9

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 March 2011

Yu‐Shan Chen

This study aims to develop an original framework of green organizational identity to explore the positive effects of environmental organizational culture and environmental

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to develop an original framework of green organizational identity to explore the positive effects of environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership on green competitive advantage through the partial mediator – green organizational identity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes an original concept – green organizational identity – to develop an integral framework to enhance green competitive advantage. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is applied to verify the research framework.

Findings

The results showed that environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership are positively associated with green organizational identity and green competitive advantage. Green organizational identity had a partial mediation effect on the positive relationships between two antecedents – environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership – and green competitive advantage. Companies should enhance their environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership to raise their green organizational identity and further to increase their green competitive advantage. Furthermore, this study found that environmental organizational culture, environmental leadership, green organizational identity, and green competitive advantage of medium and small enterprises (SMEs) were all significantly less than those of large enterprises in the manufacturing industry in Taiwan.

Practical implications

It is imperative for SMEs to enhance their environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership to strengthen their green organizational identity and further to improve their green competitive advantage.

Originality/value

This study applies the theory of organizational identity to propose a novel concept – green organizational identity – and develops an integral conceptual model to explore its managerial implications, antecedents, and consequence.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 49 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

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Article
Publication date: 6 August 2024

Arsalan Fayyaz, ChenGuang Liu, Yan Xu and Sidra Ramzan

This study aims to investigate how Lean Six Sigma (LSS), a widely used paradigm that promotes competitive advantage of different organisations in a more sustainable and…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how Lean Six Sigma (LSS), a widely used paradigm that promotes competitive advantage of different organisations in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way, affects operational performance in different organisational contexts. Although LSS is widely used to improve operational performance, the impact of LSS on operational performance appears to be different in different organisational contexts, prompting the attention of researchers and managers to shift from lean philosophy to the impact of contextual variables on the effectiveness of LSS implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a quantitative research design and conducts an empirical study in Pakistan. The sample consists of 339 management employees with an effective response rate of 67.8% in various sectors. In this study, partial least square structural equation modelling is used to examine the relationships among the variables using the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capability theory (DCT) to support the model of this study.

Findings

This study reveals that the relationship between LSS and operational performance is partially mediated by green human resource management (GHRM) and internal environmental management (IEM). The moderating effect of the organisational developmental culture between LSS and operational performance is not identified, implying that the effect of developmental culture could vary under different cultures.

Originality/value

There is a lack of empirical studies investigating the role of GHRM, IEM and developmental culture in developing countries. This study extends the literature on the RBV and DCT in operational performance. The study’s outcome provides theoretical and practical implications for enhancing the effect of LSS implementation on operational performance in focal small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through human and environmental management factors.

Details

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-4166

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Article
Publication date: 24 August 2021

Umair Ahmed, Waheed Ali Umrani, Amna Yousaf, Muhammad Athar Siddiqui and Munwar Hussain Pahi

This paper aims to assess the nexus between green human resource management (GHRM) practices, green culture, environmental responsibility and environmental performance (EP).

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the nexus between green human resource management (GHRM) practices, green culture, environmental responsibility and environmental performance (EP).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a supervisor-subordinated nested design and multi-time data collection approach through convenience sampling, the authors obtained 330 responses from 15 hotels operating in the metropolitan cities of Pakistan.

Findings

The study results indicate the prominence of GHRM practices toward enhancing hotels’ EP. The authors also found green culture and environmental responsibility as potential mediators in the direct association between GHRM and EP. In addition, the findings suggest that the GHRM and environmental association can be deeper when individuals exhibit green values and showcase green responsibility about their environment. Taken together, the findings of the present study found support for all direct and indirect hypothesized relationships hence, forwarding notable implications for theory and practice.

Research limitations/implications

This paper forwards both theoretical and practical implications. Drawing upon ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) theory, this paper asserts that GHRM practices shall be used to improve EP through green values and environmental responsibility. The authors specifically suggest that pro-environment personnel practices can nourish green culture and a pro-environment sense of responsibility that facilitates in robust pro-environment results.

Originality/value

The study advances and addresses gaps found in prior studies to help support organizational scholars, practitioners and pro-environment enthusiasts to understand the interplay of GHRM, culture, responsibility and EP.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 33 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 2014

Giovana da Silveira Marques Pereira, Charbel Jabbour, Sonia V.W. Borges de Oliveira and Adriano Alves Teixeira

This study examined the relationship between environmental management practices developed at a campus of a Brazilian university (University of Sao Paulo) and the greening of its…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study examined the relationship between environmental management practices developed at a campus of a Brazilian university (University of Sao Paulo) and the greening of its organizational culture. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This article presents a theoretical background based on the concepts of environmental management, organizational culture and environmental management in higher education institutions. The main framework of this research is the model proposed by Harris and Crane.

Findings

The studied university has an environmental management program that is sometimes constrained in the following ways: the university bureaucracy and hierarchy; the main performance indicators for lecturers and professors are based on scientific production and publication, giving them little time for complementary activities; and some units develop their own environmental management practices, but they are not disseminated as best practices for use by other units. Some academic units showcase the proactive actions of professors who incorporate environmental management into their daily activities. The general perception is that the phrase “environmental management” is almost synonymous with “solid waste management”.

Originality/value

This research details the first Brazilian application of the Harris and Crane model. It contributes an original analysis of environmental management and “green” organizational culture of a Brazilian university, an organizational type that has seldom been studied to date.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 15 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

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Article
Publication date: 11 May 2023

Luay Jum’a, Ziad Alkalha, Karam Al Mandil and Maher Alaraj

Organizations have released the importance of lean manufacturing practices (LMPs) and total quality management (TQM) in enhancing competitiveness. However, the implementation of…

Abstract

Purpose

Organizations have released the importance of lean manufacturing practices (LMPs) and total quality management (TQM) in enhancing competitiveness. However, the implementation of LMPs and TQM becomes more complex when discerning the environmental sustainability position. The complexity stems from the fact that LMPs and TQM are more intricate because of cultural differences. Thus, this study aims to tackle the aforementioned phenomenon by investigating the impact of LMPs and TQM on environmental sustainability moderated by quality culture.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was distributed among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Jordan; thus, 315 valid responses were received. Partial least square structural equation modelling was used to analyze the data and test hypotheses.

Findings

The findings showed that environmental sustainability was significantly impacted by all the LMP practices except Kanban and all the TQM practices except statistical process control. Moreover, quality culture significantly and negatively moderated the relationship between TQM and environmental sustainability. However, the influence of LMPs on environmental sustainability was not significantly moderated by quality culture.

Practical implications

This study has implications for policymakers in SMEs, supply chain managers and academics regarding the importance of LMPs and TQM systems for implementing environmental sustainability and the role of quality culture.

Social implications

This study provides guidelines for decision-makers on the pathways that enable them to sustain the environment to safeguard the natural ecosystem and natural resources for upcoming generations.

Originality/value

The originality of this study stems from the alignment of LMPs and TQM in enhancing environmental sustainability, taking into consideration the role of quality culture in SMEs, where previous studies failed short to investigate this phenomenon.

Details

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, vol. 14 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-4166

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 February 2024

Juhari Noor Faezah, M.Y. Yusliza, T. Ramayah, Adriano Alves Teixeira and Abdur Rachman Alkaf

The present work investigated the effect of corporate social responsibility and top management support on employee ecological behaviour (EEB) with the mediating role of green…

Abstract

Purpose

The present work investigated the effect of corporate social responsibility and top management support on employee ecological behaviour (EEB) with the mediating role of green culture and green commitment. Social identity theory (SIT) was used to describe the association between green culture, green commitment and EEB. Further, a conceptual model that summarises the interaction between perceived corporate social responsibility, top management support, green commitment, green culture and the adoption of ecological behaviour was developed.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for a quantitative design using convenience sampling by collecting the data through a structured questionnaire gathered from 308 academics working in five Malaysian higher education institutions.

Findings

Corporate social responsibility and top management support positively influence green culture and commitment. Moreover, green commitment positively influenced EEB and fully mediated the relationship between corporate social responsibility and EEB and between top management support and EEB.

Research limitations/implications

The academic staff of universities was the target population of this research. Nevertheless, universities have a diverse population with complex activities that can affect the implementation of a sustainable workplace within the campus. Future research should also examine non-academic staff, including administrative, technical and operational staff, due to different employees' perceptions.

Originality/value

As far as the authors know, this is the first study to assign the mediator role to green culture in a relationship between top management support and EEB amongst academic staff in the Malaysian context. Future research should consider other intervening variables that influence adopting ecological behaviour.

Details

Journal of Management Development, vol. 43 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0262-1711

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 November 2020

Yasmeen Shamsi Rizvi and Raksha Garg

Managers and management studies have for long assumed the separation of humans and nature that led to criticisms due to overexploitation of resources. This prompted organizations…

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Abstract

Purpose

Managers and management studies have for long assumed the separation of humans and nature that led to criticisms due to overexploitation of resources. This prompted organizations to adopt effective environmental management strategies. In this context, the specialized literature states that green human resource management (GHRM) and green transformational leadership (GTFL) coupled with Green Culture (GC) is considered a central aspect in improving the organization's environmental performance (EP). Based on this argument, this study has shown how GHRM strategies as studied under the heading – green ability, motivation and opportunity (GAMO) and GTFL can help in improving the EP of organizations. Studies have highlighted culture as an important mediator, we have therefore explored the mediating effect of green culture between GAMO and EP and between GTFL and EP.

Design/methodology/approach

Using ability, motivation, opportunity theory and resource-based view, we have developed a model with GAMO and GTFL as independent variables, GC as a mediator and EP as the dependent variable. Data was collected from 150 top and middle-level managers working in Indian oil and gas companies, which is 50% of the target sample size and has been analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The research identifies that GAMO and GTFL, in fact, positively influence the EP of organizations. Moreover, GC was found to have a partial mediating effect between both GAMO and EP and GTFL and EP.

Research limitations/implications

Due to several constraints, this study is designed to be cross-sectional. Longitudinal study is encouraged in this area. Further, the study is based on oil and gas industry operating in India, going forward the study can be extended to other sectors, to increase the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

This study clearly shows that by investing in GHRM strategies, organizations will ultimately improve in green activities to improve see improvement in the firm's EP. The findings of this study that clarifies the importance of GTFL in building suitable culture give evidence to the leaders on why they should play a proactive role in leading employees towards environmental sustainability.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies in studying the simultaneous effect of GTFL and GAMO for improving the EP. Also, studies on green management literature have mostly missed out on the important role of GC in improving EP which is addressed in this study. The data has been collected from oil and gas industry operating in India, which to the best of our knowledge is the first attempt. Overall this study has contributed to the literature on environmental sustainability by underpinning the empirical relationship between GC, GAMO, GTFL and EP which until now has been mostly limited to the conceptual level.

Article
Publication date: 25 April 2019

Chao-Hung Wang

Growing public concern about the natural environment is rapidly transforming the competitive landscape and forcing firms to adopt green innovation strategies. Many manufacturing…

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Abstract

Purpose

Growing public concern about the natural environment is rapidly transforming the competitive landscape and forcing firms to adopt green innovation strategies. Many manufacturing firms have recognized the concept of green innovation, though there has been relatively little research on considerations of its driver and effect. The purpose of this paper is to empirically develop and test a theoretical model that analyzes how organizational green culture (OGC) influences green performance and competitive advantage. Specifically, this model explains how green innovation mediates these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper collected data from 327 manufacturing firms of different industry sectors in Taiwan. Structural equation modeling with AMOS 11 software was applied to analyze the data. Data on specific environmental innovation issues at the firm level are not usually available from published sources, so this paper uses a questionnaire. The questionnaire is developed based on the literature.

Findings

The findings of this paper suggest that OGC significantly predicted green performance and competitive advantage, respectively. Moreover, the results show that both green innovation completely mediates between OGC and green performance, and that it has a partially mediating effect on the relationship between organization green culture and competitive advantage under environmental pressure.

Research limitations/implications

This study has some limitations that point to the future lines of research. Perhaps, the biggest limitation of the study is that the data are from a single country, which may hamper generalization. This study is also limited in that it is based on cross-sectional data. A final limitation is the origin of organizational culture vs employee attitude culture.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature on organizational culture and innovation by considering green environmental concerns, which have not been empirically explored. This study also offers a unique theoretical argument describing the relationships by considering the mediating effect of green innovation strategy.

Details

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 30 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-038X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 March 2020

Jamal Elbaz and Saadia Iddik

This paper seeks to explore, summarize, and interpret the existing literature linking green supply chain management (GSCM) to culture. To achieve this goal, three main questions…

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore, summarize, and interpret the existing literature linking green supply chain management (GSCM) to culture. To achieve this goal, three main questions are answered: (1) How culture has been linked to GSCM in prior works? (2) What are the general problems exposed? (3) What gaps to detect?

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review related to culture–GSCM was conducted. The review combines descriptive and content analysis of 46 academic peer-reviewed English papers from 30 international journals.

Findings

Around 90 percent of the articles are empirical papers, only 10 percent are conceptual papers. These papers systematically focused on two issues: the largest number deal with the organizational cultureenvironmental practices, then national cultureenvironmental practices. The GSCM–culture relationship underlines contrast findings stemmed from various factors, levels of analysis, different sample, research design, contexts, and so on. Among the results, a conceptual model is developed, allowing suggestions for future research.

Research limitations/implications

This review is limited by the environmental practices of SCM raised in the literature, excluding corporate responsibility or ethics researches. This study may not be exhaustive and expose all papers in the field, but it does definitively assess a wider number of papers available and to which access is provided. Future researchers empirically test the conceptual model proposed toward more clarifications.

Practical implications

This paper provides managers with an extra element to take into consideration while accustoming with GSCM, which is better understanding the role and the sensitivity of cultural values in order to harmonize with the changes.

Originality/value

This paper had extended the prior reviews to add recent and new papers. It does not only update the understanding related to culture–GSCM but goes beyond that to propose a multidisciplinary model theorizing the existing links and calling for ultimate investigations for the detected gaps.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 31 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

Keywords

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