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This study aims to analyse whether the presence of supply chain complexity (SCC) influences firms to improve their supply chain (SC) resilience and SC robustness capability. This study also examines an important paradox: whether investing in both exploitation and exploration practices is conflicting or complementary to enabling SC resilience and robustness in the presence of SCC.

The authors used a survey-based approach to collect 242 useful responses from SC professionals of Pakistani firms, an important emerging economy context. The data were analysed with covariance-based structural equation modelling to statistically validate the model.

The analysis reveals several key findings: the presence of SCC has a direct, positive influence on SC resilience and SC robustness; while exploitation practices only partially mediate the nexus between SCC and SC resilience, they fully mediate the relationship between SCC and SC robustness; while exploration practices partially mediate the nexus between SCC and SC resilience, they do not mediate the relationship between SCC and SC robustness and SCC has a significant influence on SC resilience and SC robustness sequentially through exploitation and exploration (i.e. one after the other).

These findings help to reconcile the exploitation versus exploration paradox in cultivating SC resilience and SC robustness in the presence of SCC. The findings assist SC managers in determining how to deploy their limited resources most effectively to enhance SC resilience and SC robustness while facing SCC.

The authors devise and empirically validate a unique framework that demonstrates how the presence of SCC works as a stimulus to build SC resilience and SC robustness.

Despite considerable growth in literature on Industry 4.0 technologies, the research on the factors influencing the investment on these technologies in pursuit of supply chain 4.0 is yet incipient. The study aims to fill this knowledge void by exploring the perceived drivers and barriers intertwined in the implementation of supply chain 4.0 in the context of food and beverage industry.

Qualitative exploratory research was employed involving 20 semi-structured interviews with senior managers from the Australian food and beverage supply chain. The interviews' data were analysed with VOSViewer software version 1.6.14.

The results unravel that reduction in supply-demand misalignment, fast-changing consumer's needs, threat of legal penalties and cost optimisation are the key drivers; whereas lack of collaboration, organisational inertia and lack of awareness are the critical barriers to implement supply chain 4.0.

The study derives seven propositions and a theoretical framework that need to be empirically corroborated.

Understanding of drivers and barriers will help practitioners to make more informed decision in implementation of supply chain 4.0.

Implementation of supply chain 4.0 can enhance the performance of the food and beverage industry, thus offering more job opportunities and sustained food supply.

This is the first study in exploring drivers and barriers to the implementation of supply chain 4.0; thus, adds new knowledge to the growing body of the literature. The paper introduces a novel method for qualitative data analysis contributing to the methodological development of the supply chain management field.

Robust and efficient warehouse management is pivotal to the success of contemporary logistics and business productivity. Given the recent technological revolutions and the rising pressure for sustainable warehouse activities, the recent literature continues to grow on Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable warehousing. Following this, the review aims to explore current state-of-the-art, knowledge development, the focus of research, methodological development and knowledge gaps for more impactful future research on this important yet underexplored topic.

A widely accepted systematic literature review (SLR) methodology was employed on a sample of 46 articles retrieved from multiple search queries in the three large databases: Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar.

The authors’ analysis unveils several interesting findings: the positive linkage between various Industry 4.0 technologies and the three main pillars (economic, social, environmental) of sustainable warehousing; the paucity of large scale empirical research, specifically in the context of COVID-19; imbalance amid studies on three main aspects of warehouse sustainability; partial application of Industry 4.0 technologies; and disproportion in scholarly focus between numerous warehouse activities and Industry 4.0 technologies.

The authors integrate research findings from a pool of studies, thereby improving the understanding of practitioners on how different Industry 4.0 technologies relate to sustainable warehousing.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first SLR at the intersection of Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable warehousing. Our review expands the existing knowledge base, devises a conceptual framework and suggests avenues for fruitful future research on this emerging area.

The purpose of this study is to explain the effects of screen printing parameters on the quantity of ink deposited and the print quality in the context of printing of functional inks. Both these aspects of printing are crucial in the case of conventional and functional printing. This is because, in the case of conventional printing, the quantity of ink deposit affects the color strength while in the case of functional printing, it directly affects the resulting functionality of the ink layer.

In this work, an automatic lab-scale screen printer was used to print functional inks on a paper board substrate. The printing parameters, i.e. printing pressure and squeegee angle were altered and the resulting effects on the quantity of ink that was deposited were recorded. The quantity of ink deposit was related to its surface resistivity. In addition, the quality of the print was also assessed by examining the design registration quality.

The authors found that altering the squeegee angle has a significant effect on the properties of the resulting ink deposit. More importantly, the authors found that the deflection in the rubber blade squeegee was greatly dependent on the initial angle of the squeegee at the start of the printing stroke. For each set value of the squeegee angle that was considered, the actual angle during printing was recorded and used in the analysis. A printing pressure of three bars and squeegee angle of 20° resulted in the maximum weight of ink deposit with a correspondingly lowest surface resistivity.

This study is envisaged to have considerable practical implications in the rapidly growing field of functional printing of flexible substrates including, but not limited to, textiles. This is because, the study provides an insight into the effects of printing parameters on the characteristics of a functional ink deposit.

Screen printing of flexible substrates is a well-developed and arguably the most widely used printing technique, particularly for textiles. Numerous studies report on the analysis of various aspects of screen printing. However, to the best of the knowledge, the effects of printing parameters on the characteristics of functional inks, such as electrically conductive inks, have not been studied in this manner.

This paper aims to analyse the let-down stability of the binder-free dispersion of non-printing ink grades of carbon black and to assess the screen-printability of the finished inks formulated thereof from these pigment dispersions.

Binder-free pigment dispersions that were prepared and optimised following a ladder series of experiments (reported in a separate study by the authors) were let-down with three different binders such that inks containing various amounts of a binder were prepared followed by a rheological characterisation immediately after formulation and after four weeks of storage. The screen printability of the inks that displayed considerable stability was assessed, so was the ink film integrity.

The pigment dispersions that were considered in the present study were generally found to be stable after let-down with different binders. This was indicated by the fact that the finished inks possessed a shear thinning viscosity profiles, after formulation and after storage, in most of the cases. Furthermore, the screen printability of the inks was also found to be good in terms of registration quality of a selected design. The structure of the ink film deposits on uncoated and binder-coated textile fabrics was also highly integrated and free from discontinuities.

Carbon blacks with very low volatile matter content and/or high surface area are generally not considered suitable for use in the formulation of printing inks. This is because of their generally poor dispersability and inability to form dispersions that remain stable over extended periods. This work, which is a part of a larger study by the authors, concerns with the stability of inks formulated from binder-free dispersions of such non-printing ink grades of carbon black. The major advantage of using such pigments in inks is that the required functionality is achieved at considerably low pigment loadings.

Research on the Internet of Things (IoT) has gained momentum in various industry contexts. However, the literature lacks broad empirical evidence on the factors that influence users' intention to adopt this cutting-edge technology, especially in the food and beverage industry (F&BI) – a significant yet unexplored setting. Therefore, the authors aim to extend the “Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT)” model by coupling it with perceived collaborative advantage, organizational inertia and perceived cost and explore the key determinants of IoT adoption for the digital transformation of the F&BI.

This study employs a cross-sectional quantitative approach, where a sample of 307 usable responses was drawn from the senior managers of the Australian F&BI.

The authors have found that performance expectancy, perceived collaborative advantage, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions have a strong positive influence on the behavioural intention to adopt IoT for the digital transformation of the F&BI. Furthermore, while high perceived costs and organizational inertia are often considered negative factors in adopting new technology, our results reveal the insignificant influence of these factors on the adoption of IoT, which is interesting. The findings also suggest that age and voluntariness significantly moderate most of the relationships, while gender is an insignificant moderator.

The study provides several novel insights into the existing body of knowledge by extending the UTAUT model with three variables and applying it in a unique context.

The literature on knowledge management in sustainable supply chain (KMSSC) has witnessed significant growth in the past two decades. However, a scientometric review that consolidates the primary trends and clusters within this topic has been notably absent. This paper aims to scrutinize recent advancements and identify the intellectual underpinnings of KMSSC research conducted between 2002 and 2022.

The present review employs a scientometric analysis approach via visualization maps of prolific contributions, co-citation, co-occurrence and thematic networks to examine a total of 114 articles and conference papers on KMSSC.

Emerging research frontiers and hotspots are revealed and a state-of-the-art framework of KMSSC research structure is developed.

The review provides significant implications that guide KMSSC research and better inform sustainability decisions in the supply chain context.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first review to thoroughly synthesize the intersected domain of KMSSC using scientometric analysis.

This study aims to propose an integrated model to examine the impact of knowledge governance, knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity (ACAP) on project performance in the context of project-based organizations (PBOs). This study also examines the moderating role of social processes on the relationships among these variables.

To test the proposed model, cross-sectional data were collected regarding projects from 133 PBOs in Pakistan’s information technology/software industry. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares – structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method and PRCOESS tool. Finally, this study also uses causal asymmetry analysis to check asymmetric relationship in the key constructs.

The results generally support the proposed model. Knowledge governance and knowledge sharing are important antecedents for improving the ACAP of the project, which in turn significantly improves project performance. Additionally, social processes positively moderate the relationship between knowledge sharing and ACAP, as well as between ACAP and project performance.

The findings suggest that PBOs should invest in developing a knowledge governance system that guides and stimulates knowledge sharing within and between projects. This would boost the ACAP of projects and lead to superior project performance.

This study addresses the important issue of knowledge management in IT/software projects. It proposes a unique model that integrates the key constructs of knowledge management and describes their effect on project performance.

Given the increasingly turbulent business landscape and unprecedented incidents (e.g. Covid-19), firms must achieve supply chain resilience (SCRes) as a dynamic capability to bounce back from adversities and ensure continuity of operations. The purpose of this study is to integrate the three interrelated [knowledge management, risk management culture (RMC) and resilience] but often separately discussed concepts to advance the understanding of their intertwined influence on SCRes in the agri-food supply chains.

This study uses a cross-sectional survey approach where quantitative data is collected from 349 participants from the Australian agri-food supply chains to test the proposed hypotheses.

Exposure to supply chain risks triggers the deployment of specific knowledge management practices in the agri-food supply chains. Further, the analysis on serial mediation suggests that firms’ knowledge management practices work sequentially (knowledge acquisition, assimilation and application) and develop a RMC to achieve SCRes amid supply chain risks.

The findings of this study inform practitioners and policymakers who seek to understand the key mechanisms that facilitate the development of SCRes when facing supply chain risks, particularly in the Australian agri-food supply chains.

The growth of the food industry through more resilient food supply chains could ensure sustained food supply and more employment opportunities.

Using dynamic capability theory, the authors devise a novel empirical model that explicates how knowledge management practices and RMC instigate the dynamic capability of SCRes amid supply chain risks facing agri-food supply chains.

Service ecosystems are becoming an important domain of joint value creation and resource integration, and the literature in the field is burgeoning. The recent growth in the literature warrants consolidating the findings of the existing literature, summarizing the recent development and identifying avenues for more impactful future research on the topic. This study aims to map the service ecosystems research domain and synthesize insights by integrating qualitative content analysis with quantitative data analysis.

This paper uses algorithmic bibliometric review (quantitative) with VOSviewer and R-package and content analysis (qualitative) on 119 service ecosystems papers published between 2003 and 2020.

The bibliometric analysis uncovers the critical research domains, knowledge trajectories, influential authors and journals and author networks in the field. The content analysis identifies the four most important research themes (value creation, change triggers, strategic and entrepreneurial action and institutional embeddedness and agency) and provides an integrative view of the dynamics among these themes. The authors also find the need for more empirical and theory grounded research around these four themes. Furthermore, based on the review, the authors discuss the disciplinary identity of the service ecosystems field and suggest interesting future research opportunities, along with ideas for useful empirical approaches and theoretical extensions.

This study’s comprehensive analysis offers an overview of the evolution and identity of the service ecosystems research and identifies several promising opportunities for future research on service ecosystems.