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1 – 10 of 200Ifeyinwa Juliet Orji and Chukwuebuka Martinjoe U-Dominic
Cybersecurity has received growing attention from academic researchers and industry practitioners as a strategy to accelerate performance gains and social sustainability…
Abstract
Purpose
Cybersecurity has received growing attention from academic researchers and industry practitioners as a strategy to accelerate performance gains and social sustainability. Meanwhile, firms are usually prone to cyber-risks that emanate from their supply chain partners especially third-party logistics providers (3PLs). Thus, it is crucial to implement cyber-risks management in 3PLs to achieve social sustainability in supply chains. However, these 3PLs are faced with critical difficulties which tend to hamper the consistent growth of cybersecurity. This paper aims to analyze these critical difficulties.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were sourced from 40 managers in Nigerian 3PLs with the aid of questionnaires. A novel quantitative methodology based on the synergetic combination of interval-valued neutrosophic analytic hierarchy process (IVN-AHP) and multi-objective optimization on the basis of a ratio analysis plus the full multiplicative form (MULTIMOORA) is applied. Sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis with other decision models were conducted.
Findings
Barriers were identified from published literature, finalized using experts’ inputs and classified under organizational, institutional and human (cultural values) dimensions. The results highlight the most critical dimension as human followed by organizational and institutional. Also, the results pinpointed indigenous beliefs (e.g. cyber-crime spiritualism), poor humane orientation, unavailable specific tools for managing cyber-risks and skilled workforce shortage as the most critical barriers that show the highest potential to elicit other barriers.
Research limitations/implications
By illustrating the most significant barriers, this study will assist policy makers and industry practitioners in developing strategies in a coordinated and sequential manner to overcome these barriers and thus, achieve socially sustainable supply chains.
Originality/value
This research pioneers the use of IVN-AHP-MULTIMOORA to analyze cyber-risks management barriers in 3PLs for supply chain social sustainability in a developing nation.
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Valmiane Vieira Azevedo Almeida, Carlos Francisco Simões Gomes, Luis Hernan Contreras Pinochet and Marcos dos Santos
This paper aims to comprehensively analyze renewable energy alternatives in Brazil, focusing on identifying the most suitable option for investment in the country’s sustainable…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to comprehensively analyze renewable energy alternatives in Brazil, focusing on identifying the most suitable option for investment in the country’s sustainable development.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts the step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis-multiobjective optimization by ratio analysis −3NAG (a combination of three normalization methods) methodology, a multicriteria decision-making approach, to evaluate and rank renewable energy sources based on key criteria such as resource availability, cost-effectiveness, job creation potential and environmental impact.
Findings
The analysis reveals that solar energy emerges as the preferred choice for Brazil, offering significant advantages over other alternatives such as hydroelectric, wind and biomass energy. Solar energy’s distributed generation capability, cost reduction trends and positive environmental impact contribute to its favorable position in meeting Brazil’s energy needs.
Research limitations/implications
While the study provides valuable insights into renewable energy selection, there are limitations regarding the criteria’ scope and the exclusion of specific renewable energy options. Future research could explore sensitivity analyses and incorporate additional criteria to enhance the study’s comprehensiveness.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the existing literature by thoroughly analyzing renewable energy alternatives in Brazil using a robust multicriteria decision-making methodology. The study’s findings provide actionable guidance for policymakers, businesses and stakeholders seeking to promote sustainable energy development in the country.
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The importance of developing and implementing sustainable business practices has never been greater. Business schools are increasingly tasked with preparing students to contribute…
Abstract
The importance of developing and implementing sustainable business practices has never been greater. Business schools are increasingly tasked with preparing students to contribute to this imperative and although progress is being made, the impact of integrating sustainability into business school curriculum has remained uncertain as studies exploring the impact have been lacking. The purpose of this multi-case study was to examine the impact of integration efforts in two distinct undergraduate business programs at Royal Roads University. The research focused on how students' understanding of sustainability and their associated attitudes and behaviors changed as they progressed throughout their programs. In addition to considering the impact of a sustainability-infused curriculum, other factors affecting sustainability orientations were also explored. The study was unique in both its comparative nature and in its investigation of the various contextual factors shaping sustainability orientations. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and through document analysis. Findings suggest a combination of approaches to integration is most effective in impacting sustainability perspectives. While sustainability was generally understood in a multidimensional manner, there was a noticeable environmental bias and a tendency to view it within the business framework. A need for stronger and more comprehensive conceptualizations was identified. Recommendations include: (a) embed sustainability in a comprehensive manner across the curriculum, (b) move beyond a disciplinary conceptualization of sustainability and introduce stronger sustainability discourse, (c) utilize powerful experiential and place-based pedagogies, (d) pay attention to context and ensure both the formal and the informal curriculum mutually reinforce a pro-sustainability agenda.
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Maria Eugenia Ruíz-Molina, Irene Gil-Saura, Gloria Berenguer-Contrí and Sergio Belda-Miquel
The concept of Sustainability-Oriented Service Innovation (SOSI) has been recently suggested from a conceptual reflection approach in an attempt to integrate innovation and…
Abstract
Purpose
The concept of Sustainability-Oriented Service Innovation (SOSI) has been recently suggested from a conceptual reflection approach in an attempt to integrate innovation and sustainability in services, being an emerging field of innovation in services. This study aims to propose a scale to measure Sustainability-Oriented Service Innovation from the perspective of the company. Because the whole is different from the sum of its different parts, we need to better understand the synergy between sustainability and innovation for the future of tourism companies.
Design/methodology/approach
Upon a literature review, we propose a scale and explore its dimensionality with data from 268 to 256 Spanish hotel and travel agency managers, respectively. The dimensionality of the scale for measuring Sustainability-Oriented Service Innovation is similar in hotels and travel agencies.
Findings
Five factors emerge from the principal component analyses carried out: two dimensions referred to technological and non-technological innovation, respectively, and three dimensions labelled as economic, social and environmental sustainability.
Practical implications
To guide managers towards their operations, the proposed scale is expected to inspire models to assess the impact of SOSI practices in such a highly competitive industry and to identify the most influencing dimensions on the future performance of the tourism company.
Originality/value
To the best of our knowledge, no scale has been presented so far that brings together the dimensions of technological and non-technological innovation, as well as sustainability from a Triple Bottom Line approach.
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Diana Ominde, Edward Godfrey Ochieng and Tarila Zuofa
The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of stakeholder integration and project complexity on information technology (IT) projects in Kenya. The following research…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of stakeholder integration and project complexity on information technology (IT) projects in Kenya. The following research question guided our inquiry: what is the influence of project complexity and stakeholder integration on the performance of IT projects in Kenya?
Design/methodology/approach
To advance the current understanding of the effect of stakeholder integration and project complexity on IT projects, multiple regressions were used to predict how project complexity and stakeholder integration influence project performance. Both government-funded and privately funded IT projects from a developing country were examined.
Findings
The study found that any project’s complexity and stakeholder integration levels offer a distinctive contribution to its success. Theoretically, the study contributes to linkages between stakeholder integration and project complexity concerning IT project performance. Through the adoption of actionable research and theoretical elaboration, we have shown that the successful execution of IT projects is driven by the successful integration of stakeholders and monitoring the level of complexity at each phase of the project.
Originality/value
The findings of this study add to the burgeoning literature on the performance of IT projects and come with several managerial implications as well. It brings to the fore the concept of stakeholder integration as an essential element of project success. The findings suggest that the inclusion of stakeholder integration into corporate decisions, strategies and policies can be an asset to the production of sustainable competitive advantages needed during the implementation of IT projects in government entities and organisations. As shown in this study, all the above require a collaborative platform allowing for data sharing among diverse stakeholders to ameliorate distrust or lack of information.
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Karima Lajnef and Kawther Dhifi
This study aims to explore the relationship between integrated reporting (IR) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the context of South Africa, specifically exploring the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the relationship between integrated reporting (IR) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the context of South Africa, specifically exploring the mediating impact of board cultural diversity on this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
This study analyzed data from 107 companies operating in South Africa between 2010 and 2022 using the quantitative research method described by Preacher and Hayes (2008).
Findings
The research findings illuminate the complex dynamics of cultural diversity on boards as mediators in integrating reporting practices and CSR initiatives. A more diverse board has been shown to mediate and strengthen the relationship between IR and CSR, leading to improved sustainability performance.
Originality/value
These findings have practical implications for various stakeholders in the South African corporate environment, including boards of directors, policymakers and investors and emphasize the importance of promoting cultural diversity to promote corporate sustainability and social responsibility. Furthermore, these findings provide insights for creating inclusive and effective boards of directors capable of leading organizations toward more responsible and sustainable practices.
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Maria Manta Conroy, Becky Mansfield, Elena Irwin, Gina Jaquet, Gregory Hitzhusen and Jeremy Brooks
Integrating sustainability into university curricula brings diverse challenges and conflicts as separate units vie for ownership of courses and topics. This case study presents a…
Abstract
Purpose
Integrating sustainability into university curricula brings diverse challenges and conflicts as separate units vie for ownership of courses and topics. This case study presents a six dimensions sustainability framework developed at The Ohio State University to organize curricula under an inclusive strategy.
Design/methodology/approach
An interdisciplinary group of faculty focused on sustainability education engaged in a three-phased process including review of sustainability definitions from diverse disciplines; analysis of key aspects of the definitions in conjunction with course descriptions and learning outcomes; and identification of commonalities across the key aspects. This yielded six foundational dimensions of sustainability which serve as a means to assess curricular contributions across University units and topics. The six dimensions framework has been used in practice in multiple contexts.
Findings
The six dimensions framework provides a way to identify and foster diverse sustainability curricula efforts. It has enabled academic units to describe their disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives on diverse sustainability topics and the University to advance a broad sustainability vision.
Originality/value
The six dimensions framework provides a novel “big tent” approach to integration of sustainability into higher education curricula. The framework provides guidance about what counts as sustainability while maintaining the breadth that widens participation.
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Umabharati Rawat and Ramesh Anbanandam
The cyber-physical system (CPS) is a well proven technology for improving system performance, resilience, and interconnectivity. In emerging nations like India, the logistics…
Abstract
Purpose
The cyber-physical system (CPS) is a well proven technology for improving system performance, resilience, and interconnectivity. In emerging nations like India, the logistics industry lacks practices connecting logistical equipment with cyberspace. This paper aims to bridge this gap by identifying and evaluating the performance metrics of connectivity solutions. Its goal is to establish an appropriate infrastructure that enables seamless connectivity within the CPS-enabled logistics ecosystem.
Design/methodology/approach
A novel integrated decision method is employed to classify the optimal connectivity solution for CPS. It integrates Regret Theory (RT) and Preference Ranking for Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE-1) method in a Hesitant Fuzzy (HF) environment. This method considers the psychological traits of decision-makers and effectively incorporates their hesitancy for the classification.
Findings
The findings highlight security (
Practical implications
This study provides a roadmap to logistics managers for selecting a suitable connectivity infrastructure to enhance seamless connectivity in logistics operations and processes. Technology providers can utilize the findings to develop the CPS infrastructure for effective freight logistics management.
Originality/value
This research introduces a novel decision-making tool for making choices related to advanced technology assessment. It holds significant value in facilitating well-informed decisions in the digital transformation era.
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Mirta Diaz-Fernandez, Alvaro Lopez-Cabrales and Ramón Valle-Cabrera
The present paper contributes to the development of sustainable strategies by focusing on the social perspective and the role played by HRM. Specifically, we identified and…
Abstract
Purpose
The present paper contributes to the development of sustainable strategies by focusing on the social perspective and the role played by HRM. Specifically, we identified and compared the employee competencies that supported the compliance strategy as well as the innovative/proactive sustainability strategies – and their impacts on social outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
After formulating hypotheses, we tested them on a sample of 179 companies from the chemical and metallurgical industries using the bootstrap method.
Findings
The results revealed that both sustainability strategies were present in the sample. The compliance sustainable strategy showed to be negatively associated with employee competencies, whilst proactive sustainable strategy firms presented a positive relationship with employee competencies. We also found that compliance strategies failed to have any impact on social outcomes, but proactive strategies had a positive effect on social outcomes. Indeed, normative and foresighted thinking competencies acted as mediating variables in such a relationship.
Originality/value
The originality of this paper lies in three aspects hitherto unaddressed in the literature: first, the conceptualisation and assessment of sustainable strategies focused on a social dimension; second, the identification of individual competencies required developing sustainable strategies; and third, the demonstration that it is only the firms that adopt proactive sustainable strategies that obtain positive social outcomes.
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This study investigates how global retailers develop sustainability through network interactions that influence institutionalized sustainability perceptions. The findings enable…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates how global retailers develop sustainability through network interactions that influence institutionalized sustainability perceptions. The findings enable retailers to drive sustainability systematically and understand the critical internal and external issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The study investigates how retailers can work to increase support for sustainability through the normative, cognitive, and regulative institutional pillars. The network perspective suggests the need to offer relevant resources, involve influential actors and perform supporting activities to mobilise stakeholders. Empirically, qualitative case studies of IKEA and Hennes & Mauritz were conducted.
Findings
Based on the network and institutional perspectives, the study identified nine fields that retailers can use to develop sustainability internally and in their networks. The study shows that they can mobilise actors, resources, and activities to change institutionalised values and practices.
Originality/value
The developed model provides guidelines on how to systematically work with sustainability. The broad view developed is particularly relevant considering that most of the existing research on global firms and sustainability focuses on a narrow research problem without relating it to sustainability as a complex and overarching phenomenon.
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