Search results

1 – 10 of over 14000
Article
Publication date: 21 April 2020

Timothy O. Olawumi and Daniel W.M. Chan

The construction industry has been evolving in recent years through the adoption of smart tools such as building information modeling to reduce the complexity in the construction…

1549

Abstract

Purpose

The construction industry has been evolving in recent years through the adoption of smart tools such as building information modeling to reduce the complexity in the construction process and optimize the project's goals. This paper aims to identify and assess the key drivers for the implementation of smart sustainable practices in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Inferential and descriptive statistical techniques were employed in analyzing the data collected via an international empirical questionnaire survey deployed in soliciting the perceptions of 220 construction professionals across 21 countries. Factor analysis was used to categorize the identified key drivers into their underlying clusters for further discussion. Also, the data were analyzed based on the various groups and regions of the study's respondents.

Findings

The key drivers (KDs) are related to the technical competence of staff as well as knowledge and awareness level within the industry, issues related to organizational and project's strategy and policies, availability of financial resources and development of relevant standards and policies to aid its execution among others. A comparative analysis of the perceptions of the different respondents' groups was undertaken and discussed.

Practical implications

The analysis of the key drivers for the implementation of smart and sustainable practices in the construction industry is expected to aid the decision-making of the relevant stakeholders as well as serve as a consultation instrument for government agencies in their design of localized policies and guidelines to aid smart and sustainable urbanization. The findings revealed the gaps in the implementation of smart and sustainable practices in various climes and organization setups and provided useful and practical strategies for addressing the current hindrances during implementation.

Originality/value

The study has generated valuable insights into the significant drivers that can enhance the implementation of smart and sustainable practices across regions. It is evident that synergy among the relevant stakeholders in the built environment will help accelerate the implementation of smart sustainable practices in the construction industry. The study findings have provided profound contributions to theory and research as well as to industry practice.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 27 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2019

Sajjad Shokouhyar, Neda Pahlevani and Farhang Mir Mohammad Sadeghi

This paper aims to present a smart, sustainable supply chain practices structure on the basis of the relational view.

1229

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present a smart, sustainable supply chain practices structure on the basis of the relational view.

Design/methodology/approach

A method based on fuzzy cognitive map was applied to construct a relational map to introduce and implement such relational methods. Considering this relational map as a guideline, observations into particular methods and ways of applying relational methods to attain sustainable development goals across organizations has been introduced.

Findings

Primary outcomes provided a series of relational methods for the purpose of giving advice to those organizations and their suppliers for smart, sustainable supply chain. Reliance between relational methods were examined and assessed under seven meaningful groups: economic internet of things (IoT), green internet of things, social internet of things, economic supply chain, green supply chain, social supply chain and other variables.

Practical implications

This study guides managers toward an improved perception of the connection among IoT instances and sustainable supply to modeling smart, sustainable supply chain. Managers can determine the practices that need more focus along with the practices that are less relevant. Thus, this will help managers in the decision-making process and to organize their decisions by planning and calculating the relative importance and influence of smart, sustainable practices on each other and on the company’s smart, sustainable program.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first approach that promptly examines and determines the interdependencies between relational methods and constructs a relational map for the purpose to introduce and analyze smart, sustainable supply chain.

Details

Management Research Review, vol. 43 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-8269

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 January 2021

Samuel Kwesi Ndzebah Dadzie, Emmanuel W. Inkoom, Selorm Akaba, Festus Annor-Frempong and James Afful

The consequences of extreme climatic events that threaten food security have created the urgent need to properly adopt climate-smart adaptation techniques to improve productivity…

Abstract

Purpose

The consequences of extreme climatic events that threaten food security have created the urgent need to properly adopt climate-smart adaptation techniques to improve productivity. The study examined the sustainability responses to climate-smart adaptation and the implication it has for explaining the food security situations among farm households in the Central Region of Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

We estimated Heckit treatment effect model to analyse cross-sectional data collected from randomly selected farmers in the Central Region.

Findings

Analysis of farm sustainability index suggests that farmers' agricultural practices in response to climate change are lowly or moderately sustainable. We further found that while majority of the farm households are severely food insecure or food insecure with hunger, only about one-third are food insecure without hunger and the remaining few being food secure. The sustainability of farm practices is being impacted by the farmers’ choice of climate smart adaptation measures at the farm level. Consequently, the farm households' food security situation is found to be improved when sustainable farming practices are employed in the face of managing climate change effects.

Practical implications

Conclusions drawn from the study findings give rooms for policy implications that suggest responsibilities for policymakers, farmers and other stakeholders to promote CSA practices in food crop production in Ghana. These policy implications will contribute to improve crop productivity, increase incomes and thus enhance food security among farm families. Awareness campaign about benefits of CSA practices and technologies need to be strengthened among farmers in Ghana by government and NGOs that matter in promoting farm resilience to climate change. Given the important impacts of sustainable farm practices on household food security situation, policies that seek to build the adaptive capacity of farmers to climate vulnerability impacts should take into consideration the sustainability dimensions of the adaptation and mitigation measures to be advocated for use at farm levels.

Originality/value

Our paper contributes to literature knowledge on climate-smart adaptation practices effect on food security as evidenced in some recent literature. The paper makes a unique contribution by highlighting the food security implication of the sustainability impact of CSA practices, thereby exploring sustainability as an impact pathway between climate smart adaptations practices and food security in a developing country like Ghana. We approached our study aiming at making new contribution by introducing in the study implementation a quasi-experimental research design which future studies on impacts of climate smart adaptation practices can replicate.

Details

African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, vol. 12 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-0705

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 April 2021

Shashank Kumar, Rakesh D. Raut, Vaibhav S. Narwane, Balkrishna E. Narkhede and Kamalakanta Muduli

In the digitalization era, supply chain processes and activities have changed entirely, and smart technology impacts each sustainable supply chain movement. The warehouse and…

1457

Abstract

Purpose

In the digitalization era, supply chain processes and activities have changed entirely, and smart technology impacts each sustainable supply chain movement. The warehouse and distribution of various organizations have started adopting smart technologies globally. However, the adoption of smart technologies in the Indian warehousing industry is minimal. The study aims to identify the implementation barriers of smart technology in the Indian warehouse to achieve sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs an integrated Delphi-ISM-ANP research approach. The study uses the Delphi approach to finalize the barriers identified from the detailed literature review and expert opinion. The finalized 17 barriers are modeled using interpretive structural modeling (ISM) to get the contextual relationship. The ISM method's output and analysis using the analytical network process (ANP) illustrate priorities.

Findings

The study's findings showed that the lack of government support, lack of vision and mission and the lack of skilled manpower are the most significant barriers restricting the organization from implementing smart and sustainable supply chain practices in the warehouse.

Practical implications

This study would help the practitioners enable the sustainable warehousing system or convert the existing warehouse into a smart and sustainable warehouse by developing an appropriate strategy. This study would also help reduce the impact of different barriers that would strengthen the chance of technology adoption in the warehouses.

Originality/value

The literature related to adopting smart and sustainable practices in the warehouse is scarce. Modeling of adoption barrier for smart and sustainable warehouse using an integrated research approach is the uniqueness of this study that have added value in the existing scientific knowledge.

Details

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, vol. 71 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 April 2021

Timothy O. Olawumi and Daniel W.M. Chan

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key facilitating factors for smart sustainable practices (SSP) and develop a project evaluation model (PEM) for SSP implementation in…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key facilitating factors for smart sustainable practices (SSP) and develop a project evaluation model (PEM) for SSP implementation in Nigeria and Hong Kong. SSP is coined from the integration of digital technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) to facilitate sustainability practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a quantitative research design approach using empirical questionnaire surveys to solicit the opinions of 69 and 97 construction practitioners in Nigeria and Hong Kong. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to identify the potential survey respondents. The fuzzy synthetic evaluation technique was used to develop the PEMs.

Findings

The findings revealed that adequate technical expertise of the SSP processes is critical in enhancing its implementation in Hong Kong and Nigeria; as well as the provision of training programs for specialists in smart and sustainable initiatives. Meanwhile, the study's findings advocated that for an SSP-enabled construction project, its project performance is mainly influenced by the client's satisfaction level and the early involvement of the project teams.

Research limitations/implications

The study's results are limited to the Nigeria and Hong Kong construction industries.

Practical implications

Construction stakeholders such as the clients, developers, contractors can utilize the PEMs to determine and track SSP initiatives implementation in building projects in a reliable and practical way.

Originality/value

No tool has been developed for evaluating SSP initiatives at the project level in the construction industry. Using case studies of Hong Kong and Nigeria, PEM indices were developed to measure and track SSP implementation in construction projects.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 29 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 June 2023

Filippo Marchesani and Francesca Masciarelli

The concept of a smart city is becoming more closely linked to tourism destinations. The relationship between the environment, sustainability and tourism has become more…

Abstract

Purpose

The concept of a smart city is becoming more closely linked to tourism destinations. The relationship between the environment, sustainability and tourism has become more interrelated. An eco-friendly city environment can influence tourists’ decisions, but tourist flows can also negatively impact the local ecosystem by increasing energy consumption, air pollution and environmental sustainability. In this research letter, the authors reverse this perspective, moving into smart city trajectories, highlighting that increasing tourism in cities drives the city to advance a green transition to respond to the imbalance generated by large flows of tourists that increase the users-density of the city. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the symbiotic relationship between increasing tourism in cities and the imperative for a green transition.

Design/methodology/approach

This study builds on the generalized method of moment approach and an 11-year panel data set covering 30 Italian cities to investigate the relationship between tourism flow and the cities’ green practices embedded in the smart environment dimension.

Findings

This study provides empirical evidence that a large flow of tourists in cities positively affects the cities’ green transition, contributing to the advancement of smart tourism and smart city debate.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses only on one country, and although its results may be generalizable to the European Union, it is not representative at a global level and requires further research.

Practical implications

This study offers practical implications underscoring the benefits of large tourism inflow in managing and implementing smart city projects.

Social implications

Tourism and overtourism may lead to a city reaction regarding green practices, which can have a multiplier benefit on the urban environment.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first study attempt to investigate the tourism flow as a driver of smart city implementation, considering the city’s reaction to tourism and overtourism conditions in the city that would lead to the ecological and sustainable collapse of a city.

Details

International Journal of Tourism Cities, vol. 9 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-5607

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 December 2021

Mücella Ateş and Deniz Erinsel Önder

Although smart city studies have increased recently, smart city discussions are made based on general concepts not specific to the region. The region-specific local smart city…

Abstract

Purpose

Although smart city studies have increased recently, smart city discussions are made based on general concepts not specific to the region. The region-specific local smart city strategy in the built environment is key to climate resilience in the built environment in the face of natural disasters. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the smart environment, which expresses the spatial dimension of smart cities. This research defines a region-specific smart city model and revealing the role of this model in the resilience against disasters of the built environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was conducted in four steps. In Step 1, the authors suggested new smart environmental assessment criteria with climatic and geographical data within the scope of the collective mind of the region. In Step 2, they determined the expert group to evaluate within the scope of the AHP method and then compared the significance levels of the current and suggested smart environmental assessment criteria by the AHP method.

Findings

From the results, it turned out that smart urbanization processes, which are trying to relate to local characteristics, are of great importance in terms of ensuring urban resilience. The results also highlight that the existing smart environmental assessment criteria in the literature are insufficient to ensure the climatic resilience of the built environment in the face of natural disasters.

Research limitations/implications

The study is in an intermediary section, which has a gap in the literature due to its subject. Although it has focused on an acute problem and a current research problem, the lack of literature on the field has been a limitation. Determining the cities where the field studies would be conducted has been a major limitation. For an objective hypothesis test within the scope of the AHP method, the sample group should consist of experts working in smart city projects in cities that are in the top 3 in five different smart city rankings, where field studies are conducted. Within this limited cluster, creating a large sample group was an important limitation.

Originality/value

This research looks into the existing gaps of the relation between climate resilience of the built environment and the local smart city approach. This examination will foster a holistic approach in the practice of sustainable smart city in the built environment, thus reinforcing urban resilience and climate studies in the context of smart cities.

Details

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, vol. 14 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-5908

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 October 2020

Ali Mohamad Mouazen and Ana Beatriz Hernández-Lara

Smart cities attract efficient and profitable economic activities, contribute to the societal welfare of their citizens and foster the efficient use and conservation of natural…

373

Abstract

Purpose

Smart cities attract efficient and profitable economic activities, contribute to the societal welfare of their citizens and foster the efficient use and conservation of natural resources. Developing smart cities has become a priority for many developed countries, but as they are preferred destinations for migrants, this raises sustainability issues. They attract people who are seeking a better quality of life, smart services and solutions, a better environment and business activities. The purpose of this paper is to review the state of the art on the relationship between smart cities and migration, with a view to determining sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

A bibliometric review and text mining analyses were conducted on publications between 2000 and 2019.

Findings

The results determined the main parameters of this research topic in terms of its growth, top journals and articles. The role of sustainability in the relationship between smart cities and migration is also identified, highlighting the special interest of its social dimension.

Originality/value

A bibliometric approach has not been used previously to investigate the link between smart cities and migration. However, given the current relevance of both phenomena, their emergence and growth, this approach is appropriate in determining the state of the art and its main descriptors, with special emphasis on the sustainability implications.

Details

Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, vol. 23 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5038

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 October 2022

Wael Hassan El-Garaihy, Tamer Farag, Khalid Al Shehri, Piera Centobelli and Roberto Cerchione

Nowadays, a prominent research area is the development of competitive advantages in companies, due to their environmental commitment and orientation. Based on resource-based view…

Abstract

Purpose

Nowadays, a prominent research area is the development of competitive advantages in companies, due to their environmental commitment and orientation. Based on resource-based view (RBV) and institutional theory (InT), this paper aims to investigate the influence of internal and external orientation on businesses' sustainable performance while considering the effect of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 351 manufacturing companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been collected and analysed through structural equation modelling (SEM) using the partial least squares (PLS) method.

Findings

The results indicated that both internal and external environmental orientation have important effects on SSCM practices, which in turn have a considerable beneficial effect on environmental, social and economic performance.

Originality/value

Although SSCM is constantly gaining ground in the literature, most SSCM research and models examine its effects, antecedents or motivation, mainly adopting a qualitative approach. Research on the topic adopting a large-scale empirical approach is still limited. In this context, this study contributes to the SSCM management literature by exploring the role of environmental orientation in facilitating the adoption of SSCM practices and improving companies' performance.

Content available
Article
Publication date: 21 October 2021

Menaha Thayaparan and Andrew Ross

315

Abstract

Details

Built Environment Project and Asset Management, vol. 11 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-124X

1 – 10 of over 14000