Monitoring changes in Pharmaceutical organisations: analysis of Business Models in the aspect of sustainable development

Study and evaluation on sustainable industrial development in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

Purpose: The authors objective is to identify the applied features of modernization as conditions for sustainable economic development in developed and developing countries and to determine the Paretooptimality for each of these categories of countries. Design/methodology/approach: The top 8 developed and top 8 developing countries that demonstrated the highest level of digitalization in the IMD digital competitiveness rating for 2019 were selected as the objects for this research. The methodology of this research is based on the method of regression and scenario analysis, as well as the optimization method. Findings: It was revealed that in developed countries it is possible to simultaneously comply with all criteria for the sustainability of the economy, but this requires a slowdown in the pace of modernization, that is, moderate digitalization. This puts the interests of sustainable development in sharp contradiction to the interests of economic growth and global competitiveness, impeding the practical implementation of the identified Pareto-optimal. In developing countries, it is impossible to simultaneously meet all the criteria for economic sustainability—the identified Paretooptimality leads to a decrease in the average value of sustainability indicators, eliminating the need for optimization. At the same time, the general logic implies a more active modernization, that is, accelerated digitalization of the economy in developing countries. Originality/value: It has been proved that modernization, currently carried out on the basis of digitalization, is a condition for the sustainable development of the economy. However, at the same time, all criteria for sustainable development are difficult to meet in modernization. The results offer an opportunity for more accurate modelling and planning of public economic policies, taking into account the specificities of developed and developing countries, and also prove the variability of economic modernization for its sustainable development.

Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), the most popular and widely used Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology due to their proven accuracy and efficiency in control, estimation, optimization, decision making, forecasting, and many other applications, can be employed to achieve faster sustainable development of construction industry. The study presents state-of-the-art applications of ANNs to promote sustainability in the construction industry under three aspects of sustainable development, namely, environmental, economic, and social. The environmental aspect surveys ANNs’ applications in sustainable construction materials, energy management, material testing and control, infrastructure analysis and design, sustainable construction management, infrastructure functional performance, and sustainable maintenance management. The economic aspect covers financial management and construction productivity through ANN applications. The social aspect reviews society and human values and health and safety issues in the construction industry. The study demonstrates the wide range of interdisciplinary applications of ANN methods to support the sustainable development of the construction industry. It can be concluded that a holistic research approach with comprehensive input data from various phases of construction and segments of the construction industry is needed for the sustainable development of the construction industry. Further research is certainly needed to reduce the dependency of ANN applications on the input dataset. Research is also needed to apply ANNs in construction management, life cycle assessment of construction projects, and social aspects in relation to sustainability concerns of the construction industry.

Value chain performance improvement for sustainable mango industry development in Pakistan

The paper presents the results of theoretical discussions and research findings in the field of designing sustainable business models that support the creation of value at various stages of the business life cycle. The paper presents selected findings of extensive research into the business models of Polish companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Companies which are at various stages of development should build and adapt their business models in order to maintain the ability to create value for stakeholders. Characteristics of business models at the early stages of development are different than at mature stages. The paper highlights the differences in business models in the context of the life cycle of companies and sustainability criteria. The paper presents research findings which show that the company’s development can be seen from the point of view of the business model. Research on business models concentrated on identifying the key attributes and the configuration of the business models appropriate for the early stage of development as well as the maturity stage. It was found that the business models of companies at an early stage of the development of companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange are oriented primarily to how the company shapes, delivers, and captures value from the market in order to generate profits for shareholders and increase the value of the company, while the business models of mature companies include the intentions of management used to balance objectives with respect to different groups of stakeholders, and to carefully formulate and implement business objectives with particular attention paid to preserving the sustainability of the business. The assessment of business models from the point of view of the life cycle proves that managers change their approach to configuring business models over time; at some point, they include management intentions aimed at a broader range of goals than merely generating profits. At the early stage, it is important to adapt the business model to the ability to create value for shareholders by actively searching for the optimal configuration of the business model. Here a component approach to making rapid changes in the structure of the business model is essential. The business model of mature companies is based on assumptions ensuring the long-term viability of the business and is holistic in nature. When the company moves from the stage of early development to the maturity stage, business models change in such a way that the assumptions of the Triple Bottom Line concept become increasingly important, as expressed in the joint implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility and Value-Based Management assumptions. At the early stage of development, the business model strengthens the need to create value for shareholders and is not as dependent on strong partnerships with a large number of stakeholders. At the maturity stage, it is important to balance the objectives of all stakeholders and to build long-term relationships with them. As regards relationships with the environment, business models at these two stages are different. The paper presents research on the business models of companies at their early stage of development as well as mature companies, taking into consideration the assumptions of the Sustainable Business Model.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to indicate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the functioning of business models of selected companies. The analysis of the operation and direction of changes in the business model was carried out with an example of two family businesses. Conducting research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the change in business models of companies is important due to the fact that the pandemic forced changes in the operation of many plants, which could affect the functioning of the business models adopted so far. For entrepreneurs, it is important to indicate how to modify and create business models that will work in different conditions. A good business model concept not only allows the company to gain better insight into its own business, but also allows for improvements and innovations. Design/methodology/approach: Business model analysis is based on one of the most popular business model templates, which is the Business Model Canvas. Changes in the functioning of the business model before the pandemic in 2018 and in 2021 were assessed. Nine elements of the business model were analysed, i.e. customer segments, value proposition, channels/communication, distribution, sales, customer relations, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partners, cost structure. The analysis was based on literature studies on the subject discussed and on the basis of data obtained during interviews with business owners. Findings: When analysing the examples of companies and their business model, it can be concluded that the changes in the elements of the business models of the surveyed enterprises were both quantitative and qualitative. Companies have made the most changes in the following elements: key resources, key activities, key partners, cost structure. Other elements included in the Business canvas model have only partially changed, such as customer relations. During the pandemic, another important aspect was noticed in companies, related closely to employees. The lack of an employee due to illness or the lack of a replacement for such an employee generated big problems, confusion at the level of customer relations, customer contacts, contacts with partners, timeliness of production and delivery, etc. The author proposed modifications to the existing BUSINESS CANVAS MODEL by adding the “employees” element. An analysis of this additional element in the model already at the stage of creating a business model can help new companies build a stable business model that will work in difficult situations. In crisis situations, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, employers should quickly plan the division of responsibilities in accordance with the principles of safety and 462 A. Ociepa-Kubicka prevention of infection, and make efforts to restore a normal, healthy rhythm of their company as soon as possible. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and implement new strategies and additional activities to ensure the safety and productivity of people and thus build a business- resilient company. Practical implications: Implementation of a new business model modified by the author of the publication will help new companies build a stable business model that will work in difficult situations such as the pandemic. Originality/value: The research is aimed primarily at owners of family businesses. The added value to the article is an attempt to identify elements of the business model that should be paid special attention to when creating new business models. The operation of business models during the pandemic requires a broader analysis and the presented research results contribute to reducing the cognitive gap in this area. Analysis of business models of the sample companies may constitute an introduction to broader research on the creation of innovative business models that will be able to work in the rapidly changing conditions of the company's environment.

Due to the increasing population and earth pollution, managing construction and infrastructure projects with less damage to the environment and less pollution is very important. Sustainable development aims at reducing damage to the environment, making projects economical, and increasing comfort and social justice. This study proposes fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and improved grey relational analysis (GRA) to assess construction projects based on the sustainable development criteria. For doing so, sustainable development criteria are first identified in economic, social, and environmental dimensions using literature review, and are then customized for urban construction projects using experts’ opinions. After designing questionnaires and collecting data, fuzzy AHP is used for determining the importance of sustainable development criteria and their subcriteria. Then, improved GRA is employed for assessing six recreational, commercial, and official centers in Isfahan regarding the weights of criteria and subcriteria. The proposed fuzzy AHP-improved GRA help us to prioritize construction projects based on the sustainable development criteria. The results of applying fuzzy AHP show that the weights of economic, social, and environmental criteria are equal to 0.330, 0.321, and 0.349, respectively, which are close to each other. This means that the importance of all three aspects of sustainability is almost equal to each other. Furthermore, “Having profits for the society”, “Increasing social justice”, and “Adherence to environmental policies” are identified as the most important indicators of sustainable development in terms of economic, social, and environmental aspects, respectively. Finally, the results of employing improved GRA determine Negin Chaharbagh recreational and commercial complex as the best project.

A scientometrics view on sustainable development in surface mining: Everything from the beginning

The article is devoted to the study of the formation of sustainable economic development of industrial enterprises. The purpose of the work is to identify the key factors and mechanisms contributing to the sustainable development of industrial enterprises in modern conditions. The paper examines the economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable development, as well as their interrelationships. As a result of the research, the main directions of the formation of sustainable economic development of industrial enterprises have been identified, including the introduction of innovations, energy efficiency improvement, human capital development and environmental modernization of production. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the development of an integrated approach to the formation of sustainable development of industrial enterprises, taking into account the specifics of the current economic situation.

Todays, the issue of environmental instability and destructive environmental behavior can leave many irreparable effects and damage on future ecosystems and the lives of future generations. Method: This study aimed to present an environmental model of sustainable development in the Iranian gas industry. The present study used a qualitative with grounded theory method. In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 academic experts (professors of public administration and environmental engineering at universities in Mazandaran province) and the heads of the National Iranian Gas Company in five regions of Iran using the rich information sampling method. Results: The results indicated that the environmental model of sustainable development in the Iranian gas industry had 15 dimensions in terms of causal conditions. 1. Services, 2. Safety and health requirements, 3. Social responsibility, (context condition) 4. Education and learning, 5. Acculturalization, 6. Managers' attitude and awareness (intervening conditions) 7. Contractors, 8. Technical facilities and equipment, 9. Technology and technical operations (Strategy) 10. Medium and long term policies of the Ministry of Energy, 11. Continuous monitoring and evaluation of project progress, 12. Consumption management programs, 13. Pollutants management programs and consequences 14. Improved environmental performance of the gas company and 15. Moving towards sustainable development. Conclusion: Since the gas industry is one of the most polluting industries and the lack of attention to environmental issues in this huge industry will lead the Iranian environment to very serious and perhaps irreparable crises, using the environmental model of sustainable development in this industry seems highly important and necessary.

In the context of global sustainable development, the fashion accessories industry is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges. With the increasing environmental awareness of consumers and the global emphasis on environmental protection, sustainable development has become an inevitable trend for the fashion accessories industry. This paper conducts an in-depth study on the current status and practices of sustainable development in the fashion accessories industry, including the widespread application of environmentally friendly materials, the green optimization of production processes, and the active fulfillment of corporate social responsibility. Through case analysis of leading companies in the industry, the paper summarizes successful experiences in sustainable development and makes scientific predictions for future market trends. Finally, the paper proposes strategies to promote sustainable development in the industry, aiming to provide references for fashion accessories companies to achieve green transformation in the global market and help the industry move towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future.

In the context of global environmental challenges and resource depletion, this study focuses on sustainable development models in the toy industry. The study mainly explores Evertoys’ and the LEGO Group’s adoption and implementation of environmentally friendly business models. Through literature review and case study analysis, this paper examines in detail how these companies address environmental challenges in the whole process of toy production and consumption through innovative business models and sustainable development strategies. The findings indicate that Evertoys' subscription service model and LEGO's recycling program effectively reduce the demand for new toys, promote resource conservation and toy reuse, and provide consumers with more environmentally friendly toy usage options. In addition, these measures are conducive to mitigating the negative environmental impacts of toy production and disposal, driving the industry towards more sustainable development. To sum up, sustainable development in the toy industry requires collective efforts from industry participants, including the adoption of eco-friendly materials, improvement of production processes, increased consumer awareness of sustainable toy choices, and enhanced recycling and circular utilization of toys. Furthermore, policy support from governments and relevant institutions is a key factor in promoting sustainable development in the industry.

The sustainable development conundrum in gold mining: Exploring ‘Open, Prior and Independent Deliberate Discussion’ as a community-centered framework

This analysis explores the different elements that constitute sustainable supply chains used by companies as genre on the road to sustainable development across different industries. The analysis of a body of literature and empirical data is carried out by a critical objective to determine the fundamental aspects of sustainability practices. The research suggests that we should have the necessary knowledge of these drivers for the stage to be raised of the environmental responsibility, social equity and economic development. Strategies are detailed to enable stakeholders throughout industries in adopting sustainable supply chain methods. Through this process, the long-term resilience of supply chains and the sustainability of the profitable position are promoted. The results are of this type, clarifying the crucial role of sustainable supply chain in reaching the global sustainability targets and promoting sustainability model for the companies and societies all over the world. Through this research we strive to add to the already established supplies chain management literature and aid the change process management in the pursuit of sustainable development in the different industries. Result of the cocreation with this domain has brought up meaningful implications to the literature. One of the new concepts we are proposing is a dynamic setting for a three-level model serving as a tactical plan for strategic sustainable supply management. Our study has contributed a theoretical framework that distinguishes practical facts of supply chain management and is for the purposes of future research and appraisals in terms of UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals

Given the current status of political discussion in Europe about raw materials problems, the sustainable development of the extractive industry and the reduction of its environmental footprint are among the key topics in this discussion. In this context, the European Commission approved the EO-MINERS project (Earth Observation for Monitoring and Observing Environmental and Societal Impacts of Mineral Resources Exploration and Exploitation). One of the scientific and technical objectives of EO-MINERS is to assess policy requirements at macro (public) and micro (mining companies) levels and define environmental, socio-economic, societal and sustainable development criteria and indicators to be possibly dealt using earth observation (EO) technologies. Further to that, the project will use existing EO knowledge and carry out new developments on three demonstration sites (Sokolov lignite mining area, Czech Republic, Witbank coal field, South Africa, Makmal gold mine, Kyrgyzstan) to further demonstrate the capabilities of integrated EO-based methods and tools in monitoring, managing and contributing towards reducing the environmental and societal footprints of the extractive industry during all phases of a mining project, from the exploration to the exploitation and closure stages. Finally, it will provide reliable and objective information about affected ecosystems, populations and societies, to serve as a basis for a sound ‘trialogue’ between industrialists, governmental organisations and stakeholders. The paper will discuss only results obtained so far, as the project is scheduled to run until October 2013. The project will further indicate ways in which the project results and products may be used for monitoring purposes beyond the operational phase of a mine.