Business Approach Research Articles

Analysis of the Diversity of Social Business Approaches in Brazil: A Review Based on Brazilian Journals

Objective: The objective of this research was to analyze the approaches related to social business existing in Brazilian scientific productions from 2013 to 2022, in order to establish contributions to the topic in Brazil. Method: For this study, a systematic literature review of articles indexed on the Periódicos CAPES platform was used. Result and conclusion: It was found that most studies address the lack of definition of the concept of social business and its related concepts as well as its relationship with social entrepreneurship. Furthermore, it was possible to observe that there are still uncertainties regarding the possibility of sharing profits with investors or not and that the legal framework for the treatment of social enterprises in Brazil is non-existent and unexplored. Implications of the research: It is understood that the Systematic Literature Review made it possible to investigate the scarcity of social businesses described in the literature outside the southeast region, as well as the intimate relationship between social impact actions and the environmental aspect. Originality/value: The results, which demonstrate the uncertainties present in the context of social business, enable the development of guidelines for resolving these problems.

“Come play with us!” A grassroots research agenda for accounting and the circular economy

ABSTRACT The dominant global capitalist economic model harms ecosystems and humxn populations. In attempting to reduce these harms, its linear foundational elements characterised by rapid production, mass consumption, and ineffective disposal necessitate a shift to more circular approaches. Embracing circularity is complex and requires several elements in addition to shifting business approaches such as redefining value, discarding traditional competitive practices in favour of collaboration, and developing appropriate tools for analysis. Given both its ubiquitous role in business and its ability to facilitate change, it appears a natural extension for accounting to serve an essential function in the circular transition. With this in mind, this editorial serves a twofold purpose. It first introduces the present special issue on “Accounting for the Circular Economy” and contextualises the circular economy concept. Secondly, it relies on insights from interviews with circular economy experts to propose a grassroots agenda for accounting within the circular economy context. Given the pressing need to address environmental and social challenges, we hope this editorial and the articles published in the special issue will spark further research and practical transformations toward a more regenerative and just economic and social system.

ANTICOMPETITIVE PRICE FIXING IN DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS – ECJ C-211/22, SUPER BOCK V. PORTUGUESE COMPETITION AUTHORITY

On June 29, 2023, the judgment concerning the case C-211/22, Super Bock v. Portuguese Competition Authority, was released by the European Court of Justice (“ECJ”). This judgment delivers a comprehensive review of fundamental competition law principles pertaining to vertical agreements. In this judgement was examined the business approach of Super Bock, a manufacturing Portuguese company. The preliminary ruling emphasizes to the court referring the case the vital distinction between hardcore restrictions as defined by the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) and competition-constraining practices falling within the purview of Article 101(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Furthermore, the ruling clarifies the expansive scope of the term “agreement” according to Article 101(1) of the TFEU, while also highlighting the array of (both direct and indirect) evidence that can substantiate the identification of an agreement. In alignment with established legal precedents, ECJ reinforces the principle that an agreement encompassing nearly the entire geographical expanse, though not entirely exhaustive, of a Member State can still impact the inter-member trade. Vertical agreements involve relationships between entities at various levels of the supply chain, such as manufacturers and distributors. The key aspects addressed in this judgment have direct relevance to how manufacturers interact with their distribution networks and set pricing policies, which in turn can affect market dynamics and competition within the manufacturing industry. The Super Bock v. Portuguese Competition Authority judgment serves as a pivotal milestone in clarifying the legal framework governing vertical agreements in the European Union. Its comprehensive analysis of competition law principles provides valuable guidance to businesses operating within the EU, ensuring a more transparent and predictable regulatory environment for vertical agreements and, consequently, fostering healthy competition in the market. The ECJ confirmed for the first time the established EU law principles regarding vertical price-fixing agreements. It emphasizes that an agreement should not rigidly be classified by actions without considering the broader context. Although deviating from stricter framework centered on the primary purpose and severe restrictions may complicate the application of the law, this ruling encourages a more thoughtful evaluation of vertical agreements and their overlap with competition law.

SOUTH AFRICAN DAIRY INDUSTRY AND THE USE OF INTERCULTURAL BUSINESS COMMUNICATION FOR IMPROVEMENT

The dairy industry is an important part of the highly diverse agricultural sector of South African economy. The industry is a significant contributor to the food security and it also provides many social and economic attributes to the nation. South Africa has the potential to be self-sufficient in milk production, the country currently imports fluid milk and processed dairy products. For the industry to attain a larger world market share, it has to be competitive. A proper and constant intercultural business communication (IBC) with nations that are advanced in the production of milk and dairy products is the key to improving the sector's competitiveness. In this regard, the study examines the role of innovative intercultural business communication for the improvement of South African dairy industry. A systematic review method was adopted for collection and analysis of data relevant to the study. Communication accommodation theory (CAT) was used to explain the role that communication plays in building relationship that will lead to improved production. The study revealed that intercultural business communication has the capacity to build relationships that will lead to improved production for dairy industries. The study recommends regular visitations to more advanced nations’ dairy farms and adequate training on language and culture. Based on the conclusion and recommendations, this study presents a platform for the dairy industries to think about an innovative intercultural business communication approach to be at a competitive edge in a global environment.

The Effectiveness of Social Media as a Marketing and Promotion Tool to Increase Consumer Purchase Intention in the Food and Beverage Industry Burger Garage Jakarta

This study develops a new social media strategy for Burger Garage. Three years have passed since the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the market for Food and Beverage has been changing. This study will help Burger Garage develop its Social Media Strategy to reach its yearly target. Burger Garage has been active in its social media but has yet to reach its full potential. This is due to an underdeveloped marketing channel that needs a clear plan to succeed. This study analyzes their social Media using external and internal studies. External analysis uses 5 Porter analysis and competitor analysis, while internal analysis will explore using the capabilities of the study. The research also used questionnaires to understand the customers; it targeted Burger Garage customers and gathered 200 respondents to give their thoughts on their marketing strategy, social media promos, and their activities in social media. This research included in-depth interviews and observation with Burger Garage owner. To conclude, this paper analyzes Burger Garage’s business approach and suggests improving its marketing and social media to succeed in the Food and Beverage market.

Tourism Competitiveness versus Sustainability: Impact on the World Economic Forum Model Using the Rasch Methodology

The pandemic changed the strategic business approach of tourist destinations on a global scale. Given this new scenario, there is a need to implement sustainability strategies that are aligned with economic, social, and environmental aspects to continue competing in the international tourism market. Therefore, identifying these strategies, specific to each destination, is a key variable for tourism competitiveness. To help destination managers, this paper aims to measure tourism competitiveness in terms of sustainability. Using the Rasch model, the analysis confirms that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent and, thus, measure tourism competitiveness. In addition, the results obtained show that the countries with the highest socioeconomic development are the most competitive tourist destinations, and the most relevant SDGs for tourism competitiveness are related to prosperity and social guarantees.

Achieving circularity is a distant dream: entrepreneurial barriers to circular business models in SMEs of emerging economies

PurposeCircularity has acted as an essential phenomenon for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies, pressuring entrepreneurs to its adoption in their businesses. During the adoption and implementation of circularity, entrepreneurs or circular entrepreneurs (to be precise) are facing various challenges to its effective functioning. However, the scholarly literature has offered limited research into this phenomenon. Thus, the purpose of this research is to identify the various barriers and sub-barriers for circular entrepreneurs to adopt circularity in SMEs of emerging economies.Design/methodology/approachA combined qualitative and quantitative approach was employed to achieve the objectives of the study. In the first stage, through an extensive literature review, a list of barriers was identified and in the second stage, a deductive approach was employed to finalize the barriers. Finally, Best-Worst Method (BWM), a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method, was used to analyse the significant importance of the barriers.FindingsThe findings of the study suggested the “financial barrier” as the first-ranked barrier in the adoption of Circular Business Models (CBMs), followed by the “regulatory and operational barrier” as the top second and third barriers. In terms of sub-barriers, “lack of access to funding and capital” has been identified as the top sub-barrier in the adoption of CBM, followed by “excessive regulations and red tape” and “challenges due to ambiguity of the concept”.Practical implicationsTo transition from a circular to a linear business approach considerably quicker and smoother, entrepreneurs may utilize the findings of this study as a blueprint for the steps to overcome the barriers in a linear to a circular transition.Originality/valueThis research differentiates from other studies due to solicited input directly from the people who are most familiar with the challenges of making the transition from linear to CBM, i.e. the entrepreneurs themselves.

Overcoming Tolling Complexity

T-Systems Road User Services is using innovative business approaches to navigate the European tolling ecosystem, and as one of the founders of Toll4Europe it is helping all service providers benefit from EETS

Discovering the mindsets of the luxury recycling phenomenon

This study focuses on two main luxury items recycling issues. First, understanding customers’ attitudes toward recycling luxury items via e-business and second, discovering e-platforms configurations used. This study considers as input parameters consumers’ age and gender. Thus, an online survey implementing a mind genomics experiment was delivered to 4,320 international consumers regardless of whether they have experienced or not recycling luxury items via e-commerce channels. Only 3,624 consumers participated in the study, indicating one of four reasons they recycle luxury items via e-commerce channels. These reasons are: to renew their wardrobe often, follow fashion without paying an exorbitant price, profit from selling clothes & accessories they do not use anymore, and be part of the luxury recycling business without significant investments. In addition, this study established as the main pillars of luxury recycling items via e-commerce channels the following aspects: the use of e-commerce to recycle luxury clothes & accessories; the configuration used in luxury recycling e-commerce sites; the sector benefiting the most from the luxury recycling business; the luxury recycling business approach more beneficial. The selection of the study pillars and the reasons for recycling help to achieve the main goal of the study, being understanding what fascinates consumers about luxury recycling. It unveils that configurations such as outlets and individual sales are preferred in the luxury items recycling business. Further, recommendations are provided to consolidate ethical luxury items recycling business, such as the development of more user-friendly technological e-commerce platforms, and decreasing intermediation charges.

Beauty Goes Green: Determinants of Sustainable Purchasing Behavior Among Gen X and Z Filipino Consumers

Several companies have adopted sustainability as a business approach to create long-term value by ensuring that they operate in an ethical way that protects the social, ecological, and economic environments. Nowadays, the demand for sustainable products has increased in various industries, including the cosmetics industry, and customers go through a complex process when deciding which products to buy. Hence, there is a lack of study in terms of determining the disparity between the purchasing behavior of Generation X and Z. With that, this study determined the specific difference between the purchasing behavior of Gen X and Z as green cosmetic product consumers and identified which among the factors; environmental consciousness, eco-label, attitude, green advertising and price sensitivity significantly influence their buying behavior as well as their perception towards them. An online questionnaire was distributed to 385 respondents, and the data gathered for this quantitative study were analyzed through descriptive statistics, t-test, and multiple linear regression. The findings of this study show that while all factors are perceived as important for both generations and have a role in their behavior as a consumer of green cosmetics products, only price sensitivity significantly affect the purchasing behavior of Gen X. On the other hand, both eco-label and price sensitivity significantly affects Gen Z’s purchasing behavior toward green cosmetic products.

A research of factors and the process of a territory’s tourism ecosystem formation

The article presents the results of the authors’ research on issues of ecosystems in tourism, digital ecosystems, the impact of digital transformation and platformization of the economy and business on the process of formation of territories’ tourism ecosystems, the role and development trends of the hotel industry as an element of the tourism ecosystem, the impact of information and communication, including digital and mobile technologies on the processes of integration and collaboration of tourism ecosystems’ stakeholders. The authors have studied theoretical and methodological foundations of the ecosystem approach in science and business, including the concept of “ecosystem” in various fields, specifics of formation of ecosystems in business in the digital economy. The authors have studied the ecosystem approach in the development of tourism and hospitality within a tourist territory. Based on a survey of experts, the authors assessed factors of formation of a territory’s tourism ecosystem and tourism development projects and developed methodological recommendations for the development of a territory’s tourism and hospitality based on the ecosystem approach. The authors have proposed and substantiated the model of a tourist territory’s ecosystem and the mechanism for an interaction of stakeholders. As an object of study, the authors have considered organizations of the tourism industry, including the hotel industry as an element of tourism development in a tourist territory within the framework of the ecosystem approach. The subject of the study is the system of socio-economic, organizational, and managerial relations and relations, partnerships and technologies in the development of tourism in a tourist territory, in general, and the hotel industry as an element of the tourism industry, in particular, studied within the framework of the ecosystem approach. The obtained results might be used as a basis for continuing scientific research on issues of tourism ecosystems, digital transformation of the tourism industry, designing the development of tourist territory, in the work of tourism administrations at all levels, organizations in the field of tourism and hospitality.

Adverse Impact of Lockdown During the COVID-19 Pandemic on MSME (Especially the Indian Handicraft Sector): A Study on Highlighted Exit Strategies and Important Determinants

The adverse impact of COVID-19 posed immense challenges for the global economy. For small- and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the handicraft sectors, it was exceptionally difficult to maintain operations during a global crisis. Without crisis management plans in place, business owners run the risk of having their operations abruptly terminated. Therefore, the researchers sought to comprehend and study the factors that led to the shutdown and departure strategies of micro-enterprises (in the handicraft sector) during the pandemic. In order to organize a focused study, an outline for the exploratory study was used, and enrolled micro and businesses in the Eastern region were specifically selected. According to the study’s findings, the majority of micro-enterprises were single-person businesses and had been in working for three and six years. As a result, the respondents’ most typical issues are training and retooling of crisis or pandemic-sensitive handicrafts such as famous business approaches for micro-enterprises owners, particularly in the handmade industry, as well as research into the negative effects of lockdown on the handicraft sector a part of micro small and medium enterprises are all examples of crisis-sensitive strategies for entrepreneurs with small businesses in the crafts sector.

Environmental Protection and Economic Development in Zimbabwe

The main objective of the paper is to assess the implications of the business expansion approach to economic development in Zimbabwe on the quality of the environment. In terms of the research methodology, the research adopted a mixed methodology and utilized a parallel semantic convergent research design. The study gathered data using questionnaires, interviews, and observations from the 600 randomly selected businesses from the agriculture, entrepreneurship, and small-scale mining sectors. Data were analyzed using STATA. The paper hypothesized that there is no significant relationship between entrepreneurship, mining, and agricultural activities under Zimbabwe’s expansion business approach and environmental protection. The findings have highlighted that Zimbabwe is dominated by illegal entrepreneurship, peri-urban agriculture, and artisanal mining activities. Such illegal activities negatively affect the quality of the environment in Zimbabwe. There is a lot of environmental degradation and land pollution associated with the expansion of nonformal and illegal business activities in Zimbabwe. However, the paper concluded that illegal agricultural, mining, and entrepreneurial activities which have been expanding since 2008 in Zimbabwe are affecting the quality of the environment. In terms of policy implications, it is necessary to put in place institutional instruments and enforcement mechanisms to protect the environment under the Zimbabwe expansion business approach.

Green Marketing: An Ethical and Anti-Environmental Resilient Approach for Sustainable Business

Green Marketing is not a novel concept in the field of marketing. The American Marketing Association designates green marketing as an essential tool of marketing that promotes environmentally friendly products. In line with this thought, the present study attempts to show that green marketing practices entail the core elements of sustainability i.e., social responsibility, environmental concern and economic growth that reinforce in promoting sustainable development. Besides, it also argues that though there are many overarching implications and challenges in green marketing practices yet it substantially contributes in attaining sustainable development goals by incorporating ethical standards in all of its operational antecedents. This study therefore incorporates the notion of transgenerational ethics of Kant’s Categorical Imperative in green marketing approach. In doing so, it would serve as a guiding forum to the contemporary marketers primarily to prevent the absolute anthropocentrism and pragmatically engage the interests of society, economy and environment equitably by inculcating ethical practices in daily phenomena. At the corollary, the argument shows that the imperative of ethics in green marketing would be an ethical and anti-environmental resilient approach for ensuring sustainable business.

Концептуальний підхід data-driven бюджетування інвестиційних проєктів для сталого розвитку України

This article presents a concept for decision-making on budgeting investment projects using public funds. The proposed approach is to embed data-driven budgeting into a system of anticipatory government management based on the results of fund managers. Through data and analytics, local authorities can better allocate resources and determine the priority of investments that improve community performance. Problem Statement. Data-driven budgeting of fund managers, in the network of which investment projects are carried out, is necessary to eliminate the systematic underperformance of capital expenditures of budgets compared to the plan and to ensure sustainable development using budgetary funds. Ukrainian budget legislation separates capital expenditures, development expenditures, and investment projects using budgetary funds, but does not clearly coordinate the use of these concepts. Purpose. Conceptualization of the technique of data-driven budgeting in the implementation of investment projects for the reconstruction of Ukraine on the basis of anticipatory management determination of proposals for its legislative regulation, data requirements and methods of analysis of expenditures for investment projects using budgetary funds. Methods. The study uses methods of analysis and subsequent theoretical generalization of foreign experience of data-driven budgeting at the community level from UN, IMF, OECD materials, and foreign scholars' research. Results. The implementation of investment projects based on anticipatory management is described, and proposals for legislative regulation, requirements for data and expenditure analysis methods for investment projects using budgetary funds are formulated. It is determined that data-driven budgeting facilitates cooperation between the government, fund managers, and citizens, who as interested parties increase transparency and accountability in implementing investment projects by using budgetary data. The use of long-term budget programs in data-driven budgeting for investment projects is considered. It is determined that the economic classification of expenditures and budget financing requires review and modernization for a closer connection with investment projects and budget development expenditures. The need for a systemic approach to ensuring the quality use of data based on requirements for data and methods of their use in data-driven budgeting is substantiated. A format for a long-term development budget based on anticipatory management is proposed, alongside annual and three-year consumption budgets. Conclusions. Conceptualization of data-driven budgeting emphasizes the use of a special format for budget programs that manage development expenditures. Investment projects using budget funds should be implemented through long-term budget programs and with a business approach by fund managers in whose networks they are carried out.

Business and human rights, free speech, surveillance, and illiberalism: Contextualizing academic freedom as a constitutional right and an emerging freedom under international law

AbstractWith special focus on free speech, as well as on classroom surveillance (proliferating in the Covid-pandemic digital learning environment), the paper aims to identify contextual dimensions for academic freedom as a matured legal concept – and one to be assessed via a business and human rights approach, due to its peculiar position between the public and private spheres. The project is triggered by the fact that despite its widespread usage in international documents and domestic constitutions, academic freedom remains underdeveloped in terms of conceptual tools, operationalizing mechanisms, monitoring methods and benchmarking schemes. There are also competing notions on how to best conceptualize it: as an individual right, a set of requirements for autonomous institutional design, a field to be regulated for market service providers or public commodities, a tool for international policy making, or academic ranking – not to mention the challenge of how to incorporate challenges brought by social justice movements. These considerations all require different policy tools and adjacent legal targeting.

Business Digitization’s Edifying Effects on a Firm’s Ambidexterity

Improving a firm’s simultaneous capabilities to exploit the existing opportunities whilst also exploring future opportunities is critical for catalysing a firm’s ambidexterity and sustainability. In that context, this research evaluates how business digitisation edifies a firm’s ambidexterity in the increasingly more discontinuous modern business environment. Using a qualitative-Delphi Method, the study diagnoses the perceptions of about twenty expert panelists from a cross-section of twenty enterprises in Aberdeen-Scotland on how digitised enterprise systems are often utilised to discern how the existing as well as future trends can be maximised to leverage a firm’s ambidexterity and sustainability. Findings indicated some of the businesses to take the initiatives to leverage their exploitation and exploration capabilities. However, it was still highly evident from most of the narratives that as most of the businesses focused on leveraging their existing state of performance, cost savings or the use of rational plans that only aim to achieve short-term business quests, it tends to undermine data optimisation in the simultaneous improvement of a firm’s exploitation and exploration capabilities. This is because most quests for optimising the digitised business systems or to undertake the required changes to leverage ambidexterity are often constrained by a combination of different heterogeneous internal business conditions that either cause low investments in digitisation or inflexibility that constrains change. It is not only the level of digitisation’s optimisation which is low, but also most businesses’ greater preponderance to focus on exploitation at the expense of exploration. Such business approach was found to undermine most quests for bolstering a firm’s ambidexterity. Considering that this area had not been explored by most of the previous studies, the study concludes with certain propositions that can enrich the existing ambidexterity theories by offering new insights on how digitisation highlights a new paradigm that can be optimised to bolster a firm’s ambidexterity.

Scaling Digital Innovation’s Generativity to Re-Invent Organisational Capabilities

As firms in the Schumpeterian environment of creative destruction seek to creatively edge out each other, frequent organisational capabilities’ re-invention tends to be a critical prerequisite for unlocking new capabilities to catalyse a business’ sustainability. Given the growing importance of self-disruption as an antecedent for organisational re-invention, this empirical research explores whether improved level of the optimisation of digital innovation’s generativity would leverage organisational capabilities’ re-invention to counter threats in the constantly changing Schumpeterian environment of creative destruction. Using a qualitative research method, the empirical research explored the opinions of twenty-five personnel that constituted of IT and electronics engineering personnel from five innovative IT and digitally abreast organisations in Glasgow-Scotland. The Delphi method that was accomplished in five sequential focus group discussions explored the impact of the emerging digital innovation technologies not only on new digital product or service innovations, but also on organisational capabilities’ re-invention. Although novel service and retail models as well as novel marketing approaches were found to emerge from the utilisation of different digital innovation technologies, major inhibitors of the optimisation of digital innovation’s generativity were still found to arise from deeply embedded analog business systems or the paradox of having to digitize and respond to the needs of the yet largely analog-skewed market. To address such a challenge, this study proposes a digital organisational capabilities’ re-invention model to agitate the need for most businesses to adopt digital business approaches as antecedents for leveraging the optimisation of digital innovation’s generativity. This will not only aid the creation of new products or services, but also re-invention of new capabilities to bolster a firm’s competitive edge. However, future research can still explore skills and competencies that are critical for digital innovation’s optimisation.

BIODIESEL PRODUCTION: POTENTIAL AND FUTURE TRENDS – A REVIEW

Biodiesel is a potential renewable energy that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase energy security. Biodiesel has been shown to have lower carbon emissions compared to petroleum diesel, and it can reduce GHG by as much as 86%. Governments around the world have set targets for renewable energy, with a specific focus on the use of biofuels like biodiesel. Biodiesel can be derived from various feedstocks such as animal lipids, vegetable oils, and waste oils. It can be made through the transesterification of triglyceride with ethanol or methanol. This reaction requires strong base catalysts, such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in order to produce methyl esters. The potential of biodiesel has led to advancements in its production, such as the use of enzymatic transesterification, novel feedstocks, and the optimization of production parameters. Additionally, various companies have ventured into biodiesel production with a range of business models and approaches.

The Emergence of a New Business Approach in the Fashion and Apparel Industry: The Ethical Retailer

This study sought to examine new marketing ethics (ME) practices that can foster strong moral grounding in the fashion and apparel retail firms to delineate a new approach within this industry. We built on the distributive justice and stakeholder orientation literature to conduct a multi-case study with 15 self-proclaimed ethical fashion and apparel retailers to identify whether and how they differ from traditional and fast fashion retailers. Several data collection techniques were used to gather the evidence (i.e., direct observation, physical and online interviews) combined with a netnographic approach (i.e., online observation of websites and social media content). Our findings show that these firms are guided by ethical-centered values, which are reflected in their product components, purpose, communication practices, and sourcing practices, which point to the emergence of a new business approach. We contribute to the macromarketing literature by identifying a new perspective on the role of morality in ME based on distributive justice principles and stakeholder orientation. We also propose a more refined definition of ethical fashion and apparel retailers.