Organizational Life Cycle Research Articles

Correction: Rimano et al. The Environmental Impact of Organizations: A Pilot Test from the Packaging Industry Based on Organizational Life Cycle Assessment. Sustainability 2021, 13, 11402

The authors would like to make the following corrections about the published paper [...]

Organisational life cycle models: innovative companies

Against the backdrop of accelerating the processes of digitalization of the economy, regionalization and globalization, the development of the knowledge economy and the intellectual economy, the topic of the companys life cycle is becoming more and more relevant and in demand. At the same time, there is a growing interest on the part of both researchers and practitioners in understanding certain aspects of the organization of processes within companies that have certain specifics, in particular, within innovative companies. The purpose of this study is to study the existing life cycle models, to conduct a comparative analysis of the life cycle models of innovative enterprises. To achieve this goal, the following tasks are defined and solved in the article: to analyse the main domestic and foreign databases, to identify existing models of the life cycle of a company of innovative companies, to describe the main characteristics of these models and to conduct a comparative analysis of the stages of existing models of the life cycle of innovative companies. This study is based on company life cycle models published in scientific journals. For this, domestic and foreign melon databases were analysed. In the process of conducting the study, methods of theoretical generalization, comparison, grouping, system analysis and synthesis were used. As a result of the study, five models of the life cycle of innovative companies were identified, their main characteristics were formulated, and a comparative analysis of these models was carried out.

Combining organizational and product life cycle perspective to explore the environmental benefits of steel slag recovery practices

Sustainability in steel production is considered a global challenge which needs to be faced with coordinated actions. The aim of this study is to assess the environmental improvements of a steel mill in a circular economy perspective, through the Organizational Life Cycle Assessment (O-LCA) and the Product Life Cycle Assessment (P-LCA) methodologies. This study explores to what extent the improvements and the efforts to recover the steel slag can be detected using an organization perspective and making a comparison with the more traditional product perspective.The results obtained show that the case in which the steel slag is recovered has lower impacts than the case in which it is landfilled through both O-LCA and P-LCA applications and that the percentage variations are similar for 8 categories out of 10 demonstrating that for our case study, O-LCA and P-LCA can detect the efforts to recover slag similarly. Two categories, namely ADP-minerals&metals and EP-freshwater, are affected by the greater amount of metal and mineral raw materials needed if the slag is not treated and by the steel slag landfill disposal more significantly. What the results tell us is that the variations obtained for this study in the P-LCA application are greater than those obtained in O-LCA application, due to two methodological aspects, namely the application of allocation procedures and the choice of the system boundaries. Finally, it emerges that O-LCA methodology can detect environmental improvements of circularity practices, but the reduction of the impacts is less clear than P-LCA application. What is transferable is that O-LCA and P-LCA methodologies are not interchangeable to quantify the environmental benefits and address the efforts to improve a process in terms of circularity.

An Organisational-Life Cycle Assessment Approach for Internet of Things Technologies Implementation in a Human Milk Bank

Human milk banks (HMB) are responsible for screening and recruiting milk donors with surplus milk to their own infant’s needs, followed by transporting, heat-treating (pasteurising) and microbiologically confirming the donor human milk (DHM) is safe to issue to vulnerable infants. Maintaining the safety and quality of DHM are vital requirements in HMB operations. DHM must be maintained in ideal temperature conditions throughout the whole period—from expression until delivery. In this regard, monitoring technologies (e.g., sensors, Big Data and the Internet of Things) have become a viable solution to avoid food loss, allowing prompt corrective action. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the trade-offs between optimising DHM transportation and the environmental impact of implementing such technologies. The environmental performance was carried out through an Organisational Life Cycle Assessment (O-LCA). The electricity consumed during milk storage is the main driver for the environmental impacts in this organisation, responsible for up to 82% of the impacts in ionising radiation. The transportation stage and the treatment of discarded DHM were also relevant for ozone formation and marine eutrophication, respectively. Considering the strategy to integrate monitoring technologies to control the temperature conditions during transportation and the reduction of milk discarded by 3%, an environmental impact reduction can be also observed. In some categories, such as global warming, it could avoid around 863 kg of CO2-eq per year. The sensitivity analysis showed that the impacts of the HMB depend highly on the transport distance. In addition, changing the transportation mode from motorcycles to drones or electric vehicles can affect the environmental performance of this organisation. Therefore, human milk transport logistics must be studied in a multidisciplinary way to encompass all possible impacts of these strategies.

Designing an Appropriate Model for Assessing the Performance of Enterprises at Various Stages of the Organizational Life Cycle

Objective: The current research aims to design a performance evaluation model using the Balanced Scorecard approach, based on the organizational life cycle. Methods: This study is of an applied research type and is survey-based in terms of analysis of collected data. The required data were collected through fieldwork using three researcher-made questionnaires and document study method. The statistical population of this research included 320 managers and supervisors of Iran Khodro Investment Development Company and its subsidiaries. For data analysis, group hierarchical analysis was used. The sample size was determined using the Morgan table, and respondents were selected via simple random sampling. Findings: The results of the data analysis showed that organizations pay more attention to their internal processes during the birth stage. However, during the growth stage, they focus more on increasing market share and customer satisfaction, and on the growth of production and income, which in this case moves the organization towards enlargement and elimination of competitors. During the maturity stage, increasing the economic value of the organization and creating more assets and income along with consolidating and strengthening the market position are of greater interest. Narcissism, lack of attention to renovation and innovation, creativity, as well as increased levels of costs and bureaucracy cause the organization to decline and, since it cannot maintain its market and balance its income with expenses, it quickly moves to the death stage in the organizational life cycle. Conclusion: The findings of this research can be of interest to human resource planners, especially automotive companies, and can be useful for improving quality and achieving organizational goals.

The Magic Spark Model: The Future of Leadership Development

The crucial role in developing transformational leadership skills for the future is at the heart of business acumen today and while our model worked in this environment, we encourage additional experimentation using the magic spark model. In our experiment, we found a new way of leadership succession planning which is crucial for business success. Without selection and progression of leadership, the organizational life cycle will end with death. The magic spark model will help organizations better plan leadership succession and help them stay vital on the organizational life cycle. This article offers novel insights into the future of leadership succession planning. As executives across the globe develop a solid foundation that builds upon the idea of passing the torch (i.e., Succession Planning), they will be able to withstand any tumultuous activity facing organizations in our hypercompetitive work environment.

Značaj Direktive 2019/1151 u procesu digitalizacije kompanijskog prava Evropske unije

With the rapid development of information and communication technologies in the EU, the establishment of the digital single market through the EU's strategy has allowed for fair market competition using the internet by both individuals (natural persons) and legal entities. However, regulatory disparities among EU member states have posed challenges for businesses engaged in cross-border activities within the EU's single market. There are big differences among member states in terms of the availability of internet tools that enable entrepreneurs and companies to communicate with competent bodies regarding issues related to their business. Furthermore, e-government services differ among member states. Some member states offer comprehensive user-friendly services entirely online, while others struggle to provide digital solutions at crucial stages of a company's life cycle. In certain EU member states, the establishment of a company or the submission of document and information amendments to the register are only allowed in person, or in person or electronically, while in some member states this can only be done electronically. Digitalization was supposed to simplify the procedures for establishing business entities and enable free business establishment at the EU level. The aim of this paper is to analyze the legislative framework at the EU level, which should facilitate business operations in the digital world and provide security to participants in the European single market, with a special focus on EU Directive 2019/1151.

Digitalna dimenzija preduzetništva kao značajna dimenzija socijalne sigurnosti

Digital entrepreneurship represents an important component of economic development. This paper tries to emphasize the importance of the factors that belong to the digital dimension of the entrepreneurial ecosystem according to the EIDES methodology, in the early phase of the company's life cycle, from the area of human capital. The goal is to point out the role of these factors in improving economic stability and the ability of individuals to effectively respond to the challenges and opportunities of the modern digital environment. Understanding the importance of this dimension becomes crucial when defining policies and strategies aimed at improving the quality of life of individuals and the social community as a whole, ensuring fair access to economic and professional opportunities of importance for social security in the 21st century.

Accrual-based earnings management and organizational life cycles: Two-dimensional analysis

Accrual-based earnings management and organizational life cycles: Two-dimensional analysis

Towards a technology acceptance methodology for Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 fuses ubiquitous computing and leads to a culmination of physical, digital, and biological paradigms. Previously inanimate objects are enabled to “talk” to each other and to the users, and guide specific behaviours of speed, breadth, depth, and systems impact. Research suggests however that 70% of large-scale technological change programs don't reach their stated goals. Current theories and methodologies including Technological Transitions (TT), Digital Transformation (DT), Technology Acceptance Models (TAM, TAM2 & UTAUT), Multi-Level Perspectives (MLP), come with challenges and limitations. Management and key decision makers need new tools that will assist them to identify which factors their companies must consider to efficiently adapt to Industry 4.0. The aim of this paper is to address existing TAM, DT and MLP challenges, and propose an Industry 4.0 specific digital transformation model, involving business and management practices. Ideas, best practices and different prospective, from diverse markets and industries, will be mitigated and combined. The synergetic methodology will support management, enhance organizational problem-solving capabilities, and provide recommendations to formulate a strategic approach based on company lifecycle, corporate governance, enterprise culture, change management, company size and structure. Key lessons learned will help in forming evolutionary perspectives specific to the needs and challenges of Industry 4.0 transitions.

Charitable Associations and the Formation of the Public Sphere in the Russian Empire in the 19th Century

The author recreates the life cycle of a charitable organization in Imperial Russia. It based on the materials of a wide range of sources, primarily documents of the records of charitable associations, their reports, charters, minutes of meetings, etc., as well as archival documents and periodical materials. The author makes an attempt to identify the specific features and peculiarities of voluntary charitable associations, to find out their role in the formation of the public sphere of Imperial Russia. The author comes to the conclusion that charitable associations played a significant role in the formation of the public sphere. By developing effective forms of social assistance they contributed to the formation of values of altruism and solidarity in society, in the development of ideas and principles of service to one's neighbor, as well as the consolidation of representatives of various social groups and professional communities around them. By helping the people of various social and professional status, consolidating professional communities on significant tasks, charitable associations contributed to the formation of elements of civil society within the “soslovnoye” society. They were a model of partnership between society and the state in solving social issues. In the absence of a state social security system in pre-revolutionary Russia, the emerging mechanism of social assistance turned out to be very viable.

Financial innovation system reform in Chinese banking: the impact on bank profitability

China's innovation capacity has been growing rapidly in recent years, but the country still needs to improve its national innovation system and form a financial services system that is compatible with the full life cycle of science and innovation companies. Looking back at China's history of financial development, the choice and feedback of commercial banks on regulatory policy has been an important factor influencing regulatory policy. With China's financial market gradually opening up to the outside world and an influx of foreign commercial banks, Chinese commercial banks are facing increasing competitive pressure. Improving the profitability of Chinese commercial banks to enhance their competitiveness has become a key to financial innovation and reform in the Chinese banking sector. Therefore, this study investigates the profitability and profit efficiency levels of Chinese banking industry over the period 2012-2020 using stochastic frontier approach. The empirical analysis leads to the following conclusions: The result is that national joint-stock commercial banks and city commercial banks, which have been given more management freedom, are trying to adapt to the dynamically changing environment and show an increase in efficiency. State-owned commercial banks maintain high levels of efficiency, but are more conservative to change. Agricultural commercial banks, for the most part, are showing efficiency gains, with no strong deterioration shown. Keywords: national innovation system, banking system, profitability, central bank, return on assets

РИСК, ДОХОДНОСТЬ И ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ ГЕНЕРАЛЬНЫХ ДИРЕКТОРОВ КАК ФАКТОРЫ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ КОМПАНИИ

The aim of this paper is to combine and analysethe relationship between the company’s financial characteris-tics: risk, return, andthe leaders’ characteristics for various stages of the organization’s life cycle. The results of the em-pirical analysis of this paper reveal the dependencies between both the physiological and personal characteristics of lead-ers. Such indicators as education, previous experience as a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CEO remuneration, and the number of years in the current position were evaluated for this analysis. The sample is represented by 409 companies in-cluded in the S&P 500 index. The profitability of the companies is assessed using an integral indicator, whereas the risk is assessed using the Leverage Beta coefficient and the Altman Z-account. The stages of the company’s life cycle are distin-guished through the ratio of cash from operating, financial, and investment activities. This paper also examines the posi-tion of companies as an analogue of the portfolio and is noted on the Capital Market Line (CML). To assess the relation-ship, decision trees were built taking into account risk and return for different stages of the life cycle of companies: “growth”, “maturity” and “decline”. As a result, it has been concluded that different characteristics of leaders are signifi-cantat various stages of the organization’s life cycle. So, for the “growth” stage, the remuneration has a positive effect on the risk indicator, but after a certain level of increase, it has a completely inverse relationship. The indicator for a leader’s education is non-linear, and the education received in the financial sphere has a negative relationship with the company’s risk indicator for the “growth” stage. The indicator for the CEO’’s previous work is more significant for risk assessment than the company’s return.

Effective company management – case study

Aim of the work: The main purpose of the research is to develop a concept of a new management efficiency model for the Frost Wealth Management company, which on the one hand will ensure business continuity in a competitive environment, and on the other hand will enable its development. Main research hypothesis: In the portfolio of competencies of Frost Wealth Management managers: professionalism, social, business, business competencies are key to the effectiveness of company management. The hypothesis was formulated on the basis of the following research assumption: in effective performance management in a company, a special role is attributed to the competencies of the managerial staff. Methodology: The basis of the research material are the economic categories of efficiency, management, management efficiency, literature on the subject and other sources. The studies used, among others, models: R. Walkowiak and Z. Mietlewski’s competency model and E. Greiner’s organization life cycle model Research results: Diligence, flexibility and the ability to make decisions are the key competencies that, according to the surveyed Frost Wealth Management managers, contribute to effective company management. The Frost Wealth Management company with its model of management efficiency is closer in L. Greiner’s model to the “Growth by guidelines” phase. Confronting the first five competencies of R. Walkowiak and Z. Mietlewski’s model with the first five competencies of the competency model reconstructed by us, we notice that the sequence of competencies in these authors is not identical to the competencies in our reconstructed model. In the model of R. Walkowiak and Z. Mietlewski, the key competence is the ability to make decisions, which in the model reconstructed by us is in third place.

Does energy information disclosure really improve investment efficiency? A cross-exploration based on company life cycle and unexpected expenditure

Energy is important for environmental improvement and company development, and is displayed by information disclosure which plays a critical role in investment efficiency. This study re-explored the effect of energy information disclosure on investment efficiency in heavy pollution industry from the cross-perspective of company life cycle and expected expenditure. Specifically, this study divided companies into three groups: growth, maturity, decline stages, and in these groups, companies were sub-divided into two sub-groups: over-investment and under-investment. Collecting data from the listed companies in China, the results show that energy information disclosure significantly improves investment efficiency in growth and maturity stages when companies over-invest. However, this relationship is not obvious for over-invested companies in decline stage. Furthermore, when the investment is insufficient, the disclosure of energy information also has a positive effect on investment efficiency in growth and decline stages. While this relationship is inverted U-shaped in mature companies. This work provides suggestions for managing companies in heavy pollution to improve investment efficiency, and improve environmental improvement.

Estimation of Palm Oil Plantation Carbon Footprint and Reduction Strategy Using the O-LCA and MCDM

According to data obtained from the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report (GHG) and Monitoring, Reporting, Verification (MPV), GHG emissions are mostly caused by five industries: energy, waste, agriculture, food and land use coalition, and industry. The palm oil industry has grown significantly during the past few decades, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. The primary output of the palm oil sector is crude palm oil (CPO). It is anticipated that Indonesia will keep trying to satisfy domestic demand for palm oil. However, people still seek out goods made with palm oil that is environmentally friendly to create. Environmental concerns, particularly the claim that CPO production is a source of carbon release, are another obstacle to Indonesia's CPO exports to European and American nations (Uning et al., 2020). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the recommended approach to measure a product's or process's environmental impact with accurate results, according to a body of literature (Wahyono & Hadiyanto, 2019). Although the life cycle assessment method was first developed to evaluate how items affect the environment, it may also be customized to meet the needs of the business. As a result of this modification, UNEP developed a brand-new technique known as Organizational Life Cycle Assessment (O-LCA). There have not been many studies done in the past that use O-LCA to assess how business processes affect the environment, particularly with the idea of sustainability. Organizational life cycle assessments enable businesses to identify critical environmental operations and make improvements while considering a variety of sustainability variables, as well as other elements like environmental, economic, social, and technological considerations. Keywords: Carbon Footprint, Palm Oil Plantation, Life Cycle Analysis, Multi-Criteria

Innovation management in the construction industry based on an ontological model

Aim. The presented study develops an ontological model of innovation from the industrial perspective (through the example of the construction industry) reflecting the relationship between innovation and the goals of their implementation and management objects, which would ensure the optimization of the innovation management system in the long term and facilitate the introduction of a quality assessment and selection system for more efficient operation of organizations. Tasks. The authors analyze the existing terminology and types of innovations at construction enterprises; classify the objects of innovation management; develop an ontological model of innovation at construction enterprises in the form of a directed graph. Methods. This study is based on the theory of innovation management, elements of system analysis, practical foundations of the organizational life cycle, and graph theory. Results. The obtained results can be used both in building an innovation management model at construction enterprises and in applying the methodology for assessing the quality of innovation. The relationship between management goals, implemented innovations, and management objects is determined and presented in the form of an ontological model. Conclusions. Development of an ontological model makes it possible not only to determine the relationship between various elements of economic, scientific, technical, and innovation activities of a construction company, but also to develop approaches to assessing their quality and building an innovation management system. Further research should focus on the aspects of innovation implementation at construction enterprises, its technological features, and processes that can be transformed for the successful implementation of these innovations.

Nisha Files a Complaint

The case discusses a pressing problem that a Human Resource (HR) Lead was confronted with. A female colleague in the organization had filed a complaint of sexual harassment against a senior male colleague. The HR Lead had never dealt with such a case before and was worried about how to go about the enquiry process and resolve the matter based on the laws applicable in India. This complaint was received at such a stage in the organizational lifecycle when the organization—Kapoor Housing Finance Limited (KHFL) had acquired another organization—Munich Home Finance Limited (MHFL) which was the Indian subsidiary of a multinational bank. While in the short run, the complaint of sexual harassment was seemingly important, however, in the long run, this complaint could be a sign of deeper issues that might have emerged due to the recent organizational change process of Merger and Acquisition (M&A) that the organization and its employees were witnessing. The employees of both the firms could be under stress because of changing expectations and uncertainties arising from restructuring, reshuffling and fear of relocation and layoffs, etc. How should the managers deal with changing dynamics arising out of the organizational change? The case attempts at finding solutions to the problems to increase the level of co-operation, trust and collaboration among the employees.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPANY LIFE CYCLE STAGES: AN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Company life cycle models have been the focus of researchers’ attention for decades, resulting in numerous definitions and determination of stages. Managers are striving to make appropriate strategic decisions at the right time to maximize opportunities linked to various life cycle stages. Assessing a company’s life cycle and determining the stage of the cycle allows us to predict a company’s future development and to prevent crises or even the company’s early termination. In recent years, there has been increased interest in the life cycle assessment of products. However, as a corporate life cycle is longer than that of a product, it still definitely deserves attention – mainly in the field of quantitative criteria. The aim of this paper is to propose quantitative variables to determine a company’s life cycle following two requirements: (1) the variables are derived from publicly available financial statements; and (2) the classification method is suitable for a large sample size including non-listed companies in the stock exchange. Our study shows that our three variables (capital expenditures, return on equity, and sales growth) are suitable for stage classification for each firm-year under the condition of following several steps: counting industry quintiles and/or definition of boundaries, score assignment to stages, designing composite score and sample selection. Based on descriptive statistics of each life cycle stage it is possible to assess the variables used in the context of the further strategic direction of the company. To determine the persistence of enterprises in the defined stages, a transition matrix for the four future years was performed, which showed that companies in the growth and maturity stages will be sustained in these two phases in the vast majority of cases. Finally, we discuss the limitations of the study and further research directions.

A Qualitative Review of Market-based Company Life Cycle Models

Understanding the stages of the life cycle of companies is fundamental to their management and performance, since the characteristics of companies vary according to the moment they are going through. With this focus, the purpose of this article is to identify and analyze the models of the different company cycles found in the literature presenting comparisons with a life cycle model proposed by an author present in the industrial market. The company life cycle models were identified through a systematic literature review that aimed to rescue the perception of several authors. The authors have a similar approach on the subject of the study, and their proposals come from the 1980s and 1990s, characterizing a time gap on the subject. The article contributes to the research on the company life cycle, as it presents models identified in the literature, as well as a perspective of the stages of companies emphasizing a life cycle model used by industries in the market. The article identifies similarities and differences between company life cycle models used in the market and used others in academic scientific circles. The results of the article provide the characteristics of the company life cycle stages to managers of industrial organizations, helping to understand the organization’s moment in the market, as well as to understand the next stages to be developed.