Company Interviews Research Articles

Bio-Based Plastics in Product Design: The State of the Art and Challenges to Overcome

Replacing fossil-based feedstock with renewable alternatives is a crucial step towards a circular economy. The bio-based plastics currently on the market are predominantly used in single-use applications, with remarkably limited uptake in durable products. This study explores the current state of the art of bio-based plastic use in durable consumer products and the opportunities and barriers encountered by product developers in adopting these materials. A design analysis of 60 durable products containing bio-based plastics, and 12 company interviews, identified the pursuit of sustainability goals and targets as the primary driver for adopting bio-based plastics, despite uncertainties regarding their reduced environmental impact. The lack of knowledge of bio-based plastics and their properties contributes to the slow adoption of these materials. Furthermore, the lack of recycling infrastructure, the limited availability of the plastics, and higher costs compared to fossil-based alternatives, are significant barriers to adoption. Product developers face significant challenges in designing with bio-based plastics, but opportunities exist; for example, for the use of dedicated bio-based plastics with unique properties. When designing with bio-based plastics, product developers must think beyond the physical product and consider sourcing and recovery, which are not typically part of the conventional product design process.

Human Resource Development Human Resource Management to Increase Job Satisfaction

This research aims to determine human resource management to increase job satisfaction with the performance of public works employees at PT Anima Tour & Travel Umrah, Surabaya Regency. This research is quantitative research because the approach used is for research proposals, processes, going to the field, company interviews, data conclusions and the content of the interviews. The subjects of this research were public works employees at PT Anima Tour & Travel, Surabaya City. This company has a branch and its head is located in Gresik. This research is all employees at PT Anima Tour & Travel in the city of Surabaya, numbering quite a lot of employees, more than 10 employees, showing that job satisfaction does not have an effect on employee work

Smart manufacturing maturity assessment: a Turkish case study in glass balcony manufacturing enterprise

ABSTRACT Smartness journey involves increasing knowledge availability and maturity in technological, organizational, managerial, and human dimensions for the transformation of an enterprise. This article implements a systematic methodology and multi-dimensional maturity assessment tool to measure the maturity in the mentioned dimensions by offering a Turkish case study. Contrary to frequent mention of sectors such as automotive in relation to smartness concept, this study offers a real-life application in an adverse sector: glass balcony manufacturing. The methodology calculates weighted maturity index, determines the maturity levels for each dimension, and aggregates them into an overall enterprise maturity assessment. While applying the methodology, ratings are obtained via case company interview, and weight set utilized are determined via academic experts having practical sectoral expertise. Based on the findings, specific suggestions are provided to the case company for smart manufacturing implementation in multiple dimensions for their smartness journey. The study is original in comprehensively handling all maturity dimensions; demonstrating how smartness maturity can be practically measured in a case company by a flexible and weighted approach; obtaining simple, easy-to-interpret measurements; and authenticity of the sector.

China’s Evolving Role in the Chemical Global Value Chain

This paper explores China’s integration into the chemical global value chain (GVC) in the past decade through the experience of foreign chemical companies. It examines how the intellectual monopoly of foreign companies help them to exercise control in the GVC, but over time how the challenges of co-evolving with local rival Chinese companies erode that advantage as they face the challenge of maintaining market share by learning to collaborate within a very different innovation environment. It explores these developments by contextualizing the presence of Chinese companies within particular segments of the GVC and through a longitudinal series of company interviews.

Workplace travel planning: Case Finland

Sustainability is important for companies today and many companies set sustainability targets for their operation. Work-related travelling is one of the functions in which sustainability could be improved and Workplace Travel Plan (WTP) offers a valuable tool for that. This paper presents the results of a study conducted in Finland during spring 2021. The aim of the study was to analyze the current state of sustainable commute and the need to develop WTPs in Finland. The study was based on interviews of Finnish transport authorities, cities and companies and a survey targeted to Finnish organizations. In addition, literature was studied to support the process. The results indicate that WTPs are not yet broadly implemented in Finland, but organizations could profit from a guideline or a toolkit for implementation.

Governed by digital technology?

Digitalisation is often associated with the domination of technology over humans. This article aims to develop a concept of self-perpetuation that illuminates the relationship between technology and social domination instead of focusing only on technological properties. Drawing on Marx’s concept of real subsumption and interviews in industrial companies, we analyse specific forms of self-perpetuation that take place in the digitalised working world. In doing so, we critically examine the diagnosis of digital Taylorism which assumes a comprehensive elimination of the subjectivity of workers. In contrast, we show that digital technology allows for other forms of domination based on the flexibility of living labour.

Proposed a Design Company Performance Management System by Using Balanced Scorecard in a Nickel Mining Company (Case: PT Gema Kreasi Perdana)

Indonesia is one of the countries that has the largest nickel reserves in the world. In the Asian region, Indonesia’s nickel laterite reserves are in the third position. Indonesia’s nickel reserves are around 800 thousand tons or about 30% of the world’s total nickel production, so that Indonesia has the potential to enjoy the demand for this stainless metal [7]. One of the companies that carry out nickel mining in Southeast Sulawesi Province is PT Gema Kreasi Perdana (GKP). As a newly established company, a variety of strategies are implemented to survive and maintain its corporate existence in the mining industry. The company needs a method for measuring performance in order to monitor and analyze company performance. Implementing a Performance Management System is one way that can be used (PMS). Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is the employed PMS in this investigation. BSC is a method for measuring the performance of a firm by bridging the gap between strategy and execution. Based on a literature review, focus group discussions (FGD), and interviews with expert practitioners in their respective fields, objective strategies are determined for each perspective. The aims and initiatives for key performance indicators (KPIs) are determined based on benchmarking with other businesses and company interviews. Data analysis and weighting from each perspective will be carried out using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. In addition to using goal strategies, the researchers cascaded the process from the Business Unit Level to the Individual Level and limited in the HRGA (Human Resource and General Affair) and Strategic Affair Division of PT Gema Kreasi Perdana. The cascading process is believed important to ensure that the company’s vision, mission, and strategy are communicated clearly to all employees. The cascading process is regarded important to ensure that the company’s vision, goal, and strategy are communicated clearly to each employee. This cascading produced multiple objective strategies and KPIs for HRGA and Strategic Affair Division of PT GKP. As suggestions for future research, it would be preferable for the research to cascade to all levels within each division in the company.

Production Capability Creation (PCC) for Collaborative Construction Projects – A Qualitative Study From Finland

The construction industry has been suffering from modest productivity development in recent decades. To address the recognized problems, collaborative delivery methods are replacing traditional project delivery models, especially in large and complex projects.The aim of this research is to describe the production capability creation (PCC) process as a solution for planning the production phase. The PCC process should be implemented parallel to the design phase and owned by the production. A qualitative and inductive approach, based primarily on case company interviews, is applied to identify the twelve most important challenges for preplanning in the design phase from a group of different types of stakeholders in construction projects. Based on these challenges, the main areas of PCC are structured, solving the depicted production challenges, enabling a wasteless and cost-efficient production phase to avoid unnecessary delays and problems. Parallel implementation of PCC and design processes of the building naturally also improve the result of the design itself. With PCC, contractors can recognize the need for improvement in their processes but, more importantly, can directly contribute to the design of the building. Described PCC process solves major challenges emerging from the case company interviews. Earlier literature on capability creation is scarce, and for the construction industry it is even more narrow. The PCC process presented in this research enables significant improvement in efficiency and effectiveness, and the elimination of waste in the construction industry.

Supporting Occupational Health and Safety Risk Assessment Skills: A Case Study of Five Companies.

Financial burden due to poor occupational safety practices remains high although occupational health and safety (OHS) have improved in recent years. Conducting risk assessment is one way to improve OHS. Workplaces may not have sufficient expertise in risk assessment. The aim of this study was to identify the needed OHS risk assessment skills, current support in the workplaces and the ways to improve risk assessment skills. This study was conducted with the Delphi survey for OHS experts (n = 13) and with interviews (n = 41) in the case companies. OHS experts agreed that the most significant skills were for employees to identify hazards and minimize risks in one’s work; for supervisors to influence others with a good example; and for OHS experts to understand and manage the wholeness of safety practices and understand and manage the meaning, concepts, and criteria of risk assessment. The current main support methods were learning at work, training and written instructions. However, many of the interviewees felt that they had not received risk assessment training and that the support depended on their activity. Finally, the OHS experts determined that the most feasible ways to improve risk assessment skills were training, coaching and giving clear instructions. Likewise, the interviewees suggested various training methods. Based on these results, concrete development plans to improve risk assessment skills can be made.

Fit for the Future: Garment Quality and Product Lifetimes in a CE Context

The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industrial sectors in the world and its environmental impacts are huge. Garments are produced effectively at a low price, are of low quality, and are used for a very short time before ending up in increasing textile waste streams. One critical aspect in this context is the lifetime of a garment. Short garment lifetimes are the results of low quality and consumer dissatisfaction, or consumers’ constant search for newness, resulting in the early disposal of garments. This study focused on the issue of garment quality and how it can be connected to product lifetime. The research used a case study approach, including company interviews about working for quality, and aimed to expand on the topic of how quality impacts product lifetimes. Data analysis was conducted according to the principles of descriptive analysis and the discussion expanded to the circular economy context, creating an extended understanding of garment quality in a circular economy.

Taking the highway out: exiting the stock market to maximize results

Theoretical basis The essence of discounted cash flow valuation is simple; the asset is worth the expected cash flows it will generate, discounted to the reference date for the valuation exercise (normally, the day of the calculation). A survey article was written in Parker (1968), where it was stated that the earliest interest rate tables (use to discount value to the present) dated back to 1340. Works from Boulding (1935) and Keynes (1936) derived the IRR (Internal Rate of Return) for an investment. Samuelson (1937) compared the IRR and NPV (Net Present Value) approaches, arguing that rational investors should maximize NPV and not IRR. The previously mentioned works and the publication of Joel Dean’s reference book (Dean, 1951) on capital budgeting set the basis for the widespread use of the discounted cash flow approach into all business areas, aided by developments in portfolio theory. Nowadays, probably the model with more widespread use is the FCFE/FCFF (Free Cash Flow to Equity and Free Cash Flow to Firm) model. For simplification purposes, we will focus on the FCFE model, which basically is the FCF model’s version for the potential dividends. The focus is to value the business based on its dividends (potential or real), and thus care must be taken in order not to double count cash flows (this matter was treated in this case) and to assess what use is given to that excess cash flow – if it is invested wisely, what returns will come of them, how it is accounted for, etc. (Damodaran, 2006). The bridge to the FCFF model is straightforward; the FCFF includes FCFE and added cash that is owed to debtholders.

Commercial and Technical Productization for Fact-Based Product Portfolio Management Over Lifecycle

Increasing product variety and expanding commercial offering create a challenge for companies in terms of keeping their product portfolio profitable and managing it through the entire lifecycle of products. Effective productization and product portfolio management (PPM) practices, supported by product structure considerations, may hold a key for product profitability over lifecycle. This article examines the current practices and improvement possibilities in productization and PPM, including the targets and key performance indicators (KPI), by considering the product lines of a global engineering company. The analysis utilizes the previous literature, company interviews, and relevant company materials. The article demonstrates company difficulties, which are stemming from inadequate definition of productization and imperfect PPM targets and KPIs over the product lifecycle. An initial framework is formed to support more holistic productization over product lifecycle alongside creating suitable PPM targets and KPIs.

Vertical Integration and Outsourcing Decision Impact On Firm Performance: A Review Based Research on the Influence of Organizational Governance On firm Performance.

This studyexamines that how companies take decision of outsourcing and vertical integration a value-chain activity currently the most complex problem faced by most the organization around the globe and also find the relationship and highlight the role of every activity related to outsourcing and vertical integration. In result of survey and interviews of different small, medium and corporate level companies in KPK, procurement managers and operations managers mostly in view of that outsourcing is thebest way to work in the market, because of the cost reduction, minimumturnaround time and especially in the uncertain market of KPK.

Identification of factors and outcomes of trust in mobile supply chains

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is the identification of the conceptualization of trust as well as its factors and outcomes in interorganizational relations in mobile supply chains (MSCs) in which multiple stakeholders collaborate.Design/methodology/approachThe authors first used a comprehensive literature review to extract related factors and outcomes of trust. Second, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews in chemical and pharmaceutical companies in Germany. These organizations stand out as leaders in the concept of MSCs and have developed collaborations with various stakeholders.FindingsBased on the results, a conceptual model has been developed that elaborates on the nature of trust and its factors and outcomes for cultivating trustful stakeholder collaboration. The study identifies six factors or approaches for building trust and two outcomes resulting from mutual trust.Practical implicationsThe conceptual model presented in this study can serve as a basis for developing trust in MSCs. Interorganizational collaborations in MSCs are more successful when saturated with trust. The collaboration systems must allow the innovative organizations to create value through the adaptation of advanced technologies without failure.Originality/valueThe study adds to the body of knowledge in building trust in multiple stakeholder collaboration, particularly in innovative organizations which are involved with disruptive technologies.

Industry 4.0 in a project context: Introducing 3D printing in construction projects

As an example of Industry 4.0 in a project context, 3D printing of concrete has the potential to provide a paradigm shift for construction processes with significant implications for project management. This study investigates and reports the enablers and barriers of implementing the innovative 3D printing technology in construction projects, based on a literature review and case study interviews in construction companies. 3D printing can make construction processes more effective, provided that project managers can utilize the potential. The interviews with industry representatives highlighted the issue of cost efficiency of the technology. There is a need to show practical project examples on cost efficiency of the 3D printing technology. To those who manage new technologies 3D printing and other aspects of Industry 4.0 represent an opportunity, while those who struggle to work with and understand new technologies, they represent a challenge or even a threat. Future project managers better be in the first category.

The analysis of OLC stages and the venture capital investors from Adizes life cycle theory

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how the organization’s life-cycle stages influence the venture capital investor’s decision. The present study also aims to explore the relationships between life cycle stages and financing decisions of investors of an organization.Design/methodology/approachThe research focuses on a qualitative approach and adopts descriptive and case study methods to perceive the data collected. By the multi-case research approach, the authors conducted interviews in analytics and technological companies. The data originates from semi-structured interviews and publicly available data with various venture capital firms.FindingsIn this research, 10 stages of the organization’s life cycle from the Adizes theory have been considered. It starts from the first two stages as courtship and infancy to bureaucracy and death to the final stages. The results and findings indicate that life cycle stages influence venture capitalist financing decisions.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of the current research help venture capitalist to take investment decisions according to the life cycle stage of the organization. Furthermore, according to the stage of the organization, the owner of a venture capital firm can approach various venture capitalists for the betterment of the organization.Originality/valueThe novelty of this research is to consider a case-based approach involving Adizes’ life cycle in all 10 stages of venture capital firms that affect venture capitalists.

The use of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a political tool: A case study of tobacco industry in Swabi Pakistan

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is perceived as a major component of contemporary business policies. It is considered as a significant tool for business promotion and survival in the 21st century. The ideas of CSR (Welfare) and the business model, tobacco companies create a contradictory concept as it kills one-half of its chain users. Tobacco companies are strictly prohibited by international and local laws from the promotion of their products. In order to cope up with such strict laws, they start social initiatives. Hence, they take help from the idea of CSR. Through CSR they earned a soft image and entered in politics to influence public policy in their favour. This paper is an effort to discuss the real situation behind CSR initiatives of tobacco industry in Pakistan. Annual reports of Philip Morris Pakistan and Pakistan tobacco Company are analysed. Interviews of local companies’ owners or officials, research papers, newspaper articles and related sites have been investigated to get the conclusion. Resultantly, this paper emphasizes on the CSR regulations and centralization. The findings also indicate that tobacco money is directly and indirectly used in politics in the form of CSR.

Compliance In Broiler Agribusiness Partnership Contracts at PT. Ciomas Adisatwa Makassar Unit

Partnership is a business strategy carried out by two or more parties within a certain period of time to gain mutual benefits with the principle of mutual need and mutual growth. Because it is a business strategy, the success of the partnership is largely determined by the compliance among partners in carrying out business ethics. In this context, the parties who are directly involved in the partnership must have the basics of business ethics that are mutually understood and embraced as a starting point in running the partnership. This study is objected to determine the compliance level of the company PT. Ciomas adisatwa Makassar Unit as the core in the broiler agribusiness partnership contract. This study was conducted from January 2020 to February 2020. The sample in the study was 31 breeders who partnered with PT. Ciomas Adisatwa Makassar Unit. Data collection was carried out using farmer data recorded in the core company and farmer interviews. The data analysis used in this research is using the Champion formula. The result of the study indicates that the compliance level of the core company PT. Ciomas Adisatwa Makassar Unit in the broiler chicken agribusiness partnership system is in the compliant category (compliance rate of 81.81%).
 
 Keywords: Agribusiness, Broiler, Partnership, Compliance.

Neolocalism and Beyond––Sexing Up Rural Places*

AbstractIn this paper, we revise the concept of neolocalism by showing how companies that sex up rural places update and add novel nuances to neolocalist marketing. As the positive aspects drawn from tradition, stories and history are at the center of neolocalism, we aim to highlight how the usually negatively perceived images of the rural may be turned into something positive, trendy, desirable, and eventually sexy in the marketing of rural areas and businesses. The data of this study consists of nine company interviews and four consumer focus groups (n = 17). Our findings show how three features—namely, the hybridization of rural and urban, generational experience of millennials, and minimalist visualization—combined construct ideas for new image creation for rural areas. The concept of sexing up places ushers in new possibilities for rural actors and regions by reducing the distinction between rural and urban via visual imagery that is a particularly good match for the generational experience of the millennials. In this way, the study offers a novel way to tackle the challenges faced by rural areas, such as depopulation and image loss.

Reducing e-waste in China's mobile electronics industry: the application of the innovative circular business models

PurposeThe objectives of this research are to (1) fill the evidence gap of circular business activities and (2) enrich the knowledge base about the drivers of and barriers to circular economy business model (CEBM) that supports e-waste reduction in China’s mobile electronics industry. To answer the overarching research question of whether there are CEBMs emerging to address e-waste in China’ mobile electronics industry, we in this paper divided it into three sub-questions: (1) What CEBMs can support e-waste reduction? (2) Is there evidence for their implementation in China? and (3) What are the drivers of and barriers to these business model innovations?Design/methodology/approachWe started with setting the scene on the importance of better e-waste management and the scale of e-waste problem in China. Building on the oft-quoted ReSOLVE framework, developed by EMF (2015) and consolidated in Lewandowski (2016), we have refined from it 11 CEBMs to suit the context of e-waste reduction. These 11 models include regenerate, life cycle extension, take-back services, product sharing systems, optimise resource value, produce on demand, circular supplies, resource recovery, industrial symbiosis, product-as-a-service and transformative innovation. We have mapped these refined models against the evidence of circular business practices identified in the corporate sustainability reports of eight out of top 12 mobile electronics manufacturers in China.FindingsOur research findings show that six out of these 11 CEBMs are de facto practised in many of these companies. They include life cycle extension, collection services, optimise resource value, circular supplies, resource recovery and industrial symbiosis, although circular economy is still early-stage endeavours in the industry. As confirmed in our expert and company interviews, CEBM stems largely from profit and policy drivers. The key to building successful CEBMs to eliminate e-waste is, indeed, multi-stakeholder collaboration across the mobile electronics industry, which involves effective collection, reuse and recycling systems.Originality/valueThe lessons learnt can promote peer learning among EEE manufacturers and inform policymakers of effective strategies to create an enabling environment in which circular economy models can thrive.