Sustainability In Today Research Articles

Green manufacturing, supply chain alertness, supply chain preparedness and manufacturing performance in a developing economy

PurposeThis research analyses the linkages between green manufacturing (GM) and manufacturing performance (MP) dimensions comprising sustainable performance (SuP) (economic [EcP], social [SP] and environmental [ENP]) and operational performance (OP) with supply chain alertness (SCAL) and supply chain preparedness (SCP) as mediators.Design/methodology/approachThis deductive-quantitative approach embraces the explanatory design. It analyses 285 datasets gathered from structured questionnaires via structural equation modelling.FindingsThe study found that GM, SCAL and SCP significantly improve manufacturing firms' operational and sustainable performance. Also, SCP and SCAL partially mediate the GM-MP correlations among manufacturing firms in Ghana, a developing economy.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is limited to the quantitative methodologies given its relevance in examining causal relationships among constructs. Also, it was conducted within the scope of manufacturing firms in developing economies, specifically Ghana. Despite the limitations, the study's outcomes imply that manufacturing firms can perform well in sustainable and operational aspects if they prioritise green manufacturing practices, supply chain preparedness and alertness.Practical implicationsThis research offers new insights into the significant contributions of adopting the GM practice to MP (SuP and OP). Also, it advocates for more investments into GM, SCAL and SCP to ensure sustainability in today's highly disruptive manufacturing environment, leading to superior manufacturing performance. The study provides relevant directions for policymakers, industry players and supply chain practitioners in adopting GM throughout their production processes to attain manufacturing performance targets.Social implicationsBy advocating for sustainable manufacturing practices like green, the study contributes to a cleaner environment, resource conservation, and ultimately, a more sustainable future. The shift towards eco-friendly production methods can influence public attitudes towards manufacturing and promote environmentally conscious practices.Originality/valueThe study's originality lies in examining the mediation roles of SCAL and SCP on the GM-MP nexus of manufacturing industries in a developing economy, where environmental sustainability and disruptions along supply chains are becoming major concerns.

Strategic Adaptation and Governance in Disruptive Market Environments: Frameworks and Case Studies

Background: Adaptive governance methods have become critical for organizational resilience and sustainability in today's turbulent and disruptive market settings. This article examines the important issue of altering governance systems to effectively deal with disruptive market dynamics. Objective: The article aims to look into how adaptive governance might increase an organization's competitiveness and agility in the face of rapid market changes. Methodology: This study applies a mixed-methods approach, investigating multiple case studies of organizations from various industries. The study looks at how adaptive governance frameworks are implemented, namely their structures, procedures, and decision-making mechanisms. In-depth information is acquired utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques, such as surveys, interviews, and performance indicators. Results: The results highlight the importance of adaptive governance in fostering flexibility, innovation, and responsiveness in organizational contexts. This study uses case studies to demonstrate the association between greater resilience to market changes and adaptive governance approaches. It focuses on critical components of effective adaptive governance, such as strategic flexibility, inclusive decision-making, and iterative learning procedures.Conclusion: The article emphasizes the need of adaptive governance as a key strategy for organizations dealing with fluctuating market situations. Implementing adaptive governance structures allows organizations to preserve long-term competitiveness, encourage innovation, and respond proactively to market uncertainty. The study provides useful insights for professionals and decision-makers, underlining the necessity of adaptable governance in developing organizational resilience and future-proofing measures in the face of volatile market conditions.

Internet of things and deep learning-enhanced monitoring for energy efficiency in older buildings

Retrofitting older buildings for energy efficiency is paramount in today's sustainability and environmental awareness era. Older buildings contribute greatly to energy waste since they typically lack new energy-efficient technology. Reducing carbon emissions, lowering energy bills, and extending the life of these historic landmarks all depend on fixing the energy inefficiency that plagues these buildings. Despite advanced technologies' remarkable progress, the potential of the Internet of Things and deep learning in older buildings has not been unexplored. Major obstacles include expensive and out-of-date infrastructure and the difficulty of incorporating new technology into historically significant structures. Existing research has mostly ignored older infrastructures' unique requirements and limitations in favour of current or newly built services. In addition, comprehensive research on integrating deep learning with the Internet of Things in this specific environment has been lacking. Smart building energy management is made possible by the Internet of Things (IoT) and deep learning. Architectural limitations, outmoded infrastructure, and the necessity for non-invasive retrofitting solutions all contribute to the difficulty of energy monitoring and improvement in older buildings. This research proposes combining the IoT with Deep Learning-enhanced Predictive Energy Modeling (DL-PEM) to make an energy management system that can change and adapt to the needs of older buildings. Data from IoT sensors is collected on occupancy, temperature, lighting, and equipment usage and then analyzed using Deep Learning models to determine the most efficient energy consumption patterns. Beyond its energy-saving potential, this method has many potential uses. Spotting and fixing structural problems before they become major can improve occupant comfort, reduce maintenance costs, and pave the way for predictive maintenance. Integration with the Smart grid and demand response programs can be facilitated, too, improving the reliability of the power system as a whole. Our IoT and Deep Learning-based energy management solution optimizes energy usage, reduces expenses, and mitigates environmental impact in older buildings, as shown by extensive simulation studies. The system's performance is compared to more conventional methods, and its flexibility is evaluated in various building and usage contexts. The experimental outcomes show the suggested DL-PEM model increases the energy demand forecasting analysis, energy consumption analysis, thermal comfort optimization analysis, seasonal variation analysis, and occupancy data analysis.

A STUDY ON EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Employee engagement has emerged as a critical factor influencing organizational success, productivity, and sustainability in today's dynamic business landscape. This research delves into the context of Samvardhana Motherson Reflectec (SMR), aiming to understand the dynamics of employee engagement within the organization. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study examines the conceptual underpinnings of employee engagement, its dimensions, and its impact on organizational outcomes. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and observational data, the research explores the current state of employee engagement at SMR, identifying key drivers and barriers. Furthermore, the study investigates the strategies and initiatives implemented by SMR to foster employee engagement and enhance organizational performance. By synthesizing empirical findings with theoretical insights, this research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on employee engagement and provides practical recommendations for SMR and similar organizations seeking to optimize their workforce engagement strategies. Keywords: Employee Engagement, Employee Performance, Organisational Performance.

An examination of sustainable human resource management for achieving financial, social, and environmental goals

A comprehensive analysis of sustainable human resource management (SHRM) techniques for accomplishing organizational financial, social and environmental objectives is done in this study. Here, we examine the diverse function of SHRM in coordinating human capital practices with more extensive organizational goals, acknowledging the growing significance of sustainability in today's corporate environment. We contend that although SHRM has not performed up thus far, it possesses the capacity to greatly aid in bolstering an organization's endeavors. We investigate the causes of this failure and talk about how SHRM can be involved in the formulation and execution of a company's strategy. Our proposal for a multifaceted, multistakeholder approach to sustainable SHRM builds on previous efforts to include environmental and corporate responsibility in the SHRM assessment framework. This approach includes actions meant to prevent negative consequences for stakeholders as well as to contribute to successful results along the triple bottom line as we explore the implications for study and develop a number of assertions as well as suggestions for more investigation.

Fast-curing bio-based thermoset foams produced via the Michael 1,4-addition using fatty acid-based acetoacetate and acrylate

This study introduces an approach for creating bio-based polymer foams exploiting the Michael reaction that could be utilized as thermal insulation. The thermoset foams were developed using a second-generation bio-based feedstock – tall oil. Tall oil is a by-product of wood pulping in paper manufacturing and mainly comprises unsaturated fatty acids like oleic and linoleic acid. The study explores the use of tall oil-based acetoacetates (Michael donor) combined with various acrylates (Michael acceptor), petrochemical-based (bisphenol-A ethoxylate diacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate), and bio-based (epoxidized soybean oil acrylate, epoxidized tall oil free fatty acids-based acrylate), to develop polymer foams that meet today's sustainability requirements. The developed polymer foams underwent extensive characterization. Matrix curing parameters were assessed by measuring changes in dielectric polarization during curing. Foaming parameters, including start and rise times, were precisely measured. The chemical composition of the foams was analysed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Their thermal, thermo-mechanical, and mechanical properties were evaluated through thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and compression tests. Additionally, the content of closed-cell and the coefficient of thermal conductivity were determined, further characterizing the foams as potential thermal insulation materials. Foams from bio-based donors with petrochemical-based acceptors exhibited a range of enhanced properties. They not only achieved high glass transition temperatures (up to 85 °C by DSC and up to 108 °C by DMA) but also displayed a spectrum of mechanical strengths (compression strength ranging from moderate to as high as ∼ 0.40 MPa) and good thermal isolation properties (thermal conductivity coefficient ∼ 31mW/(m·K)). Bio-based foams, derived from renewable resources, were characterized by properties fitting for flexible foam applications, such as low glass transition temperatures (down to −9.7 °C by DSC and down to 9.8 °C by DMA), reduced compression strength (approximately 0.011 MPa), and increased thermal conductivity (up to 46.7mW/(m·K)), indicating their potential utility in applications where flexibility is a key requirement.

Is FinTech Implementation a Strategic Step for Sustainability in Today's Changing Landscape? An Empirical Investigation

Is FinTech Implementation a Strategic Step for Sustainability in Today's Changing Landscape? An Empirical Investigation

Research on Sustainable Temporary Shelters for Climate Refugees-Taking New York as an Example

As homelessness in New York has become increasingly serious in the aftermath of the epidemic and government-provided housing is far from adequate to meet the needs of the homeless, this paper applies the concept of sustainability to how housing is provided for the homeless to solve the problem of homelessness as quickly as possible while protecting the environment and reducing unnecessary pollution. For sustainability, this paper focuses on two main aspects, namely the use of materials and water recycling systems. As for the environment of the homeless shelter, the main factor considered is the airflow within the building. Out of consideration for the different needs of different people, this design will be built in a modular way to allow for the regeneration of the shelter and the building to meet individual needs. The paper, therefore, concludes with ideas, designs, and proposals for providing housing for the homeless in New York to meet the needs of sustainability in today's environment. Also in response to the growing environmental crisis, the research in this paper will also serve as an attempt to address the issue of future refugees caused by the environmental crisis.

DYNAMICS OF ECOLOGICAL AND AGRO-ECOLOGICAL INDICES (UNDER CONDITIONS OF PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL DEGRADATION) OF SOILS RESEARCHED ON THE GENETIC HORIZONS

The basic concept of land degradation, as outlined in different definitions, refers to the loss of real or potential productivity and utility of land and the decrease in its quality. Due to various farming methods that decarbonize soil and make it less robust and poor in nutrients, soil is being lost at a rate 10 to 40 times higher than it can be naturally replenished. From the above, many questions arise regarding the sustainability of today's agriculture on the territory of the Republic of Moldova and this is due to several reasons: loss of biodiversity, loss of land quality through the process of soil erosion, pollution from chemical fertilizers and pesticides administered inadequately, non-compliance with the employment contracts, etc. The main purpose consists in the comparative assessment of the indices modified by the agropedogenetic process of the soils evolved under natural and arable conditions, as well as their qualitative state in Tîrnova commune, Dondușeni district. Physical soil disturbance caused by anthropogenic activities, sometimes inappropriate, is a crucial factor in the conservation of soil quality, moisture availability and crop diversity in agroecosystems. However, the development of agroecological technologies and systems that emphasize the conservation-regeneration of biodiversity, soil, water and other resources is an urgent necessity for both urban and rural areas to cope with an increasing range of socioeconomic and environmental challenges.

Analysing gender equality and empowerment in Turkish companies: an exploratory case to achive United Nations s sustainability goal

Purpose- United Nations' Sustainability Goal 5, "Achieving Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls," is a critically important topic in today's sustainability agenda. This exploratory case study aims to delve into the current status of gender equality and women's empowerment in Turkish businesses. Furthermore, it seeks to propose a roadmap with thematic areas that can guide companies in fulfilling Goal 5. Methodology- For this qualitative research, the study engaged professionals in Türkiye, specifically in the manufacturing and logistics industries in Istanbul. The research employed both preliminary and face-to-face interviews to gather insights from experts in the field of sustainability and those working on SDG 5. The preliminary phase involved two managers, while the subsequent face-to-face interviews involved five key experts. A total of ten open-ended questions were posed to representatives from five companies, comprising sustainability managers and specialists from the manufacturing and logistics sectors. Findings- Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) literature revealed various themes related to gender equality and empowerment, encompassing gender-neutral decision making, a person’s well-being, creating safe spaces, gender equality role in value chain, environmental impact, ethical considerations, awareness, and empowerment linked to leadership. The qualitative research findings were significant to shape a future plan. Based on the research results, ten thematic areas for companies was developed by the authors. Conclusion- The development of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) relies heavily on social, economic, and environmental factors, particularly concerning leadership. This case study underscores the need for Turkish companies to prioritize gender equality and women's empowerment initiatives, as their efforts will contribute to broader sustainability endeavors within the country. By actively embracing the proposed roadmap's strategies, businesses can pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future for all individuals in Türkiye. Keywords: Gender equality, leadership, sustainability, SDG5 target, workplaces JEL Codes: M14, Q01, J16

Avoiding unnecessary suffering: Towards a moral minimum standard for humans' responsibility for animal welfare

AbstractAnimals are an important part of our social, economic and corporate world. Their wellbeing is significantly affected by the ways in which humans treat them. However, animals have long remained (and, indeed, continue to remain) effectively invisible in the business ethics and corporate responsibility discourse. This article argues in favor of the moral necessity of according animal welfare a higher priority in business. In line with most streams in both recent and traditional animal ethics, this article derives the avoidance of unnecessary animal suffering as the moral minimum standard for responsible management in the livestock industry. Based on a broad range of different interpretations of what animal suffering may be necessary, the article discusses three distinct ways in which humans working in the animal industry could meet their moral responsibility to avoid unnecessary suffering, and, with this, increase animal welfare: by ameliorating circumstances for animals, by aiming at a two‐pronged transformation, or by transforming into a “zero‐suffering” business. Considering animal welfare as a legitimate ethical value in and of itself is a first step towards overcoming the anthropocentric bias in today's sustainability and corporate responsibility debate.

Purpose framing as an informal governance approach to sustainability transformations in the private sector

Today's sustainability challenges require significant transformative shifts in the private sector, particularly driven by new, potentially also more informal, forms of governance. A variety of sustainability-oriented intermediary organisations encourage and support businesses to become purpose-driven to address social and environmental sustainability issues beyond maximising profit. We conduct interviews with these intermediaries to theorise how and why the broad concept of purpose might be used as an informal means to steer and transform business-society relations. We find that by invoking notions of systemic goal alignment and individual goal alignment, the simultaneous use of two contrasting but complementary frames allows intermediaries to appeal to and potentially engage a variety of audiences in their efforts to changing businesses and the economic system. Our research contributes to literatures on how the framing of purpose in business is used as an informal governance approach for driving a sustainability transformation.

Logistic Analytics Management in the Service Supply Chain Market Using Swarm Intelligence Modelling

The industry sustainability in today's globalization relies on cost-effective supply chain management of diverse markets and logistics. Supply chain risks typically limit profits over the overall expense of the supply chain. In the supply chain design practices, the volatility of demand and limitations of levels are essential concerns. In this paper, a swarm intelligence-assisted supply chain management framework (SISCMF) has been proposed to increase profit and improve logistics performance. Due to the simplicity of design and rapid convergence, swarm intelligence (SI) algorithms are widely used in most supply network design fields and efficiently solve large-dimensional problems. A significant increase in resolving these problems has been seen in particle swarm optimization and ant colony algorithm. The simulation result suggested the operational cost (92.7%), demand prediction ratio (95.2%), order delivery ratio (96.9%), customer feedback ratio (98.2%), and product quality ratio (97.2%).

Family entrepreneurship and business sustainability in today's world: manufacturing firms in focus

This work examined family entrepreneurship and business sustainability in manufacturing firms. It adopted a descriptive survey which is a questionnaire-based technique to sample opinions and derive answers to the challenges of family entrepreneurship and business sustainability. The primary data that were used for analyses were responses gathered from business owners, traders and artisans through the administration of structured questionnaires. Percentage frequency counts were used to analyze the distribution of the demographic variables of the respondents; while the 3.5 mean decision rule was used to conclude the research questions. Likert scale with SPSS was used to analyze and obtain the mean of each item in the research question. A T-test score of 0.05 level of significance was used to determine the relationship between the variable of the hypothesis; also with SPSS. The study showed that pressure to hire family members and strong commitment are not factors to consider for business sustainability. Hence, a Family entrepreneur succession strategy must be put in place ahead of time by developing a succession plan which can enhance sustainability; and real management succession must be included in the strategy. Without a people- and market-focused strategy, a such succession plan will fail and sustainability will be defeated.

Towards sustainable supply strategy in the food industry: the case of Finland

PurposeThis paper investigates how sustainability requirements modify supply strategies at different levels in the food industry companies. The paper integrates single supply decisions into firm-level supply strategy and views supply strategy as one coherent strategy in which the decision-making is based on the values and principles of a firm.Design/methodology/approachThe paper captures the decade of change and studies the renewal of supply strategy by utilising two qualitative data sets with a ten years of difference. The data contain 41 interviews from a retailer and 5 of its food supplier companies.FindingsResults confirm that a decade ago only minor attention was channelled towards sustainability whereas today sustainability is a key driver behind supply decisions and supply strategies because firms need to respond to sustainability requirements and challenges. The study presents a framework for analysing different levels (firm, category and supply market levels) of changes and sustainability requirements faced by food companies and their supply strategies.Originality/valuePreviously, sustainability has rarely been connected to firm-level supply strategy. This study presents the supply strategy elements that were important for Finnish food industry companies over a decade ago and matches these elements to the needs of today’s firms. As a result, the study incorporates the concept of sustainability with the supply strategy frameworks.

Generative Engagement: Conceptualizing A Relational and Cross-Boundary Approach to Human Development and Sustainability in Today’s Divided World

Grounded in the findings from a case study of a nonprofit educational consulting firm that specialized in math literacy reform and operated throughout the American South during the 1990s–early 2000s, this paper presents Generative Engagement (GE), a practice-centered process model on relational behavior that fosters prosocial interaction and collaboration among social identity groups in demographically diverse, highly stratified social environments. The paper describes the dynamic interplay between generativity and inclusivity, presents four different types of relational engagement that result from this interplay and offers five testable propositions. The paper concludes with a discussion on how cross-boundary leaders, work teams, organizations, and communities can better understand, develop, and demonstrate generative relational behavior that enhances work group efficacy and sustains the greater public good. Along with encouraging scholarly exploration of GE, the generative engagement model (GEM) is offered as a tool for inspiring and equipping development and use of generative approaches to leadership, collaboration, and transformative change within organizations.

TOKSİK LİDERLİĞİN ÜRETKENLİK KARŞITI İŞ DAVRANIŞLARI VE İŞTEN AYRILMA NİYETİ ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİSİNE YÖNELİK BİR MODEL ÖNERİSİ

Bilgi çağı olarak nitelendirilen günümüz iş hayatında çalışanların örgütsel sürdürülebilirlik için taşıdığı önem oldukça fazladır. İnsan unsurunun üretim faktörlerinin en değerlisi haline gelmesi bu önemi arttırmaktadır. Çalışanların örgütsel süreçler için gayret ve çaba göstermesinde onları etkileyecek liderlik yaklaşımlarının olması bireysel ve kurumsal performansı ve tatmini arttırmaktadır. Bu kapsamda çalışan davranışlarının örgütsel çıktılar üzerinde belirleyici olması araştırmacıları davranışsal tutumlar üzerine çalışmalar yapmaya yöneltmektedir. Son yıllarda popüler bir kavram olarak ele alınan toksik liderlik, örgütler ve çalışanlar için istenmeyen bir unsur olarak kabul edilmektedir. Toksik liderliğin çalışan davranışlarını ve tutumlarını olumsuz yönde etkileyebileceği düşüncesi bu çalışmada yer alan model önerisinin temelini oluşturmaktadır. Yıkıcı ve yıpratıcı bir liderlik türü olan toksik liderliğin üretkenlik karşıtı iş davranışlarının oluşumunu hızlandırması beklenmektedir. Ayrıca toksik liderliğin çalışanların örgütte kalma istekliliklerini azaltarak bireyleri işten ayrılma niyetine yönlendirebileceği öngörülmektedir. Bu çalışmada toksik liderlik, üretkenlik karşıtı iş davranışları ve işten ayrılma niyeti değişkenleri kavramsal olarak ele alınmış ve bu değişkenler arası ilişkileri ortaya çıkarmak üzere araştırma soruları oluşturulmuştur.

Identifying Factors Affecting Entrepreneurship and Organizational Agility (Case Study: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences)

Background: Today, government agencies, including medical universities, are facing a changing environment that needs to take advantage of new approaches such as entrepreneurship and organizational agility to maintain or enhance competitive advantage. Therefore, this study was designed to identify the factors affecting entrepreneurship and agility of organizations that have a great impact on sustainability in today's changing and competitive environment of organizations. Methods: The present study is a qualitative study that was done in two stages of reviewing literature and expert opinion survey by Delphi method. In the first step, the variables affecting agility and organizational entrepreneurship were extracted by reviewing related literature. The variables extracted were then finalized by Delphi method and after reaching the consensus of experts. Based on the findings of the study, 8 dimensions for organizational agility questionnaire and 6 dimensions for entrepreneurship questionnaire were identified. For organizational agility, 27 components and 39 components for entrepreneurship were obtained. Results: The results showed that there are many different factors affecting entrepreneurship and agility of the organization, including factors affecting organizational agility, flexibility, organizational culture, human capital, organizational agility, change management, information and communication technology. Also, factors affecting entrepreneurship include human factors, entrepreneurship culture, motivational factors, accelerating variables, information technologies, and rehabilitation variables. Conclusion: It seems that, considering the need for current organizations to benefit from the move towards entrepreneurial management and agility, managers will pay particular attention to the effective dimensions of this management style identified in the present study, providing resources, facilities, and equipment needed to achieve these dimensions can help to continually improving the organization.

A multi-scale analysis of interregional sustainability: Applied to Israel's food supply

Promoting sustainability in today's world requires an understanding of the environmental burdens and social impacts of one region's consumption on other regions, both adjacent and remote. In recent years a growing body of research has quantified interregional flows of primary food crops and of embodied resources. However, most studies to date are limited to the national resolution, and mostly overlook sub- and supra-national divisions of space that emphasize varied socio-ecological circumstances. Very few recent studies have acknowledged the need to advance such interspatial analysis, and explore other relevant spatial scales, but they tend to focus on a single scale.Acknowledging the advantages and opportunities inherent in multiple scale analysis of the interactions between and within human and natural systems; this article proposes a method for a multi spatial scale analysis of the sustainability of interregional food systems, which unlike other currently available methods, enables a global and relatively complete analysis of an interregional food system. It then applies it to a case study of flows of crops and related croplands to Israel from different parts of the world, analyzed using multiple scales, such as: national, biome, ecoregion, river basin, and sub national administrative units. The findings are discussed with regards to Israel's remote environmental impact and dependency. They demonstrate how this approach can be used to provide an overview of a food system's interregional environmental interactions, identify otherwise hidden hotspots of environmental impact, and recognize interregional shared interests and trade-offs. These advantages make the method useful for national assessments of different countries' food security and food system sustainability.

Efficiency of Knowledge Inflow Structures

Environmental uncertainty is increasing day by day in increasing competition conditions. Under the uncertainty, corporate executives are confronted with the problem of taking long-term strategic decisions that are both instantaneous and capable of maintaining their assets. Particularly under uncertainty, limited information and focusing on short term and near environment are the most important problems faced by the sustainability of today's companies.The aim of this study is to create a model where managers can create organizational structures that can turn environmental uncertainty into a risk by positively affecting organizational performance. As a result of the study, it has been observed that the institutions where the bottom-up and horizontal information flow structures are formed and the centralization levels are reduced have more detailed information in the sectoral framework and the organizational performance perceived in the context of innovation, quality and productivity has increased.