Sustainable Performance Outcomes Research Articles

Adding External Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Internal Firm-Wide Smart Dynamic Warehousing Solutions

This study advances knowledge in the AI field. It provides deep insight into current industry generative AI inclusion systems. It shows both literature and practical leading industry operations can link, overlap, and complement each other when it comes to AI and understanding its complexities. It shows how to structurally model and link AI inclusions towards delivering a suitable sustainability positioning. It shows approaches to integrate external AI contributions from one firm into another firm’s intelligences developments. It shows how to track, and maybe benchmark, the progress of such AI inclusions from either an external or an integrated internal software developer perspective. It shows how to understand and create a more sustainable, AI-integrated business positioning. This study considers firm artificial intelligence (AI) and the inclusion of additional external software developer engineering as another AI related pathway to future firm or industry advancement. Several substantive industrial warehousing throughput areas are discussed. Amazon’s ‘smart dynamic warehousing’ necessitates both digital and generative ongoing AI system prowess. Amazon and other substantive, digitally focused industry warehousing operations also likely benefit from astute ongoing external software developer firm inclusions. This study causally, and stagewise, models significant global software development firms involved in generative AI systems developments—specifically ones designed to beneficially enhance both warehouse operational productivity and its ongoing sustainability. A structural equation model (SEM) approach offers unique perspectives through which substantive firms already using AI can now model and track/benchmark the relevance of their prospective or existing external software developer firms, and so create rapid internal ‘net-AI’ competencies incorporations and AI capabilities developments through to sustainable operational and performance outcomes solutions.

The effect of environmentally oriented leadership and public sector management quality on supply chain performance: The moderating role of public sector environmental policy

This study examines the complex relationship between environmentally oriented leadership, public sector management quality, environmental policies, and supply chain performance within the public sector context in Indonesia. The research combines quantitative analysis and qualitative insights from key stakeholders to explore these dynamics comprehensively. The findings underscore the multifaceted nature of supply chain performance optimization, where environmentally oriented leadership demonstrates a nuanced connection to performance outcomes. Public sector management quality significantly enhances efficiency and overall supply chain performance. Notably, well-structured environmental policies positively impact supply chain performance and contribute to organizational sustainability. However, a weak policy framework can dilute the positive influence of leadership. The moderating effect of environmental policies on the relationship between management quality and supply chain performance might be less pronounced. The implications of this study offer both theoretical and managerial insights. The findings emphasize the need for holistic supply chain management strategies that integrate leadership styles, management practices, and policy frameworks to achieve sustainable performance outcomes. The study acknowledges limitations related to the specific context and variables studied. Future research can explore broader variables, diverse sectors, and regions by enhancing the understanding of these complex interactions. The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive examination of the intricate relationship between leadership, management quality, policies, and supply chain performance within the public sector context, contributing to the growing body of knowledge in this vital area.

Interconnection between the role of blockchain technologies, supply chain integration, and circular economy: A case of small and medium-sized enterprises in Pakistan.

Increased industrialization has led to unprecedented resource depletion on a global scale. The current state of affairs has compelled practitioners and academics to investigate the role of sustainable technologies in greening the operations of businesses. Previous studies have attempted to examine the number of operational aspects for their role in making firms sustainable, yet the utility of blockchain technologies is in its infancy. The role of BT in enhancing integration across supply chains has been in the limelight in the recent past. At the same time, its ability to cause sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP) in sync with the circular economy (CE) and supply chain integration (SCI) has largely remained unexplored. Therefore, this study intends to examine the association between blockchain technologies (BTs) and SSCPs through integration to fill the empirical gaps. The study was pursued to investigate the moderating role of the CE on the relationship between multiple extents of SCI and SSCP. Based on dynamic capability theory (DCT), the study considered BT a dynamic resource. BTs are used to integrate and reenergize the relationships with upstream and downstream channel members in pursuit of sustainable performance outcomes. The study opted for a cross-sectional design, where data was collected through convenience sampling from 475 managers from SMEs operating across Pakistan. PLS-SEM was used to analyze the data and to generate the required empirical outcomes. Study results favored the significant association between BT and SSCP, followed by a significant mediating role of SCI dimensions and moderating role of the CE. The study's findings propagate the utility of BTs adoption for SMEs, which holds the potential for firms to achieve system-wide integration to achieve sustainable outcomes. The given empirical investigation holds valuable insights for practitioners and scholars intending to pursue research on the subject matter.

Investigating the Interplay between Social Performance and Organisational Factors Supporting Circular Economy Practices

Sustainability is the prime concern for several organisations, regulatory bodies, and industrial professionals in the contemporary business environment. Therefore, a new consumption and production paradigm emerges as the circular economy (CE), which is considered an effective medium to achieve sustainability. However, the adoption or transformation of the circular economy depends on several factors including organisational factors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the role of organisational factors in the adoption of CE practices for achieving social sustainability. Initially, the fifteen organisational factors and eight social sustainability performance outcomes are identified through the literature review and expert feedback. Further, the Best Worst Method (BWM) is applied for the prioritisation of these factors. Additionally, the impact of these factors is also evaluated on the social sustainability performance outcomes using the weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS) method. The findings show that “long term planning and strategy”, “top management participation” and “alignment of organisation’s vision with CE goals” facilitate CE practices’ adoption. With the implementation of these organisational factors, improvement could be seen in employee satisfaction, fair business operations, and working conditions. The findings are beneficial for managers, policymakers, and researchers to develop strategies for the adoption of CE practices to achieve social sustainability.

Toward a System Theory of Corporate Sustainability: An Interim Struggle

In response to the prevailing sustainability problems that are difficult to solve since they are characterized by complex interdependencies, and the effort to solve one aspect of a sustainability problem may lead to other problems, the present study’s objective is to develop an interim, system-based theory of corporate sustainability to fill in significant gaps in the corporate sustainability field. The paper starts by outlining the gaps, introducing a theory building approach, followed by discussing components of the emerging theory. As a system-based theory, the emerging theory is demonstrated through the Corporate Sustainability system, comprising Sustainability Culture, Resilience and Corporate Sustainability Performance subsystems. These subsystems interact to ensure a continuous delivery of sustainability performance outputs and outcomes. The resulting theory is highly dynamic in nature with a feedback loop of learning to reflect the actual reality of high-velocity environment. Implications for corporate practitioners and theorists are also discussed.

Dual process model of farmers' mindfulness and sustainable economic behavior: Mediating role of mental health and emotional labor.

Mindful awareness of our interconnection with the natural environment could help to redeem our lost environmentally entrenched identity and help us to act more sustainably, concluding the predictable gaps between mindfulness and sustainable behavior. We propose more precisely that mindful attentiveness may be essential to establishing sustainable economic behavior through understanding emotional labor and enhanced mental health. Likewise, with an ever-rising concern related to mental health and emotional labor, recent industrialization and commoditization of agricultural products have stressed the need for mindfulness, and causing sustainable economic behavior of farmers that is imminent. Hence, the study will not only explore the connection between mindfulness and sustainable economic behavior, but there is a need to examine the mediating role of emotional labor and the mental health of farmers in China. The study selected the farmers because mindful awareness, emotional labor, and mental health of a farmer can significantly contribute to sustainable economic behavior and bring a connection with the natural environment. The data of 358 responses were analyzed using SPSS-AMOS. The results revealed that mindfulness, mental health, and emotional labor have a significant connection with the sustainable economic behavior of farmers in China. The results also indicated that mental health and emotional labor mediate between mindfulness and sustainable economic behavior. The results set the tone for the policy-makers to create awareness among all the stakeholders about the importance of mindfulness to help farmers manage their emotional labor and mental health for better, sustainable performance outcomes.

Sustainability orientation, byproduct management and business performance: An empirical investigation

Despite the emphasis of manufacturing firms on sustainability, integration of their orientation for long-term business performance is still challenging. This article examines how manufacturing firms devise strategies for sustainability by implementing sustainability practices like sustainable new product development and byproduct management to achieve environmental effectiveness and competitive business outcomes. A survey of 207 U.S. manufacturing firms is used for empirical testing and validation. The analysis of benchmark instruments indicates a high level of internal and external validity. The findings suggest that (1) sustainability orientation influences sustainable new product development and byproduct management; (2) Sustainable new product development and byproduct management jointly and directly impact environmental performance; (3) Environmental performance is crucial in determining business performance. The technological infrastructure of a firm reports a moderating effect between sustainable operations and performance outcomes. The longevity of a firm reports a moderating effect between environmental performance and business performance. To achieve broad social orientation goals, firms take a longer time horizon, take consistent steps to promote internal stakeholders’ wellbeing, and move forward with their purposeful reputation building in the larger ecosystem. This paper expands the sustainability literature by undertaking one of the first studies integrating sustainability orientation, sustainable new product development, byproduct management, and performance chain outcomes.

Using bibliometric research to advance the business-to-business sustainability literature: Establishing an integrative conceptual framework for future application

With 4,249 articles and 245,255 citations, this study identifies four important research topics for three time periods spanning five decades (1971–2020) in business-to-business (B2B) sustainability research: stakeholder orientation and corporate social performance, environmentally-focused resources and their influence on competitive supply chains, internal organization and relational contracting, and trust and commitment. Based on established theory identified in this evaluation of the B2B sustainability literature, an integrative research framework is introduced for future consideration by the domain. The model possesses three components of a firm’s strategic focus (partnership type, stakeholder orientation, and sector emphasis) that affect its supply chain collaboration. A greater understanding of the company’s supply chain collaboration lies in how the influence of its relationship stage, sustainability capabilities, and channel pressure can impact different sustainability performance outcomes – be they social, environmental, or economic. Additionally, we identify internal (top management initiatives and sustainability investments) and external (economic, technological, and market uncertainties) non-channel drivers and barriers as critical in their moderation of the proposed framework to provide considerable opportunity for future B2B sustainability research endeavors.

Effects of key leadership determinants on business sustainability in entrepreneurial enterprises

PurposeToday’s small enterprises are forced to rethink their business-as-usual management and shift toward corporate sustainability. The empirical paper responds to a crucial quest for many modern leaders and entrepreneurs, specifically small business owners in emerging economies. This paper aims to answer what they can do to increase long-term financial performance and enhance stakeholder satisfaction, thereby contributing to long-term business sustainability.Design/methodology/approachUsing a convenience sampling, data were collected from a sample of 280 business leaders and entrepreneurs of small enterprises across industries in an emerging economy of Thailand. This study used a sustainable leadership research framework. Factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis.FindingsSeven valid and reliable leadership factors were uncovered as new underlying leadership constructs to examine business sustainability in small entrepreneurial enterprises in Thailand. Results from multiple regressions revealed two significantly positive factors or drivers (i.e. trusting, innovative team orientation and strong, shared vision) for enhanced two sustainability performance outcomes (i.e. financial performance and stakeholder satisfaction). The findings thus contribute to advance our limited knowledge about the contextualised constructs and possible theoretical development of the developing research realm.Research limitations/implicationsSuccessful small entrepreneurial organisations in Thailand and other emerging economies that wish to improve their business sustainability are suggested to adopt the essential leadership and management practices (i.e. trusting, innovative team and strong, shared vision). Future studies may examine data from a larger sample size and other countries to expand our limited understanding in different contexts.Practical implicationsThe resulting practical insights can be used to guide business leaders, entrepreneurs, practitioners and policymakers towards making strategic priorities and investments for improved business competitiveness, resilience and sustainability in small entrepreneurial enterprises. Overall, this study may be a starting point for further investigation on developing entrepreneurial growth and business sustainability in small sustainable enterprises across emerging economies.Originality/valueThe paper responds to calls for more contextualised research studies in the evolving multidisciplinary field of entrepreneurial leadership and business sustainability, particularly in an emerging economy of Thailand. It also unveils the essential strategic leadership factors that positively drive business sustainability in small entrepreneurial firms. And, it empirically examines the effects of diverse strategic leadership factors and multiple sustainability performance outcomes in a single study. It further proposes an emergent leadership-performance model for entrepreneurial business sustainability in the context-specific study. Above all, it advances the currently limited empirical knowledge in the emerging research front towards more sustainable futures.

Strategic leadership and management factors driving sustainability in health-care organizations in Thailand

Purpose This empirical study aims to identify the essential strategic leadership and management factors underlying sustainability in healthcare. It also examines which factors drive sustainability performance outcomes (SPO) in health-care organizations, an analysis lacking to date. It provides a strategic leadership and management perspective toward sustainable healthcare, responding to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.Design/methodology/approachThe investigation adopted Sustainable Leadership as its research framework. Using a cross-sectional survey, 543 employees working in health-care and pharmaceutical companies in Thailand voluntarily provided responses. Factor analyses and structural equation modeling were employed.Findings The results revealed an emergent research model and identified 20 unidimensional strategic leadership and management factors toward sustainability in healthcare. The findings indicate significant positive effects on SPO in health-care organizations. Significant factors include human resource management/development, ethics, quality, environment and social responsibility, and stakeholder considerations.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted in one country. Future studies should examine these relationships in diverse contexts. In practice, health-care firms should foster significant strategic leadership and management practices to improve performance outcomes for sustainability in healthcare.Originality/value This paper is the first empirical, multidisciplinary study with a focus on strategic leadership, health-care management and organizational sustainability. It identifies a proxy for measuring the effects of essential strategic leadership and managerial factors for sustainability in pharmaceutical health-care companies. It advances our currently limited knowledge and provides managerial implications for improving performance outcomes toward sustainable healthcare.

Environmental differentiation from a supply chain practice view perspective

Differentiation can play an important part in helping managers develop and implement supply chain-wide sustainable practices. While differentiation is widely accepted as a key performance outcome of supply chain management (SCM) and logistics, its strategic role may help explain performance outcomes, something that has not been well explored in the SCM literature. In this research, we investigate one instance of supply chain differentiation, that of environmental differentiation (differentiation through innovative environmentally friendly products and processes), and its role as a strategy rather than as an outcome. We apply the Supply Chain Practice View (SCPV) to propose a theoretical model that highlights the strategic role of environmental differentiation in the relationship between a series of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices and performance outcomes. Structural equation modeling and survey data from over 300 U.S.-based companies are used to test the research hypotheses. Empirical results confirm the critical, mediating role of environmental differentiation in the link between SSCM practices and performance outcomes. Our findings suggest that implementing an environmental differentiation strategy led by integrative SSCM exchange relationships across members of the supply chain can be beneficial to firm performance.

A life cycle sustainability assessment of biomethane versus biohydrogen – For application in electricity or vehicle fuel? Case studies for African context

This study employed a life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) to compare the biomethane with biohydrogen produced from organic waste streams in various African settings, such as agro-industrial, urban, and rural settings. It also used biomethane and biohydrogen in cogeneration unit systems to generate electricity, and as a transportation fuel for motor vehicles. In the agro-industrial setting, applying biohydrogen in the electricity generation system records a higher sustainability performance compared to the vehicles' operation. The electricity generation system records a sustainability performance index (SPI) value of 2.20; the vehicles' operation records a value of 1.15. In urban settings, applying biohydrogen in the vehicles' operation records higher sustainability performance outcomes compared to the electricity generation system, which recorded SPI values of 1.95 and 1.80, respectively. In rural settings, applying biohydrogen in the vehicle operation records higher sustainability performance outcomes compared to the electricity generation system, which recorded SPI values of 1.55 and 0.80, respectively. Agro-industrial settings are well suited for biohydrogen production. There is no compelling case for admitting biohydrogen technology in both urban and rural settings. Biomethane technology remains an all-round preferred technology due to higher production rates, whilst yielding, compared to the biohydrogen technology. Biomethane infrastructural development could be a precursor for biohydrogen technology installation.

Toward sustainable primary production through the application of lean management in South African fruit horticulture

This paper aims to understand the relationship between patterns of lean practice implementation, farm size and sustainable performance among fruit horticultural primary producers in South Africa. Utilizing a comprehensive lean framework, addressing 10 lean practice dimensions, the authors collected data from a sample of 132 fruit farming operations in South Africa. First, cluster analysis was applied to identify distinct clusters of farms with common lean practice implementation characteristics. Next, the distinct clusters were tested to identify significant differences in lean practice implementation and sustainable performance, with farm size incorporate as a control variable. In terms of common lean implementation characteristics, the analysis identified two distinct clusters of farms, labelled as the high lean practice cluster and the low lean practice cluster. It is determined that these two clusters differ significantly in practice implementation across all 10 dimension of lean management practice. It is further established that the two clusters differ significantly in terms of sustainable performance. Furthermore, farm size is found to significantly differentiate (i) lean practice implementation across 5 of the 10 lean practice dimensions and (ii) levels of sustainable performance between medium and large sized farms. This empirical analyses of lean practices and sustainable performance outcomes in the primary production domain represents a novel contribution to the existing literature on lean management and horticultural management.

The missing link: sustainability innovation practices, non-financial performance outcomes and economic performance

PurposeInnovation is the backbone of sustainability. Although many efforts have been made to conceptualize sustainability-oriented innovations, the impact of these organizational practices on performance has not been adequately explored. This paper, therefore, aims to fill an important gap in the literature by exploring the relationship between sustainability innovation practices and performance outcomes. Specifically, this study examines the relationship between sustainability innovation practices, non-financial performance and economic performance.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) to estimate both the direct and indirect effects of sustainability practices on economic performance. The data were collected on the basis of a large-scale survey of 266 European organizations.FindingsThe results show that sustainability innovation practices directly and indirectly influence economic performance through non-financial performance outcomes (i.e. innovation performance, environmental performance and social performance).Originality/valueThe scientific value of this paper is provided by showing that sustainability innovation practices lead to certain performance improvements and by providing a model to better understand the links between non-financial performance outcomes and economic performance.

A sustainable procurement approach for selection of construction consultants in property and facilities management

Purpose Outsourcing architectural and engineering services is a trend for public-sector construction projects. This study aims to examine what tender selection criteria should be considered when assessing the performance outcomes of consultants in relation to sustainable design, construction and management of buildings within the context of property and facilities management of existing building portfolios. Design/methodology/approach Combined qualitative-quantitative methods are adopted to examine the causal relationship between sustainable performance outcomes and influencing factors, using primary data collected from the estate offices of the UK universities, which form a unique public sector. The performance factors identified form the basis of selection criteria. Findings The qualitative multiple-case interviews identify economic, environmental, social and functional sustainability measures as the attributes of performance outcome. The quantitative hierarchical regression analysis generalises that sustainable performance outcomes can be significantly influenced by task and contextual performance factors. Research limitations/implications The scope of the study is limited to university estates. Further research should be conducted on other property and facilities management and construction-related organisations so that the sustainable procurement approach developed by this research can become more robust and applicable to the wider public sector. Practical implications At the tender stage, estate managers should adopt a sustainable procurement approach for selection of construction consultants: focussing on the significant task performance (project staff and execution approach) and contextual performance (collaborative consultant frameworks) influencing factors to optimise the project sustainability outcomes in relation to economic, environmental, social and functional values. Originality/value The sustainable procurement approach developed by this research benefits property and facilities management, as well as construction disciplines within the wider public sector, thus contributing to the government construction policy on promoting sustainability to the built environment.

Creativity enables sustainable development: Supplier engagement as a boundary condition for the positive effect on green innovation

Despite the increasing awareness of business and academic research toward creative thinking, the investigation of its uptake by industry is still limited. Supplier engagement attracts considerable interest as a means to improve green innovation. Previous research studies in an inter-firm relationship have addressed the impact of green innovation on sustainability performance. While some studies have concluded that creative thinking can lead to sustainable performance outcomes, others have questioned the positive influence of creative thinking on innovation. This study takes a top-up perspective on ways to stimulate creative thinking with supplier engagement. Relying on the social capital theory and its wider contextualization in relation with the creativity, the authors argue that supplier engagement levers for driving green innovation and facilitates the sustainable development. We aim to advance understanding of the role of creativity, along with how and why creativity is important for the development of green innovation practices for a sustainable future. This study provides a more finegrained perspective by developing a theoretical model. Contributions from this study include research propositions to help explain and predict why and how firm resources become more important when combined with the creative thinking. Creative thinking is a fast-growing topic among the global community for the way that it enables sustainable development initiatives. Creativity boosts environmental, social and economic performance by enabling the development of green products and processes. Creative thinking has become an important tool driving green innovation within organizations and plays a critical role in enhancing sustainability performance. This study provides novel insights into how to organize creative abilities for sustainable development and provide actionable research direction and policy implications for both practitioners and academicians.

Managing sustainability orientation: An empirical investigation of manufacturing firms

Despite increasing research on sustainability, there has been lack of understanding of how to manage front-end uncertainties and back-end complexities related to sustainability initiatives. We argue for management integrity and management accountability as two motivational mechanisms for achieving sustainability outcomes. In this study we also present how firms translate strategic intent of sustainability into product differentiation criteria which are further implemented through internal cross-functional processes and external network practices. Research model defines variables related to strategic sustainability orientation and sustainability performance outcomes. Data were collected from 749 enterprises from both advanced and emerging markets. Research results report that strategic formulation involves translating sustainability orientation in the form of order winning criteria to both cross-functional units and suppliers whereas operational execution requires integrating organizational processes to achieve complex performance outcomes. The findings also suggest that demand-based production becomes a crucial mediating variable for impacting comprehensive performance outcomes. This article also shows social aspects of sustainability in terms of internal (e.g., safety and health conditions) and external stakeholders (e.g., development and welfare of the society). Future research issues are suggested as well.

Development of a Model Linking Physical Asset Management to Sustainability Performance: An Empirical Research

This article is aimed at exploring the relationship between physical asset management (PAM) practices and sustainability performance. A framework of interrelated constructs was developed based on the existing literature and consequently tested through empirical study. Survey data were collected from organizations operating in six European countries (i.e., Greece, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Turkey) and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM). The results offer support for the proposed hypotheses, showing that PAM practices positively influence the sustainability performance outcomes, namely economic, environmental, and employee-related social performance. Overall, this study demonstrates that a PAM framework can be conceptualized by four sub-constructs, namely physical asset risk management, physical asset performance assessment, physical asset lifecycle management, and physical asset policy and strategy. Finally, this study brings to light some theoretical and managerial implications as well as directions for future research. The findings of the study underscore PAM areas in which managers should focus on in order to optimize costs, performance, and risk exposures concerning the physical assets, and therefore enhance sustainability performance.

Honoring complexity in sustainable supply chain research: a rough set theoretic approach (SI:ResMeth)

Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) faces greater complexity because it considers additional stakeholder requirements, broader sustainable performance objectives, increased sustainable business practices and technologies, and relationships among those entities. These additional complexities make SSCM more difficult to manage and operate than traditional supply chains. Complex systems require new methods for research especially given reductionist research paradigms of modern science. Rough set theory (RST) can be a valuable tool that will help address complexity in SSCM research and practice. To exemplify RST usefulness and applicability, an illustrative application using sustainable supply chain practices (SSCP), and environmental and economic performance outcomes is introduced. The conceptual case provides nuanced insights for researchers and practitioners in mitigating and evaluating various SSCM complexities. RST limitations and extensions are introduced.

Achieving triple bottom line sustainability in supply chains

PurposeCompanies are increasingly challenged by sustainability-related supply chain risks. Research has developed linking supply chain sustainability priorities, practices and triple bottom line performance; however, risk is rarely included in these models. The purpose of this paper is to understand the link between sustainable supply chain strategies, practices and performance, and to test the importance of risk management practices in this relationship focusing on the product category level.Design/methodology/approachThe paper includes a survey of supply managers in four countries with 305 responses, with a focus on upstream supply chain strategies at the product category level.FindingsThe environmental and social sustainability strategies lead to sustainable supply sustainable performance, through focused practices in either area, but the effect on operational and cost performance is not significant. Social supply chain strategies positively impact environmental and cost performance when mediated by risk assessment practices.Originality/valueThis paper shows a more nuanced view of the impact of supply chain practices on the strategy–performance link. It is one of the first papers to empirically test the role of risk practices in sustainable supply chain management and emphasize the importance of alignment across the main dimensions of sustainability to achieve positive sustainable performance outcomes, but not necessarily cost and operational performance. Unlike other studies, social sustainability priorities may positively impact environmental and social performance and is linked to cost advantage when implemented with risk assessment practices.