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This paper examines the performance of industries in the trade network in international stock markets during the onset of COVID-19. In general, the value of all industries in G20 countries declines significantly in the pandemic. Stock returns of industries in the central positions of global value chains exhibit remarkable resilience despite the economic hardship caused by COVID-19. This pattern is more pronounced when the disruptions caused by social distancing requirements are considered. We postulate that this is related to the essential services provided by the central industries.
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PurposeThis study analyzes in-depth how knowledge-intensive small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can achieve higher new product development (NPD) process performance in the epidemic era and examine the internal development mechanism of knowledge-intensive SMEs in the process of continuous digital transformation.Design/methodology/approachThis issue is tested with partial least squares on data collected via a survey conducted from November 2021 to February 2022. The sample comprises 487 knowledge-intensive SMEs operating in China.FindingsThe results indicate that one form of cross-functional ambidexterity, market development strategy (MDS), plays an important role in process performance from an inside-out financial perspective and an outside-in customer perspective. Simultaneously, product innovation efficiency (PIE) mediates the relationship between MDS and the above results. Big data analytics capabilities (BDACs) positively regulate the relationship between MDS and PIE.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors do not consider other contingency factors. Future research should introduce influential factors such as leadership and competitive intensity to further distinguish the effects of MDS on NPD process performance.Practical implicationsThe study findings offer suggestions to help knowledge-intensive SME managers better manage their NPD process by making better use of their limited resources in developing countries such as China.Originality/valueThis study is one of only a few to adopt a process-oriented perspective to specifically examine how one form of cross-functional ambidexterity, MDS, impacts knowledge-intensive SME process performance in the epidemic era. This study also extends the theoretical framework of cross-functional ambidexterity to BDAC research.
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The goal of this book is to improve the ability of enterprises to implement the green growth model and value chain reconstruction. China's environmental development strategies, such as carbon peak emission and carbon neutrality, have created new challenges and requirements for enterprises to "go green.” In addition, anti-globalization and the complex dynamic uncertainty caused by COVID-19 have changed the operational environment that enterprises face. The application of new technologies, including the new generation of information technologies and the whole process management technology, provides solutions for the implementation of enterprises' green growth model and value chain reconstruction. Based on China's enterprise management cases, this book reveals the connotative features of enterprises' green growth model and their evolutionary regularities, the overall framework and decision optimization of value chain reconstruction under the green growth model, and the approach to implementing the green growth model and value chain reconstruction. The theoretical framework of the green growth model and value chain reconstruction established in this book has enriched and developed the research results in this field. Cases of enterprises implementing the green growth model can provide references for the green transformation of enterprises and help enterprises appreciate the synergy between sustainability and growth. This book can also serve as a research reference for scholars engaged in the field of sustainable operations, as well as decision-makers and managers of relevant government departments. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022.
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Covid - 19 has affected global value chains (GVCs) and firms' behaviours within GVCs to a large extent. Firms need to find flexible solutions to stabilize production and rethink value chain governance and supplier relationships. Thus, GVCs recover from the initial shock, and the GVCs reconfiguration becomes essential for managers. We reviewed recent literature focusing on the GVCs, the role of governance and Covid - 19 effects on it as well as the regionalization trend. Thus, this study aims to give empirical evidence on the reconfiguration of GVCs, particularly the changes in the structure of suppliers in the global apparel industry, by using the Bloomberg Supply Chain Analysis tool in the period of 2017- 2021. We analysed the structural changes in selected leading apparel multinational companies' GVCs - Industria de Diseno Textil, S.A. (Inditex), Hennes & Mauritz AB (H & M) and adidas AG. The findings provide insights on the current state of the theoretically discussed and widely expected regionalization trend in GVCs. The study concludes that two out of three cases provide evidence indicating an ongoing trend toward GVCs regionalization. The contribution of this study consists of empirical evidence of the changes in GVCs supplier structure in the apparel industry in response to pandemic global business environment. Practical implications and recommendations for businesses and policy makers are related to the revealed theories and testable models by using Bloomberg's Supply Chain Analysis data and linking causes and effects of the GVCs regionalization processes.
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PurposeDigital transformation in supply chains (SCs) has emerged as one of the most effective ways to minimize SC disruption risks. Given the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global SCs, this study aims to identify and provide empirical evidence about the drivers of digital SC transformation, considering the interactivity between environmental dynamism, technology, and organizational capabilities during the pandemic era.Design/methodology/approachUsing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), this study examines 923 firms in Vietnam to ascertain the drivers of digital SC transformation between small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises, based on the technology–organization–environment (TOE) as an overarching framework.FindingsThis study finds that greater digital SC transformation adoption could be achieved under the interactivity between the TOE components of firms' technological competencies, learning capabilities, and disruptions in socioeconomic environments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, a multigroup analysis shows that the drivers of digital SC transformation differ between SMEs and large enterprises. SMEs were found to be more motivated by the COVID-19 disruption risk when adopting digital SC models.Originality/valueThis study represents an original and novel contribution from Vietnam as an emerging market to the literature on the impact of COVID-19 on the global value chain. Apart from the unique dataset at the firm level, the analysis of interactions between external and internal drivers of digital SC transformation could provide crucial managerial implications for SMEs to survive major disruptions, such as those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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PurposeThis study analyses how latent variables: environmental hostility, entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capabilities are demonstrated in practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coming from mixed-method research, which is an explanatory sequential research design;this paper aims to provide only the qualitative, practical manifestations and validations of the variables previously tested and analysed quantitatively.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach was used whereby open-ended, semi-structured series of interviews was conducted to extract narratives from two owner–managers of medium-scale manufacturer-exporter agro-processing firms in the Philippines. Thematic analysis using deductive reasoning was used to analyse the collected narratives.FindingsThe analysis showed qualitative evidence of a possible intervention of entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capabilities between the effects of the hostile environment brought about by the pandemic on the firms' export performance. In addition, organisational resilience was observed to possibly moderate the relationship between the firm's entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capabilities. Resilience takes time (years) to develop;with an entrepreneurial behaviour, a continuous enhancement and acquisition of resources, capabilities, knowledge reflects a robust and adaptive organisation during adversity.Social implicationsThe role of education and research institutions was highlighted in the development of dynamic capabilities of firms. The entrepreneurial resilience, however, reflects the individual characteristic of the owner–managers that manifests in the firm's overall posture toward the overall goal of protecting the industry from its downfall.Originality/valueQualitative evidences composed of direct experiences from key informants served valuable and contextual (Philippine agro-processing industry) validations to the theoretical relationships of variables being analysed.
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Morocco is one of the most important fig (Ficus carica L.) diversity hotspots globally, where its cultivation is ancestral. This large diversity, alongside its valorization, has gone unheeded for many reasons, some of which have to do with ancient agricultural strategies besides the lack of exhaustive studies. Although being the third worldwide fig producer, Moroccan fig remains less competitive in the international market because of the poorly structured value chain and the lack of efficient marketing strategies. The current chapter aims to assess the fig genetic and chemotypic diversity hosted in Moroccan agroecosystems and the nutritional values of this typical seasonal fruit alongside its positive effects on human health. A particular interest is also given to examining the potential and emerging valorization pathways of fig and its bioproducts. This chapter also provides a critical analysis of fig value chain and market structure, focusing on the sector resilience towards various chocks. The latter, including the recent socioeconomic crisis provoked by COVID-19, is a challenging endeavor since the sector is poorly organized, making it more vulnerable to global changes. This may impact the local population, mainly where this crop constitutes the main income source. Through this chapter, a holistic view of fig diversity and valorization patterns, along with its value chain resilience to a wide range of factors and conditions, explores solutions to the benefit of policy makers, industry, and end-users. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023. All rights reserved.
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Productivity has always been a focus of manufacturing equipment development, but one of the biggest and most profitable challenges to address is production line changeover-managing the cost of complexity. [...]it would be hugely advantageous for the European market to have a 'pan-European' product pack, to minimize changeovers and potential compliance issues with errors in packaging materials. With increased costs of importing from Asia, it is advantageous to look at ways in which more of the manufacturing supply chain can be brought to Europe, as well as reducing the environmental impact of transporting goods halfway around the world. No longer is NIMBY [not in my back yard] a solution to offshore-the environment is now everyone's yard to take care of, relocating doesn't remove the problem.
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Purpose - study aims to investigate the relationships between global value chain (GVC)-and transportation-related determinants and economic performance. Also, moderating effects of COVID-19 on the relationships are theoretically and empirically discussed. A limitation of previous studies includes their over-reliance on the opportunities of GVC participation and larger transportation. This study represents the challenges associated with them. Also, it shows how GVC and logistics can be difficult in case of a market fluctuation such as COVID-19.Design/methodology - The sample for this study includes 828 observations from 138 countries. A semi-panel data set has been used. Six observations for each country are used to empirically test the hypotheses and a Two-way cluster model is conducted.Findings - It is confirmed that GVC forward participation contributes more than the backward participation to enhance performance. Transportation infrastructure is critical, but large scales of marine and air transportations are not positive in terms of economic performance. Stricter government response to COVID-19 negatively moderates economic performance by GVC backward participation and transportation infrastructure.Originality/value - The spread of COVID-19 is causing a severe collapse of GVC and transportation. This study empirically verifies the moderating effects of the government stringency on GVC and transportation. Previous studies usually discuss a positive impact of GVC and transportation size on economic performance. However, this study aims to show various challenges behind GVC participation and large scale transportation.
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This paper examines the role of some key economies in the economic contagion across global value chains using input-output analysis and complex network statistics. The empirical research focuses on China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A range of novel measures were used to measure the nature and extent of global value chain relationships. The empirical results reveal that, because of the high interdependence and interconnectedness in the global value chain networks, the transmission of an economic shock in China and the United States will be fast, wide, and in-depth in the global value chain networks. Sample countries are more exposed to an economic shock in China than a shock in the other four big economic partners, namely the United States, Germany, Japan, and Korea.
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Transport and tourism are rising economic sectors based on their mutual growth on reliable technological tools, affordable energy sources in relatively peaceful decades. This growing trend, faced along years of sudden slowdown caused mainly by the financial and health crisis;one of the most severe and recent episodes was theCOVID-19 pandemic.The pandemic outbreak is representing a global turning point for both international markets of tourism and transport which can be addressed with innovative solutions looking to retake the growing trends. In such a changing framework CIVITAS DESTINATIONS European project addressed the main challenges of tourism and resident mobility at local (rural, urban area, large city) and regional levels, focusing on six European islands (Malta, Cyprus, Elba, Crete, Gran Canaria, Madeira) aiming to implement and evaluate 83 different sustainablemobility measures. The project proves to have a cumulative relevant impact on environmental indicators such as CO2 emission avoided, fossil fuel saved and energy saved. Additionally, the project findings focus on the quality of life and economic development to grant long-run environmental and financial sustainability of tourism and transport at the local and regional levels. The main aspects observed were related to public participation and governance models in touristic mobility integrated with the residents' needs, touristic mobility the island, role of technologies to focus on final user needs, growing trends of elder and disabled people, new integrated and innovative business in tourism and mobility markets, health at the core of future trends. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2022.
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[...]the vehicle of the future must be considered within the broader framework of the mobility of the future, taking into account the entire value chain. Transforming our future into a sustainable future: planning for the automotive transition Didier Sepulchre de Condé, Mechanical industry The automotive industry is in turmoil, firstly because of the economic situation, with a market deeply affected by Covid, shortages of materials and components and disoriented customers;and secondly because of the structural situation, with the forced transition to electrification. The four paradoxes of the ecological transition of the European car industry Alois Kirchner, Former Director of Cabinet of the Minister for Industry The energy transition in the automotive sector is essential for achieving French and European climate objectives. [...]the actions implemented come up against four paradoxes, which must be overcome if this transition is to succeed: * the regulation on the reduction of CO2 emissions from the tank to the wheel, to the exclusion of other sources which now represent the majority of emissions from new vehicles;* the steering of vehicle traffic restrictions based on Crit'air stickers, leading to the prohibition of access to certain cities for vehicles that are more virtuous than others that are still allowed to enter;* the inability to implement policies to support the production of vehicles on European soil that are sufficiently powerful to halt the fall in associated jobs;a situation that benefits production sites that are not subject to the same environmental standards;* and the rising price of "green" vehicles, leading to a slowdown in the renewal of the fleet and the maintenance of a high level of pollution and carbon emissions.
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The Ati are indigenous peoples of the Philippines who live in Sitio Tagaw, Tamulalod, Dumarao, and Capiz. In this community, there are 353 Ati whose sources of livelihood are farming crops, raising animals, and selling their arts and crafts, which the middlemen bought at a meager cost during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. With these, the researcher conducted Community-based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR). This study aimed to empower the Ati community by building an economically sustainable and resilient individual amidst the pandemic. Specifiically, it aimed to assess the needs of the Ati farmers in managing and marketing their farm products, design and implement the intervention activities that will address their needs in the management and marketing of their farm products, and ascertain the impacts of the intervention activities on the lives of the Ati beneficiaries. Community immersion, informal interviews, and observations were conducted while ethical considerations and health protocols were observed. The results showed that the participants encountered challenges in the value chain of their products and their children's education during this time of the pandemic. To address the issues on the value chain, the researcher implemented capacity-building activities on the management and production of their crops and animals and created social media to market their products on the digital platform. These intervention activities created positive socioeconomic impacts on the lives of the Ati community. Innovative marketing models are proposed to be adopted by other marginalized communities during and even beyond the pandemic. The strategies in this study that utilize social media platforms could also be applied to other marginalized and remote communities that need help accessing potential customers to improve their livelihood and income, even during calamities on a global scale. © 2022, Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences. All Rights Reserved.
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PurposeThe authors examine the factors affecting households' resilience capacities and the impacts of these capacities on household consumption and crop commercialization.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use panel data of 1,648 households from Thailand collected in three years, 2010, 2013 and 2016. The authors employ an econometric model with an instrumental variable approach to address endogenous issues.FindingsThe study results show that the experience of shocks in previous years positively correlates with households' savings per capita and income diversification. Further, a better absorptive capacity in the form of better savings and a better adaptive capacity in the form of higher income diversification have a significant and positive influence on household expenditure per capita and crop commercialization.Practical implicationsDevelopment policies and programs aiming to improve income, increase savings and provide income diversification opportunities are strongly recommended.Originality/valueThe authors provide empirical evidence on the determinants of resilience strategies and their impacts on local food commercialization from a country in the middle-income group.
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Keywords: Organization;Human Capital;Intangible Asset;Model;Specification Introduction Within the framework of regionalist policies, which tend towards protectionism and the stagnation of competitiveness, as well as the multilateralism policies that promote the guidelines of international financial organizations to which the central bank is dependent, the need to study capital human as an intangible asset of entrepreneurial and innovative organizations, therefore, competitive, but without a recipe from the World Bank, the World Trade Organization or the International Monetary Fund [1]. [...]trajectories of dependency relationships were modelled following the principles of complexity in organizations, namely: factuality, fuzziness, chaos and emergency [3]. [...]it is inferred not only who the actors are or who they have been, but who they will be in certain environmental contingencies, organizational cultures and work climates. Isomorphism is inferred when the climate of relationships is in equilibrium with respect to the task climate, that means that demands and resources are also in balance. [...]isomorphism reveals the interrelation between negun tropia and entropy. From the role of the leader, the manager calls for promoting communication and the sense of the objectives that are to be achieved in the immediate future, in the medium and long term. [...]leadership is related to motivate and inspire this transformation and to interact with personal actions and those of teams.
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COVID-19 is currently a global pandemic with worldwide magnitude and transversal implications. In Sri Lanka, during several island-wide curfews imposed since March 2020 and up to now, the agriculture industry's stakeholders and consumers have been coming across several challenges such as food scarcity, dramatic price fluctuations of commodities, and difficulties in searching of market for both product buying and selling. Also, communities have faced challenges related to the timely purchase of planting materials and other agro-inputs (fertilizers and pesticides), loss of income, inadequacy of reliable advices and directions, and market uncertainties, which have demoralized them with no clear way forward. This blockage created a sudden imbalance of the entire value chain of agriculture industry affecting almost all stakeholders. Electronic representation of physical entities-such as local fairs and mega trading hubs driven by computer intelligence services-are believed in this study to be viable solutions to overcome most of the above-mentioned challenges. Therefore, this study proposes a smart-agriculture support system naming it as Electronic Partner for Agro Services (EPAS), which would seamlessly connect farmers, consumers, and other relevant stakeholders of the agriculture value chain in the virtual space electronically. The system intends to regulate price for goods and services while organizing a balanced supply and demand in more informative and intelligent manner, thus provisioning electronic financial accounting facilities for subscribers. Timely dissemination of knowledge, advice, financial services and linking agro-input suppliers are also embedded into the proposed model. The Design Science Research (DSR) Methodology was adopted in this study in developing the EPAS conceptual model. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022. All rights reserved.
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This impact-driven research investigated how food design, technology, and business strategy can solve social problems as part of a social business initiative. A total of 20 street food vendors and home-based food entrepreneurs were selected, and group-focused discussions were conducted based on the study's purpose. They were assessed and advised through the Mystic Kitchen model and social business concept to make their operations more productive and increase sales to cope with lifestyle changes due to the pandemic. The study found that the primary elements in successful business strategies through social business are communication, trust, resource allocation, and matching technology tools.
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PurposeThis research aims to investigate the adoption of future technologies in earthmoving applications. The increased development in automated driving systems (ADS) has opened up significant opportunities to revolutionize mobility and to set the path for technologies, such as electrification. The research also aims to explore the impact of automation on electromobility in earthmoving applications.Design/methodology/approachThis paper adopts a multi-objective simulation-based optimization approach using machine learning in earthmoving applications.FindingsThis study concludes that ADS is "conditionally” an enabler for electrification. The study highlights and explains how local and global factors affect this conclusion. In addition to that, the research explores the impact of the equipment size on the integration of future mobility technologies. The shift from "elephant to ants” in the fleet selection resulted in improved feasibility from the integration of ADS in electrification.Originality/valueThis research provides fundamental considerations in the assessment of the impact of autonomous driving solutions on electromobility in the construction industry.
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The 2020 FAO Vigo Dialogue focused on promoting human and labour rights to ensure better social practices along fisheries and aquaculture value chains, including emphasizing social problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The main issues and challenges that the sector is facing were discussed and identified. The Dialogue raised awareness of the situation faced by fish workers and the industry due to the pandemic, and allowed FAO to collaborate with relevant stakeholders by providing a clear outline of the significant challenges on social issues in fisheries and aquaculture value chains.