Green supply chain management, risk-taking, and corporate value—Dual regulation effect based on technological innovation capability and supply chain concentration

With the promotion of carbon-peak and carbon-neutral strategies and the increase in green awareness, green development is gradually gaining attention, and the green supply chain management (GSCM) derived from traditional supply chain management is gradually becoming a path to promote green development. At the same time, enterprise, as an important source of pollution, how to consider social responsibility, such as environmental protection, in the process of ensuring efficiency improvement has become an important issue. To study the impact of GSCM on enterprise value and its path of action, this paper examines the impact of GSCM on enterprise value, explores the moderating effect of the risk-taking level, and further analyzes the dual moderating effect played by technological innovation capability and supply chain concentration. Based on the micro data of 131 Chinese listed enterprises from 2014 to 2021, a panel-regression model is used to illustrate how GSCM affects enterprise value, and the results show that: (1) GSCM can promote enterprise value;(2) the level of risk-taking strengthens the promoting effect of GSCM on enterprise value enhancement;and (3) the technological innovation capability negatively regulates the moderating effect of risk-taking, while the supply chain concentration positively regulates the moderating effect of risk-taking. The research results of this paper enrich the path of the effect of implementing of GSCM on enterprise value enhancement, i.e. the process of GSCM to enhance enterprise value is regulated by the level of enterprise risk-taking, while technological innovation capability and supply chain concentration will also regulate the level of enterprise risk-taking and thus promote enterprise value enhancement. This research not only extends the research perspective and enriches the existing research, but also provides a theoretical basis for enterprises to implement GSCM to promote value enhancement and improve the level of GSCM implementation and the green development of enterprises.

Entrepreneurial business network and dynamic relational capabilities: a case study approach

PurposeTo further extend the understanding of the aggregating functions of an entrepreneurial business network, this paper attempts to explore the antecedents enabling the organisation of diverse entrepreneurs to engage in a collaborative inter-firm business network project. This paper also elucidates the development of the relational capabilities and performance of entrepreneurial business networks.Design/methodology/approachAn explorative, longitudinal case study design is employed to analyse an Italian agricultural business network, which comprised a group of local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Using the network as the focus of analysis, the case study draws insights from key informants comprising the network management team and the entrepreneurs who make up the membership of the business network.FindingsThe results of the study provide critical factors for successful organisation of inter-firm engagement. Although these factors are not mutually exclusive, the results show that organising for inter-firm engagement in an entrepreneurial business network context positively influenced the network relational performance and entrepreneurs' innovation capabilities.Originality/valueThe paper extends current understanding of inter-organisational engagement and illuminates the antecedents enabling the development of network relational dynamics capabilities. The empirical results provide unusual insights into the aggregating roles of an entrepreneurial business network, giving practitioners practical insights into managing a successful inter-organisational collaborative project. Using the relevant theoretical frameworks, the study empirically tests the organisation solutions relevant to literature on inter-firm engagement in a business network context and addresses the organisation solutions' interrelationship and linkages to entrepreneurial network relational performance in terms of knowledge practice, information and resources sharing and innovation.

Employee associations with R&D investment, firm performance, disruption risk, and supply chain performance during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multiple mediational model

Purpose: Scholars have concentrated their efforts on COVID-19's impact on industries worldwide in order to manage timely supply chain disruptions. Epidemic outbursts are a unique supply chain risk that is distinguished by prolonged disruption propagation, disruption existence, and high uncertainty. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of R&D investment and firm performance in mediating the relationship between disruption risk and supply chain performance in Pakistani manufacturing industries and supply chain employees during the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic via application of dynamic capability theory. Methodology: From July 21 to August 23, 2020, three hundred and eighteen employees from supply chains of manufacturing industries in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, participated in this cross-sectional online web-based survey. The four standard research scales were used to examine the research and development, disruption risk, firm, and supply chain performance. The response link was distributed to respondents via Facebook, WhatsApp, and email. The data was analyzed using structural equation modelling and a partial least squares technique in the study. Results: The study's findings suggest that disruption risk, research and development investment, and firm performance all improve supply chain performance, but the mediation effect is unsupported by the data. These measures help to plan a better supply chain in the face of disruption risk, and they provide one of the timely empirical conclusions on the role of R&D investment in mitigating risk disruptions and improving supply chain performance

Examining ecological strategies adopted by agricultural exporting firms in an emerging country

PurposeThe rising food demand around the globe goes hand in hand with the rapid development of the agriculture industry. However, this development at the same time has detrimental effects on the natural environment. Hence, promoting ecological strategies in agriculture is essential for environmental sustainability. This study aims to investigate the institutional determinants of ecological strategies adopted by agricultural exporting firms and how these strategies enhance the firms' competitive advantage and financial performance.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted to collect data from 218 managers of agricultural exporting companies in Vietnam, which is a major exporter of agricultural products. The data were analyzed using different techniques including partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe results reveal that market pressure, regulatory pressure and competitive pressure motivate the adoption of ecological strategies among the surveyed agricultural exporting firms. Furthermore, such strategies help these firms obtain competitive advantage, which in turn increases their export financial performance. In addition, larger firms, compared to smaller firms, are more likely to adopt ecological strategies.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by developing and validating a unique model examining the institutional pressures of ecological strategies and their outcomes in export markets. The study extends current knowledge about ecological exporting strategies for agricultural products, and its findings have several managerial and policy implications for promoting these strategies among agricultural exporting firms in emerging countries like Vietnam.

Innovative and efficient CNN structure works for chest X-ray images classification

In the era of global transmission of COVID-19, it is a challenge for physicians to efficiently and accurately use chest Xray images to diagnose whether a patient is positive or not. The application of deep learning and computer vision in medical image processing solves this problem, but a highly accurate method is still needed. In this research, we proposed an innovative CNN structure used for chest X-ray classification. Based on deep learning and CNN, this new architecture has an efficient training process and the performance of accuracy is better than other classic nets. The best accuracy on the test dataset is 97.68%. It has competitive advantages over AlexNet, LeNet-5, and Vgg-16. Dropout, Data augmentation, and Grad-CAM technique are added to improve performance. © 2022 IEEE.

Doing well by doing good: why is investing in university social responsibility a good business for higher education institutions cross culturally?

PurposeThis paper aims to corroborate the importance of university social responsibility (USR) for universities and to establish a rationale for their investment in a strategically implement socially responsible initiatives and programmes and gain returns from such investments. This purpose can be achieved by examining a complex conceptual model connecting USR with many desired student-related outcomes that leverage the university's competitiveness, long sustainability and contribution to the triple bottom line – "people, planet, and profit”.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a cross-country comparative study using quantitative techniques. Their analysis was guided by a holistic conceptual model constructed and experimentally evaluated using obtained primary data. The robustness of the suggested model was evaluated using structural equation modelling with partial least squares.FindingsThe findings validate the hypothesized associations and indicate that adopting USR initiatives increases student satisfaction and alumni loyalty through student-university identification, perceived university image, and service quality. In addition, the cross-country analysis finds no variation in the strength of the connections owing to cultural variations, except for the association between service quality and institution image.Practical implicationsIncorporating USR at the centre of university's strategy not only complements its teaching and research goals but also answers the requirements and expectations of stakeholders, increases competitiveness and assures sustainable performance.Originality/valueThis cross-cultural USR study uses a mix of methods to show that, even though USR is important, until now, its importance has been overlooked.

Supply chain stresses

Purpose>This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.Design/methodology/approach>This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.Findings>Supply chain agility is a complex and demanding challenge facing most firms operating postpandemic. Yet the response to these challenges is fairly ubiquitous by firms, meaning there are some generic steps all firms can make to improve.Originality/value>The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

AI: new source of competitiveness in higher education

Purpose>This paper aims to survey the current landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in higher education institutions (HEIs) and recommend future directions.Design/methodology/approach>This paper reviews the recent trends, showcases the applications and provides future directions through a review of current uses of AI in HEIs.Findings>The results of this study highlight successful applications of AI technologies in three main areas of college operation: student learning experience;student support;and enrollment management.Research limitations/implications>This review has important implications for early adopters of AI by HEIs in providing a competitive advantage. The limitation lies in the scope of the review. It is not comprehensive and does not cover other areas of college operations.Originality/value>This is the first review about AI in higher education. It is of value in building future research and serving as a framework for AI applications in HEI.

Smart economic development patterns in Europe: interaction with competitiveness

Purpose>This paper aims to investigate the smart economic development (SED) patterns in Europe in relation to competitiveness. Motivational focus corresponds to global events: the fourth industrial revolution, transition to a low-carbon economy, economic shocks (such as the 2008 financial crisis, Brexit or the coronavirus pandemic), which requires rethinking development policies, targeting competitiveness increase and reducing imbalances in economic development.Design/methodology/approach>The analysis includes self-organising neural networks cluster analysis and correlations, comparative analysis of SED indicators structure and cumulative index estimation with World Economic Forum (WEF) global competitiveness index. The panel data set of 19 years from 2000 to 2018 for 30 European countries.Findings>Overall, cross-country examination suggests that European countries of higher competitiveness illustrate higher estimates in SED. The key determinants are juridical fairness, social responsibility, competence building, intelligence and welfare employment to develop smart patterns for reaching higher competitiveness.Research limitations/implications>The limitations relate to the particular sample of European countries and gathering statistical data and a methodology of the SED index calculation. In addition, the paper contains a macroeconomic environment focus on competitiveness estimation. Further research may be improved with micro and mezzo environment incorporation at a cross-country analysis level.Practical implications>By linking well-known terms of competitiveness and economic development with a concept of smartness, new approaches to policymaking emerged. The methodology presented in this paper has implications for territorial cohesion policies, competitiveness and branching strategies. The combination of SED sub-indexes and WEF GCI might aid a more accurate ex ante measurement.Social implications>The findings are essential for fostering a smart approach in economic development for long-term competitiveness.Originality/value>This paper provides original empirical evidence about the relationship between SED and competitiveness and adds new knowledge that smartness becomes a way for building countries' competitiveness by identified two profiles of SED patterns by development stages, namely, integrated to economic development and institutional-based which is divided to focus and balanced.

Guest editorial: Digital transformation strategy and impacts during emergency situations

In line with the interdisciplinarity of the Industrial Management and Data Systems (IMDS) journal, this Special Issue (SI) was focused on exploring the digital transformation phenomenon from different angles, with particular attention on the interplay between operations management, supply chain and information systems related fields, during emergencies and environmental uncertainty contexts. [...]this SI aims to inspire debate and discussion with scholars, practitioners and decision-makers working on governments by reporting the finest science and valuable practical and policy insights to advance the literature, practices and policy formulation. 2. [...]R&D's higher prior investment creates higher levels of digital technology, supporting the firm's resilience. [...]the authors point out that retailers can use blockchain for permission marketing strategies. The results reveal that top management support plays an important mediation effect. [...]the study points out the moderation effect that environmental factors exert on big data analytics adoption.

Sharing Economy of Online Food Delivery: Revealing the Underlying Attributes of the Customer Experience through Semantic Network Analysis

Research Aims: This study aimed to reveal the underlying attributes of the customer experience in the sharing economy of online food delivery (OFD). Design/Methodology/Approach: After collecting 45,116 reviews from the Google Play store, a semantic network analysis was conducted. Python programming language and text mining were utilised to extract keywords from online reviews, a frequency analysis was performed, and a CONvergence of iterated CORrelations (CONCOR) analysis was conducted using Ucinet 6.0. Research Findings: The keywords 'food,' 'order,' 'driver,' and 'application' had the highest frequency and centrality. Customer experience attributes were classified into four clusters: 'Delivery Procedure', 'OFD Platform', 'Payment Process' and 'Value of Money'. Theoretical Contribution/Originality: This study provides a relevant and novel assessment of customer experience using semantic network analysis, which should be more broadly used in academic research. Managerial Implications in the Southeast Asian Context: Given the predicted growth of online food delivery in Southeast Asia and shared cultural values with Indonesia, the findings of this study may have implications for developing strategies of sustainability in the sharing economy of online food delivery enterprises. Research Limitations & Implications: This study only collected online customer reviews from the Google Play store, and because the method focused on word frequency, understanding of the additional meaning of words is lacking.

Evaluation of competition strategies applied in logistics management during the pandemic process: A research on logistics companies in Istanbul

Bu çalışmanın amacı, tüm dünyayı etkisi altına alan COVÍD -19 sürecinin lojistik yönetimi kapsamında değişen rekabet, büyüme ve müşteri stratejilerinde meydana gelen değişimleri belirlemektir. Çalışma görüşme şeklinde gerçekleştirilecek olup, pandemi sürecinde tedarik zinciri süreçlerinde yaşanan değişimlerin iş bazında rekabet, büyüme ve müşteri stratejilerine nasıl yansıdığı değerlendirilecektir. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre rekabet, büyüme ve müşteri stratejilerindeki değişimlere paralel olarak lojistik sektöründe faaliyet gösteren firmalara önerilerde bulunulacaktır. Çalışma sonuçları, rekabet avantajı yaratmak için hız, dijitalleşme, müşteri ilişkilerinin kalitesinin arttırılması, evden çalışma ve e-ticaretin genişlemesi gerekliliğini içerir.Alternate : This study aims to determine the changes in the changing competition, growth, and customer strategies within the scope of the logistics management of the COVID-19 process that affects the whole world. The study will be carried out in the form of an interview, and it will be evaluated how the changes in the supply chain processes during the pandemic process reflect on the competition, growth, and customer strategies business basis. According to the results, recommendations will be made to companies operating in the logistics sector in parallel with the changes in competition, growth, and customer strategies. The study results include the need for speed, digitization, improving the quality of customer relationships, working from home, and expanding e-commerce to create a competitive advantage.

Reconfiguration of Technological and Innovation Capabilities in Mexican SMEs: Effective Strategies for Corporate Performance in Emerging Economies

Latin American SMEs currently have serious financial and technological limitations. These problems have generated poor progress in technological digitization, innovation management, and corporate performance. The purpose of this research is to first analyze the direct effect that digitalization has on the management of innovation and corporate performance of Mexican SMEs. Secondly, the moderating effect that technological barriers have on the digitization, innovation, and results of the corporate performances of Mexican SMEs is examined. This study compiles information from a sample of 4121 managers of SMEs in the service trade and manufacturing sector. The information collection technique was through a personal interview (online questionnaire) addressed to the owner and/or manager of the SMEs through the LimeSurvey Professional platform. The fieldwork was carried out during the months of January to July of the year 2022. The structural equations model (SEM) was used for data analysis, specifically with the statistical technique of analysis of variance through the partial least square (PLS). The findings revealed that digitization has positive and significant effects on innovation management and corporate performance. In addition, the results indicate that the barriers to digitalization as a moderating variable have been impeding development and digital transformation and reducing the results of innovation and corporate performance of Mexican SMEs. This study contributes to the development of dynamic capabilities theory.

Capabilities and business success during COVID-19: The importance of production, marketing, and sales

Purpose>This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.Design/methodology/approach>This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.Findings>By optimizing production, sales, and marketing, companies will be more likely to find success in times of significant change and recover faster, if not profit.Originality/value>The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Supply chain stresses: Utilizing agility to boost supply chain resilience in the face of changing customer demands

Purpose>This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.Design/methodology/approach>This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.Findings>Supply chain agility is a complex and demanding challenge facing most firms operating postpandemic. Yet the response to these challenges is fairly ubiquitous by firms, meaning there are some generic steps all firms can make to improve.Originality/value>The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Intellectual capital and knowledge management for overcoming social and economic barriers in the health-care sector

PurposeThis study aims to explore how knowledge management (KM) influences the intellectual capital (IC) of organizations operating in health care and how IC and knowledge-sharing (KS) can contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in health systems. Notably, this study focuses on telemedicine, investigating how relational capital contributes to KS in the context of remote care services. Design/methodology/approachTo comply with the paper's aim, the authors use a qualitative research method based on a polar case study suitable for IC in health-care studies. More precisely, this study analyzes a nonprofit organization that, for over 15 years, has offered a free multispecialist teleconsultation service to answer medical questions from the most disadvantaged places in the world. FindingsThe findings show that the KM significantly contributes to the IC of organizations. Indeed, it improves the data management and transmission system, it increases performance flexibility in times of resource scarcity without compromising business objectives and it can attract new human resources even when not motivated by selfish goals (volunteer physicians). Research limitations/implicationsThis research contributes to studies on IC in health care by focusing on the contribution of telemedicine to the creation of IC. In particular, this work emphasizes the ability of telemedicine to develop and share knowledge in disadvantaged areas of the world. Moreover, in the current context, still strongly permeated by the health emergency generated by the pandemic and recently by the war in Eastern Europe, the importance of such assistance and diagnosis grows. Practical implicationsThe conclusions the research findings lead may guide policymakers toward a policy supporting telemedicine. It would alleviate general health-care costs and completely revolutionize light health care's role. Moreover, reducing socioeconomic distances, improving access to care and applying innovative technologies for sharing outcomes foster balanced socioeconomic development and knowledge dissemination. Originality/valueThis research has shown how telemedicine represents a new successful business model even in times of crisis. The organizational model makes it possible to offer cutting-edge specialized care, contain costs, easily reach disadvantaged areas of the planet, strengthen the skills and autonomy of the most backward countries through a process of KS and push the structures operating there to interact with those in advanced countries.

Fostering firm resilience through organizational ambidexterity capability and resource availability: amid the COVID-19 outbreak

Purpose>This study aims to study the impact of organizational ambidexterity capability and resource availability on firm resilience along with perceived environmental uncertainty playing a moderating role. This study also intends to investigate the interplaying relationship between exploration capability and exploitation capability as components of organizational ambidexterity with resource availability.Design/methodology/approach>Quantitative data was collected through self-administered surveys targeting 202 firms in Egypt. SEM (AMOS-SPSS) was used to test the proposed hypotheses.Findings>The results indicated that both organizational ambidexterity capability and resource availability impact firm resilience. Moreover, the relationship between the enablers was found to be significant, where resource availability has a positive impact on the firm's exploitation capability, the firm's exploitation capability has a positive impact on its exploration capability and finally, the firm's exploration capability has a positive impact on resource availability. However, the moderating role of perceived environmental uncertainty was found to be insignificant.Research limitations/implications>Nonprobability convenience sampling technique, cross-sectional design and the relatively small sample size may hinder the ability to generalize this study.Practical implications>This study identifies the importance of exploration (innovation) and exploitation (efficiency) capabilities for managers to build responsive organizations.Originality/value>This study contributes to the understanding of firm resilience in times of uncertainties, where empirical research has not been enough. In addition, this study contributes to the identification of possible antecedents of firm resilience, highlighting the importance of certain strategic features including organizational ambidexterity capability and resource availability. This study also investigates the relationship between exploitation capabilities, exploration capabilities and resource availability, which was not empirically tested in the literature.

Readiness for lean-sustainability in start-ups during the COVID-19 era

Purpose>This study aims to "identify”, "analyse” and "categorise” the lean-sustainability enablers for start-ups during the COVID-19 epidemic using total interpretive structural modelling (TISM).Design/methodology/approach>A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data in addition to the scheduled interview. The TISM methodology is used to determine how the variables interact, and the matrice d'Impacts croises-multiplication applique´ a classement (MICMAC) method is used to rank and categorise the lean-sustainability enablers.Findings>This study identified ten lean-sustainability enablers for start-ups during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study says that the key factors are leadership and managerial commitment, implementation of employee skills and abilities, strategic need, personnel engagement and financial ability.Research limitations/implications>The study focused primarily on lean-sustainability characteristics for start-ups.Practical implications>This research will aid key stakeholders and academics in better understanding the factors that contribute to lean-sustainability in start-ups.Originality/value>This study proposes the TISM technique for start-ups, which is a novel attempt in the subject of lean-sustainability in this industry.

Penetrating or expanding: the dilemma at Raushangul atelier studio, Kazakhstan

Learning outcomes: After the case discussion in class, the audience is expected to:▪ Apply the use of management tools in identifying core competencies in the sustenance and growth of a venture.▪ Evaluate the sustainability of the core competencies using relevant tools and frameworks.▪ Assess using relevant criteria whether firms should diversify or not? Case overview/synopsis: The case highlights the experience and obstacles encountered by a Kazakh entrepreneur, Moldakhmetova, who is exploring her long-term business continuity choices. Moldakhmetova ran her own tailoring business, which focused mostly on designing and creating national costumes worn at weddings and concerts. However, she was confronted with a number of obstacles pertaining to the long-term viability of her enterprise, especially with the commencement of the Covid pandemic. The volume of national costume sales was affected by the declaration of the lockdown and restrictions on concerts and celebrations. As the lockdown lifted and orders started to pour in, Moldakhmetova pondered the long-term viability of her business venture. In addition, the availability of inexpensive ready-made Moldakhemetova costumes in Almaty (one of the major cities) made her question whether or not they were her competitors. Thus, Atlas contemplated many choices as potential answers to the question of the enterprise's long-term viability. She was currently faced with the dilemma of selecting the most feasible solution from the possibilities she had identified. Complexity academic level: BBA and MBA programs. Supplementary materials: Teaching notes are available for educators only. Students are recommended to watch the video about the Kazakh folk style of clothing at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddVzrUeSn64 (25 minutes). Students can watch the following video about specific embroidery styles applied in Kazakh national clothing at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB0XJE09N9w (first 10 minutes of video). The case could be used in online teaching via the Padlet platform. Subject Code: CSS: 11: Strategy. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Calmness instead of panicking: re-thinking the resource allocation strategies in an era of uncertainty: a case of a developing country

PurposeDrawing on the concept of superior resource, capability and processes of the resource-based theory of the firm, the purpose of the current study is to analyze the influence of firms' winner-picking strategic approach on firm performance (FP) via a direct and indirect mechanism.Design/methodology/approachUsing survey data of 104 diversified manufacturing firms, the current study analyzed the conditional indirect effect of firms' strategic approach on efficient resource allocation with the help of Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) process macros.FindingsThe study found that firms' choices of winner-picking approach can undermine the resource allocation efficiency when not perfectly blended with firms' access to the resource. Furthermore, the effect of winner-picking strategy (WPS) on resource allocation efficiency via firms' competitive advantage (CA) can be greater when both strategic choice and resources are employed adequately.Research limitations/implicationsDespite making a unique contribution, the present study has a few limitations requiring researchers' attention to be tackled in the forthcoming. This includes a little amount of data, a self-reporting technique and failure to include all the possible reasons that could lead to inefficient resource allocation.Practical implicationsThe present research has potential applications for managers of the manufacturing industry in a period of sheer uncertainty [coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)]. First, the study alerts managers about the challenges of underinvestment and overinvestment while allocating resources. At the same time, this study provides an important implication for managing the importance of firms' access to capital (AC).Originality/valueThe current study has made a sizeable impression in the literature on internal resource allocation and resource-based theory of the firm by recommending a model that augments the theoretical foundation of strategic management of the firms. As there are only a handful of studies on this grave issue in the context of developing economies, thus, closely considering these insights would be helping for the firms for allocating resources efficiently in the manufacturing industry.