Innovation, sustainability, and collaboration are all related in their efforts to manage multiple dimensions of organizational and institutional policies and practices. This chapter conceptualizes an integrative Sustainability Science perspective of innovation,...
This paper systematically analyses the vital motivations, drivers and barriers to the adoption of low-carbon operations management practices in response to climate change, highlighting the implications for the International Journal of Production Research (IJPR)'s community, which has contributed significantly to discussion of and research into sustainable production. Based on a thorough review of key articles on low-carbon operations management published in a number of prestigious journals, seven propositions for future research are suggested. Additionally, a unique classification of the barriers to and motivations for low-carbon production is put forward. These areas, which deserve further investigation, are (a) economic issues, (b) policy, (c) technology, (d) governance and (e) the market. The research agenda proposed for low-carbon production and operations may prove useful to the production research community in planning future developments and research projects, increasing knowledge and designing teaching modules on the topic. The study concludes by shedding light on the main research opportunities that IJPR's community will encounter.
In the last decade, we have witnessed companies investing in financially and laboriously expensive enterprise information technologies (EITs) that unify the internal and external supply chains for the purpose of gaining strategic advantages. As performance metrics data resulting from such investments are beginning to emerge, both practitioners and researchers are taking a critical look at whether these systems indeed produced the benefits proclaimed by their proponents at the pre‐implementation stages. In this context, the well‐managed appraisal, design, operation, and auditing of EITs within the ambit of organizational goals become significant. Provides a conceptual discussion on: a framework outlining a recommended decision process; a categorization of factors that must be considered during the process; and a summary of techniques and tools for the evaluation of those factors.
This paper provides insight into a selection method for production systems from amongst competing alternatives having varying degrees of tangible and intangible advantages and benefits. The specific production system characteristics investigated in this study are for discrete and modularly designed products: products that are designed in such a way that they can be manufactured in modules and thus support the strategy of mass customisation. These products and characteristics are core dimensions and aspects for successful agile manufacturing environment implementations. The decision environment is limited to in-family variations in the products. The Analytical Network Process (ANP) is the methodological approach applied for the production system selection.
Performance measurement of sustainable supply chains is not a trivial issue. The complexities associated with measurement of supply chains is well known. Expanded sustainability measures for organizations and their supply chains only causes additional complexity....
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This chapter argues that game-changing green-growth must be rooted on economic approaches allowing for the inherent complexity of human-environment relationships, implemented through multi-stakeholders and multi-scale governance arrangements and fuelled by policies...
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to threefold. The first purpose is to review and critically analyze corporate sustainability development (CSD) research in China. Second, the paper extracts a unified theoretical framework among CSD drivers, CSD practices, and corporate performance in China. Finally, it seeks to identify links between CSD and industrial management and data systems (IMDS) topics. Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive and structured review of the research literature investigating CSD in China was completed. Categorizations and classifications of the literature were summarized. A critical analysis of the literature resulted in a generic theoretical framework that can be used for evaluation of the literature and further investigation. Findings – The literature review found over 189 papers on CSD in China published from 1997 to 2013. The framework developed focussed on relationships among drivers, practices, and performance within a CSD in China context. The framework provides useful insights into the implementation of CSD practices. The integration of the three dimensions of sustainability and decision-making methodology are still rare. Specific features of CSD are also reviewed with a linkage to IMDS research around information technology, business process modeling, and supply chain management. Originality/value – This is one of the first works to provide a comprehensive focus on CSD in China. The theoretical framework was developed for CSD in China to clarify the relationships between the drivers, the corporation’s characteristics, CSD practices, and corporation performance and will prove useful for future research development and investigation. The linkage to IMDS topics is novel and will help further research related to CSD in China for this journal.
Reverse logistics (or the reverse supply chain) features greater relative uncertainty when compared to forward logistics and supply chain flows. An effective way to manage uncertainty and variance in operational and organizational systems is by introducing greater flexibility. The literature on flexibility in reverse logistics is surprisingly sparse, with an explicit focus on flexibility in reverse logistics non-existent in the literature. To address this gap in the literature, and building upon literature in supply chain flexibility, we introduce a reverse logistics flexibility framework. The framework is separated into operational and strategic flexibilities. Operational flexibility includes a variety of dimensions such as product and volume flexibility across various reverse logistics operational functions. We have also included strategic flexibility categorized into network and organizational design flexibility dimensions. Additional sub-dimensions are also included in the framework. The framework is useful for practical managerial decision making purposes such as process improvement or programmatic evaluation. The framework is also useful as a theoretical construct for reverse logistics empirical research. To exemplify the practical utility of the framework we introduce a performance evaluation of third party reverse logistics providers model using a novel neighborhood rough set approach. Using illustrative data, sensitivity results help evaluate the neighborhood rough set technique's robustness with various reverse logistics performance factors. This paper sets the foundation for significant future research in reverse logistics flexibility.
Technological and market cycles pressure organizations to introduce new products. To make room for the new products, product deletion (PD) decisions are inevitable. PD implementation, however, is beyond the reactive elimination of mature or low-profit products. As a competitive and proactive managerial tool, PD requires incorporation of supply chain financial and non-financial attributes to not only benefit organizations, but also maintain important partnerships. To successfully apply strategic PD, consideration of a broader set of decision factors is necessary. To update the traditional view, this paper introduces supply chain and competitive factors to product deletion decision-making (PDDM). Given the complex multi-criteria problem, including both qualitative and quantitative factors and the relative uncertainties and interaction between the factors, a Nested-Fuzzy Inference System with Interactions (NFISI) model as part of a multi-stage, multi-method expert system is introduced to aid the decision-making process. The model is verified using a practical case in a major fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company. The priority of alternative products for deletion is obtained through the application of the developed model considering the newly introduced factors. The results provide initial, albeit idiosyncratic, insights with a discussion of practical implications. It is demonstrated that considering supply chain factors makes a difference in PDDM outcomes. A brief overview of research opportunities is finally presented to guide researchers in contributing to this under-studied subject.
Concerns about industrial and supply chain implications on our natural environment have existed for decades. Climate change and greenhouse gas emissions have caused countries to implement various instruments ranging from taxes, permits and voluntary incentives to required regulatory policies. Given this environment, we develop a unified optimization model for a closed-loop supply chain in which the carbon emission is expressed in terms of dollar carbon cost. This study is one of the first to evaluate the forward and reverse supply chain influences on the carbon footprint. A comparative analysis is completed with a decomposition of cost and environmental influences across supply chain functions. We utilize data from a company located in Australia, where the government is currently introducing a carbon pricing scheme. We find that variations in cost and environmental impacts occur over ranges of carbon pricing. Characteristics and patterns of the numerical results over these ranges provide insights for corporate key strategies and potential additional government policies. These results and implications are analyzed along with limitations and directions for future research.
There is growing interest in the environmental impact of organizational activities. This exploratory study introduces the need to integrate economic market and non-market valuations for social sustainability in organizations. While organizations have not reached this integration, the potential to help in development and the introduction of social sustainability is significant. The methodology includes an extensive research into economic market and non-market valuation literature for social sustainability. This paper integrates a new approach to the current academic literature highlighting social aspects of sustainability within the supply chain and specifically in reverse logistics. The literature review led to the development of a framework guiding and simplifying these efforts. Practical situations of environmental goods valuations of social sustainability in reverse logistics are provided as an illustration. Using organizational supply chains and reverse logistics as an example, the application of various tools is presented using an environmental goods valuation framework. The integration of these topics aid researchers, policy makers, and practitioners. The findings make a contribution to the strategic organizational justification, performance measurement and sustainability literature by further integrating environmental goods valuation tools, models, theory and practices. The paper includes the development of propositions to be addressed in future research.
Purpose – Green supply chain management (GSCM) has emerged as a key approach for enterprises seeking to become environmentally sustainable. This paper aims to evaluate and describe GSCM drivers, practices and performance among various Chinese manufacturing organizations. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a literature review, four propositions are put forward. An empirical study using survey research was completed. The survey questionnaire was designed with 54 items using literature and industry expert input. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to derive groupings of GSCM pressures, practice and performance from the survey data which included 314 responses. A categorical and descriptive nature of the results is then presented with an evaluation and comparative analysis with previous research findings. Findings – Chinese enterprises have increased their environmental awareness due to regulatory, competitive, and marketing pressures and drivers. However, this awareness has not been translated into strong GSCM practice adoption, let alone into improvements in some areas of performance, where it was expected. Research limitations/implications – The investigation and its findings are still relatively exploratory. Future research can investigate relationships identified in this work, as well as tease out mediating and moderating relationships. A more broadly‐based and random sample study across China would also provide a better picture of this GSCM situation. Practical implications – Efforts made by Chinese enterprises together with the Chinese government have established a good foundation for further development. After China's entry into the WTO, a win‐win relationship between foreign companies and Chinese manufacturers is still possible. Originality/value – This work is one of the few and pioneering efforts to investigate GSCM practices in China.
Successful Food-energy-water (FEW) nexus projects will be more likely to succeed if a transdisciplinary approach is used. Ecological modernization (ecological technology) policies and practices, and sustainable supply chains influence the FEW nexus from a commerce and industry perspective. Taking these perspectives and considering their intertwined linkages is important for advancing research and adoption of FEW nexus efforts. This paper provides an overview of these perspectives and interlinkages. A biosolids case study is used to exemplify the complexities and interactions of these four thematic perspectives: the FEW nexus, transdisciplinarity, ecological modernization, and sustainable supply chains. An integrative multi-level analysis scheme is used to analyze interrelationships. This analysis and the case study help to identify a series of research opportunities to further this nascent field. Research opportunities include methodological developments, attitudinal and social concerns, performance indicator systems, and meta-social evolutions in technology and policy.
Knowledge sharing among divisions of an organization is an important yet difficult goal foray institution to achieve. This case reports on development of a system that fosters knowledge sharing across divisions and levels of government in a New York State agency. The case will focus on project management aspects, and discuss tools and models used to aid in the development and evolution of this project from an intra-division application to a more pervasive enterprise-wide system. A number of organizational and technological elements provide the impetus for growth, improvement, and success of this system. Overall, the case study provides insights and lessons learned to problems encountered in diverse and sizable organizations, such as large companies and not-for-profit organizations, as well as state and federal governments, where knowledge is distributed and sharing knowledge is critical to organizational performance.Request access from your librarian to read this chapter's full text.
