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Article
Publication date: 9 August 2024

Sónia Monteiro, Verónica Ribeiro, Patricia Gomes, Maria José Fernandes and Cristiana Molho

Local governments (LGs) play a crucial role as policymakers and catalysts for change at the local level, making them well-positioned to connect the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda…

Abstract

Purpose

Local governments (LGs) play a crucial role as policymakers and catalysts for change at the local level, making them well-positioned to connect the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda goals with local communities. Therefore, LGs should collect and analyze data to monitor progress toward the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and report on the outcomes. In this regard, webpages on the internet stand out as a valuable tool to enhance accountability in LGs and to promote stakeholder engagement with the community. Thus, this paper aims to analyze whether Portuguese municipalities disclose information regarding the SDGs on their websites, and to identify the main drivers of SDG web-reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the theoretical foundation of legitimacy theory, this study examines the relationship between SDG reporting and the characteristics of several municipalities (such as geographical location, municipality size, financial performance, political ideology and gender), as well as adherence to some programs/networks/platforms (such as CESOP_Local and ODSLocal). The websites of 306 Portuguese municipalities were analyzed using the content analysis technique. A bivariate and multivariate statistical analysis was applied.

Findings

Bivariate analysis shows that coastal, larger and financially efficient municipalities are more likely to disclose SDG information on their websites due to visibility and stakeholder pressure. Contrary to extant literature, left-wing municipalities are not necessarily more inclined to embrace the 2030 Agenda. However, the presence of women in decision-making bodies and adherence to networks and sustainable programs positively influence SDG disclosure. In multivariate analysis, logistic regression identifies two significant factors impacting online SDG disclosure: the representation of women in municipal plenaries; and adherence to the CESOP_local network. Other factors show no significant influence, highlighting these two variables as the main drivers for SDG information disclosure.

Practical implications

The findings are in line with the literature review and lead us to conclude that SDG reporting in LGs is still in its infancy. Therefore, policymakers and regulators need to work together to implement and standardize sustainability reporting within LGs.

Social implications

Considering the significance of the gender variable, the findings could have implications for policy formulation, promoting gender diversity and its impact on the quality of SDG reporting.

Originality/value

Empirical research on SDG reporting remains limited, particularly within the context of LGs. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous studies have delved into the reporting of SDGs specifically in this Portuguese context.

Details

Measuring Business Excellence, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1368-3047

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 May 2022

Ana Clara Mourão Moura, Ashiley Adelaide Rosa, Beatriz Maria Fernandes Araújo and Felipe Andrade Ferreira

This study aims to present a methodological experience using geodesign as a process and instrument that facilitates citizen awareness and the use of alternative urban parameters…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to present a methodological experience using geodesign as a process and instrument that facilitates citizen awareness and the use of alternative urban parameters in a discipline of an undergraduate course in architecture and urbanism, about urban planning at a local scale.

Design/methodology/approach

Aiming to develop solutions more suited to the reality of the area and attentive to contemporary practices of collaborative urban planning – for and with people – the methodological approach was divided into two complementary steps. The first step was elaborated through a general plan of ideas, with the aid of the Geodesign Hub platform, and for the more detailed second step, we used the Brazilian virtual GISColab geodesign platform. Both steps were conducted in workshop format.

Findings

In this experience, by incorporating geoinformation technology resources, geodesign proved to be a potential tool for creating opinions and decision-making regarding co-creative planning and experimenting with alternative urban parameters.

Originality/value

In the context of a current scenario of city growth oriented from the perspective of motor vehicles, the urban sprawl and in turn, the progressive loss of the human dimension in the urban space, students were introduced and encouraged to reflect on the different functions of the street and on the possibility of measuring urban quality from alternative parameters: completeness indicators.

Details

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, vol. 42 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-4708

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 June 2024

Jose Luis Rivas and María de las Mercedes Adamuz

This study aims to explore the direct and indirect relationships among the informal economy, innovation, entrepreneurial and initial public offering (IPO) activity.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore the direct and indirect relationships among the informal economy, innovation, entrepreneurial and initial public offering (IPO) activity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses an unbalanced sample of 30 countries over a 15-year period: 2000–2014. The proposed random-effects model is estimated using feasible generalized least squares with robust estimators of variance.

Findings

Entrepreneurial activity is positively related to IPO activity. The informal economy negatively moderates the relationships among entrepreneurship, innovation and IPOs.

Practical implications

IPOs are a stage in the entrepreneurial process susceptible of being influenced by country level factors. An appropriate understanding of these factors can contribute to discuss policies that improve the level of IPO activity.

Originality/value

The authors explore the understudied relationship of the informal economy and entrepreneurship. Although entrepreneurial activity can be higher in contexts with more informality, this relationship can turn sour in later stages since it lowers the probability of higher IPO activity by inhibiting formal entrepreneurship and innovation. Hence, the main contribution is to provide evidence of this “hangover” effect.

Details

Management Research: Journal of the Iberoamerican Academy of Management, vol. 22 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1536-5433

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 July 2024

Alice Sarantopoulos, Gabriela Spagnol, Maria Rosa Colombrini, Leticia Minatogawa, Vinicius Minatogawa, Renata Cristina Gasparino and Li Li Min

This paper aims to evaluate the measurement properties of the Employee Perception to Assess the Lean Implementation Tool (EPLIT) in the Brazilian hospital context.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the measurement properties of the Employee Perception to Assess the Lean Implementation Tool (EPLIT) in the Brazilian hospital context.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted in two Brazilian hospitals, adhering to COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Cronbach's alpha were used for construct validity and reliability.

Findings

The adapted tool comprises 27 items across five domains, explaining 63.3% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.78 to 0.86, indicating satisfactory reliability.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include convenience sampling and exclusive use of EFA for validation. Future studies may employ Confirmatory Factor Analysis for further validation.

Practical implications

The tool aids healthcare managers in Brazil to systematically evaluate Lean implementation, contributing to process optimization and quality improvement.

Social implications

Effective Lean implementation using the validated tool could lead to improved healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Originality/value

This is the first study to adapt and validate EPLIT for the Brazilian healthcare sector, offering a robust tool for managers and researchers.

Details

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-4166

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 July 2023

Leander Luiz Klein, José Moyano-Fuentes, Kelmara Mendes Vieira and Diego Russowsky Marçal

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the causal relationship between Lean practices and team performance. Specifically, the authors tried to demonstrate which practices act as…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the causal relationship between Lean practices and team performance. Specifically, the authors tried to demonstrate which practices act as enablers of continuous improvement and waste elimination and what is their impact on team performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was carried out in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Southern Brazil. The authors obtained a sample of 785 respondents. The data analysis procedures involved confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations modeling.

Findings

The results of the research provided support for the positive influence of continuous improvement on waste elimination and of these two practices on team performance. In addition, empirical support was obtained for the effect of leadership support, employee involvement and internal process customers on continuous improvement.

Research limitations/implications

Data collection was carried out online, so we were not able to maintain full control of the research respondents. This research generates relevant insights for decision-makers in the HEI environment, especially concerning Lean practices and team performance. The effects analyzed are even more relevant given the pandemic context.

Practical implications

This study shows how some higher education Lean practices can positively affect continuous improvement and better team performance. The results raise important insights for decision-makers to offer better higher education public services, especially given the context and changes imposed by the pandemic situation.

Originality/value

This paper initiates the discussion about enablers of continuous improvement and waste elimination in HEI and demonstrates their impact on team performance.

Details

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, vol. 15 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-4166

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 February 2024

Sara Maia, José Pedro Teixeira Domingues, Maria Leonilde R. Rocha Varela and Luis Miguel Fonseca

The focus of this research is to investigate if user-generated content (UGC) generated in the Booking platform can support quality management improvement within the hospitality…

Abstract

Purpose

The focus of this research is to investigate if user-generated content (UGC) generated in the Booking platform can support quality management improvement within the hospitality industry by increasing customer satisfaction and eliminating defects more efficiently. Hence, it contributes to understanding how data-driven companies can rely on customer data to focus on innovation and performance improvement to meet customer requirements, eliminate defects and increase customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Following the literature review, information was collected from the digital platform Booking, encompassing 15 hotel industry companies in Portugal Porto and Braga regions, selected due to their high number of customer reviews. This data was organized and categorized, eliminating all unnecessary information for the research and building an Excel database. The database was subsequently analysed with SPSS and Voyant software, performing statistical analysis, hypothesis testing and text-mining techniques to analyse the comments. After these analyses, applying quality tools allowed for more in-depth conclusions.

Findings

The research results highlight that customers' most relevant requirements in the Portuguese hospitality industry are breakfast, parking and a swimming pool. It was also possible to realize that the location is an attractive requirement, the bathroom is a must-be requirement and breakfast is a performance requirement. The results also allowed us to answer the most critical research question: “Is user-generated content a valuable aid to quality?” the answer is yes since it was possible to use the data to find improvements and faults/failures in the services.

Originality/value

The results of this study represent an essential step towards a complete understanding of how to take advantage of UGC within the hospitality industry by establishing a solid base of techniques, methods and quality tools for UGC analysis that can be applied in future research on different industry sectors.

Details

The TQM Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-2731

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 November 2024

José Luís Lopes and Leonardo Fernando Cruz Basso

This study aims to present a bibliometric analysis combined with a systematic review of the empirical literature to verify whether the relationship between the impact of…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to present a bibliometric analysis combined with a systematic review of the empirical literature to verify whether the relationship between the impact of eco-innovation and the financial performance of companies is corroborated.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses bibliometric analysis and systematic review methods on 122 articles from Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct, combining quantitative frequency and co-citation analysis with a qualitative exploration of themes in eco-innovation research.

Findings

In their research on eco-innovation, the authors found that there is a need to better understand the impact of eco-innovation on companies’ financial performance in the knowledge gaps.

Research limitations/implications

Research on eco-innovation identifies knowledge gaps and directions for future studies exploring environmental strategies to boost corporate commitment to sustainability.

Originality/value

This study finds that eco-innovation is decisive for enhancing operational performance and understanding its effect on companies’ financial outcomes, offering perspectives on how environmental practices influence organizational finance.

Details

Review of Accounting and Finance, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1475-7702

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 August 2024

Panos T. Chountalas and Athanasios G. Lagodimos

Significant interest in Integrated Management Systems (IMS), as a key area within ISO-related Management System Standards (MSS) literature, has been evident from both academia and…

Abstract

Purpose

Significant interest in Integrated Management Systems (IMS), as a key area within ISO-related Management System Standards (MSS) literature, has been evident from both academia and industry over the past three decades. This study aims to map the evolution and current state of IMS research and propose possible directions for future studies.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive content and bibliometric analysis of 846 documents from the Scopus database across the period 1995 to 2023 was conducted. This included performance analysis to track publication trends and identify key contributors, and content analysis to specify dominant research methodologies and the MSS most commonly integrated. Furthermore, science mapping techniques—such as co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and bibliographic coupling—were utilized to outline the collaborative networks and the conceptual and intellectual structure of the field.

Findings

The study identifies three principal IMS research themes: the practical implementation of IMS, their role in promoting sustainability and social responsibility, and their impact on continuous performance improvement. It also highlights the field’s evolution and key research constituents—including influential works, prolific authors, leading academic institutions and countries, and top publishing journals. It further reveals that IMS research exhibits strong collaboration across authors and countries, and a rich methodological plurality, notably with a marked increase in empirical surveys in recent years. Additionally, it identifies the most frequently referenced MSS for integration, prominently featuring ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001/OHSAS 18001.

Originality/value

This study is original in its application of a dual analytical approach—bibliometric and content analysis—to provide a holistic overview of IMS research. It offers new insights into the integration of diverse MSS and proposes several promising paths for future research. Among the most prominent are standardizing IMS fundamental specifications, conducting more empirical research with advanced methods to evaluate the effects of MSS integration, providing practical support for organizations in IMS implementation through tailored methodologies and tools, and exploring the potential of Industry 4.0 and 5.0 technologies to advance IMS practices.

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