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Output from the Irish Dairy Industry has grown rapidly since the abolition of quotas in 2015, with processors investing heavily in capacity expansion to deal with the extra milk volumes. Further capacity gains may be achieved by extending the processing season into the winter, a key enabler for which being the reduction of duration of the winter maintenance overhaul period. This paper aims to investigate if Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques can be used to enhance operational maintenance performance, thereby releasing additional processing capacity.

Combining the Six-Sigma Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control (DMAIC) methodology and the structured approach of Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) widely used in process industries creates a novel hybrid model that promises substantial improvement in maintenance overhaul execution. This paper presents a case study applying the DMAIC/TAM model to Ireland’s largest dairy processing site to optimise the annual maintenance shutdown. The objective was to deliver a 30% reduction in the duration of the overhaul, enabling an extension of the processing season.

Application of the DMAIC/TAM hybrid resulted in process enhancements, employee engagement and a clear roadmap for the operations team. Project goals were delivered, and original objectives exceeded, resulting in €8.9m additional value to the business and a reduction of 36% in the duration of the overhaul.

The results demonstrate that the model provides a structure that promotes systematic working and a continuous improvement focus that can have substantial benefits for wider industry. Opportunities for further model refinement were identified and will enhance performance in subsequent overhauls.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that the structure and tools of DMAIC and TAM have been combined into a hybrid methodology and applied in an Irish industrial setting.

Food waste among young consumers is a significant concern that threatens food sustainability due to consumption behaviour. This study has integrated the Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour to extend the Theory of Planned Behaviour to measure young consumer’s intention to reduce food waste in a developing country context. Bringing in emotion, habits, and facilitating conditions to predict the consumers' attitudes, this study assesses the intention to reduce food waste for corporate sustainability from the perspective of consumption.

Using a quantitative approach and purposive sampling, 205 samples were collected from the young generation aged 18 to 30, who frequently have meals at home. The PLS-SEM technique was employed to examine the hypothesised model.

The findings supported all the hypotheses mentioned where attitudes, subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioural control (PBC) affect the intention to reduce food waste among young consumers. Furthermore, the other variables, namely, habits, emotions and facilitating conditions, also significantly impact the attitudes of the young generation.

Understanding young consumers' food waste behaviour is vital from the social, economic, and environmental perspectives. This study showcases a comprehensive food waste behaviour model among young consumers by integrating the Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour and the Theory of Planned Behaviour to examine the intention to minimise food waste. Practically, this study offers insights to business practitioners and communities in managing food waste from the young consumer perspective. Socially, this study supports the United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12 by contributing to global food waste reduction efforts.

This study intends to analyze the relationship between the digital maturity of SMEs and intellectual capital, investigating the determining factors. Starting from the endowment in terms of intellectual capital and evaluating Management Style, Decision-Making Competences, and Business Network, a model is proposed aiming to provide a comprehensive measure of SMEs’ digital maturity and thus to improve understanding and, consequently, effectiveness. The empirical analysis allows assessing the validity and applicability of the suggested model, providing valuable insights for the improvement of digital strategy and competitiveness of SMEs in the Amalfi Coast Tourist District (Italy), with evident implications also for policymakers and the community.

A mixed-methods research strategy was utilized to confirm research hypotheses that were derived from literature review. The field study was organized into two separate phases: the first phase, which is qualitative, employed focus groups comprising key stakeholders (managers and entrepreneurs) from various companies within the Amalfi Coast Tourist District. This phase adhered to the principles of homogeneity (to facilitate deeper discussions) and heterogeneity (to allow for a broader range of viewpoints among participants). The insights gathered from these preliminary focus groups informed the subsequent quantitative phase. In this second phase, structured interviews were conducted using a questionnaire to probe the participants’ views on digital maturity. This analysis involved 94 companies, all part of the Amalfi Coast Tourist District, assessing their digitalization levels and highlighting key management attributes. Logistic regression was applied to quantitatively analyze the data, effectively assessing the impact of various independent variables (such as Management Style, Decision-Making Competencies and Business Network) on the dependent variable, digital maturity. Employing both qualitative and quantitative methods provides a thorough and nuanced understanding of the digital maturity landscape within the specified context.

The main results suggest the existence of a correlation between the analyzed variables and digital maturity. Innovation, indeed, increases by applying a data-driven leadership style. Intellectual capital (measured in its three components of human capital: decision-making competences; structural capital: management style; and relational capital: business network) influences digital maturity, although some of the variables used are not equally weighted.

The main contribution of this article is to provide an in-depth understanding of the company components that favor digital maturity, to support strategic choices oriented towards a conscious digital transition. The results enrich the existing literature on intellectual capital in terms of its contribution to the digitalization of organizations, which can be a critical success factor in the context of SMEs.

Supply chain disruptions are a significant risk to businesses in a global marketplace because they make it more challenging for suppliers to effectively transport goods and services to customers. Therefore, it is essential to comprehend how these disruptions affect the retail food supply chain during pandemics and explore how digitalization might help to mitigate these issues in the future.

A hybrid systematic review and analysis was conducted by retrieving data set from the scopus database using strong keyword search strategy. Later a content analysis was also done to gain more insights on the proposed research.

The results show that there are several possibilities enabling optimal scenario planning supply chain disruptions and mitigation. In this area, digitalization improves customer satisfaction and logistical efficiency, particularly in transportation and network optimization. In order to cope with uncertainty and grasp significant enhancements proactive strategies and collaboration that are guided by scenario planning and digitalization assist in developing robust supply chains that are sufficiently adaptable to adapt to shifting market conditions.

The study is limited to research papers indexed in Scopus from 2015 to 2023 with a more comprehensive review of retail food supply chain disruptions.

This research provides practical insights for retail food supply chain managers, highlighting the importance of digital maturity and scenario planning by leveraging digital tools and proactive strategies to improve logistical efficiency.

This study helps in building resilient supply chains ensures the reliable availability, and food security of essential goods, particularly during crises.

This research uniquely links digitalization and scenario planning to managing supply chain disruptions, highlighting how digital tools and strategic planning enhance resilience and adaptability in the retail food supply chain.

This case study is based on Amazon, a global e-commerce giant, which is well-known for its extensive product range and customer-centric approach. The nature of the research is exploratory. This study is purely exploratory in intent. Secondary sources such as reputable newspapers, blogs, websites and trade publications were used to compile the information and write this case.

Amazon India’s innovative Storyboxes packaging initiative has transformed the online shopping experience by integrating compelling stories of sellers into the delivery process. This case study explores the rationale, implementation and impact of the innovative approach on customer engagement and the seller community. By featuring QR codes and images of sellers on the packaging, and directing customers to their narratives on Amazon’s platform, the initiative fosters a deeper connection between buyers and sellers. To enhance customer loyalty and adapt to the dynamic e-commerce landscape, Amazon must navigate the challenge of fostering intimacy through unique initiatives like Storyboxes, while also maintaining the effectiveness and reach of its traditional methods. The solution lies in finding a strategic balance that upholds the brand’s core values and meets evolving customer expectations amidst a competitive market environment.

This case is structured for Undergraduate, Postgraduate, MBA Programs.

In recent years, there has been significant interest in adopting XR (extended reality) technologies such as VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality), particularly in retail. However, extending activities through reality-mediation is still mostly believed to offer an inferior experience due to their shortcomings in usability, wearability, graphical fidelity, etc. This study aims to address the research gap by experimentally examining the acceptance of metaverse shopping.

This study conducts a 2 (VR: with vs. without) × 2 (AR: with vs. without) between-subjects laboratory experiment involving 157 participants in simulated daily shopping environments. This study builds a physical brick-and-mortar store at the campus and stocked it with approximately 600 products with accompanying product information and pricing. The XR devices and a 3D laser scanner were used in constructing the three XR shopping conditions.

Results indicate that XR can offer an experience comparable to, or even surpassing, traditional shopping in terms of its instrumental and hedonic aspects, regardless of a slightly reduced perception of usability. AR negatively affected perceived ease of use, while VR significantly increased perceived enjoyment. It is surprising that the lower perceived ease of use appeared to be disconnected from the attitude toward metaverse shopping.

This study provides important experimental evidence on the acceptance of XR shopping, and the finding that low perceived ease of use may not always be detrimental adds to the theory of technology adoption as a whole. Additionally, it provides an important reference point for future randomized controlled studies exploring the effects of technology on adoption.