Samuel Wayne Appleton and Diane Holt
Digitalisation is perceived as a new process that may add value to firms. Current theoretical understanding assumes it should be part of a firm's strategy to respond to multiple…
Abstract
Purpose
Digitalisation is perceived as a new process that may add value to firms. Current theoretical understanding assumes it should be part of a firm's strategy to respond to multiple pressures in the business environment. This paper explores the occurrence of digitalisation in a rare context, that of the English agricultural industry in the United Kingdom, a place disproportionality filled with family firms. The general understanding of digitalisation in family firm settings remains embryonic. The authors' explorations make theoretical contributions to research at the intersection of rural entrepreneurship, family business and innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
Utilising a purposive, qualitative approach, primary data was collected from multiple interviews with 28 UK family farms, and secondary data from another 164. Interview transcripts were coded using NVivo, along with secondary data from reports, observations and websites.
Findings
The authors present empirical evidence illustrating how digitalisation manifests incrementally and radically in different types of family farms. The authors present a model that shows the areas of farming that have, and continue to be, digitalised. This increases analytical precision when identifying digitalisation activities that differ depending on the strategy to either scale or diversify. The authors propose that incremental digitalising occurs to a great extent during a scaling strategy, and that radical digitalising occurs to a smaller extent during diversification strategies in family farms.
Research limitations/implications
This research uses a sample of family-run farms from the UK agricultural sector to explore nuanced elements of digitalisation. It should therefore be explored in other types of family firms located in different sectors and geographies.
Practical implications
This research is important because family farms are under increasing pressure and have limited financial resources to deal with the digitalisation agenda. Therefore, empirical evidence helps other farms in similar situations. The authors found digitalisation investments, that tend to be capital intensive, only matter for scalers and less so for diversifiers. Family farms can use the model presented as a tool to evaluate their farm. The tool helps them define what to do, and ideate the potential activities that might be digitalised, to feed into their wider strategy.
Social implications
Family firms, in particular farms, are critical to many economies. The general consenses currently assumes all family firms should digitalise, yet the authors' evidence suggests that this is not the case. It is important to create policies that are sensitive to the needs of different types of businesses, in this case between family firm scalers and diversifiers, instead of simply incentivising digitalisation using a blanket approach usually by offering financial aid. Understanding how digitisation can support (or not) family firm resilience and growth in an effective and efficient manner can have significant benefit to individual firms, and across industries.
Originality/value
The proposed model extends theoretical understanding linking strategy, digitalisation activity and innovation in family farms. It shows that digitalisation is a key building block of scaling strategies, maximising digitalisation to increase efficiency. Yet, diversifying family farms minimise digitalisation, whereby they only digitalise a small amount of the farming activity. This empirical evidence contrasts with the wider narrative that farmers are slower at using new technology. This research found that some are slower because it does not align with their strategy. However, sometimes digitalisation aligns with their strategy during external changes, in which case the diversifiers are quick to act.
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David Littlewood and Diane Holt
This chapter considers social purpose venturing as a vehicle for addressing social exclusion in the rural developing world, illustrated with reference to case examples across a…
Abstract
Purpose
This chapter considers social purpose venturing as a vehicle for addressing social exclusion in the rural developing world, illustrated with reference to case examples across a range of East and Southern African countries.
Methodology/approach
Data was collected during in-depth case study research with social purpose ventures in various African countries. Qualitative research methods were primarily employed including interviews, stakeholder focus groups and observational research.
Findings
Six channels through which social purpose ventures contribute to tackling social exclusion amongst rural BoP communities are identified. These include ventures with the BoP as employees, producers, consumers, entrepreneurs, service users and shareholders. Characteristics for successful social purpose ventures are also discussed.
Research implications
The chapter adds to knowledge in the field of social purpose venturing in the developing world. It identifies various channels through which such ventures help tackle rural social exclusion and also factors influencing their success.
Practical implications
The chapter provides insights for practitioners and policy makers, particularly in relation to facilitating successful social purpose venturing.
Social implications
This chapter contributes to better practice in rural development in the Global South.
Originality/value
Insights relevant to academic and practitioner audiences are provided, as the chapter addresses a subject area and region that have received limited attention.
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Nikolaos Apostolopoulos, Haya Al-Dajani, Diane Holt, Paul Jones and Robert Newbery
This book explores the interaction between entrepreneurship and UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). Our existing knowledge of how entrepreneurship can contribute to the SDGs…
Abstract
This book explores the interaction between entrepreneurship and UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). Our existing knowledge of how entrepreneurship can contribute to the SDGs and how their implementation can transform enterprises is limited. This is due to several factors including the recent launch of the SDGs and the rapidly growing and changing global economic, social and environmental challenges. Entrepreneurship, however, can be the engine for transforming our world and overcoming the diverse nature of these global challenges. Beyond the rationale of this book, the organisation and structure of the book is presented. All chapters are introduced and their key points highlighted. At the end of this chapter, the editors provide concluding remarks, future research avenues and policy implications arising from this collective volume.
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David Littlewood and Diane Holt
In the recent 2015 report by Social Enterprise UK – Think Global Trade Social – it is argued that social enterprises have an important role to play in the achievement of the UN’s…
Abstract
In the recent 2015 report by Social Enterprise UK – Think Global Trade Social – it is argued that social enterprises have an important role to play in the achievement of the UN’s new sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, with 17 SDGs and no less than 169 associated targets, understanding how social enterprises can contribute to the achievement of these goals remains challenging, particularly given the diversity of social enterprise models that exist globally. This chapter contributes toward addressing this problem by introducing a framework for conceptualising how social enterprises can contribute to the SDGs, illustrated with global examples. The chapter begins by reviewing what has been written about social enterprises and the SDGs. This is followed by the development and presentation of the conceptual framework. Finally, conclusions and areas for future research on social enterprises and the SDGs are identified.
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Greening universities in terms of their curriculum and operations is a logical extension of the process of environmental education initiated in our schools and the process of…
Abstract
Greening universities in terms of their curriculum and operations is a logical extension of the process of environmental education initiated in our schools and the process of corporate environmental management occurring in our industrial and service society, from the latter part of the twentieth century onwards. Examines the values, actions and attitudes of a group of students in a UK business school as they enter and leave the culture of the university and the role the university has potentially played changing these values, actions and knowledge. Begins by discussing generally the role of higher education in moving society towards sustainability. Then presents the case study of Middlesex University in the UK, examining the practice of environmental education in the Business School. Then presents an empirical investigation of students’ environmental attitude action and knowledge that occurred from 1998‐2001. Finally reviews how successful the Business School has been at changing or reinforcing students’ environmental values, knowledge and action, as evidenced by the longitudinal work.
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Using the Bennett (1991) and Berle (1991) publications as a historical picture of what were considered to be “best-practice” examples of ecopreneurial businesses in the 1990s…
Abstract
Using the Bennett (1991) and Berle (1991) publications as a historical picture of what were considered to be “best-practice” examples of ecopreneurial businesses in the 1990s allows a longitudinal assessment of the success and failure of such businesses almost two decades on. Tracking their evolution facilitates the consideration of emerging patterns in their development, such as what happened within certain industries, whether common patterns emerge in the role of the founder ecopreneurs and how successful different firms actually were.
An exploratory pilot study identifying the perceived benefits of accreditation to an environmental management standard, BS 7750, in 13 UK companies. This paper begins by exploring…
Abstract
An exploratory pilot study identifying the perceived benefits of accreditation to an environmental management standard, BS 7750, in 13 UK companies. This paper begins by exploring the benefits of “going green”, followed by a description of the different environmental management standards. Then the methodology of the study is explored, including the structure of the questionnaire and the sample breakdown. The results section follows, detailing the broad results at each of the three stages of the questionnaire. Main findings are summarised in the conclusion followed by an indication of the future direction of the work. The paper concludes by identifying that the main benefit for companies in gaining an environmental management standard would appear to be the ability to quantify and identify elements of the environmental management process in the company, allowing a company to measure, manage and audit within a structured, recognised format.
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Susan R. Hume and Liam Gallagher
This study aims to examine the impact of taking environmental initiatives on the returns for service companies.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of taking environmental initiatives on the returns for service companies.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors gathered data for firms that are recognized for their leadership in environmental responsibility using a well‐known social responsibility ranking list. These data were used to compare with those that were ranked high on the index with those that were ranked lower, using Jensen's alpha and Sharpe ratio performance measures relative to a benchmark.
Findings
The upper‐ and lower‐ranked socially responsible firms had significantly higher risk adjusted returns and superior performance than the benchmark. Additionally, there is evidence that firms ranked in the lower group are better valued overall.
Research limitations/implications
A higher return for socially responsible firms suggests that public investors value environmentally‐friendly firms more highly today. Future research could build on this study by examining additional performance measures including four‐factor models and conditional variance.
Practical implications
The study suggests that a service company's commitment to environmental initiatives and the recognition of its commitment is an important signal today for the investor.
Originality/value
While prior research has considered manufacturing companies, this is the first study to examine the impact of a commitment to environmental initiatives for service industry firms. The findings of the empirical examination support the benefits of green initiatives to a significant component of the US economy.
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Jonathan Hanson and Diane Holt
The purpose of this paper is to assess the sustainable food procurement (SFP) of members of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). It also considered the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the sustainable food procurement (SFP) of members of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). It also considered the inconsistencies between their animal and human food supply chains, as well as between their procurement priorities and practices.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative, cross-sectional approach was employed, involving the use of a web-based questionnaire to gather data from 41 BIAZA members across 21 indicators of food sustainability. The results were considered within a sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) framework.
Findings
There was considerable variation amongst the issues considered by zoos during the SFP process for their animal and human food operations. For both, local expenditure, nutritional content and packaging reduction were some of the highest scoring indicators in practice and as priorities. The overall levels of SFP were found to be equal between the human and animal food supply chains. Significantly low levels of inconsistency were found between the two, practically and in terms of procurement aspirations. Within both supply chains, there was also very few significant gaps between procurement priorities and actions.
Originality/value
The originality of this study lies in its comparison of procurement practices and priorities for two contemporaneous but distinct food supply chains. It demonstrates that it is possible to have a high overall degree of consistency between two parallel, but contrasting, supply chains, as well as between procurement priorities and priorities. It will be of use in SSCM, particularly within values-led organisations.