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This paper summarises the results of a survey of how Canadian firms are implementing continuous improvement (CI) programs, where CI is defined as a set of activities intended to achieve ongoing improvement in customer satisfaction, productivity, and quality. The paper first summarizes and compares certain market and organisational characteristics of survey respondents from the auto and auto parts, electronics, metals and metal‐processing, and food‐processing industries. Next, the study examines the extent to which specific CI practices are being implemented within each industry. Conclusions are presented, based on statistical analysis, on similarities and contrasts among the four industries in the extent to which they implement particular CI practices. Finally, the authors seek to provide insights into why each industry establishes its CI practices at specific levels, by relating the adoption of CI practices to the market and organisational characteristics of firms in that industry.

In today’s competitive environment, companies are paying more attention to product innovations, customized products, manufacturing agility, and lean operations. To support this mode of operations, companies are moving from highly vertically integrated organizations to leaner core business units supported by supplier networks. While partnership companies and their suppliers could take a variety of forms, “fractal manufacturing partnership” (FMP) is an emerging approach designed to maximize the logistical attributes of a lean production system and configured to provide the strategic merging of engineering network capabilities. FMP is most suitable for engineering assembly type work in which seamless operation is desired and where agile feedback is necessary. Based on the case study of the automotive industry, this paper will discuss the characteristics and attributes of FMP. However, more research is required to quantify the direct benefits of this approach.

Examines the literature to identify the essential components of kaizen or continuous improvement programmes. Relying on published sources on the North American experience with continuous improvement, also tries to identify organizational structures and practices likely to lead to successful implementation of such programmes. Distinguishes between kaizen and more radical, “strategic leap” improvement approaches, and describes the North American record of success with continuous improvement programmes. An emergent theme is that success with continuous improvement requires a wide array of systems, processes, and orientations to be congruent within the organization. Argues that the study of when, how, and why kaizen succeeds is by no means complete, and proposes a set of open research questions whose investigation is likely to be useful to both scholars and practitioners. Finally, discusses some of the ways in which the existing literature can be immediately useful for practice in organizations.

To develop a conceptual framework for a new form of production system unique from many perspectives. The proposed system is based on the creation of a network of plants that are electronically linked so that the participating members focus on their specialized tasks yet also share their manufacturing and production resources to create a loosely structured and flexible enterprise.

To introduce dispersed network manufacturing (DNM) as a new business model, and to discuss dispersed manufacturing network (DMN) as a possible realization of DNM. To link DMN to complex adaptive systems and to provide a prototype as to how SMEs can form a dynamic and adaptive network to create competitive advantages on both collaborative and individual scales.

The notion of DNM advocates a reciprocal bonding among network members but calls for no obligatory egalitarian responsibility to one another. This research shows the feasibility of a network of plants that are electronically linked so that the participating members, spread geographically, focus on their specialized tasks yet also share their manufacturing and production resources to create a loosely structured and flexible enterprise.

In the DNM universe, because of the network's requirement to re‐form itself to the needs of each unique incoming project, SMEs have the ability to rapidly develop and enhance their internal production capabilities. Each new incoming project offers the chance to reaffirm those processes that are highly effective while discarding those that are deemed ill‐suited. The DNM world is still in its infancy and many interesting and challenging questions have yet to be investigated empirically or otherwise.

The new production system discussed in this paper argues for a completely different form of SME collaboration from those already discussed in the literature.

DNM and DMN are new concepts that are evolving into an innovative production paradigm. It is likely that many companies and many managers have some intuitive grasp of the DNM world and the opportunities provided by forming a DMN. Few, however, might understand them thoroughly. This research provides further knowledge on SMEs DNM.

Justifying new manufacturing technology is usually very difficult since the most important benefits are often strategic and difficult to quantify. Traditional capital budgeting procedures that rely on return measures based on direct cost savings and incremental future cash flows do not normally capture the strategic benefits of higher quality, faster responses to wider ranges of customer needs, and the options for future growth made available by flexible manufacturing technology. Adding to these limitations is the difficulty of using traditional cost accounting systems to generate the information necessary for justifying new manufacturing investments. This paper reviews these problems and recommends procedures useful for assessing investments in flexible manufacturing technology.

Nowadays, sustainable, clean, inclusive, innovative, and smart mobility in addition to urban transformation is required to achieve sustainable development as a path to preserve the world for future concerns and improve quality of life at the present, even to be kept up with growing citizens' needs. Mobility as an infrastructure component plays fundamental roles in urban transformation, and economic development. In this chapter, and based on the 5^th wave theory, related theories, models, and concepts, modern, clean, and inclusive mobility founded on high future of 4th technologies (which is called 5th technologies), digitalization, smartness, sustainability, and CSR 2.0 strategies is declared as proper clean mobility technologies to create sustainable and smart cities. Such smart cities are able to deal with challenges made by rapid, unplanned urbanization and globalization to achieve sustainable development. In this research, roles of inclusive and smart mobility systems as path to create modern and sustainable urban areas to make the world more sustainable and livable for living are declared. Literature reviews, case studies, interviews, and questionaries are applied as main methods to recognize inclusive and modern mobility and its roles in urban transformation to achieve sustainable development. This chapter is based on know-how and do-how of the author Prof. Hamid Doost on sustainability such as cooperating with Danish Sustainable Platforms Company, working with Erasmus Plus as an academic leader in Germany since 2017, cooperating with Copenhagen's former mayor and researching on sustainability. In this chapter, impact of sustainable mobility, sustainable buildings, and smart cities on CSR 2.0 and social responsibility, how these parameters improve sustainable development and sustainability in social responsibility, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and how social responsibility could influence humanities are explored.

Building on research about entrepreneurship and social capital, the purpose of this paper is to explore how women founders of technology-based ventures in Canada access and use formal external entrepreneurial networks to build their companies.

The study draws on 25 semi-structured interviews with women founders of technology firms and leaders of formal networks.

The authors demonstrate the positive impact of women only networks (WON) for founders including increasing entrepreneurial diversity, access to financing, and founder credibility and sponsorship. The authors show how women founders use mixed gender and WON to build their businesses and conclude that membership in WON can be a vital step.

The sample size is small and most participants reside in highly urban areas, which may limit generalizability. Findings may not generalize beyond Canada due to cultural and structural differences.

The research suggests that external WON should be encouraged as important resources for founder identity work which may enable positive change.

This research can assist in designing initiatives that support women entrepreneurs and promote gender parity.

The authors draw on research in women's leadership development to explain how WONs for entrepreneurs help founders create overlapping strategic networks – a unique form of social capital – and serve as identity workspaces for the identity work women founders must complete. The authors argue that the identity work in WONs can be a mechanism by which gender structures are challenged and eventually changed.

This study aims to explore the impact of financial management strategies on the financial performance of construction projects in Iraq, specifically investigating the moderating role of company size. The primary focus is to understand how different cost components contribute to performance and how this relationship varies between larger and smaller businesses in the construction industry.

Utilizing a sample of 296 participants from the construction business in Iraq, this research employed a survey questionnaire. The WarpPLS software facilitated data analysis, employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with bootstrapping for model validation. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with maximum likelihood estimation assessed the measurement model, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the financial management strategies and performance relationship.

The study reveals that equipment costs show no significant relationship with performance in Iraq’s construction industry. Larger construction firms exhibit a positive influence on financial performance from material costs, labour costs and permit/licencing fees compared to smaller firms. This suggests a moderation effect of size on the relationship between these cost components and financial outcomes, highlighting the nuanced impact of financial management strategies on performance.

While shedding light on the size-dependent nuances in the relationship between financial strategies and performance, this study is confined to the construction industry in Iraq. The findings might not be universally applicable, and contextual variations should be considered. Additionally, the reliance on survey data introduces the potential for response bias. Future research could expand the scope to different industries and regions, incorporating diverse methodological approaches for a more comprehensive understanding of the nuances in the financial management and performance relationship.

Construction companies in Iraq can enhance project performance by strategically allocating resources and effectively managing costs, considering the nuanced impact of company size. Larger firms, in particular, should focus on optimising material costs, labour costs and permit/licensing fees to maximise financial outcomes. This study provides actionable insights for practitioners, guiding financial management decisions and offering practical recommendations for improving project performance in the Iraqi construction industry.

The research contributes valuable insights to the Iraqi construction industry, an area with limited prior research on management matters. By emphasising the role of size in moderating the relationship between financial strategies and performance, the study informs industry stakeholders, policymakers and professionals about the importance of tailoring financial management approaches based on company size. This knowledge can potentially lead to improved financial outcomes, positively impacting the overall economic and social landscape in Iraq.

This research adds to the body of knowledge by examining the impact of company size on the relationship between financial management methods and performance in Iraq’s construction projects. The study’s originality lies in uncovering the moderating effect of size on the connection between specific cost components and financial performance. The findings provide a unique perspective on financial management strategies, offering construction companies valuable insights into optimising performance based on their size. This research contributes significantly to an underexplored area, filling a gap in the existing literature and providing practical implications for financial decision-making in the construction industry.

This study aims to investigate the direct impact of knowledge sharing (KS) and functional flexibility (FF) on innovative work behavior (IWB) of small medium enterprises (SME’s) employees. This study also observes the mediating role of FF in the connection between KS and IWB.

This study adapted a quantitative methodology and used the cross-sectional data. Data were collected from the 751 workers of SMEs to validate the mediation model.

Results reveal that KS and FF significantly affect IWB in SME’s workers. The findings also reveal that FF acts as a mediator between KS and IWB link.

The live experience of currently working employees shows that IWB is dependent of employees' KS and FF. Moreover, this study contributed to the streams of knowledge management and organizational innovation perspective by emphasizing upon the mediating mechanism of FF.