António F. Tavares and Luís Mamede
The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects on implementation and performance of different designs of public programs to promote sustainability goals.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects on implementation and performance of different designs of public programs to promote sustainability goals.
Design/methodology/approach
The study selects eight local sustainability programs in Portugal using two different program designs and compares several indicators of performance in terms of program implementation, outputs, and outcomes.
Findings
Cities using the top‐down approach to programmatic intervention are more successful in accomplishing sustainability goals than cities engaging in the bottom‐up approach. The second program design produced more visible physical outputs, whereas the first effectively achieved sustainability goals.
Practical implications
The main policy implication of the study is that program design and structure are decisive to achieve sustainability goals. In the case of Programmatic contracts run by general‐purpose local governments, the incentive structure facilitates the appropriation of goals for electoral purposes by local officials. The Programmatic contracts are administered by local government officials who are primarily concerned with economic revitalization and delivering tangible infrastructure. The sustainability label should be removed from these initiatives.
Originality/value
The paper shows that the incentive structure created by program design features influences the achievement of sustainability goals by local communities.
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C. Frias, A. Pereira and A. P. Jerónimo
Destination marketing strategies are designed to attract visitors, inviting them to acknowledge and virtually experience the different resources available on site. Still, their…
Abstract
Destination marketing strategies are designed to attract visitors, inviting them to acknowledge and virtually experience the different resources available on site. Still, their success also depends on the ability of destination management organizations (DMOs) to develop an effective communication strategy. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic radically changed the goals set by the promotional campaigns launched by the Portuguese tourist boards. This study analyzes the textual content of the innovative promotional video campaigns released between mid-March and early April 2020 by Portuguese tourism authorities at national level (Turismo de Portugal), regional level (Centro, Algarve, Madeira and the Azores) and local level (Cascais) to promote these destinations during nationwide states of emergency. Since image is undeniably a key component of destination choice, content analysis approach was conducted using NVivo to measure the cognitive–affective image dimensions using a semantic differential scale. The results indicate that the campaigns conveyed inspiring messages of hope and trust to help restore tourists' confidence in their safety and emphasized the planning for future trips while aiming to reduce risk perception by highlighting that the destination is safe for travel. That way these campaigns are in close accordance with the literature focusing on corporate social responsibility applied to DMOs and image recovery strategies.
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Isabel Maldonado, Carlos Pinho, Carla Lobo and Luis Pacheco
This study aims to analyse the relationship between the internationalisation performance of the company and, on the one hand, the factors that determine the internationalisation…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyse the relationship between the internationalisation performance of the company and, on the one hand, the factors that determine the internationalisation strategy and, on the other hand, the factors considered as inducers of this internationalisation process. The purpose of this study is to relate the determinants and inducing factors of the internationalisation process with the performance of internationalised companies, trying to assess how these determinants and these factors contribute to better performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors sent out a questionnaire to Portuguese exporting companies, containing questions regarding determinant factors associated with both the characteristics of origin market and target market of the internationalisation process and internationalisation inducing factors. The questionnaire results were subjected to a regression analysis.
Findings
The results indicate a positive relationship with the characteristics of the domestic market, more specifically with the need to reduce and diversify risk and the need to win new markets and consumers. Regarding the characteristics of the foreign market, there is a positive relationship with the determinants: follow customers and favourable perspectives of growth in the new market. In relation to the internationalisation inducing factors, those factors that the entrepreneur recognises as the triggers of the internationalisation strategy, the researchers found the existence of a positive relationship with formal and informal contact networks, as well as specific employee skills, international experience and strong propensity for entrepreneurship and risk-taking.
Research limitations/implications
This study presents some limitations. On the one hand, the fact that the authors used the questionnaires, which seemed to be the most adequate approach, brings as a drawback the reduced number of answers. Further collection is in order to increase the sample under study. On the other hand, the literature presents different approaches that may be tested as well as the possibility of including other types of variables that the researchers will address in future studies.
Originality/value
By analysing the relationship between company performance in the internationalisation process and the factors that determine and induce this internationalisation process, this study seeks to identify which factors entrepreneurs should favour and strengthen to obtain a better performance in the internationalisation process. In addition, the authors use the concept of inducing factors that represent the firm's characteristics that trigger the internationalisation strategy. In a complementary perspective, the authors intend to contribute to the identification of the factors that new Portuguese entrepreneurs should pay more attention to, when starting their internationalisation process and that will improve their performance.
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Parijat Upadhyay and Anup Kumar
Investors are looking for the organizations which have robust strategy and planning method meeting the current and future guidelines and policies on environmental regulations to…
Abstract
Purpose
Investors are looking for the organizations which have robust strategy and planning method meeting the current and future guidelines and policies on environmental regulations to improve sustainability. Thus, most of the business units have been striving to incorporate sustainability into process and product or service design in such a way that carbon footprint should be minimized. Sustainable product and service design remain a challenge for industrial organizations because of the involvement of multifaceted factors in the design endeavor. The purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology to include sustainability functions at the design phase of the product or process.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors have modified the house of quality concept, and grey relational analysis-house of sustainability process is proposed in this paper, which includes consideration of all sustainability dimensions including environmental at the design phase of the product or process development. The process has been explained with an example of retail service design.
Findings
The proposed approach incorporates the specific business environment and the type of product to be designed with all three levels of sustainability by design. By capturing all sustainability dimensions in the design stage itself, various issues may be taken care of at the initial stage of operations, which are likely to affect sustainability in all activities of the supply chain and the organization as a whole. Thus the proactive sustainable designing considerably eases and improves the sustainability reporting and meeting the legislative guidelines prescribed by the governmental agencies of the country.
Originality/value
A novel methodology has been proposed to include sustainability functions at the design phase, which is strategically useful for sustainable operations and to develop a sustainable product or process.
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Arne Walter, Kamrul Ahsan and Shams Rahman
Demand planning (DP) is a key element of supply chain management (SCM) and is widely regarded as an important catalyst for improving supply chain performance. Regarding the…
Abstract
Purpose
Demand planning (DP) is a key element of supply chain management (SCM) and is widely regarded as an important catalyst for improving supply chain performance. Regarding the availability of technology to process large amounts of data, artificial intelligence (AI) has received increasing attention in the DP literature in recent years, but there are no reviews of studies on the application of AI in supply chain DP. Given the importance and value of this research area, we aimed to review the current body of knowledge on the application of AI in DP to improve SCM performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a systematic literature review approach, we identified 141 peer-reviewed articles and conducted content analysis to examine the body of knowledge on AI in DP in the academic literature published from 2012 to 2023.
Findings
We found that AI in DP is still in its early stages of development. The literature is dominated by modelling studies. We identified three knowledge clusters for AI in DP: AI tools and techniques, AI applications for supply chain functions and the impact of AI on digital SCM. The three knowledge domains are conceptualised in a framework to demonstrate how AI can be deployed in DP to improve SCM performance. However, challenges remain. We identify gaps in the literature that make suggestions for further research in this area.
Originality/value
This study makes a theoretical contribution by identifying the key elements in applying AI in DP for SCM. The proposed conceptual framework can be used to help guide further empirical research and can help companies to implement AI in DP.