Basant Kumar Jha and Muhammad Nasir Sarki
The purpose of this paper is to conduct a theoretical study on steady fully developed non-linear natural convection and mass transfer flow past an infinite vertical moving porous…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conduct a theoretical study on steady fully developed non-linear natural convection and mass transfer flow past an infinite vertical moving porous plate with chemical reaction and thermal diffusion effect. Closed-form expressions for dimensionless velocity, concentration, Sherwood number and skin-friction are obtained by solving the present mathematical model.
Design/methodology/approach
The fully developed steady non-linear natural convection and mass transfer flow near a vertical moving porous plate with chemical reaction and thermal diffusion effect is investigated. The non-linear density variation and Soret effect were taken into consideration. The dimensionless velocity, temperature and concentration profiles were obtained in terms of exponential functions, and were used to compute the governing parameters, skin-friction and Sherwood number.
Findings
The effect of coefficient of the non-linear density variation with the temperature (NDT) and concentration (NDC) parameter, chemical reaction parameter, thermal diffusion parameter are discussed with the aid of line graphs and tables. The analysis of the result shows that the velocity as well as skin-friction having higher values in the case of non-linear variation of density with temperature and concentration in comparison to linear variation of density with temperature and concentration. It is observed that the velocity and skin-friction increase with an increase in the Soret parameter.
Originality/value
The aim of this paper is to extend the work of Muthucumaraswamy (2002) by incorporating the thermal diffusion (Soret) effect and non-linear density variation with temperature (NDT) and concentration (NDC), on which, to the best knowledge of the authors, no studies have been carried out.
Details
Keywords
Muhammad Farooque, Abraham Zhang and Yanping Liu
This paper aims to identify and systematically analyze the causal-effect relationships among barriers to circular food supply chains in China.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify and systematically analyze the causal-effect relationships among barriers to circular food supply chains in China.
Design/methodology/approach
Grounded in multiple organizational theories, this paper develops a theoretical framework for identifying relevant barriers to integrating circular economy philosophy in food supply chain management. The study uses 105 responses from Chinese food supply chain stakeholders including food processors, sales and distribution channels, consumers and government officials. It applies a fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method to examine the causal-effect relationships among the identified barriers.
Findings
Overall, the results suggest two key cause barriers: first, weak environmental regulations and enforcement, and second, lack of market preference/pressure. Meanwhile, lack of collaboration/support from supply chain actors is the most prominent barrier. The key cause and prominent barriers are also identified for each of the supply chain stakeholder involved.
Research implications
The study offers practical insights for overcoming barriers to integrating circular economy philosophy in the management of supply chains in the Chinese food sector, as well as in other contexts where similar challenges are faced. It also sheds light on which organizational theories are most suitable for guiding similar studies.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first barrier study on circular food supply chains. The use of multiple organizational theories for the development of the theoretical framework is unique in barrier studies. The study offers insights from multiple stakeholders in the Chinese food supply chains.
Details
Keywords
Usman Aftab, Muhammad Usman Hassan, Fahim Ullah, Abdur Rehman Nasir and Muhammad Jamaluddin Thaheem
This study aims to address the key issues concerning supplier selection in traditional construction procurement by proposing an innovative, novel, state-of-the-art prototype…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to address the key issues concerning supplier selection in traditional construction procurement by proposing an innovative, novel, state-of-the-art prototype plugin building information modelling – supplier search and ranking (BIM-SSR) and an associated conceptual framework. It enhances building information modelling (BIM) capabilities through web crawling and analytical hierarchy processes (AHP). It uses the World Wide Web to procure construction material suppliers.
Design/methodology/approach
Prevalent issues in traditional procurement of material suppliers have been identified through a rigorous literature review. Field experts vetted these issues. A framework has been presented to address these issues based on integrated web crawling and AHP as a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method. A BIM prototype (BIM-SSR) has been developed using Python and plugged into Autodesk Revit to automate the search and evaluation of material suppliers based on precise material specifications from the BIM design. The BIM-SSR prototype is tested through a case study and validated by field professionals for its efficiency in tackling the identified issues.
Findings
Thirteen key issues have been identified concerning traditional construction procurement pertinent to supplier selection. Best-value procurement was encouraged by identifying supplier selection criteria such as cost, delivery time, experience, compliance with quality management standards, warranties, and claim period. The presented BIM-SSR prototype has an efficiency of 80%–95% in addressing the issues identified in this study and 97.5% effectiveness in improving the overall procurement management process.
Originality/value
The BIM-SSR prototype developed in this study is a novel and innovative addition to the body of knowledge that has been integrated into Autodesk Revit as a Plugin. Automation of supplier search and selection through digital technologies, including web crawling and integration of traditionally accepted MCDM methods such as AHP in BIM, is another innovation in the current study. Overall, this study presents a holistic, innovative system, from conceptual design to practical implementation and demonstration. This is one of the steps to help the traditional construction procurement process evolve into a more modern and digital procurement.
Details
Keywords
Abdul Hakeem Waseel, Jianhua Zhang, Muhammad Usman Shehzad, Irshad Hussain Sarki and Muhammad Wajid Kamran
This study examines the link between the knowledge creation process, ambidextrous innovation, and competitive advantage. Further, this study also tested the moderating role of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the link between the knowledge creation process, ambidextrous innovation, and competitive advantage. Further, this study also tested the moderating role of organizational agility on the relationship between the knowledge creation process and ambidextrous innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical study’s data were collected by surveying 306 respondents employed in 140 Pakistani Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The questionnaire was designed according to the study’s requirements and was based on theoretical knowledge and findings from previous research on the knowledge-creation process, ambidextrous innovation, and competitive advantage. All hypotheses were tested using a structured regression method.
Findings
The study indicates that the knowledge creation process significantly impacts a firm’s competitive advantage. Additionally, this study demonstrates that ambidextrous innovation can moderate the relationship between the knowledge-creation process and competitive advantage.
Research limitations/implications
Future studies should examine mediating factors, such as organizational culture, leadership style, and industry characteristics, as well as moderating variables, such as environmental turbulence.
Practical implications
This study guides SME leaders on the importance of knowledge creation and ambidextrous innovation in achieving operational success and gaining a competitive advantage.
Originality/value
This study explores how the knowledge creation process directly and indirectly, enhances organizational capacity for competitive advantage through the mediating roles of ambidextrous innovation and the moderating role of organizational agility.
Details
Keywords
Muhammad Farooq, Imran Khan, Qadri Al Jabri and Muhammad Tahir Khan
The study hypothesized that the impact of board diversity on financial distress (FD) is not direct but rather mediated by the firm’s corporate social responsibility (CSR…
Abstract
Purpose
The study hypothesized that the impact of board diversity on financial distress (FD) is not direct but rather mediated by the firm’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of CSR as a mediator in the board diversity–FD relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
The study examined six board diversity dimensions – age, gender, nationality, education and tenure in 81 nonfinancial Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX)-listed firms from 2010 to 2021. The CSR engagement of the sample firms is evaluated using a multidimensional financial approach and the likelihood of FD is computed using Altman’s Z-score. The system-generalized method of moments estimator is used to meet the study objectives. In addition, several tests are run to determine the robustness of the study’s findings.
Findings
Based on the procedure for mediation analysis outlined by Baron and Kenny (1986), the authors found that CSR is significantly inversely associated with the likelihood of FD. Second, board diversity variables age, gender and national diversity were positively associated with CSR. Third, board age, gender and national diversity are significantly inversely related to FD. Finally, it was found that there is partial mediation between board age diversity and FD, whereas full mediation is shown between board age diversity and FD and between board nationality diversity and FD.
Practical implications
This study provides practical insights into PSX’s board diversity for companies, regulators and policymakers.
Originality/value
This research studies the connection between board diversity and FD. In addition, the current study extended the analysis by testing for the first time the mediating role of CSR in the diversity–distress relationship, particularly in the context of an emerging economy.
Details
Keywords
Khalid Farooq, Mohd Yusoff Yusliza, Zikri Muhammad, Muhamad Khalil Omar and Nik Hazimah Nik Mat
Successfully fostering employee ecological behaviors can reduce the environmental impacts of an organization while boosting performance. This paper aims to investigate the factors…
Abstract
Purpose
Successfully fostering employee ecological behaviors can reduce the environmental impacts of an organization while boosting performance. This paper aims to investigate the factors and organizational strategies for employees to engage in ecological behaviors.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a qualitative method. Academicians from four top-ranked research universities from Malaysia participated in semi-structured interviews.
Findings
The in-depth analysis of the interviews identified several factors (environmental attitude, feedback, green self-efficacy, leadership role, organizational culture and employee empowerment) and strategies (incentives; top management support; creating environmental knowledge and awareness; rules and regulations; and sustainability advocates) for promoting ecological behavior in the workplace.
Research limitations/implications
This study was limited to Malaysian public research universities. Future research could investigate additional variables that might influence employee ecological behavior. Implications include policymaking, which emphasizes boosting environmental factors among academicians.
Originality/value
Research studies on employee ecological behavior are minimal. This research contributes to the literature by discussing how different stimuli and strategies are used in the top four-ranked green universities of Malaysia for ecological behavior in the workplace.
Details
Keywords
Soumya Varma, Nitin Singh and Justin Zuopeng Zhang
The enormous amount of waste generated and the scarcity of natural resources worldwide have encouraged societies and industries to adopt the Circular Supply Chain (CSC) concept…
Abstract
Purpose
The enormous amount of waste generated and the scarcity of natural resources worldwide have encouraged societies and industries to adopt the Circular Supply Chain (CSC) concept. With a focus on zero-waste generation, Circular Economy (CE) mimics the ecosystem cycle as an alternative to the traditional linear economic model. This paper aims to investigate the evolution of research themes in this research area, hence, trace the trajectory of development in the field of CSC.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conduct scientometric analysis using Pajek and VOSviewer software to identify key themes in the Circular Supply Chain Management (CSCM) field. The Citation Path Analysis (CPA), including Main Path and Local Path analysis, has been followed by a critical review of the papers. This paper includes highlighting the interrelationships between the information flows in the topic of study as well as an analysis of keywords co-occurrence.
Findings
The analysis of keywords co-occurrence revealed that the earlier years of research in CSC were more inclined toward value chain, stakeholders and green supply chains, whereas, in recent years, topics like logistics, Industry 4.0 and food supply chain have been more focused upon. Further, the Main Path Analysis (MPA) revealed an evolving trajectory that examines challenges and opportunities in CSC, the economic aspects of implementing CSC, the impact on the firm's revenue growth and collaboration between multiple echelons of a supply chain and Industry 4.0.
Research limitations/implications
The adoption of scientometrics analysis unveils the hidden flow of information, various themes of research and their interconnections. The development of research trajectories and progressive attention paid to certain topics is also discovered. The research findings could be used by researchers for further theoretical and research development.
Originality/value
This paper traces the path of development in the field of CSC and its emerging trends and provides a thorough understanding of the same. It enables research scholars to conduct an in-depth study in the CSC domain, adding to the body of literature.
Details
Keywords
This study aims to empirically connect green logistics performance, renewable energy, non-renewable energy, CO2 emissions and gross domestic product in Vietnam from 2000 to 2022.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to empirically connect green logistics performance, renewable energy, non-renewable energy, CO2 emissions and gross domestic product in Vietnam from 2000 to 2022.
Design/methodology/approach
Within this study, the author uses innovative tools, specifically a R2 decomposed linkage method, to scrutinize the connections between green logistics, environmental issues and the use of green and dirty energy.
Findings
The results highlight the two-way relationship between green logistics and energy security in Vietnam. Green logistics plays various roles in diverse periods, from a net shock transmitter to a net shock receiver in the designed system. Using a dynamic and contemporaneous dynamic linkage method, this study emphasizes the change in the role and the dominance of green logistics and renewable energy consumption. Notably, the unexpected shocks also lead to changes in these variables’ roles.
Originality/value
This paper presents two significant contributions to the existing body of literature. Firstly, as previously emphasized, this research marks a pioneering effort to examine the connection between green logistics, environmental issues and the use of green and dirty energy when it comes to developing nations such as Vietnam. Secondly, this research introduces a novel approach to investigating the interconnectedness of volatility across diverse markets, offering a more suitable method for such analyses. Within this study, the author uses innovative tools, specifically an R2 decomposed linkage method, to scrutinize the connections between green logistics, environmental issues and the use of green and dirty energy. In this analysis, the author examined data from 2000 through 2022. A thorough analysis is presented using the data, exploring the connections between the volatilities resulting from various problems in Vietnam.
Details
Keywords
Syed Asim Ali Bukhari, Fathyah Hashim and Azlan Bin Amran
The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the determinants and outcomes of Islamic corporate social responsibility (ICSR) adoption in Islamic bank branches in Pakistan…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the determinants and outcomes of Islamic corporate social responsibility (ICSR) adoption in Islamic bank branches in Pakistan. The research framework examines the influence of stakeholder’s pressure on ICSR adoption. It also analyses the relationship between ICSR adoption and intangible outcomes achieved by the Islamic bank branch.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed through a mail survey to Islamic bank branches in Pakistan. The respondents of the study were the branch manager of Islamic bank branches in Pakistan. A simple random sampling technique was used and resulted in the collection of 293 usable questionnaires. SMART PLS was used to statistically analyse the data using partial least squares structural equation modelling approach. The measurement and structural models were analysed.
Findings
The results indicate a significant and positive relationship between Shariah supervisory board pressure, competitor pressure and ICSR adoption in Islamic bank branches. A moderate strength positive relationship was found out between top management pressure and ICSR adoption. Results reveal that customer pressure and community pressure have an insignificant influence on ICSR adoption. Data analysis shows that the adoption of ICSR practices have a significant and positive influence on an Islamic bank branch’s Intangible outcomes.
Research limitations/implications
The sample size was relatively small because of the limited time duration.
Originality/value
The construct of ICSR has not been extensively researched upon especially through empirical studies. Limited research exists in the area of factors than can influence Islamic bank branches to adopt ICSR practices and currently no empirical research has focussed on the intangible outcomes that can be achieved through ICSR adoption by an Islamic bank branch. The limited study exists in the Pakistan context as well, which is a rapidly growing Islamic banking industry.
Details
Keywords
Muhammad Azhar Khalil, Rashid Khalil and Muhammad Khuram Khalil
Historically, investments in innovation are perceived as one of the paramount decisions businesses opt to thrive and the impact of such investments on businesses' market…
Abstract
Purpose
Historically, investments in innovation are perceived as one of the paramount decisions businesses opt to thrive and the impact of such investments on businesses' market performance is well documented in the literature. However, the environmental aspects of making such investments are yet to be addressed by the firms, which in turn, present considerable damage to the environment. Coupling with the natural resource-based view (NRBV) and the stakeholder theory of the firm, this research builds on an earlier work of Khalil and Nimmanunta (2021) in an attempt to examine the link between innovation and firms' environmental and financial value. The authors extend their analysis and document a more consistent approach to measuring environmental innovation which allows the authors to investigate the firms from three additional economies with respect to firms' investments in both traditional and environmental innovations.
Design/methodology/approach
The underlying models are tested using the time fixed-effects panel regression by utilizing information from publicly traded companies of ten Asian economies, including Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. The reported sample covers annual firm-level ESG data obtained from Thomson Reuters' Datastream and Refinitiv Eikon during the 2015–2019 period.
Findings
This research offers support to the conventional wisdom that innovation is advantageous to the firms' market value. The authors further decompose innovation into traditional innovation and environmental innovation. The findings of this research suggest that traditional innovation is favorable only for the firms' market valuation and traditional innovation is strongly ineffectual for the environment – traditional innovation produces sizeable environmental distress by contributing substantially to carbon emissions. In contrast, the resultant effects of investments in environmental innovation are evident to be instrumental for both firms' financial performance and the environment.
Research limitations/implications
This research has primarily focused on only two components of a company's environmental performance: reduction in carbon emissions (CO2) and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Given the complexity of firms' environmental strategies and the multidimensionality of the variable, which encompasses a wide range of corporate behavior in terms of relationships with communities, suppliers, consumers, and broader environmental responsibilities broadening the scope of the study by including other important aspects of environmental sustainability is, therefore, critical.
Practical implications
The findings of this research signify environmental innovation as one of the vital investment approaches as firms can exploit benefits related to the market from firms' sustainable practices, developing eco-friendly processes by introducing steady yet systematic chains of green products and services. Such products and services may have a feature of enhanced functionality with a better layout in terms of improved product life with better recycling options, and lower consumption and exploitation of energy and natural resources. These sustainable practices would be advantageous for the firms regarding the possibility of setting prices above the standard level through establishing green brands and gaining market share of environmentally anxious consumers. For those companies that are striving to take the leading role in the green industry and longing to seek superior returns on the companies' environmental investments, these benefits, in particular, are exceptionally critical to them.
Originality/value
The linkage between firms' financial and environmental performance in the context of simultaneous inclusion of both green and traditional innovations remains unclear and is yet to be investigated by researchers. Thus, this research shed light on the role of environmental innovation and traditional innovation on firms' environmental performance and financial performance. The authors utilize a novel dataset with a clear indication of measuring different elements of innovation that allows us to develop a more robust approach to corporates' environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance metrics having the slightest biases related to transparency and firm size.