Nghiep Tuan Ha, Mohammadreza Akbari and Bill Au
The main objective of this paper is to provide a systematic literature review (SLR) and structured insight into last mile delivery, ultimately identifying gaps in current…
Abstract
Purpose
The main objective of this paper is to provide a systematic literature review (SLR) and structured insight into last mile delivery, ultimately identifying gaps in current knowledge and proposing a framework for future research direction in terms of sustainability in the area.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper identifies and synthesizes information from academic journals and examines “Journals and Publishing place,” “Geographic location,” “Year of Publication,” “University and Author Affiliation,” “Themes and Sub-themes,” “Theory,” “Research Design, Methods and Area” and “Industry Involvement.” A collection of online databases from 2005 to 2020 were explored, using the keywords “Last mile delivery,” “Last mile logistics,” “Last mile transportation,” “Last mile fulfillment,” “Last mile operations” and “Last mile distribution” in their title and/or abstract and/or keywords. Accordingly, a total of 281 journal articles were found in this discipline area, and data were derived from a succession of variables.
Findings
There has been significant growth in published articles concerning last mile delivery over the last 15 years (2005–2020). An in-depth review of the literature shows five dimensions of the last mile: last mile delivery, transportation, operations, distribution and logistics. Each of these dimensions is interrelated and possess clustered characteristics. For instance, last mile operations, last mile transportation and last mile delivery are operational, whereas last mile distribution is tactical, and last mile logistics possess strategic characteristics. The findings also indicate that even though the sustainability concept can be incorporated into all levels of the last mile, the current literature landscape mainly concentrates on the operational level.
Research limitations/implications
This review is limited to academic sources available from Emerald Insight, Science Direct, Taylor and Francis, Springer, MDPI and IEEE containing the mentioned keywords in the title and/or abstract/or keywords. Furthermore, only papers from high-quality, peer-reviewed journals were evaluated. Other sources such as books and conference papers were not included.
Practical implications
This study dissects last mile delivery to produce a framework that captures and presents its complex characteristics and its interconnectedness with various related components. By analyzing last mile delivery in its entirety, the framework also helps practitioners pinpoint which levels of last mile delivery (operation, tactical or strategic) they can incorporate the concept of sustainability.
Originality/value
The research findings enrich the contemporary literature landscape and future work by providing a conceptual framework that incorporates the “economic,” “environmental” and “social” pillars of sustainability in all dimensions of the last mile delivery.
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Huu Minh Nguyen, Thi Hong Tran and Thi Thanh Loan Tran
“The world needs science, science needs women” is the message given by UNESCO in the program for the development of women in science” (UNESCO, 2017). In Vietnam, women’s…
Abstract
“The world needs science, science needs women” is the message given by UNESCO in the program for the development of women in science” (UNESCO, 2017). In Vietnam, women’s participation and achievements in scientific research is considered a great and important resource for industrialization and modernization. Even so, are there gender differences in scientific achievement in the social science research institutes in Vietnam? What factors influence the scientific achievement of female social researchers? The answers will be based on data from a 2017 survey with a sample of 756 researchers, of which 77.6% were female. The survey was conducted by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, a leading, ministry-level national center for the social sciences in Vietnam. This chapter analyzed the scientific achievements of researchers through their position as principal investigators of research projects and their publications, and factors that may impact this. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of factors that may affect the scientific achievement of researchers found that gender differences in academic achievement in the social sciences in Vietnam was still prevalent. Female researchers’ scientific achievements were lower than those of their male counterparts. The contribution to science of Vietnamese female researchers was limited by many different factors; the most important were the academic rank of the researchers and gender stereotype that considered housework the responsibility of women.
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My-Linh Thi Nguyen and Tuan Huu Nguyen
This study examines the evidence of the impact of climate change on the financial performance of basic materials companies in Vietnam.
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the evidence of the impact of climate change on the financial performance of basic materials companies in Vietnam.
Design/methodology/approach
The research sample includes eighty-two basic materials companies listed on the Vietnamese stock market from 2003 to 2022. This study used one-way and two-way fixed-effects feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) estimation methods.
Findings
Climate change, measured through variables including changes in temperature, average rainfall, greenhouse gas emissions and rising sea levels, has a negative impact on the financial performance of companies in this industry. The study also found that, with rising temperatures, the financial performance of steel manufacturing companies decreased less than that of coal mining and forestry companies, but increasing greenhouse gases and rising sea levels reduced the financial performance of steel companies. We did not find evidence of any difference in the impact of climate change on the financial performance of basic materials companies before and after the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 21). This is a new finding, which is consistent with empirical studies in Vietnam and different from previous studies in that it provides new evidence on the impact of climate change on the financial performance of basic materials companies in the Vietnamese market and cross-checks the impact of climate change by sector and over time.
Originality/value
To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first articles on climate change and the financial performance of basic materials companies.
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For its sustainable growth, an organization should drive customers from the role of consumers of products or services to value co-creators. Logistics performance, which produces…
Abstract
Purpose
For its sustainable growth, an organization should drive customers from the role of consumers of products or services to value co-creators. Logistics performance, which produces value for customers, may activate value co-creation behavior among them. The purpose of this paper is to investigate entrepreneurial orientation (EO) as the determinant and customer value co-creation behavior as the outcome of logistics performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The data for this research came from 328 dyads of logistics managers of chemical manufacturers and purchase managers of their customer companies in Vietnam context. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling approach.
Findings
The research results confirmed the role of EO in predicting logistics performance. Logistics performance was also found to positively influence customer-organization identification, which, in turn promoted customer value co-creation behavior.
Originality/value
Entrepreneurship, logistics, and marketing research streams converge through the research model of the relationship between EO, logistics performance, and customer value co-creation behavior.
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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of ambidextrous leadership in fostering entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and operational performance. The research also seeks…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of ambidextrous leadership in fostering entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and operational performance. The research also seeks an insight into the moderating role that organizational social capital (OSC) plays on the relationship between ambidextrous leadership and EO.
Design/methodology/approach
The responses to the questionnaire survey were collected from 427 managers from software companies in Vietnam business context.
Findings
The data analysis verified the positive effect of ambidextrous leadership on EO, which was positively moderated by OSC. The research results also shed light on the predictive role of EO for the organization’s operational performance.
Originality/value
This research contributes to literature through identifying the convergence of entrepreneurship and operations management research streams, and the moderation role of OSC for the ambidextrous leadership-EO relationship.
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Nguyen Vinh Khuong and Le Huu Tuan Anh
This study aims to examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm value (FV) with the moderating role of the organizational life cycle (OLC).
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm value (FV) with the moderating role of the organizational life cycle (OLC).
Design/methodology/approach
To fill the missing link of the CSR–FV relationship in the life cycle of the firms, this study divided the firm life cycle into five stages and tested the impact of FV on CSR in each phase. This study uses the ordinary least squares, generalized method of moments method with the dynamic panel data model of 225 Vietnamese listed companies for the period from 2014 to 2018.
Findings
This study’s findings confirm the positive effect of CSR on FV. Besides, in most of the stages of the firm life cycle, FV positively affects CSR practices, and this effect is highest in the growth stage. In the decline phase, the relationship between FV and CSR is complex depending on the resources and ability of companies. This study’s results are trusted through many robustness tests.
Research limitations/implications
This research does not include all financial, insurance and investment firms to measure the CSR–FV relationship with OLC as moderating role. Further research might conduct in the larger sample or using data in cross countries enhance the evidence for the given relationship.
Originality/value
This research contributes empirical evidence to the scientific literature on CSR, FV and OLC, which would be tremendously helpful for policymakers and business owners to enhance company efficiency.
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Anh Thi Phuong Le, Puvaneswaran Kunasekaran, Neethiahnanthan Ari Ravagan, Hung Ngoc Le, Tuan Thanh Nguyen and Thang Vu Luong
One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, a rural economic development program in Vietnam, aims to empower local communities for sustainable social and economic welfare development…
Abstract
Purpose
One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, a rural economic development program in Vietnam, aims to empower local communities for sustainable social and economic welfare development, protect the environment and preserve tradition. This study aims to employ this program associated with tourism to support small family businesses in rural areas cost-effectively.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used the geographic location mapping method to design tourist routes that connect tourism resources with OCOP producers. A stakeholder approach was employed to identify suggested practical works that need to be implemented while developing this tourism initiative.
Findings
Four rural districts of Bac Giang Province, a northern province in Vietnam known as the place of various indigenous people live and traditional craft villages. Many cultural and historical tourist sites have been chosen as sample areas for this study. By using Google map, based on the Bac Giang Tourist Map and a list of recognized OCOP products in Bac Giang Province, main tourist sites (16 locations) and small family businesses (known as cooperatives and households) that have OCOP products (17 places) in the four districts have been identified. Four notable tourist routes have been formed to propose four thematic tours (two 1-day tours and two 2 days-1 night homestay tours). Suggestions for related stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of this initiative are provided.
Research limitations/implications
This study is supposed to be a model of promoting small family businesses through OCOP programs and tourism activities in a sustainable way in Vietnam. The outcome of this study is in line with the stakeholder theory emphasizing the systematic connection of various stakeholders such as employees, suppliers, local communities, government agencies and others towards complex business sustainability. The results of the study cannot conclude the small family businesses in Vietnam because it adopts geographic location mapping alone. Moreover, this study focused on OCOP programs only. Future research can use other methods of primary data collection, especially from tourists' perspectives. Data triangulation can be done to explore and verify the tourist routes that have been formed according to the four thematic tours proposed. Future research could also compare hotels managed by family businesses with non-family businesses.
Originality/value
This study is supposed to be a model of promoting small family businesses through OCOP programs and tourism activities in a sustainable way in Vietnam.
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Ho Xuan Thuy, Nguyen Vinh Khuong, Le Huu Tuan Anh and Pham Nhat Quyen
This study aims to investigate the association between corporate governance (CG) and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) information disclosure as well as the moderating…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the association between corporate governance (CG) and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) information disclosure as well as the moderating role of state-ownership between CG and CSR disclosure.
Design/methodology/approach
To examine the relationship between CG and CSR disclosure, this study used the feasible general least squares and generalized method of moments method on a sample of 165 non-financial quoted companies over the 2015–2018 period, which account for about three-fourths of the Vietnamese stock exchange.
Findings
The findings suggest that enterprises with smaller board size consisting mainly of independent directors have a higher CSR disclosure level. Moreover, when the chief executive officer is concurrently the chairman of the board, the level of CSR disclosure falls. Additionally, the moderating role of state ownership enhances CSR disclosure.
Research limitations/implications
The empirical results of this study form a solid foundation for policymakers and other stakeholders’ decisions in investing or establishing policies.
Originality/value
This study provides empirical evidence on the relationship between CG and CSR disclosure in Vietnam – a developing country with no legal requirement on CSR disclosure. Moreover, this study emphasizes the moderating role of state ownership between CG and CSR disclosure, which clarifies the role of state ownership in establishing CG mechanisms.
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An Van Quach, Frank Murray and Angus Morrison-Saunders
This paper aims to investigate shrimp income losses of farmers in the four farming systems in the research areas of Ca Mau, Vietnam, and determine the vulnerability of shrimp…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate shrimp income losses of farmers in the four farming systems in the research areas of Ca Mau, Vietnam, and determine the vulnerability of shrimp farming income to climate change events.
Design/methodology/approach
Field research interviews were conducted with 100 randomly selected households across the four farming systems to access shrimp income status and vulnerability levels to climate change events. Four focus groups, each aligned to a particular farming system, were surveyed to categorise likelihood and consequences of climate change effects based on a risk matrix worksheet to derive levels of risk, adaptive capacity and vulnerability levels.
Findings
Shrimp farmers in the study areas have been facing shrimp income reduction recently and shrimp farming income is vulnerable to climate change events. There are some differences between farmers’ perspectives on vulnerability levels, but some linkages are evident among shrimp farmer characteristics, ramifications for each farming system, shrimp income losses and shrimp farmers’ perspectives on vulnerability levels of shrimp incomes. From an income perspective, farmers operating in intensive shrimp farming systems appear to be less vulnerable to existing and expected climate change effects relative to those in mixed production or lower density systems.
Originality/value
Having identified the vulnerability level of shrimp farming income to climate change events in different farming systems based on shrimp farmers’ perspectives, the paper adds new knowledge to existing research on vulnerability of the aquaculture sector to climate change. The research findings have implications for policymakers who may choose to encourage intensive shrimp farming to enhance shrimp farmer resilience to the effects of climate change as well as improving cultivation techniques for shrimp farmers. The findings could thus guide local government decision-making on climate change responses and residents of Ca Mau as well as within the wider Mekong Delta in developing suitable practical adaption measures.
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Nguyen Khanh Doanh, Nguyen Ngoc Quynh and Thi Tuan Linh Pham
The purpose of this study is to examine how use of agriculture information systems could impact farmers' intention to convert from traditional to organic agriculture production in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine how use of agriculture information systems could impact farmers' intention to convert from traditional to organic agriculture production in the mountainous areas of Northern Vietnam, based on a research framework developed from integrating Diffusion of Innovation Theory and Theory of Planned Behavior. Specifically, the authors aim to test the direct impact of use of agriculture information systems on converting intention and the interaction between use of agriculture information systems and perceived economic benefits, perceived non-economic benefits of organic production and market access on the formation of converting intention.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from a sample survey that included 634 agriculture-producing households in Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang and Cao Bang provinces of Northern Vietnam. The logistic regression was used for data analysis.
Findings
Research findings indicate that perceived economic benefits, non-economic benefits, market access and use of agriculture information systems positively support the converting intention. Moreover, the use of information systems strengthens the links between the converting intention and perceived economic benefits, perceived non-economic benefits and market access.
Originality/value
This research is innovative in incorporating the use of agriculture information systems as both direct contributor and moderator in converting decisions.