Purvi Pujari, Anuj Kumar and Pranjali Pujari
The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of social isolation due to COVID-19 on the vulnerable geriatric population.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of social isolation due to COVID-19 on the vulnerable geriatric population.
Design/methodology/approach
Ten individual interviews of people above 70 years of age were conducted in 2021. The data was collected through interviews and observation. The authors observed the people from the age.
Findings
The geriatric population faced physical challenges like poor sleep and digestive health along with neglect of their persisting ailments, which needed attention. Mental issues were also very serious, such as fear of death, anxiety, stress and depression. This paper urges the policymakers to focus on coming up with support systems for the geriatric population and finding long-term solutions to mitigate the repercussions faced by them.
Originality/value
This paper attempts to underline the mostly unnoticed physical and psychological issues troubling usually neglected strata of the population as they do not make a part of an income-earning segment.
Details
Keywords
Anuj Kumar, Purvi Pujari and Nimit Gupta
This case study would enable the learners to identify and evaluate the factors impacting the strategic decision to enter international markets. The learners would be able to…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
This case study would enable the learners to identify and evaluate the factors impacting the strategic decision to enter international markets. The learners would be able to identify parameters such as level of competition, perception regarding foreign entrants and demand factors that are crucial for the form to consider while taking such an important decision. The case study will also allow learners to understand the challenges of an entrepreneurial journey.
Case overview/synopsis
This case study is an interesting story of two entrepreneurs’ dilemma of internationalization strategy of their firm Aeron. Their firm’s product Tilt Switch had a good international demand and both partners wished to capture this opportunity, post the COVID-19 pandemic. This case study shows how the firm looked into factors to study new international markets, balancing risk and opportunity. The case study highlights the important role of strategic planning in achieving successful internationalization by analysing various approaches to market entry and adaptation. The firm had a choice of either developing their domestic market India or going for international markets of the USA or European Union.
Complexity academic level
This case study is suitable for graduation and postgraduation courses.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 5: International Business.
Details
Keywords
Purvi Pujari, Nimit Gupta and Anuj Kumar
This case is designed to provide learners with strategic decision-making skills. It also introduces the various nuances of establishing a technopreneurial venture and creating and…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
This case is designed to provide learners with strategic decision-making skills. It also introduces the various nuances of establishing a technopreneurial venture and creating and sustaining a competitive advantage. The setting allows learners to comprehend the significance of assessing the business environment and the advantage of being a first mover in any business sector. The case allows a rare glimpse into the strategic decision framework of a scale-wise relatively much small tech firm that is competing with global giants and creating waves, and winning accolades for its performance. The case also allows learners to understand the analysis and decision-making parameters studied by a company while selecting a product. After working through and discussing this case, learners should be able to identify the strategic decision framework in which Aeron undertakes a product selection decision; analyze the conditions in the operating environment that made Aeron possess a competitive advantage; and design the product choice strategy for Aeron.
Case overview/synopsis
This case is about the journey of two friends, Abhijeet Bokil and Ashwani Shukla, who started a company together in Pune, India, in 2008 and achieved great success. The case discusses their tryst with different products and industrial sectors. It unfolds the journey of their startups and their finding the desired product category. It also discusses the various hurdles they face while establishing the business. The journey was tough as it occurred in the unpredictable background of the dynamic international technology and policy environment. The common challenges to entrepreneurship were present throughout their journey. The team encountered various financial and technological trials during these years. The case explains how excellent strategic choices made the team overcome those challenges. The biggest dilemma faced by the team was to select between two of their products. The one who gave them visibility and success or the new upcoming one with more entry barriers. The case deals with the issue of product selection in the sectors of telematics and weather monitoring.
Complexity academic level
The case is appropriate for courses in Business management, Strategy management programs & innovation and Entrepreneurship management courses. The case would suit BBA and MBA students learning various management models.
Supplementary material
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
Details
Keywords
Marisol Alonso-Vazquez and Christina Ballico
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has once again brought to our attention one of the three main pillars of sustainability–the environment. It has also brought into…
Abstract
Purpose
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has once again brought to our attention one of the three main pillars of sustainability–the environment. It has also brought into sharp relief the fragility of the live music festival sector, whose success hinges fundamentally on the capacity for both travel and mass gatherings to occur. Considering this intersection of environmental sustainability and the live music festival sector, this paper–which reports on events occurring long before the global pandemic took hold–examines the ways in which eight Australian folk and world music festivals successfully engage in eco-friendly and pro-environmental practices and educational activities at their events. Findings from this research will assist industry practitioners in being able to engage in similar practices at their events, as well as further academic understandings of the relationship between the environment and the live music sector, and the role of environmental communication practices within this.
Design/methodology/approach
This study engaged an exploratory research design using interviews to gain an insight into the perceptions of eight live music festival promoters regarding their patrons' on-site eco-friendly behaviours and engagement with the eco-friendly initiatives at their events.
Findings
Social support within the on-site festival community (applied here through the notion of a sense of communitas), coupled with the provision of eco-friendly initiatives and effective environmental communication approaches, were key pivot drivers to support patrons' pro-environmental behaviours. Engagement with environmental authorities and experts during the festivals was found to validate their eco-friendly approaches.
Originality/value
This paper provides details of, as well as insights into, the success of the eco-friendly and pro-environmental education practices engaged at select world and folk music festivals in Australia. It broadens and builds upon existing understandings of environmental communication practices.
Details
Keywords
Fernando Almeida and Jahangir Wasim
Eco-innovation has been identified as a source of gaining a competitive advantage on a global scale. To build upon that, this study aims to deepen the understanding of…
Abstract
Purpose
Eco-innovation has been identified as a source of gaining a competitive advantage on a global scale. To build upon that, this study aims to deepen the understanding of eco-innovation in the context of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and investigates the impact of having a clear eco-innovation strategy on a company's sustainability and performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 249 SMEs located in Portugal and the UK participated and structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied to explore the relationship among the constructs.
Findings
The findings reveal that both internal and external factors influence the design of an eco-innovation strategy. However, the relevance of external factors seemed to be more significant for Portuguese SMEs. This study concludes that product/process eco-innovations and green innovation systems are determinants for sustainable performance in SMEs. In contrast, the environmental technologies and organisational eco-innovation dimensions are not determinants. This is observed both in Portuguese and UK SMEs.
Originality/value
Most studies in the field tend to explore the role of eco-innovation in large organisations. This study takes a different approach by exploring its impacts on the sustainable business performance of SMEs. Furthermore, it combines data from two countries, which constitutes a strength and gives the opportunity to explore this phenomenon empirically.
Details
Keywords
Jungsun (Sunny) Kim, SungJun Joe and Mehmet Erdem
This study examined the antecedents of technostressors as well as how customers' perceived convenience and technostressors of using a check-in/out kiosk influence their behavioral…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examined the antecedents of technostressors as well as how customers' perceived convenience and technostressors of using a check-in/out kiosk influence their behavioral intention in a full-service hotel setting.
Design/methodology/approach
Using survey data collected from 630 hotel customers, hypotheses were tested via structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis.
Findings
The results showed that perceived usefulness of a check-in/out kiosk had direct effects on both technostressors (i.e. work overload and role ambiguity), and that perceived ease-of-use had indirect effects on the technostressors, via perceived usefulness. The findings showed that both role ambiguity and perceived convenience significantly influenced intention to use a check-in/out kiosk. Intention to use was positively associated with intention to revisit a hotel providing the kiosk. These findings were equivalent across the younger and older groups.
Practical implications
Based on the findings, hotels can implement effective strategies to reduce technostressors associated with a check-in/out kiosk and focus on enhancing the factors that influence customer acceptance of the system. This is especially important given the increased emphasis on self-service technology since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originality/value
This research contributed to the relevant literature by developing a check-in/out kiosk acceptance model using a multi-theoretical approach, and empirically testing it within the full-service hotel domain. It fills the knowledge gap regarding the antecedents and outcomes of technostressors in the hospitality research literature by providing empirical evidence.
Details
Keywords
The relevance of digital technology and knowledge management (KM) has been increasing continuously owing to their importance in sustainability. However, research on which…
Abstract
Purpose
The relevance of digital technology and knowledge management (KM) has been increasing continuously owing to their importance in sustainability. However, research on which technology leads to collaboration in KM and how it affects sustainability is lacking. Therefore, this study aims to analyze knowledge collaboration management technologies for sustainable growth based on academic literature and technology patents.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzed current technology and academic trends in KM using BERTopic, an artificial intelligence natural language processing model, and proposed future promising candidate technologies and potential application areas in terms of collaboration and sustainability.
Findings
From the textual data of research papers and patents, this paper extracted 10 and 47 major topics, respectively. Moreover, five potential and feasible candidate patents along with their applicable fields were recommended.
Originality/value
The strength of this study is its analysis of the technologies affecting collaboration and sustainability in KM. This paper found that new digital technologies (i.e. artificial intelligence, cloud computing and big data) impact organizations’ KM and have the potential for collaboration. Digital technologies have a positive impact on corporate smartness directly and sustainability and inclusion indirectly. This paper argued that organizations should understand and identify various promising technological factors and apply them to their KM from a collaboration perspective.
Details
Keywords
Dharmendra Hariyani, Sanjeev Mishra and Milind Kumar Sharma
Scarcity of resources and ever-changing demand have attracted the government and manufacturers for an integrated sustainable-green-lean-six sigma-agile manufacturing system…
Abstract
Purpose
Scarcity of resources and ever-changing demand have attracted the government and manufacturers for an integrated sustainable-green-lean-six sigma-agile manufacturing system (ISGLSAMS). Many organizations failed to adopt ISGLSAMS due to various barriers. The purpose of this paper is to identify and rank the various barriers to ISGLSAMS and to analyze the correlations among the various barriers to ISGLSAMS so that the adoption of ISGLSAMS can be implemented in manufacturing organizations for more sustainable development of the industries, and industrial ecology.
Design/methodology/approach
A three tiers methodology is used to analyze the barriers to the adoption of ISGLSAMS. First, a total of 24 ISGLSAMS barriers are identified through a comprehensive literature review. Then data are collected with a structured questionnaire from 108 Indian manufacturing industries. Then, the sign test is used to check the relevance and significance of barriers. Then ISGLSAMS barriers are ranked based on the median and standard deviation. Spearman's correlations between the ISGLSAMS barriers are identified and studied to strengthen the in-depth understanding of correlations among the barriers.
Findings
The result shows that most of the Indian manufacturing industries agreed with the selected barriers to the adoption of ISGLSAMS. Low supplier commitment, uncertain financial benefits, the misconception of high cost, difficulty in evaluation of system performance throughout the life cycle, complexity in ISGLSA process design, the complexity of management of ISGLSAMS, complexity in ISGLSA system design, lack of updated information, complexity in ISGLSA product design and uncertain future legislation are found the major barriers for the ISGLSAMS in Indian manufacturing industries. While lack of leadership, low top management commitment, lack of government support, organizational structure, low employees' commitment, technological risk and low public pressure are considered minor barriers for the ISGLSAMS. Inter-relationships study of the barriers further contributes to the methodology to overcome the barriers.
Practical implications
The study contributes to a better understanding of ISGLSAMS barriers. Through this study, government, stakeholders and policymakers may plan the policy, roadmap and strategies to overcome the barriers to the ISGLSAMS. This will lead to the successful adoption of ISGLSAMS for more sustainable development of manufacturing industries in India.
Originality/value
This work contributes to identifying the barriers to a more sustainable manufacturing system, i.e. ISGLSAMS (7Rs based), and prioritizing them in Indian manufacturing industries. The research also contributes to the (1) study of inter-relationships among the ISGLSAMS barriers for analyzing the effect of one barrier over another barrier, and (2) ISGLSAMS literature because the sustainable manufacturing literature still lags the achievement of sustainability goals due to 6Rs focus.
Details
Keywords
Dharmendra Hariyani and Sanjeev Mishra
Scarcity of resources, ecological imbalance, global warming, rising energy prices and the ever-changing need for variety have attracted the government and manufacturers for…
Abstract
Purpose
Scarcity of resources, ecological imbalance, global warming, rising energy prices and the ever-changing need for variety have attracted the government and manufacturers for sustainable development of the industries. The integrated sustainable-green-lean-six sigma-agile manufacturing system (ISGLSAMS) provides a solid platform for meeting both the customers’ variety needs and business sustainability requirements. Many organizations opted for ISGLSAMS, but still due to various barriers organizations are not able to fully implement ISGLSAMS. The purpose of this paper is to identify the barriers to the ISGLSAMS, so that a more sustainable industrial manufacturing system and industrial symbiosis can be developed.
Design/methodology/approach
A literature review, from the Web of Science and Google Scholar database, has been carried out to identify the various barriers to the implementation of ISGLSAMS in the entire value chain. A total of 168 research papers have been reviewed for identifying the ISGLSAMS barriers.
Findings
This paper elaborates the concept of the ISGLSAMS, its attributes and various barriers and contributes to a better understanding and successful implementation of ISGLSAMS to meet business’ sustainability and market performance goals in the entire value chain. The paper also projects the future research framework and directions for the ISGLSAMS, integrated sustainable-green-lean-six sigma-agile (ISGLSA) product and ISGLSA supply and value chain.
Practical implications
The study contributes to a better understanding of ISGLSAMS’ barriers. The government, stakeholders and policymakers may plan the policy, road map and strategies to overcome the ISGLSAMS’ barriers. In-depth knowledge of subclauses of ISGLSAMS’ barriers will help the practitioners to overcome the ISGLSAMS’ barriers strategically. By overcoming the ISGLSAMS barriers, a more sustainable 7 Rs based market focused manufacturing system can be designed. This will also increase the opportunities to enhance the industrial ecology, industrial symbiosis and better recovery of the product, process and supply chain residual value. This will reduce the waste to the ecosystem.
Originality/value
This work has been carried out in search of a more sustainable manufacturing system, i.e. ISGLSAMS (which is 7 Rs based, i.e. 6 Rs of sustainability with 7th R, reconfiguration) to meet the customer variety needs along with sustainability in the ever-changing customer market. This study adds value to the practitioners to identify and prioritize the ISGLSAMS’ industry-specific barriers and design the solution for the more sustainable development of (1) industries, (2) the industrial symbiosis system and (3) the ISGLSA product, process, system and supply value chain with minimum resource consumption and environmental impact. The research also contributes to the (a) ISGLSAMS (b) ISGLSA supply chain (c) reconfigurable, sustainable and modular products and (d) redesign, recovery and refurbishing of the product to increase the product life cycle.
Details
Keywords
- Integrated sustainable-green-lean-six sigma-agile manufacturing system (ISGLSAMS)
- Integrated sustainable-green-lean-six sigma-agile (ISGLSA) manufacturing strategy
- Sustainable products
- Sustainable supply chain
- Social
- environmental
- market
- ecological and financial performance
- Industrial ecology and industrial symbiosis
Ijaz Ul Haq and Fiorenzo Franceschini
The purpose of this paper is to develop a preliminary conceptual scale for the measurement of distributed manufacturing (DM) capacity of manufacturing companies operating in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a preliminary conceptual scale for the measurement of distributed manufacturing (DM) capacity of manufacturing companies operating in rubber and plastic sectors.
Design/methodology/approach
A two-step research methodology is employed. In first step, the dimensions of DM and different levels of each dimension have been defined. In second step, an empirical analysis (cluster analysis) of database firms is performed by collecting the data of 38 firms operating in Italian mould manufacturing sector. Application case studies are then analyzed to show the use of the proposed DM conceptual scale.
Findings
A hyperspace, composed of five dimensions of DM, i.e. manufacturing localization; manufacturing technologies; customization and personalization; digitalization; and democratization of design, is developed and a hierarchy is defined by listing the levels of each dimension in an ascending order. Based on this hyperspace, a conceptual scale is proposed to measure the positioning of a generic company in the DM continuum.
Research limitations/implications
The empirical data are collected from Italian mould manufacturing companies operating in rubber and plastic sectors. It cannot be assumed that the industrial sectors in different parts of the world are operating under similar operational, regulatory and economic conditions. The results, therefore, might not be generalized to manufacturing companies operating in different countries (particularly developing countries) under different circumstances.
Originality/value
This is first preliminary scale of its kind to evaluate the positioning of companies with respect to their DM capacity. This scale is helpful for companies to compare their capacity with standard profiles and for decision making to convert the existing manufacturing operations into distributed operations.