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This article develops conceptual and paradigmatic clarity in the circular economy literature from a management studies perspective.

This article uses a systematic literature review for analysing how circular economy is currently understood. It also reflects on how to establish paradigmatic anchoring of the circular economy in the management field.

Multiple definitions of the circular economy exist, but they depict the circular economy narrowly and fail to incorporate aspects of competitiveness and profitability. Additionally, most of sustainability management research displays shortcomings in the way this literature frames the organisation–nature relationship.

This article aims to support conceptual and theoretical development in the circular economy literature and highlights opportunities for enhanced competitiveness and profitability deriving from circular business model innovation. However, further research is welcomed to assess this connection.

The conceptualisation of the circular economy proposed in this study emphasises aspects of competitiveness and profitability, which is of relevance to management practitioners.

This study addresses current shortcomings in how the circular economy is conceptualised. As a result, it proposes a more comprehensive conceptualisation which also includes competitiveness and profitability aspects and, thereby, is relevant from a management studies perspective. It also provides paradigmatic anchoring to the circular economy concept by suggesting that the sustaincentric paradigm, which has received limited scholarly attention so far, is suitable to inform circular economy research and practice.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of banana peel into cake (a bakery product that may add bananas) and panettone (a product that never is added to bananas) formulations on consumers' acceptance and perceived attributes and the effect on the technological properties of the product.

Bakery products were produced with banana peel in the formulation and control samples without residue. Volunteers scored their acceptance and checked all attributes applied to the four samples in the blind and informed tests. The texture, color, proximate composition and bake properties were measured.

The acceptance of both cakes, with and without banana peel, was not affected when consumers were informed that there was a residue in both cakes. Relative risk indicated that information had no influence on acceptance. Panettone with banana pulp showed a reduction in acceptance when volunteers were informed of the presence of banana peel. Risk analysis showed a significant relative risk of product rejection when consumers were aware of information. The addition of banana peel enhanced panettone chewiness and crumb hardness, reduced bake loss of cakes, reduced the volume of both products and changed some color parameters of both products.

Banana peel is a source of functional compounds, but it is not clear how consumers react when informed that the food presents it.

Lean approach has overcome the boundaries of the automotive and manufacturing industry and has achieved many different sectors of the economy, including services. In this context, this paper aims to investigate the applicability of value stream mapping (VSM) tool in processes of the oil and gas chain. Also, this paper investigates if there is a specific framework currently being used by organizations belonging to this chain to map the value stream of its processes.

A detailed systematic review of the literature is done by using a set of relevant keywords based on peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers available in the Scopus database, analyzing data from 2012 to 2017. Content analysis methodology involving a four-step process (identification, screening, eligibility and inclusion) suggested by Moher et al. (2009) was adopted for this study.

The number of studies in literature on VSM applicability to the oil and gas chain processes is low when compared to studies regarding the application of lean tools and methods in general in this area. Also, there is no specific framework that has been used by the oil and gas chain companies to carry out the VSM, which is a research gap that can be further explored.

Sample size for this research consists of 42 studies, thereby limiting the generalizability of the research studies. However, the analysis presented in this paper was based only on Scopus database, which is a remarkable and broad base, which provided robustness to the data found.

Practicing managers of oil and gas chain who are planning to transform their processes can use the VSM for it. Researchers can explore the research gap found in this study and develop a specific framework to implement VSM in the oil and gas chain processes.

This is the first paper to evaluate the VSM tool applicability to the oil and gas chain processes based on an systematic literature review and understand if this is possible and if there is a specific framework to carry out this task.

This chapter offers insight into Italian sociology of sport. It first describes the fragmented history from the 1990s to the present of a discipline that has never developed as a truly mature field in the academic environment, and then outlines some main areas of research strengths and outcomes. Four strands can be highlighted: fandom and organized soccer supporters (Ultras); changes in sport through the forces of television, new media, sponsorship, and globalization; hybridization of sport, mass media, and politics with Berlusconi’s entrance into the Italian political scene and the advent of the era of “football politics”; and lastly, the body, bodywork, formal/informal sport activities, and gym culture with a microsociological perspective. However, despite their sociological relevance, these topics have had no regular, substantial development. They constitute separate fields of knowledge appearing in the sociological landscape in conjunction with social alarms, mainly related to soccer violence, or the emergence of new mass sport events or trends. It is difficult to predict what the future will hold. There is currently emerging attention to new urban sports and some sporadic in-depth ethnographic investigations of sport in micro arenas, such as soccer pitches, fitness gyms, and dance schools. Otherwise, Italian sociology of sport is folded into physical education science and is only considered as a field of inquiry for physical health and wellbeing.

This study aims to explore the resource development process implemented by a small consulting firm, active in a traditional industrial context, pursuing the innovation path to develop solutions within the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) domain.

This study undertakes a single qualitative case study of Sinergia, an Italian innovative small consulting firm. The case study is analyzed through critical events and adopting the 4 R model, developed within the industrial marketing and purchasing (IMP) approach.

The analysis highlights a transition from knowledge broker to solution provider, based on a process of networking, with a relevant strategizing effort, and of assembling internal, external and shared resources. Three patterns in the evolution of the company’s innovation path emerge: resource-oriented networking, hybrid resource development and resource assembly.

The empirical study provides novel empirical evidence over localized innovation processes in I4.0 by exploring the innovation path pursued by a small consulting firm in connection with the local business. The study represents a theoretical development in terms of the 4 R model as it suggests the need to further conceptualize the category of technical resources – including products and facilities – in the increasingly complex I4.0 domain and provides insights on the changing role of actors in networks underpinned by emerging resource structures.

The paper aims to explore the food needs of a growing Muslim population in Italian kindergartens and primary schools and to provide a basis for further quantitative research.

The methodology is essentially qualitative – historical, anthropological, social sources were studied to set the scene for a number of interviews (now 14, eventually 20) with cultural mediators, who know the implications of both cultures, and are trained to see the differences. The results of the interviews were then validated through interactions with anthropologists, food and religious historians, religious authorities and others.

The main findings are that: food and food prohibitions bear fundamental religious and identity-related implications for Muslims, that reverberate onto migrants' children of school age and dramatically limit their access to canteen food; halal meat traders exist in Italy, and can provide legally compliant, halal-certified meat, but school/public administrations do not seem to be aware of their interest.

The number of available mediators is relatively small, although they generally agree on all the basics. The research is qualitative and will require more in-depth analysis.

Better awareness of the Maghrebi Muslims' food requirements in school canteens. The need to develop a halal meat trade for public institutions and to lobby for the right of these children to bring packed lunches from home.

The paper has a heuristic value. It could have immediate implications for the stakeholders and, on the other hand, promote quantitative studies.