The purpose of this paper is to introduce three storylines that address the relation between economic growth, technical innovation and environmental impact. The paper assesses if…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce three storylines that address the relation between economic growth, technical innovation and environmental impact. The paper assesses if and how these storylines as guiding visions increase our range of future orientations.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper first explains its general outline and then explores different strands of literature to arrive at its analytical conclusions.
Findings
Pursuing the three storylines in a paradigmatic articulation creates paradoxes. The growth paradigm focuses on economic growth as its main goal. To overcome environmental degradation, products have to be substituted by environmentally friendly alternatives, but the continuous substitution of finite resources seems unlikely possible. The storyline of innovation sees technological development as a driver of economic progress, and holds that innovations allow the decoupling of economic growth from environmental impact, a claim that is compromised by the occurrence of rebound effects. The degrowth storyline holds that economic growth has to be stopped altogether, but is unclear how this can be done.
Originality/value
By articulating paradigmatic perspectives as storylines, a new understanding on how these perspectives can be figured as a constructive repertoire of guiding visions and not as mere theory-based descriptions.
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Keywords
André Martinuzzi and Francesca Montevecchi
The purpose of this paper is to offer a profound overview of recent research trends and structures in European waste-related research based on the 7th Framework Programme (FP7)…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to offer a profound overview of recent research trends and structures in European waste-related research based on the 7th Framework Programme (FP7), the most important RTD programme in Europe.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to analyse Europe-wide research efforts on waste technologies, the authors conducted a qualitative and quantitative analysis of 50 FP7-funded research projects to assess which approaches they take, which technologies they develop and which types of organisations play a leading role.
Findings
FP7 waste-related projects care for a multiplicity of environmental technologies concerning waste. The most prominent research fields comprise: first, the recovery of by-products and waste into biomass and other valuable products; second, the development of technologies to rework manufacturing discarded products and, therefore, reduce the total use of raw materials; third, the improvement of manufacturing technologies in order to cut down on industrial waste; and finally, the support of the development of recycling management processes. In total, 52 per cent of all the participants are from the industry sector, which therefore plays an essential role.
Practical implications
The analysis show that FP7 supports the shift to a cradle-to-cradle society and is partly in line with the aims of the new Flagship Initiative “A resource-efficient Europe”.
Originality/value
This analysis gives the possibility to benchmark the trend of waste-related research carried out at European level against priorities set within European directives.
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Keywords
This conceptual paper aims to offer a theoretical contribution that explicates the “blind spot” cultural diversity and reward diversity team conflict contingencies, and personal…
Abstract
Purpose
This conceptual paper aims to offer a theoretical contribution that explicates the “blind spot” cultural diversity and reward diversity team conflict contingencies, and personal audit as a mechanism for managing the consequences.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper suggests a framework for analysing and managing diversity (cultural and reward) driven team conflicts. Given the theoretical foundation, personal audit among team members is recommended as a tool for managing the consequences of such conflict factors.
Findings
This paper underlines the team building intervention utility for team effectiveness. It reinforces theoretical foundation that highlights conflict as a determinant of team effectiveness, and reviews two diversity dimensions of team conflicts. Finally, it suggests and explains an “active learning” personal audit model for achieving the conceptualised team effectiveness perspective.
Practical implications
The paper highlights critical but usually overlooked team conflict intricacies in football team management. This framework offers practical relevance in enabling understanding of “attitudes and behaviours” of team members and human resource management in football marketing. Managers would benefit from this perspective and improve team effectiveness, performance and organisation's performance.
Originality/value
The paper offers valuable conceptual insight for development, one that serves the interest of management of football clubs and academia.