Mohammad Ahsan Habib, Sreejith Balasubramanian, Vinaya Shukla, David Chitakunye and Janya Chanchaichujit
The garments/textiles industry is the second most polluting industry in the world. However, efforts to understand and curtail its adverse environmental impacts have not been…
Abstract
Purpose
The garments/textiles industry is the second most polluting industry in the world. However, efforts to understand and curtail its adverse environmental impacts have not been commensurate, and previous works have largely been fragmented and disjointed. This study aims to coduct a comprehensive and systematic green supply chain management (GSCM) investigation on this industry, where a multidimensional framework involving green supply chain practices and performance is developed, validated and applied.
Design/methodology/approach
A framework consisting of 12 constructs (8 on practices and 4 on performance) and their underlying measures were developed through an extensive literature review. A survey methodology was used to obtain responses from 403 garment-manufacturing firms in Bangladesh, one of the leading garment producers in the world. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used first to validate the first- and second-order constructs and then test the hypothesized relationships.
Findings
Internal environmental management and cooperation with stakeholders were identified as necessary precursors for implementing the second-order green supply chain practices comprising green design, green purchasing, green manufacturing, green transportation, green facilities and end-of-life management. The implementation of green supply chain practices was found to have a (direct) positive impact on environmental, economic and operational performance and an indirect positive impact on organizational performance. Similarly, both economic and operational performance was found to impact organizational performance positively. Surprisingly, a negative relationship (albeit low) was observed between environmental and organizational performance. Also, garment-manufacturing firms were found to have been unable to translate their IEM capabilities into strategic and long-term cooperation with stakeholders.
Research limitations/implications
The study fills a gap in the literature about applying/implementing GSCM in the garment industry. Future studies in the garment industry and elsewhere could utilize the framework to understand further the synergistic impact of green supply chain practices on performance.
Practical implications
The findings provide practitioners, policymakers and organizations associated with the garment industry with critical insights on the various opportunities and challenges in adopting GSCM. Also, the positive impact of green supply chain practices on performance could provide the impetus for manufacturing firms to adopt GSCM.
Originality/value
A comprehensive GSCM investigation on the garment industry has not been previously attempted and constitutes the novelty of this work. Also, Bangladesh is the second-largest garment exporter worldwide, making this study contribution even more valuable.
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Paurav Shukla, N. Meltem Cakici and Dina Khalifa
Extant research captures the signaling and attitudinal effects of luxury brand prominence strategy; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms that drive this…
Abstract
Purpose
Extant research captures the signaling and attitudinal effects of luxury brand prominence strategy; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms that drive this effect. This study aims to uncover brand authenticity and brand coolness as parallel mediators driving the effects of brand prominence on luxury purchase intentions and explores the moderating role of consumers’ self-brand connection.
Design/methodology/approach
The research consisted of three experiments. Study 1 (n = 121) explored the direct effects of brand prominence among Chinese consumers. Using a sample of Turkish consumers (n = 115), Study 2, measured the mediation effects of brand authenticity and brand coolness. Study 3 (n = 211) examined how self-brand connection moderated the mediation effects among British customers.
Findings
A luxury brand prominence strategy leads to negative perceptions of coolness and authenticity and, in turn, reduces purchase intentions. The negative effect of brand prominence is even more pronounced among consumers with high self-brand connection.
Research limitations/implications
The study elaborates on how brand prominence informs consumers’ perceptions of authenticity and coolness. In examining the role of self-brand connection, the study reveals a theoretically and managerially relevant boundary condition of this focal effect.
Practical implications
The research highlights how luxury brands can use differing brand prominence strategies. This research informs brand managers on how to enhance brand authenticity and coolness while managing self-brand connection.
Originality/value
The study extends the luxury branding literature by explaining the brand prominence effect through the parallel mediators of brand authenticity and brand coolness. In contrast to extant research, the findings show that the negative effect of brand prominence is particularly strong among consumers with high self-brand connection.
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Weisha Wang, Cheng-Hao Steve Chen, Bang Nguyen and Paurav Shukla
With rising globalization, Western and Eastern brands are increasingly collaborating and co-branding. Drawing on the theory of dialectical self that captures the degree of…
Abstract
Purpose
With rising globalization, Western and Eastern brands are increasingly collaborating and co-branding. Drawing on the theory of dialectical self that captures the degree of cognitive tendency to tolerate conflicts, inconsistencies and ambiguities in self-concept, this paper investigates the effect of consumer dialectical self on co-branding that encompasses Western and East Asian cultural brand personality traits.
Design/methodology/approach
Two studies were conducted using Chinese participants to examine the effects of the dialectical self on co-brand evaluation under single-and dual-personality conditions and to explore the mediating role of ideal social self-congruence and the moderating role of product type (high vs low conspicuous).
Findings
The findings suggest that counterintuitive to the received wisdom, the dialectical self negatively influences one's attitude towards a co-brand in the dual-personality condition only. Further, ideal social self-congruence mediates the relationship between the dialectical self and dual-personality co-brand evaluation in the high conspicuous product condition only.
Practical implications
Important implications are offered to international marketing managers for managing the dialectical self that lead to positive co-brand evaluations. Moreover, managers should highlight ideal social self-congruence for co-branding success for particular product types.
Originality/value
This paper examines co-branding from a novel perspective of consumer dialectical self and shows the pivotal role it plays when brands carry varying cultural traits engage in co-branding. By identifying the role of the dialectical self and the important mediator and moderator, the paper fulfils an important gap in co-branding literature and offers key implications.
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UV curable systems have found wide applications in clear coatings. However, coatings containing pigment showed a degree of curing inhibition due to the absorption, scattering and…
Abstract
UV curable systems have found wide applications in clear coatings. However, coatings containing pigment showed a degree of curing inhibition due to the absorption, scattering and reflection of the UV radiation caused by the presence of pigments in the coating film. This results in poor through‐cure and consequently in poor adhesion. Thus, pigments used in the UV curable coating systems should not absorb radiation in the same region as the photo‐initiators. One of the solutions to such a problem, reported in this paper, was to develop more reactive, alcohol soluble, non‐heat reactive, low molecular weight cresol based, pigmented novolac epoxy acrylate systems, which have a lower absorption in the UV region. In addition, the effects of several photoinitiators having absorption in the longer wavelength region of the UV spectrum were investigated.
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Vinaya Shukla and Mohamed Naim
The ability to detect disturbances quickly as they arise in a supply chain helps to manage them efficiently and effectively. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the…
Abstract
Purpose
The ability to detect disturbances quickly as they arise in a supply chain helps to manage them efficiently and effectively. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of automatically and therefore quickly detecting a specific disturbance, which is constrained capacity at a supply chain echelon.
Design/methodology/approach
Different supply chain echelons of a simulated four echelon supply chain were individually capacity constrained to assess their impacts on the profiles of system variables, and to develop a signature that related the profiles to the echelon location of the capacity constraint. A review of disturbance detection techniques across various domains formed the basis for considering the signature-based technique.
Findings
The signature for detecting a capacity constrained echelon was found to be based on cluster profiles of shipping and net inventory variables for that echelon as well as other echelons in a supply chain, where the variables are represented as spectra.
Originality/value
Detection of disturbances in a supply chain including that of constrained capacity at an echelon has seen limited research where this study makes a contribution.
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Madhumita Banerjee, Paurav Shukla and Nicholas J. Ashill
While the literature on migration highlights the reshaping of host and immigrant population in countries, there is a paucity of research in marketing investigating the evolving…
Abstract
Purpose
While the literature on migration highlights the reshaping of host and immigrant population in countries, there is a paucity of research in marketing investigating the evolving dynamics for acculturation. The purpose of this study is to further the understanding of the emerging phenomenon of acculturation and identity negotiation.
Design/methodology/approach
Three experiments examined situational ethnicity, self-construal and identity negotiation in home and host culture work and social settings. Study 1 and Study 2 were conducted in the United Kingdom (UK), where the host country is the majority population. Study 3 was conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the host country is the minority population. Study 4 utilized qualitative interviews in both countries.
Findings
Results from all four studies show that ethnic consumers deploy “indifference” as an identity negotiation mechanism when the host society is the majority population (UK) and when the host society has the minority population (UAE).
Originality/value
The authors offer new insights into identity negotiation by ethnic consumers when the host society is the majority population as well as the minority population. “Indifference”, i.e. preferring to neither fit in nor stand out as an identity negotiation mechanism, is deployed in work and social settings of home and host societies. The authors also advance the existing literature on acculturation by examining whether independent and interdependent self-construal influence identity negotiation.
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Janya Chanchaichujit, Sreejith Balasubramanian and Vinaya Shukla
The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the barriers associated with the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in agricultural supply chains.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the barriers associated with the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in agricultural supply chains.
Design/methodology/approach
The study initially identified thirteen barriers by conducting a literature review and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. Subsequently, these barriers were validated and modeled using an integrated Fuzzy Delphi-ISM approach. Finally, MICMAC analysis was employed to categorize the barriers into distinct clusters.
Findings
The results provide considerable insights into the hierarchical structure and complex interrelationships between the barriers as well the driving and dependence power of barriers. Lack of information about technologies and lack of compatibility with traditional methods emerged as the two main barriers which directly and indirectly influence the other ones.
Research limitations/implications
The robust hybrid Fuzzy Delphi and ISM techniques used in this study can serve as a useful model and benchmark for similar studies probing the barriers to Industry 4.0 adoption. From a theoretical standpoint, this study expands the scope of institutional theory in explaining Industry 4.0 adoption barriers.
Practical implications
The study is timely for the post-COVID-19 recovery and growth of the agricultural sector. The findings are helpful for policymakers and agriculture supply chain stakeholders in devising new strategies and policy interventions to prioritize and address Industry 4.0 adoption barriers.
Originality/value
It is the first comprehensive, multi-country and multi-method empirical study to comprehensively identify and model barriers to Industry 4.0 adoption in agricultural supply chains in emerging economies.
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Sreejith Balasubramanian and Vinaya Shukla
Managing environmental consequences while sustaining economic development necessitate strong commitment and participation of all firms across sectors. However, the…
Abstract
Purpose
Managing environmental consequences while sustaining economic development necessitate strong commitment and participation of all firms across sectors. However, the environment-related role of foreign and local firms is unclear from previous research. With increasing trade liberalization and entry of foreign firms, this question has become particularly relevant. The purpose of this paper is to contrast the roles and contributions of foreign and local firms from an environmental sustainability perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
Using data collected through a structured survey (395 responses) and semi-structured interviews (19 numbers) from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) construction sector (research setting), the study analyses and understands the hypothesized differences between foreign and local firms on three key environmental sustainability aspects: the extent of environmental practices implementation, the strengths/influences of drivers and barriers affecting the implementation, and the environmental, cost-related, and organizational performance benefits derived.
Findings
Foreign firms were found to implement environmental practices to a greater extent, have a greater internal drive to implement these practices, and face lower barriers to implementation than local ones. Local firms though were found to be not far behind foreign ones with regards to the environmental, cost-related, and organizational performance benefits derived.
Practical implications
Findings from the study are expected to help policymakers and practitioners develop policies/interventions that ensure all firms irrespective of their nature of ownership contribute equitably to environmental sustainability.
Originality/value
This study is arguably the first comprehensive attempt to understand how various environmental sustainability aspects are perceived and performed by local and foreign firms.
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To reduce the cost of epoxy adhesive without affecting the properties of epoxy adhesive in two pack system.
Abstract
Purpose
To reduce the cost of epoxy adhesive without affecting the properties of epoxy adhesive in two pack system.
Design/methodology/approach
For effective toughening, adhesion, chemical resistance, etc. various compositions were made by incorporating flow modified solid epoxy resin. The impact, adhesive strengths and some other properties of the unmodified and modified epoxy networks were characterised.
Findings
The modification of epoxy resin using flow modified solid epoxy resin showed significant enhancement of impact and adhesive strengths and chemical resistance over the unmodified one. The optimum results were obtained at 13.66 parts per hundred parts of epoxy resin (phr) of modifier by replacing 4.33 phr of aerosil.
Research limitations/implications
The modifier, 7004 FM, used in the present context was high molecular weight flow modified epoxy resin. Besides, these results could be obtained from other grades of flow modified high molecular weight epoxy resin. In addition, the efficiency of modification of epoxy resin using this could also be studied.
Practical implications
The method developed provided a simple and practical solution to removing the costly aerosil without affecting properties such as toughness, adhesive strength and chemical resistance of the cured epoxy.
Originality/value
The method for enhancing toughness, adhesive strength and chemical resistance of cured epoxy was novel and could find numerous applications in surface coating and adhesive.
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Md Mostain Belal, Vinaya Shukla, Salman Ahmad and Sreejith Balasubramanian
The pharmaceutical industry is facing significant pressure to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Other ecological, societal and regulatory pressures are also driving the…
Abstract
Purpose
The pharmaceutical industry is facing significant pressure to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Other ecological, societal and regulatory pressures are also driving the industry to “go green”. While such a (green) transition could be possible through appropriate green practices’ implementation, the present understanding about it is superficial and vague. A key reason is the lack of green practices’-related studies on pharmaceuticals, which are also insufficiently comprehensive. This knowledge gap is sought to be addressed.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted with 73 carefully selected articles, then subjected to thematic content analyses for synthesising the relevant themes and sub-themes.
Findings
Around 76 operational-level green practices covering all key stakeholders across the drug lifecycle were identified. It was revealed that designing drugs having accelerated environmental degradability is important to combat AMR. Also, redesigning existing drugs is environmentally more resource-intensive than developing new ones with significant cost-saving potential in solvent recycling and flexible manufacturing, both of which are not common at present. With regards to green-related barriers, stringent quality requirements on drugs (and therefore risks in making relevant green-oriented modifications) and time-consuming and costly regulatory approvals were found to be the key ones.
Practical implications
The operational green practices’ framework developed for individual pharmaceutical supply chain stakeholders could help practitioners in benchmarking, modifying and ultimately, adopting green practices. The findings could also assist policymakers in reframing existing regulations, such as Good Manufacturing Practices or GMP-related, to promote greener drug development.
Originality/value
This work is the first systematic attempt to identify and categorise operational-level green supply chain practices across stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector.
Highlights
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Biodegradability of drugs is more important than environmental degradability.
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Flexible manufacturing process design (or quality by design) reduces resource wastage.
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Ecopharmacovigilance is effective in combating PIE and AMR-related issues.
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Upstream and downstream coordination is key to greening pharma operations.
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Costly and time-consuming regulatory approval is a key barrier to greening pharma processes.
Biodegradability of drugs is more important than environmental degradability.
Flexible manufacturing process design (or quality by design) reduces resource wastage.
Ecopharmacovigilance is effective in combating PIE and AMR-related issues.
Upstream and downstream coordination is key to greening pharma operations.
Costly and time-consuming regulatory approval is a key barrier to greening pharma processes.