An empirical investigation of green initiatives and environmental sustainability for manufacturing SMEs

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Yacob ◽  
Lai Soon Wong ◽  
Saw Chin Khor
Keyword(s):  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Technology Policy ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Green Technology ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Green Technology Adoption

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the extent of green initiatives within manufacturing SMEs, as well as the mediating effect of the owners/managers intention toward green and moderating effect of green technology adoption in building environmental sustainability in the context of the Malaysian manufacturing SMEs.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through a survey questionnaire responded by 260 Malaysian manufacturing SMEs. The relationships proposed in the developed conceptual framework were represented through three hypotheses: there is a significant relationship between green initiatives and environmental sustainability (H1); intention toward green mediates the relationship between green initiatives and environmental sustainability (H2); and green technology adoption moderates the relationship between intention toward green and environmental sustainability (H3). SEM-AMOS nested model comparisons and mediating and moderating analyses were used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThis is the first research toward the green initiatives framework for the manufacturing SMEs. Till date, no framework is available which could guide researchers and practitioners of this high impact on the environment industry. The findings revealed that energy management, water conservation and waste management are related to environmental sustainability. On mediation analysis, it confirms that owners/managers intention toward green fully mediates the association of green initiatives and environmental sustainability. Finally, the moderation analysis revealed that green technology adoption does not have an influence on manufacturing SMEs environmental sustainability.Practical implicationsThis study is expected to help both researchers and practitioners in terms of manufacturing and other industries who are serious toward environmental sustainability implementation and are looking for an appropriate mechanism. It offers a generalized environmental sustainability implementation linking SMEs owners/managers, green practices, green technology policy, process management and supply chain management.Originality/valueThis study is among the very first environmental sustainability implementation research works conducted in the Malaysian manufacturing sector, particularly, in relation to the green initiatives and “four pillars” of green technology policy that manufacturing SMEs in this country need to adopt to make their environmental sustainability a solid competitive vehicle for their development. The results have broader implications for all manufacturing SMEs, particularly in developing economies where the growth of manufacturing and the development of integrated environmental sustainability are key stages in economic development.

scholarly journals Does aging and off-farm employment hinder farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology in the Loess Plateau?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-107
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Huang ◽  
Qian Lu ◽  
Lili Wang ◽  
Maosen Cui ◽  
Fei Yang
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conservation Technology ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Soil And Water

Purpose Based on the survey data of 1,152 households in three provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia on the Loess Plateau, this paper aims to empirically analyze the impact of aging and off-farm employment on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology. This paper analyzes the moderating effect of social network and the mediating effect of technological cognition in this impact relationship. Design/methodology/approach Based on the above analysis, the second part of this paper is based on relevant theories and constructs a theoretical model of the relationship of aging, off-farm employment, social network, technology cognition and farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology. The third part introduces research methods, variable selection and descriptive statistics analysis of variables. The fourth part, based on the data of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia provinces in the Loess Plateau in 2016, empirically analyzes the impact of aging, off-farm employment and social network on the farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology. This paper further examines the moderating effect of social network and the mediating effect of technology cognition in this influence relationship. Finally, based on the findings of the empirical study, this paper puts forward countermeasures and suggestions. Findings First, aging and off-farm employment have a significant negative impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology, while social network has a significant positive effect. Second, social network has alleviated the effect of aging and off-farm employment on restraining farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology. Third, aging and off-farm employment have restrained farmers’ cognition of soil and water conservation technology. Social network has promoted farmers’ cognition of soil and water conservation technology. Social network plays a moderating role in the impact of aging and off-farm employment on farmers’ cognition of soil and water conservation technology. Technology cognition plays a mediating role in the impact of social network on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology. Originality/value This paper integrates the aging, off-farm employment and social network into the same analytical framework and reveals their impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology and its action mechanism, which enriches the impact of human capital and social network on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology. Then taking the social network as a moderator variable, the paper verifies its moderating effect on the relationship of aging, off-farm employment and farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology. Farmers’ technology cognition should be included in the analysis framework to examine the impact of aging, off-farm employment and social network on farmers’ cognition of soil and water conservation technology. Taking the technology cognition as a mediator variable, the paper verifies its mediating effect on the relationship of aging, off-farm employment and farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology.

Does green intellectual capital spur corporate environmental performance through green workforce?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adil Mansoor ◽  
Sarwat Jahan ◽  
Madiha Riaz
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Intangible Asset ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeDrawing upon the intellectual capital-based view theory, this study explored the relationship between green intellectual capital (IC) and environmental performance (EP) with the intervening effect of green human resource management (GHRM).Design/methodology/approachCross-sectional data were collected from 187 human resource directors/managers working in manufacturing firms of Pakistan. A partial least squares approach was applied to test the hypothesized relationships.FindingsThe results showed a mediating effect of GHRM on the relationship between green human capital and the organizational EP. Also two dimensions of green IC (green human capital, green relational capital) were also found positively related to the EP of the firm.Practical implicationsPolicymakers should devote their attention to the preservation and enhancement of their employees' knowledge as green human capital is possessed by the employees. Furthermore, managers must exchange information with key stakeholders to better understand and resolve their environmental concerns. Organizational leaders must also ensure the implementation of GHRM policies that, in turn, improve the EP with the aid of green IC.Originality/valueThe current research contributes to the literature by defining green IC as an antecedent and GHRM as an intervening variable for EP. In addition, this study underlines the significance of GHC as a valuable intangible asset for the achievement of environmental sustainability. It also illustrates the importance of GRC, which creates an exchange partnership with the stakeholders to promote corporate environmentalism.

A study of group decision-making for green technology adoption in micro and small enterprises

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang Yao ◽  
Yan Song ◽  
Yanna Yu ◽  
Benhai Guo
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Group Decision Making ◽  
Group Decision ◽  
Cloud Model ◽  
Green Technology ◽  
Evaluation Index System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trust Relationship ◽  
Green Technology Adoption

Purpose Green technology adoption (GTA) in small and micro enterprises (SMEs) is a complex multi-attribute group decision-making issue. Conflicts of opinions can hamper the achievement of group coherence. The purpose of this paper is to solve the conflict decision-making problem in SMEs. Design/methodology/approach This paper reconstructs the GTA evaluation index system for SMEs and proposes an intragroup coordination relationship model to mitigate group decision-making conflicts based on the cloud model and social networks (GCS). The numerical characteristics of these GTA indicators are determined using fuzzy theory and cloud model. Findings It was found that establishing a trust relationship network and a conflict coordination relationship could improve the consistency of group decision-making. The degree of coordination has subtle differences with the trust relationship. Particularly, the coordination relationship has obvious influences on the decision-making results among small groups in SMEs. Originality/value The conflict coordination model can significantly improve the consistency of group decision-making in SMEs. At the same time, it discusses the differences between the level of conflict coordination and the trust propagation in the process of group decision-making.

scholarly journals Research on Enterprises’ Intention to Adopt Green Technology Imposed by Environmental Regulations with Perspective of State Ownership

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1368
Author(s):  
De Xia ◽  
Wenhua Chen ◽  
Qinglu Gao ◽  
Rui Zhang ◽  
Yundong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Environmental Regulations ◽  
Command And Control ◽  
State Ownership ◽  
Green Technology ◽  
The State ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role ◽  
Green Technology Adoption

Environmental regulations (ER) affect enterprise behaviors. Nevertheless, whether the state ownership influences the relationship between environmental regulations and enterprises’ green intentions and behaviors need to be explored further. In this paper, the effects of environmental regulations on enterprises’ intentions to adopt green technologies, especially the moderating role of state ownership between environmental regulations and green technologic adoption intentions (GTAI), are proposed. An empirical study is carried out with the questionnaire data collected from 207 Chinese managers and executives in order to explore the influence of environmental regulations. With the perspective of ownership, the results confirm that the three kinds of environmental regulations (command-and-control (CAC), market-based incentives (MBI) and voluntary environmental (VER) regulations) have positive effects on enterprise green technology adoption intention. Furthermore, the state ownership of enterprise plays a positive moderating role in the relationship between command-and-control environmental regulations and green technology adoption intentions, but plays a negative moderating role in the relationship between voluntary environmental regulations and green technology adoption intentions. It generates no significant moderate effect on the relationship between market-based incentives environmental regulations and green technology adoption intentions. The work verifies that the differences of ownership would lead to varying effects on the intentions of enterprise green technology adoption imposed by regulations. Managerial implications, as well as the limitation of the work, are concluded at the end of this paper.

Environmental commitment and environmental sustainability practices of manufacturing small and medium enterprises in Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasimu Sendawula ◽  
Vincent Bagire ◽  
Cathy Ikiror Mbidde ◽  
Peter Turyakira
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Commitment ◽  
Sustainability Practices ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between environmental commitment and environmental sustainability practices of manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a cross-sectional and correlational design using evidence from 106 manufacturing SMEs in Uganda. Data was analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 23. Findings Results show that environmental commitment is a significant predictor of environmental sustainability practices and its dimensions which comprise of eco-friendly packaging, energy efficiency, waste management and water conservation of the manufacturing SMEs in Uganda. Originality/value This study offers initial evidence on the association between environmental commitment and environmental sustainability practices using evidence from a developing country’s perspective. The results also provide new insights on the relationship between environmental commitment and the dimensions of environmental sustainability practices which comprise of eco-friendly packaging, energy efficiency, waste management and water conservation.

Rethinking trust in tourism apps: the moderating effect of age

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenggang Hua ◽  
Shu Cole ◽  
Nan Xu
Keyword(s):  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trust In Technology ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Effect Of Age

Purpose This study aims to explore the role of trust and effect of age in the process of technology acceptance. Design/methodology/approach Using data collected from an online survey, this study conducts structural equation modeling to assess the relationship between technology adoption and users’ trust in that technology. Findings Findings of this study indicate that the formation of trust in technology is based on user experiences (i.e. the perception of usefulness and ease of use), while the perception of trust in technology is similar to human-like trust (i.e. competence and benevolence). This study clarifies that trust has a mediating effect on the relationship between perceived technology ease of use and behavioral intention to use. Trust belief of competence is found to be more effective on adoption behavior than trust belief of benevolence. In exploring the moderating effect of age, results find that easy use of an app is crucial for elderly people to create trust belief in technical competence and develop behavioral control over such technologies. Trust in technology is an essential factor that should be widely applied when analyzing technology adoption behaviors. Originality/value This study contributes in three ways. First, it reveals both how trust in technology is formed and the effect of that trust on technology adoption. Second, it extends the discussion of age as a variable in tourism app usage. Third, it shows how the experience of usage influences intentions towards the adoption of tourism apps.

Integrating wearable technology products and big data analytics in business strategy

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bishwajit Nayak ◽  
Som Sekhar Bhattacharyya ◽  
Bala Krishnamoorthy
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Technology Policy ◽  
Wearable Technology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Products

Purpose This study aims to explore the impact of the adoption of wearable technology products for Indian health insurance firms. It identifies the key dynamic capabilities that health insurance firms should build to manage big data generated by wearable technology so as to attain a competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative exploratory study using in-depth personal interviews with 53 Indian health insurance experts was conducted with a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were coded using holistic and pattern codes and then analyzed using the content analysis technique. The findings were based on the thematic and relational intensity analysis of the codes. Findings An empirical model was established where all the propositions were strongly established except for the moderate relationship between wearable technology adoption and product innovation. The study established the nature of the interaction of variables on technology policy, organizational culture, strategic philosophy, product innovation, knowledge management and customer service quality with wearable technology adoption and also ascertained its influence on firm performance and competitive advantage. Research limitations/implications From a dynamic capabilities perspective, this study deliberates on wearable technology adoption in the health insurance context. It also explicates the relationship between the variables on technology policy, organizational culture, strategic philosophy, product innovation, knowledge management and customer service quality with wearable technology adoption on firm performance. Originality/value This study is one of the first studies to add the context of wearable technology and health insurance to the existing body of knowledge on dynamic capabilities and sustainable competitive advantage for the service sector. It would help existing and prospective players in adopting or setting up appropriate business models.

Leader positive humor and organizational cynicism: LMX as a mediator

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Gkorezis ◽  
Eugenia Petridou ◽  
Panteleimon Xanthiakos
Keyword(s):  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Public Employees ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Cynicism ◽  
Member Exchange ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – Leader-member exchange (LMX) has been proposed as a core mechanism which accounts for the impact of various antecedents on employee outcomes. As such, the purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of LMX regarding the relationship between leader positive humor and employees’ perceptions of organizational cynicism. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 114 public employees. In order to examine the authors’ hypotheses hierarchical regression analysis was conducted. Findings – As hypothesized, results demonstrated that LMX mediates the relationship between leader positive humor and organizational cynicism. Research limitations/implications – Data were drawn from public employees and, therefore, this may constrain the generalizability of the results. Also, the cross-sectional analysis of the data cannot directly assess causality. Originality/value – This is the first empirical study to examine the mediating effect of LMX in the relationship between leader humor and employees’ perceptions of organizational cynicism.

Career development and individuals with physical disabilities

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercedes Villanueva-Flores ◽  
Ramón Valle-Cabrera ◽  
Mar Bornay-Barrachina
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Career Development ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Physical Disabilities ◽  
Human Resources Management ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Job Dissatisfaction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceptions Of Inequality ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – Few studies have focussed on the situation of employees with physical disabilities from the perspective of human resources management – in particular on the career development expectations of this group. The purpose of this paper is to meet this need by focussing on individuals with physical disabilities in Andalusia (Spain). It analyzes three key aspects: whether the perception of discrimination is related to the perception of inequity due to their disabilities, with this relationship being moderated by gender; whether these perceptions of inequality and discrimination lead to feelings of dissatisfaction with the employing organization; and whether the perception of discrimination mediates the relationship between perceived inequity and job dissatisfaction. Design/methodology/approach – Using the theoretical framework of organizational justice, regression analysis is applied to test the hypotheses in a population of 459 employed people with physical disabilities. Findings – The results show that perceived discrimination is due to perceived inequity when peers who do not have a disability are used as comparative reference; however, this relationship is not moderated by gender. These perceptions of inequity and discrimination cause individuals to feel dissatisfaction in organizations, and a mediating effect is found for the perception of discrimination in professional development opportunities. The control variables considered, age and education, are not significant in the relationships studied. Originality/value – An original and valued model is proposed to explain job dissatisfaction among employees with physical disabilities and the possibility of perceiving a dual disadvantage, in their possibilities for professional development. The model links together three variables that have not previously been linked all together in the literature – perceived inequity, perceived discrimination on the grounds of disability, and dissatisfaction – highlighting that perceived discrimination on the grounds of disability mediates the relationship between perceived inequity and dissatisfaction. This model can also examine whether a dual disadvantage is perceived owing to an individual's being a woman and having a disability, considering gender as a variable that moderates the relationship between perceived inequity and perceived discrimination on the grounds of disability.

The effects of airline strategies on environmental sustainability

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gamze Orhan
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Air Transportation ◽  
Air Transport ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Deregulation of domestic markets and the liberalization of international markets have dramatically changed air transportation. One of the important results of this change is the environmental effects of air transportation. This study aims to examine the implications of air transportation on environmental sustainability in the context of airline business strategies in liberalized and globalized air transport industry. Design/methodology/approach The paper discusses the relationship between liberalization, airline strategies and environmental sustainability of air transportation using the related literature. Then, to show some environmental impacts on the axis of the relationship discussed, emission rates for the aircraft landing and take-off phase were calculated on a global basis based on the aircraft traffic. Findings The discussion in the paper shows that the liberalization policies and the strategies of airlines supported by these policies, in essence, contradict the environmental sustainability of air transport. Considering the flight share projections of EUROCONTROL for different aircraft types on a global basis and the World Bank’s global flight traffic forecast for the years 2016 and 2025, it has been demonstrated that the number of aircraft departures will increase by 30%, whilst the number of aircraft emissions will increase by 41.5%. Practical implications Airlines are one of the main actors that will play a role in reducing the environmental impacts of air transportation. Therefore, this study is important in giving an idea to both policymakers and airline managers on how airline companies’ strategies should be shaped to realize both corporate sustainability and environmentally sustainable air transportation. Originality/value There are many studies in the literature regarding the environmental effects of air transport. However, there are not many studies linking environmental impacts with airline strategies that directly affect air transport demand. This study is different in that it gives environmental sustainability by associating it with its root causes.

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