Empowerment of SME’s sustainability in halal cosmetics’ ecosystem by diagnosing growth constraints

Purpose This study aims to identify and examine the growth constraints of the halal cosmetics ecosystem in which SMEs are operating in, with special focus on the situation in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a qualitative methodology consisting of a systematic literature review and interviews with selected consumers and policymakers. The instruments were developed based on cybernetics and a systems-based approach, which allows for the understanding of the dynamics of growth variables in the halal cosmetics ecosystem. Based on data gathered, their relationships were mapped and major growth constraints were identified. Findings Cybernetics and systems approach coupled with growth diagnostics framework has enabled identification of comprehensive growth constraint variables for halal cosmetics ecosystem and mapping of growth constraints (variables) in a relationships network. The study found that the enforcement activities of the National Pharmaceutical Research Agency (Cosmetics Unit) directly affect five growth constraints and is associated with three other growth constraint variables; subsequently the most binding growth constraint. The relationship network derived from the mapping of the growth constraints indicated that changes in the behaviour of any element will affect the overall operations of the ecosystem. Research limitations/implications While the cosmetics industry is large and varied, this study is centred on halal colour cosmetics only. The growth constraint variables studied are those chosen by researchers and other growth constraints could be studied to guide policymakers. Future research can revolve around other halal cosmetics business sectors; impact of IR4.0 technology, COVID-19 pandemic impact; crisis and risk management issues, in the halal cosmetics industry. Practical implications The results derived from the cybernetics analysis affirms the “outside-in” marketing perspective, thus stakeholders should continuously monitor changes in the halal cosmetics ecosystem to ensure to ensure sustainability and profitability. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and policymakers can initiate pre-emptive actions by conducting simulations of various situations on the halal ecosystem. Social implications Enabled to simulate the effect of changes to the halal cosmetics ecosystem, stakeholders are able to take intervention initiatives, safeguard accessibility to halal cosmetics and make the halal cosmetics industry sustainable. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first comprehensive research to identify the growth constraints of the halal cosmetics industry in Malaysia that focusses on three groups of stakeholders (consumers, SMEs and government institutions) concurrently. The growth constraints relationship network of the halal cosmetics ecosystem can be further used to simulate the impact of changes within the system.

Water deficit in the soybean breeding

The climate unpredictability causes long periods of drought, becoming the main risk factor in soybeans production fields and consequent losses to farmers in Brazil and worldwide. As sessile organisms, plants are constantly challenged by a wide range of environmental stresses, including drought. Growth constraints and stress due to these environmental changes result in reduced yield and significant harvesting losses. The response to abiotic stresses is a very complex phenomenon, since several stages of plant development can be affected by a particular stress and often several stresses affect the plant simultaneously. In order to mitigate the damages caused by the climate, new soybean cultivars adapted to the drought and the diversified climate are necessary, as well as technological advances in the production of soybeans that must advance with the increase of cultivated area. Therefore, the mechanisms underlying tolerance and adaptation to stress have been the focus of intensive research. In this sense, the objective of this review is to provide an overview of the evolution of genetic improvement regarding the search for more drought-tolerant cultivars, as well as to verify which strategies are used in the genetic improvement of soybean in the search of these genotypes.

Dynamics of dormancy regulation in ‘Sonata’ strawberry and its relation to flowering and runnering

Background Dormancy regulation in strawberry is a dynamic process that is causally interrelated with regulation of flowering. Interference between the two processes is therefore possible. Methods We studied dormancy control and its relation to flowering and runner formation in ‘Sonata’ strawberry under daylight phytotron conditions. Growth and flowering were observed in plants pretreated for 5 or 10 weeks at 10-h SD and 18-h LD at 6 and 18 ℃ and subsequently forced in a greenhouse in LD at 20 ℃ with and without previous chilling for 6 weeks at 2 ℃ in darkness. Results SD induced constrained leaf and inflorescence growth at both 6 and 18 ℃, while the typical strawberry semi-dormant condition was attained only by exposure to SD at 18 ℃ for 10 weeks, which also completely blocked runner formation. The constrained leaf and inflorescence growth observed in plants grown in SD at 18 ℃ were partially reversed by 6 weeks of chilling and gradually overcome in successively emerging leaves. While plants grown in LD at 18 ℃ for 10 weeks remained vegetative under subsequent forcing, they unexpectedly initiated flowers when subjected to chilling in darkness for 6 weeks before the forcing. Conclusions SD exposure at 18 ℃ constrained leaf and inflorescence growth in ‘Sonata’ strawberry, and when applied for 10 weeks, it induced the persistent semi-dormant state that is typical for strawberry. Transient growth constraints were also induced at 6 ℃ in both SD and LD, while the semi-dormant state was only attained by SD at the higher temperature. Flowering in complete darkness, which is known in both SD and LD plants, did also take place in ‘Sonata’ strawberry in response to chilling in the dark at 2 ℃ for 6 weeks. While the potential impact of the phenomenon seems limited for regulation of flowering in strawberry, we conclude that chilling in the dark at near-freezing temperature may substantially enhance flowering in marginally induced strawberry plants.

The paradox of being a food artisan entrepreneur: responding to conflicting institutional logics

PurposeThe aim of this study is to understand how artisanal food entrepreneurs acting as businesses, which are grounded in the logic of profit and growth, navigate the anti-growth constraints of artisanal logic. The study answers the research question of, how and when do the artisanal entrepreneurs respond to tensions between the small-scale craftsmanship logic and the business growth logic?Design/methodology/approachThis study consists of two cases of artisanal food entrepreneurs situated in rural regions of Sweden. The empirical material is collected through interviews, observations and secondary sources. The analysis consists of two steps: a narrative analysis and a categorization of institutional logics using Pache and Santos (2013) framework.FindingsOur findings show that the artisanal food entrepreneurs used several types of response to the tensions between the two institutional logics. As businesses grew, business growth logic increasingly penetrated the companies' operations. They responded by combining and blending the two logics and avoided growing too large themselves by collaborating with suppliers and local farmers. In addition, other activities needed to be compartmentalized and hidden since these activities could threaten their business images and their own criteria for small-scale food artisans.Originality/valueMuch work on how different institutional logics affect businesses have been on a structural level. This study answers the call on that more research is needed on an individual level by studying how individuals interpret logics and use them in their business activities.

Adolescent Cranial Volume as a Sensitive Marker of Parental Investment: The Role of Non-material Resources?

Growth of different body parts in humans is sensitive to different resource constraints that are mediated by parental investment. Parental investment can involve the expenditure of material, cognitive, and emotional resources on offspring. Cranial volume, an important predictor of cognitive ability, appears understudied in this context. We asked (1) whether there are associations between growth and family structure, self-reported estimates for resource availability, and sibling number; and (2) whether these constraints relate to head and body growth in a similar manner. We assessed the associations between parental investment, height, and cranial volume in a cross-sectional study of Estonian children (born 1980–87, aged 11–17). Height correlated negatively with the number of siblings but this association became negligible in a model controlling for birthweight, parental heights, and mother’s age at birth. Unlike height, cranial volume was unrelated to sibling number, but it was negatively associated with self-reported meat and general resource shortage. Cranial volume was related to family structure and paternal education. Children living with both birth-parents had larger heads than those living in families containing a step-parent. Since these family types did not differ with respect to meat or general resource shortage, our findings suggest that families including both genetic parents provide non-material benefits that stimulate predominantly cranial growth. For the studied developmental period, cranial volume appeared a more sensitive marker of growth constraints than height. The potential of using cranial volume for quantifying physical impact of non-material parental investment deserves further attention.

Food Security in Kazakhstan: Do Gender Inequalities Affect?

Kazakhstan has a large reserve of natural resources to provide the food self-sufficiency with domestic production. It could be three times more than population needs. However, Kazakhstan depends on food import and the agricultural sector accounts for 5% of GDP only. The actual poverty is higher than official data indicate, and it’s about four times more in rural areas where 46% of population resides and one-fifth of the working-age population is employed. Women represent the majority among the poor and unemployed and face unequal treatment in labor market and burden of larger unpaid household workload. All of this decreases women’s purchasing power, lowering economic access to quality food. This paper examines the interaction of gender inequality and food insecurity, applying the growth constraints analysis and engendering this approach and the empirical research on Karaganda oblast. It argues that gender inequality and rural poverty are linked to high economic costs and constraints in agriculture development and food security attainment.

The “additional costs” of being peripheral: developing a contextual understanding of micro-business growth constraints

PurposeDespite their economic significance, empirical evidence on the growth constraints facing micro-businesses as an important subset of small and medium enterprises remains scarce. At the same time, little consideration has hitherto been given to the context in which entrepreneurial activity occurs. The purpose of this paper is to develop an empirically informed contextual understanding of micro-business growth, beyond firm-level constraints.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on 50 in-depth interviews with stakeholders and micro-business owner–manager entrepreneurs (OMEs henceforth) in a peripheral post-industrial place (PPIP henceforth).FindingsThe paper shows that, beyond firm-level constraints generated by their OME-centric nature, there are “additional costs” for micro-businesses operating in PPIPs, specifically limited access to higher-skilled labour, a more challenging, “closed” business environment and negative outward perceptions stemming from place stigmatisation. All of these “additional costs” can serve to stymie OMEs' growth ambition.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is based on a limited number of interviews conducted in one region in England. However, the contextualisation of the findings through a focus on PPIPs provides valuable insights and enables analytical generalisation.Originality/valueThe article develops a context-sensitive model of micro-business growth constraints, one that goes beyond the constraints inherent in the nature of micro-businesses and is sensitive to their local (socio-institutional) operating context. The implications serve to advance both how enterprise in the periphery is theorised and how it is addressed by policymakers and business intermediaries to support the growth of micro-businesses.

Psychological aspects of women’s career growth constraints and outcomes: A longitudinal study from India

This longitudinal study explores the relationships between glass ceiling beliefs (i.e. denial, resilience, resignation, and acceptance) and the outcomes of work commitment and work turnover intention, mediated via work engagement, across two time waves. Using data collected from 400 women employees (mean age = 36.67 years) from the banking sector in India, the study found support for the mediating role of work engagement between glass ceiling beliefs and both work commitment and work turnover intention over time. Glass ceiling beliefs of denial and resilience were related positively to work engagement and commitment and related negatively to turnover intention over time. Resignation and acceptance were related negatively to work engagement and work commitment and related positively to work turnover intention over time. Apart from theoretical implications to the career literature, the organizational implications of this study include framing policies that focus on development of optimistic beliefs and transformation of pessimistic beliefs.

ENTRY INTO AND EXIT FROM INFORMAL MICROENTERPRISE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN A SOUTH AFRICAN MUNICIPALITY: A TALE OF RESILIENCE

Although research on entrepreneurship in the micro and small firms has been the subject of much scholarly attention, it has been mostly on the formal rather than informal economy. Drawing on the push and pull theory, this paper uses Principal Component Analysis to examine the motivations influencing entrepreneurs to venture into informal sector entrepreneurship in a specific South African municipal context. Against a background of addressing their constraints to growth, the prospects of formalization were considered, using logistic regression. The results, based on a sample of 160 entrepreneurs, show that even in the informal economy, pull factors are the uppermost motivations, apparently stronger than push factors, in influencing individuals to partake in microenterprise entrepreneurship. The logistic results indicate that even when some internal and external growth constraints are addressed, the likelihood of the entrepreneurs’ formalizing their business is not encouraging. Although alleviation of the growth hurdles may assist in enhancing entrepreneurial competence, it does not necessarily favor formalization, but enables a lock-in contentment effect to the informal sector. Against this inertia, implications for policy makers are presented.