A Study on the Plant Litter Decomposition Using Mycoflora for Sustainable Environment

Most of the agricultural, forest and field crop litters are consisting lignocelluloses, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Among these cellulose is most predominant constituent followed by hemicellulose and lignin. The lignin together with the hemicellulose, encrust the cellulose chains forming a barrier which prevents wetting and access of cellulose-degrading enzymes therefore, the decomposition of litters can be achieved by breaking this association at first. The biodegradation of lignin of field crop litters representing a key step for carbon recycling in land ecosystem, as well as for industrial utilization of plant biomass, humification of dead organic matter by the application of certain bacterial and fungal species. The present study revealed the process of decomposition of plant litters. The fungal species colonized different types of plant litters on the basis of enzymatic activities and resource specificity. The mixtures of microorganisms could degrade lignocellulosic materials of wheat stubbles more efficiently than any individual species; Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, Fuserium equiseti, Trichoderma lignorum and Stachybotrys atra. A mixture of fungi and Streptomyces caused 48.0% decomposition while decomposition by an individual species viz. Aspergillus flavus was 36.90% only. It was found that, fungi have better abilities to decompose wheat straw than bacteria and actinomycetes. The mineralisation of plant residues could accelerate the rate of decomposition.

Making strategy fit the operating environment

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Collaboration is seen as the most important resource available within a strategic partnership. Resource specificity and resource complementary serve as key antecedents of collaboration and help to generate a positive effect on firm performance. This impact can, however, be increased substantially if these strategy resources are effectively aligned with critical factors in the company’s operating context. Of considerable significance is the fact that the environmental factors’ product complexity, technological turbulence, and competitive pressure relate differently to each of the resources. Practical implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Performance impact of supply chain partnership strategy-environment co-alignment

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to enhance understanding on supply chain partnership strategy-environment context co-alignment and its relationship with performance. Using the environment-strategy-performance view framework and the supporting relational perspective, the study develops a model and hypotheses to understand how supply chain partnership strategy as a response to co-align with operating context elements may impact operational and overall firm performance. Additionally, the study investigates the interrelationships among partnership strategy elements. Design/methodology/approach Data for testing the hypothesized relationships in the conceptual model was collected through a survey of managers in the Hoover’s database of US manufacturing firms. The survey sample included 115 responses from a wide variety of manufacturing forms. Findings Findings support the conventional wisdom relating collaboration to operational and financial performance. While product complexity associates with the “building block” resources, resource complementarity and resource specificity, technological turbulence relates significantly with only resource specificity. Interestingly, competitive intensity associates differentially with the resources – positive with resource specificity and negatively with resource complementarity. The results also reveal mediating influences of resource specificity and collaboration. Research limitations/implications The research findings have to be considered in context. The moderate size, wide industry/firm diversity and robust research design notwithstanding, and the cross-firm nature can potentially obscure causal linkages. Besides, more comprehensive insights could be obtained by modeling the co-alignment of strategy with other factors in the operating context such as industry munificence, and market unpredictability. Practical implications Firms derive operational and financial performance benefits from close collaboration with partners since the operational enhancements from such relationships have customer service implications. Besides, the synergistic interrelationships among strategic partnership resources and their eventual impact on operational and financial performance is highlighted suggesting that firms develop a proper mix of unique and complementing set of resources and leverage them through collaborative behaviors. Importantly, the results provide a framework for managers to understand the criticality of aligning their resources with contextual elements to realize enhanced operational efficiencies, customer service, and financial benefits. Originality/value Much of the evidence on the rent generation capabilities in supply chain partnerships is still anecdotal and extant empirical research lacks adequate explanation. Thus this study offers an initial strategic response framework for an appropriate co-alignment of partnership resources with environmental context factors to realize operational benefits and overall financial performance. The framework answers the critical question: does a supply chain partnership strategy that matches “fit” or co-aligns with its critical operating environment context realize better performance? Additionally, it unravels the interrelationships among strategic partnership resources.

Operational impact of collaboration and resource specificity: the moderating role of technology context

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to enhance understanding of the sources of relational rents in supply chains and the nature of their relationships with performance. Using the relational view framework and contingency perspective, the study develops a model and hypotheses to understand the nature of the relationships of collaboration and resource specificity with operational performance under technology context contingencies. Design/methodology/approach – Data for testing the hypothesized relationships in the conceptual model were collected through a survey of managers in the Hoover’s database of manufacturing firms. The survey sample included 115 responses from a wide variety of manufacturing forms. Findings – Findings support the conventional wisdom relating collaboration and operational improvements. Notably, technological turbulence has a differential interactive influence on collaboration and resource specificity in predicting operational performance. In the former, the strength of the performance relationship is enhanced, while in the latter, it diminishes. Product complexity enhances the collaboration–operational performance linkage. The results, however, have to be further corroborated by more confirmatory analysis in future research. Research limitations/implications – The research findings are not conclusive but of an exploratory initial evidence, as stepwise regression analysis has its limitations. Additionally, while the study specifically focused on demand-side collaboration aspects, supply chain management envelops upstream and internal collaboration as well. Investigating the performance implications and the interactive dynamics among all three partnerships in the supply chains provides a richer understanding of supply chain partnerships. Besides, more comprehensive insights could be obtained by modeling the interactive effects of other factors in the operating context. Practical implications – Firms derive performance benefits from close collaboration with downstream partners because the operational enhancements from such relationships have customer service implications. Besides, the results provide a framework to managers for understanding the technology context conditions that may be best suited for leveraging collaborative initiatives and idiosyncratic investments in pursuit of operational performance improvements. Originality/value – Much of the evidence on the rent generation capabilities in supply chain partnerships is still anecdotal and extant empirical research lacks adequate explanation. Another critical shortcoming in extant literature is research on the disentangled interactive influence of operating context factors on the supply chain sources of rent (i.e. capabilities)–performance relationships. The study contributes by addressing these issues.