Sustainable Production Planning Supporting Entrepreneurial Success and Environmental Friendliness

This chapter proposes the use of modified algorithms for production planning that support both cost optimization as well as environmental friendliness. The key element is the implementation of non-linear cost functions based on ecological considerations for lot-size planning. Lot-size planning is an essential part of industrial production and integral part of ERP-systems. The classical approaches of lot-size optimization, which are widespread in industries, the Wagner-Whitin algorithm and the Part-Period Balancing heuristic, are enhanced with so-called eco-factors. These eco-factors allow an optimization based on cost as well as ecological factors. This eco-enhanced approach combined with the introduced concept of eco-balancing helps to reduce overall production costs. Simultaneously, the environmental impact is significantly reduced, resulting in a better carbon footprint.

Corporate Strategy from the Bottom

This chapter demonstrates that the connection between strategy and actions is key for a company to gain a conscious strategic advantage from what done in day-to-day activities. This connection is not always clear and often the officially stated strategy is far from the strategic direction showed from an analysis of the portfolio of initiatives undertaken by a company. Project Portfolio Management (PPM) methodology can help in assessing and improve this connection, as to start a PPM this connection must be clarified. This chapter aims to verify 2 hypotheses. The first is that it is possible to implement a Project Portfolio Management system in a company without a strategic planning process in place. The second is that the implementation of a Project Portfolio Management system helps companies to grow their strategic thinking and can be a first step in strategic planning.

The Effect of Web 2.0 Usage in E-Service Quality in Hospitality

This chapter explores the usage of Web 2.0 technologies in determining the level of quality of Websites in the Croatian hotel industry. Namely, in order to determine the level of quality, it is necessary to identify the characteristics of Websites qualitatively and quantitatively. From the data obtained, it is possible to determine the degree of information compliance with the wishes and needs of potential clients. As the basis of primary research, the authors use the original model evaluation on a selected sample of hotels in Croatia.

Vertical Landscape Desıgn

Vertical landscapes are areas of vegetation growing directly on the facade of a building or on separate structural systems; they are usually made up of modular units, vegetated mats, or trellises attached to structural walls or frames. In general, they are vertical planting systems used on the inside walls or on the exteriors of buildings. They are irrigated by either closed or open drainage systems to minimize water consumption. In their construction, the integrity of the structural support elements must be protected by durable and long-lasting waterproofing to preclude damage and the need for later reconstruction, which may be costly. Vertical landscapes are aesthetically pleasing and sustainable, and they contribute to the greening of urban settings by utilizing vertical surfaces: they enliven built-up commercial and office areas, parks and public facilities, educational and health-care buildings, and retail shopping areas; and they also bring additional color to eco-friendly buildings and their surroundings. At present, vertical landscapes are generally thought of as aesthetic additions, but as the technology used in them develops, they may play a significant role in the future of sustainable urban environments. Vertical landscapes are explored in this chapter.

Social Networking Technology

Participatory solutions with triple-win outcomes are the thrust of contemporary community development research and practices. However, active participation and collaboration of diverse stakeholders in collective processes like community development does not just happen; it requires a facilitator with the requisite tools and strategies. Given its unparalleled ability to support facilitator-moderated interactive and collaborative systems, online social networks are now at the frontiers of communication for development research and practices. This chapter presents social networking strategies for realizing participatory community development with triple-win outcomes in the developing countries. The thrust of the strategies is the formation of online community hub through the synergy of online and offline social networking, community network weaving, and use of diverse facilitated volunteered community information and service delivery systems. Sample implementation strategy is presented to demonstrate how to actualize the community informatics social networking technology through a pilot project to be conducted in selected communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Simulation of Knowledge Intensive Processes

This chapter presents a literature review and theoretical investigation combining the areas of Business Process Simulation (BPS) and Knowledge Management (KM). In the beginning, it describes the concept of knowledge economy – the environment in which most modern organizations have to operate. Knowledge economy supports the concept of green technology because knowledge-intensive services aim at decreasing the use of natural resources, reducing the generation of waste as well as lowering the carbon footprint. This chapter defines knowledge intensity and Knowledge Intensive Processes (KIPs). It then investigates the relationship between KM (the discipline dealing with KIP) and BPS. It is expected that both KM and BPS can aid green technology by employing relevant techniques, which can introduce the new, more efficient technology, reduce the usage of natural resources, as well as lower the carbon footprint. This chapter presents the differences between Conventional Business Processes (CBP) and KIPs. After that, it describes problems that KIPs can pose to BPS. In the next step, it explores the opportunities and challenges of simulating KIPs. At this point, a conceptual model that embraces both KIP and BPS is proposed. Potential future research directions are discussed and in the end conclusions are drawn based on the discussions of the chapter.

Financial Sustainability of the Private-Public Partnership Projects

The Private-Public Partnership (PPP) is still a new model of financing of public needs in Croatia. Namely, regardless of the attitude of the relevant decision maker on national and local levels that this has to be widely used model of financing, there are still only a few PPP projects conducted in Croatia. There are several reasons for that, like administrative barriers, wrong perception of PPP as a model of financing, insufficient information, etc. In fact, in most cases, the PPP stay as an idea, because the intention of using this model of financing is more declarative than a real feasible idea. This chapter presents some actual figures of PPP in Croatia, based on recent research, available data and literature, and consequently, this chapter provides grounds for future research in this area.

Reframing Corporate Social Responsibility in Developing Countries

A great deal of interest regarding corporate social responsibility exists in both the business community and academic communities. Within the academic community, this interest has given rise to a number of studies of corporate social responsibility. Many of these studies were focused, and grounded, on Western assumptions about the nature and management of corporate social responsibility. An understanding of social dimensions of corporate social responsibility in Sub-Saharan Africa can repair the fractured relationships between multinational corporations and the various communities. Drawing on the qualitative research methodology, this chapter examines the practices of corporate social responsibilities in Sub-Saharan Africa. It proposes that socially responsible investment could promote and facilitate business cohesion between corporations and the various communities.

Sustainable Energy and the Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises in Ghana

The chronic shortage of petroleum fuels, especially gasoline and LPG, and the prolonged and indiscriminate power outages coupled with the recent increment in fuel prices appear to be taking their toll on Ghanaian businesses; hence, some have questioned the degree of security, reliability, and long-term sustainability of the country's energy need. The chapter assesses the impact of the recent power outages on the growth and profitability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The study employed a survey design consisting of structured questionnaires involving a total of 190 SMEs across the country. An eight item Likert scale used to assess the impact of the energy crisis on three key measures of business growth revealed a strong positive correlation between the power outages and reduced profitability but a weak correlation with business expansion by way of market development and a statistically insignificant relationship between the power outages and growth in number of employees.

Engendering Sustainable Development through the Adoption of Digital Publishing Innovations

Access to information may have contributed to the yawning gap between Nigeria's wealth in human and material resources and the level of development recorded. Sustainable development can be engendered through the adoption of digital publishing innovations by publishers in the dispensation of their corporate social responsibility often geared towards developing the total person in society. In Nigeria, available gadgets for accessing publications and processing information can be adopted to solve fundamental problems that hitherto plagued production and distribution of information resources. Since ICTs facilitate content development and dissemination, they can be employed for adequate supply of educational books, agricultural extension information in any language, access to and participation in political dialogues, materials for language learning, etc. Therefore, the publishing industry in Nigeria has at its disposal all that it needs to join the world of e-publishing and e-solutions. The central objective of this chapter, therefore, is to argue that Nigerian publishers are in the position to ensure sustainable development through digital publication and dissemination of information resources, even beyond their present educational books niche, to meet other unmet book and information needs. This is because e-books are easier to market and distribute, and e-payment eliminates transaction bottlenecks. Publishers, however, need the support of government through a viable book policy, stable curriculums, and provision of digital tools to schools; cooperation of and collaboration with the academia (or established material developers); and collaboration with mobile network owners (for effective dissemination).