Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles) ISSN (Print) 1751-200X - ISSN (Online) 1751-2018 Published by Inderscience Publishers[434 journals]
Authors:Karin Isaksson, Pietro Evangelista, Maria Huge-Brodin, Heikki Liimatainen, Edward Sweeney Pages: 349 - 364 Abstract: Logistics service providers (LSPs) have started to transform their operations and strategy to be more effective from a green perspective. One concern that is of particular interest of LSPs is how to create organisational green awareness and translate this into practice in their operations. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the roles of green strategic commitment and organisation in LSPs' adoption of green initiatives. The data for this study were collected through a questionnaire survey, investigating a sample of LSPs operating in the Swedish, Finnish and Italian markets. From the literature analysis, a set of testable hypotheses was developed. The results indicate that there are relationships between the nature, as well as the scope, of functional involvement and the green strategic priority. The results further suggest that the inclusion of environmental consideration in the overall business strategy is positively related to the involvement and coordination of multiple functions as well as existence of a separate environmental function. Keywords: logistics service providers; LSPs; environmental sustainability initiatives; green strategic priority; functional involvement; questionnaire survey Citation: International Journal of Business and Systems Research, Vol. 11, No. 4 (2017) pp. 349 - 364 PubDate: 2017-10-06T23:20:50-05:00 DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2017.087096 Issue No:Vol. 11, No. 4 (2017)
Authors:Tomi Solakivi, Sini Laari, Juuso Töyli, Lauri Ojala Pages: 365 - 392 Abstract: We identify empirically the effects of environmental collaboration in the supply chain on operational and financial performance of manufacturing firms. Self-reported survey data is combined with financial reporting data on 135 manufacturing firms operating in Finland. Environmental collaboration within the firm and externally with customers and suppliers is studied against measures of firm performance by applying descriptive analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and generalised linear modelling. The novelty in this research is the combination of self-reported survey data with financial reports-based data in analysing the effects of three dimensions of environmental collaboration on firm performance. The findings suggest that while external collaboration had mostly positive effects, internal collaboration seems to be more problematic. The results highlight the need for supply chain focus in environmental issues. Manufacturing firms should not consider environmental efforts merely as an extra burden; there seem to be ways of putting in more effort without jeopardising performance. Keywords: environmental collaboration; firm performance; manufacturing; financial performance Citation: International Journal of Business and Systems Research, Vol. 11, No. 4 (2017) pp. 365 - 392 PubDate: 2017-10-06T23:20:50-05:00 DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2017.087101 Issue No:Vol. 11, No. 4 (2017)
Authors:Mario Luis Chew Hernández, Verónica Velázquez Romero, Rogel Fernando Retes Mantilla, Leopoldo Viveros Rosas Pages: 393 - 416 Abstract: The recent emphasis on sustainability has forced supply chain (SC) management research to include social and environmental aspects. When modelling multi-criteria decisions, an analysis should be made on why the stakeholder cares about the objectives, as they can be inherently important (fundamental) or foment other objectives (means). The classification of objectives into fundamental and means, and the relations between one another define an 'objective structure'. This work discusses different relations that can arise between the sustainability and economic objectives of the SC members and their representation by influence diagrams, utility functions and probabilities. Then, decision trees are used to predict how the decisions of the SC members are affected by their view of sustainability as a fundamental or means objective. This approach can be useful for regulating agencies dealing with real supply chains, as it can be used to predict the performance of incentives for 'sustainability friendly' behaviour. Keywords: decision analysis; sustainability; supply chain management; value-focused thinking; multi-criteria decision making Citation: International Journal of Business and Systems Research, Vol. 11, No. 4 (2017) pp. 393 - 416 PubDate: 2017-10-06T23:20:50-05:00 DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2017.087098 Issue No:Vol. 11, No. 4 (2017)
Authors:Olli-Pekka Hilmola, Ain Kiisler, Per Hilletofth Pages: 417 - 428 Abstract: Change has been persistent in European Union regarding new directive and international agreements concerning the logistics sector. Recently, cabotage rules were implemented for road transports, and new demanding low sulphur levels applied at English Channel, North Sea and Baltic Sea for sea vessels. Our research concerns the implications to transportation costs of these changes in largest Estonian, Finnish and Swedish companies. Survey shows that cabotage regulation change has resulted in no change within road freight prices (some possibility for decline). On the contrary, sulphur regulation has resulted in freight cost increase (up to 6% higher than before). Interestingly, respondents show some movement in the use of different routes to or from Central Europe. Using a longer hinterland transportation route through Baltics has some momentum to grow, while others are under of somewhat pressure. However, this noted change is not significant, and does not concern most of the companies. Keywords: cabotage; sulphur; Baltic Sea; Estonia; Finland; Sweden Citation: International Journal of Business and Systems Research, Vol. 11, No. 4 (2017) pp. 417 - 428 PubDate: 2017-10-06T23:20:50-05:00 DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2017.087099 Issue No:Vol. 11, No. 4 (2017)
Authors:Danuta Kisperska-Moro?, Krzysztof Zowada Pages: 429 - 452 Abstract: Sustainable practices have become important issues for business policies, however, their effect on financial and economic performance is still not quite clear. Our study demonstrates how manufacturers in different countries apply the concept of sustainability in their internal operations and in supply chain activities. Having based our research on cross-country analysis, we also verify the researchers' conflicting opinions concerning environmental and social aspects of sustainability versus economic performance of companies cooperating in a supply chain. Results of our research showed that there is no confirmed relationship between environmental and social performance versus economic performance, however, the details of that interdependence differ for various countries and their clusters. This paper also discusses the lack of proper spread of sustainable practices in supply chains in different countries. Keywords: sustainable behaviour; manufacturer; supply chain; environmental performance; social performance; economic performance; cluster analysis; international approach Citation: International Journal of Business and Systems Research, Vol. 11, No. 4 (2017) pp. 429 - 452 PubDate: 2017-10-06T23:20:50-05:00 DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2017.087100 Issue No:Vol. 11, No. 4 (2017)
Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
[434 journals]
