22 pages, 589 KiB  
Article
Government R&D Subsidy and Additionality of Biotechnology Firms: The Case of the South Korean Biotechnology Industry
by Kwangsoo Shin, Minkyung Choy, Chul Lee and Gunno Park
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1583; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061583 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5542
Abstract
Government research and development (R&D) subsidies are more important in countries that are latecomers to the biotechnology industry, where venture capital has not been developed, and the ratio of start-ups is high. Previous studies have mostly focused on the additionality of the input [...] Read more.
Government research and development (R&D) subsidies are more important in countries that are latecomers to the biotechnology industry, where venture capital has not been developed, and the ratio of start-ups is high. Previous studies have mostly focused on the additionality of the input and output through government R&D subsidies, such as private R&D investment, technological innovation, and financial performance. In addition, some studies have focused on the behavioral additionality (the change in a firm’s behavior) of firms through government R&D subsidies. However, each study is fragmented and does not provide integrated results and implications. Therefore, this study comprehensively investigated the effects of government R&D subsidies on the multifaceted aspects of input, output, and behavioral additionality based on data from South Korean biotechnology companies. This study used the propensity score matching (PSM) method to prevent selection bias. The results showed that firms benefiting from government R&D subsidies had a markedly higher R&D investment in terms of input additionality, and they produced more technological innovation within a shorter period in terms of output additionality, though financial performance was not determined. Moreover, government R&D subsidies have accelerated strategic alliances and suppressed external financing (debt financing) in terms of behavioral additionality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)
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15 pages, 5978 KiB  
Article
Study on Courtyard Residence and Cultural Sustainability: Reading Chinese Traditional Siheyuan through Space Syntax
by Bo-Xun Huang, Shang-Chia Chiou and Wen-Ying Li
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1582; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061582 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 14320
Abstract
The United Nations and local governments have supported a four-point sustainable development framework, including environmental responsibility, economic viability, social equity, and cultural vitality. This study is based on the theoretical framework of sustainability to study the traditional Chinese siheyuan residence. Space syntax attempts [...] Read more.
The United Nations and local governments have supported a four-point sustainable development framework, including environmental responsibility, economic viability, social equity, and cultural vitality. This study is based on the theoretical framework of sustainability to study the traditional Chinese siheyuan residence. Space syntax attempts to explain how spatial structures express social or cultural significance, such as the hierarchical relationship and privacy in it. The main purposes of this study are: (1) To analyze the spatial topological layout of traditional siheyuans by using the space syntax theory, and thus deduce the cultural connotation embedded in traditional siheyuans; (2) to compare and analyze the spatial morphology and behavior patterns of traditional and modern houses; (3) to explore how to integrate courtyard features into contemporary design and promote cultural sustainability. This study expounds the concept and application of syntactic analysis, and the relationship between the syntactic attributes of specific buildings in a particular area, and the culture and life of the local people within that area. As time goes by, the spatial form of houses has changed. However, in terms of spatial allocation index, the significant difference between traditional residences and modern residences lies in the integration and equivalence of all spaces in residences. We can learn from the cultural values of traditional siheyuans, meaning “people-oriented”, to rationally design modern residences with cultural connotations. Full article
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20 pages, 572 KiB  
Article
A Critical Consideration of Environmental Literacy: Concepts, Contexts, and Competencies
by Volkan Hasan Kaya and Doris Elster
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1581; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061581 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 8582
Abstract
This study is based on a Delphi study on environmental literacy which is an important part of science education. The main goal is to clarify the framework, including concepts, contexts, and competencies of environmental literacy, and to reach consensus on this framework in [...] Read more.
This study is based on a Delphi study on environmental literacy which is an important part of science education. The main goal is to clarify the framework, including concepts, contexts, and competencies of environmental literacy, and to reach consensus on this framework in accordance with expert opinions. This study used a mixed method research design, which included both qualitative and quantitative methods, to reveal expert opinions. The exploratory sequential design, one type of mixed method research, was used in this Delphi study and performed in three consecutive steps. The sample consisted of 45 experts who initially agreed to participate in this study, with 20 of the 45 participating in the first step Delphi. The numbers of participants in the second and third Delphi steps are 44 and 31, respectively. This study concluded there was a consensus about the definition, sub-dimensions, and competencies of environmental literacy and the institutions, social groups, and people responsible for the development of qualified environmentally-literate individuals. Additionally, there was agreement concerning what to do to support the development of environmental literacy, topics that should be included in the curriculum and textbooks, and teaching methods and extra-curriculum activities for the development of environmental literacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Education and Approaches)
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26 pages, 3254 KiB  
Article
The Knowledge Mapping of Mobile Commerce Research: A Visual Analysis Based on I-Model
by Shan Du and Hua Li
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1580; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061580 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 7753
Abstract
With the advance of 5G communication technologies and Internet+ strategy, mobile commerce has experienced rapid growth and needs urgent attention from researchers. It is the aim of this article to analyze the literature on mobile commerce to address the following question: With the [...] Read more.
With the advance of 5G communication technologies and Internet+ strategy, mobile commerce has experienced rapid growth and needs urgent attention from researchers. It is the aim of this article to analyze the literature on mobile commerce to address the following question: With the wide application of artificial intelligence and big data, what are the latest technology, models and problems in the background of the new era that researchers and practitioners need to understand in order to grasp the research frontier in this field quickly? Therefore, to achieve these objectives, this paper reviews 1130 m-commerce articles with 25,502 associated references from the SCI-EXPANDED, SSCI, CPCI-S, CPCI-SSH database and develops a framework of m-commerce value by analyzing the most influential authors, institutions, countries, journals and keywords in m-commerce. We apply three types of knowledge mapping to our study—cluster view, timezone view and timeline view. Frequency statistics, clustering coefficient as well as centrality calculation are employed to analyze by CiteSpace. We use the strength of citation bursts to analyze keywords and put result into the I-Modelwhich provide an important framework for classifying m-commerce activities and theories. In this study, we explore the knowledge structure, development and the future trend of mobile commerce for researchers. We identify the main technology and models to improve customer satisfaction and adoption behavior in the background of the new era which provide decision support for practitioners. Compared with the existing literature reviews of mobile commerce, we make a set of knowledge maps to show the future trend of mobile commerce and analyze visual results based on I-model. It is the first study to present the major clusters to reveal their associated intellectual bases and research fronts. Full article
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17 pages, 1154 KiB  
Article
Detecting Fraudulent Financial Statements for the Sustainable Development of the Socio-Economy in China: A Multi-Analytic Approach
by Jianrong Yao, Yanqin Pan, Shuiqing Yang, Yuangao Chen and Yixiao Li
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1579; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061579 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 5500
Abstract
Identifying financial statement fraud activities is very important for the sustainable development of a socio-economy, especially in China’s emerging capital market. Although many scholars have paid attention to fraud detection in recent years, they have rarely focused on both financial and non-financial predictors [...] Read more.
Identifying financial statement fraud activities is very important for the sustainable development of a socio-economy, especially in China’s emerging capital market. Although many scholars have paid attention to fraud detection in recent years, they have rarely focused on both financial and non-financial predictors by using a multi-analytic approach. The present study detected financial statement fraud activities based on 17 financial and 7 non-financial variables by using six data mining techniques including support vector machine (SVM), classification and regression tree (CART), back propagation neural network (BP-NN), logistic regression (LR), Bayes classifier (Bayes) and K-nearest neighbor (KNN). Specifically, the research period was from 2008 to 2017 and the sample is companies listed on the Shanghai stock exchange and Shenzhen stock exchange, with a total of 536 companies of which 134 companies were allegedly involved in fraud. The stepwise regression and principal component analysis (PCA) were also adopted for reducing variable dimensionality. The experimental results show that the SVM data mining technique has the highest accuracy across all conditions, and after using stepwise regression, 13 significant variables were screened and the classification accuracy of almost all data mining techniques was improved. However, the first 16 principal components transformed by PCA did not yield better classification results. Therefore, the combination of SVM and the stepwise regression dimensionality reduction method was found to be a good model for detecting fraudulent financial statements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)
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17 pages, 769 KiB  
Article
Continuous Intention on Accommodation Apps: Integrated Value-Based Adoption and Expectation–Confirmation Model Analysis
by Seon Hee Kim, Joon Ho Bae and Hyeon Mo Jeon
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1578; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061578 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 96 | Viewed by 11823
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the antecedent factors affecting continuous intention to use online to offline (O2O) accommodation app services and empirically verify them by applying an integrated model comprised of the value-based adoption model (VAM) and the expectation-confirmation model (ECM). For empirical [...] Read more.
This study aims to analyze the antecedent factors affecting continuous intention to use online to offline (O2O) accommodation app services and empirically verify them by applying an integrated model comprised of the value-based adoption model (VAM) and the expectation-confirmation model (ECM). For empirical analysis, a sample of 410 participants with experience reserving rooms using an accommodation app was used. The results showed that privacy risk had the biggest influence on perceived value, followed by technicality and usefulness. Moreover, confirmation and usefulness turned out to have a significant effect on satisfaction, and enjoyment had a negative effect on perceived value and satisfaction. As a result, the influence of perceived risk, technicality, usefulness, and confirmation on perceived value and satisfaction proved to be important in inducing continuous intention to use accommodation apps. These results are academically significant because they expand the scope of O2O business research in the fields of hotels and tourism. We outline several practical implications based on the study results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Tourism, Culture, and Heritage)
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13 pages, 672 KiB  
Article
Willingness-to-Pay for Sustainable Aquaculture Products: Evidence from Korean Red Seabream Aquaculture
by Sangchoul Yi
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1577; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061577 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4532
Abstract
A New Ecological Paradigm scale was used as a measurement tool to determine consumer perception of the environment through the context of red seabream (Pagrus major) aquaculture and the use of copper-alloy nets. To identify the underlying dimension of consumer perception, [...] Read more.
A New Ecological Paradigm scale was used as a measurement tool to determine consumer perception of the environment through the context of red seabream (Pagrus major) aquaculture and the use of copper-alloy nets. To identify the underlying dimension of consumer perception, exploratory factor analysis was conducted, which showed that consumer perception comprised two dimensions—nature and balance, and human dominance—yielding two indicators as independent variables for a contingent valuation method estimation. The estimation results indicate that demographic variables and one consumer perception variable (i.e., the human dominance indicator) are insignificant. However, the economic variable, one consumer perception variable (i.e., nature and balance), and seafood preference are significant. Finally, willingness-to-pay was estimated for sustainable aquaculture products by comparing the mean willingness-to-pay within New Ecological Paradigm-level groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seafood Sustainability - Series I)
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13 pages, 2473 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Foreign Investors on the Stock Price of Korean Enterprises during the Global Financial Crisis
by Yoonmin Kim and Gab-Je Jo
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1576; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061576 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5875
Abstract
This paper investigates the impact and behavior of foreign equity investment on the price of the nine largest KOSPI (Korea Composite Stock Price Index) enterprises and Samsung Electronics preference stocks in terms of market capitalization during the global financial crisis (2 January 2007 [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the impact and behavior of foreign equity investment on the price of the nine largest KOSPI (Korea Composite Stock Price Index) enterprises and Samsung Electronics preference stocks in terms of market capitalization during the global financial crisis (2 January 2007 to 30 December 2008). The empirical results indicate that foreign investors show strong, positive feedback trading behavior with regard to the stock price of Samsung Electronics, which is the largest KOSPI enterprise in terms of market capitalization. We also found evidence that the behavior of foreign investors significantly increased volatility in the stock returns of the two largest Korean conglomerates (Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motors), which account for approximately 25 percent of total KOSPI market capitalization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Asian Emerging Markets)
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19 pages, 630 KiB  
Article
Drivers and Outcomes of Green IS Adoption in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
by Alenka Baggia, Matjaž Maletič, Anja Žnidaršič and Alenka Brezavšček
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1575; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061575 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5787
Abstract
Using the Belief Action Outcome (BAO) framework as a theoretical basis, this study investigates the mechanisms that link organizational beliefs about environmental sustainability with Green information system (IS) actions that are undertaken and, hence, the organizational benefits accruing from these actions. Survey data [...] Read more.
Using the Belief Action Outcome (BAO) framework as a theoretical basis, this study investigates the mechanisms that link organizational beliefs about environmental sustainability with Green information system (IS) actions that are undertaken and, hence, the organizational benefits accruing from these actions. Survey data were collected from 156 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results support the notion that Green IS endeavors lead to increased organizational benefits. External pressures from stakeholders and employees’ attitudes to environmental sustainability affect the organizational attitude to Green IS. The attitude to Green IS is further translated into the organization’s strategy and corresponding Green IS actions, resulting in organizational benefits. This study’s main contribution lies in establishing a link between personal attitudes, institutional mechanisms, internal environmental/sustainability initiatives, and performance implications. Green IS adoption was empirically validated considering the SME context. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises)
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22 pages, 730 KiB  
Article
Corporate Community Involvement and Chinese Rural Tourist Destination Sustainability
by Xueru Yang, Haoming Li, Wenhong (Miranda) Chen and Hui Fu
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1574; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061574 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3794
Abstract
Although rural tourism enterprises have played crucial roles in the prosperity of tourist destinations, environmental contamination due to corporate behaviour is also an important issue to consider. In this study, we introduce corporate community involvement theory to explore the antecedents and contingency effects [...] Read more.
Although rural tourism enterprises have played crucial roles in the prosperity of tourist destinations, environmental contamination due to corporate behaviour is also an important issue to consider. In this study, we introduce corporate community involvement theory to explore the antecedents and contingency effects of corporate green behaviour for tourist destination sustainability from the perspective of tourism corporate social responsibility. Using first-hand survey data collected in Guangdong and Anhui provinces, and matching second-hand data from the statistical yearbook and tourist destination government work reports, we found that corporate community involvement has a positive impact on the green behaviour of rural tourism enterprises. This association is moderated by place identity and the gross tourism receipts of destinations. By doing so, this research extends the scope of tourism environmental governance from ‘the bottom’ (for tourists) to ‘the top’ (for tourism enterprises). Meanwhile, this research provides feasible advice to policymakers by highlighting the coordination value of enterprises’ initiative strategies (e.g., corporate community involvement) and destination contingency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Business and Development II)
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14 pages, 1888 KiB  
Article
Financing for a Sustainable PPP Development: Valuation of the Contractual Rights under Exercise Conditions for an Urban Railway PPP Project in Korea
by Kangsoo Kim, Hyejin Cho and Donghyung Yook
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1573; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061573 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4289
Abstract
The Minimum Revenue Guarantee (MRG) was designed to mitigate the financial risk of private investors that participate in the transportation project as concessionaire under a public-private partnership (PPP) program. The MRG can pose a significant financial burden to governments especially when the contract [...] Read more.
The Minimum Revenue Guarantee (MRG) was designed to mitigate the financial risk of private investors that participate in the transportation project as concessionaire under a public-private partnership (PPP) program. The MRG can pose a significant financial burden to governments especially when the contract revenue is set considerably higher than the actual revenue. This may encourage the concessionaire to inflate the traffic forecast to make the project look as if it will be profitable. In order to mitigate this problem, extra conditions for exercising the MRG can be considered. This study examines how these exercise conditions change the economic value of the MRG using the case study based on the urban railway project in the Republic of Korea. By utilizing the real options analysis, the study identified that the exercise conditions have worked to curtail the expected payment from the government, eventually leading to a reduction in the concessionaire’s expectation of revenue. The value of MRG was at a far lower level compared to the concessionaire’s investment because of the low probability of exercising the MRG when the exercise conditions apply. The findings are expected to contribute to the sustainability of the PPP program by recognizing and quantifying liabilities and risks embedded in the concession agreement in advance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)
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12 pages, 1958 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Microclimate Parameters on Outdoor Thermal Sensation in Severe Cold Cities
by Ming Lu, Tuoyu Hou, Jingwan Fu and Yuan Wei
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1572; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061572 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4003
Abstract
This study investigated the outdoor thermal sensation characteristics in severe cold cities, and the effects of four microclimate parameters on outdoor thermal sensation. A one-year investigation of public spaces in Harbin, China, as an example of a severe cold city, was carried out. [...] Read more.
This study investigated the outdoor thermal sensation characteristics in severe cold cities, and the effects of four microclimate parameters on outdoor thermal sensation. A one-year investigation of public spaces in Harbin, China, as an example of a severe cold city, was carried out. Volunteers were randomly invited to fill out a microclimate perception questionnaire, and the real-time microclimate data were measured and recorded at the same time on site. The relationship between the outdoor actual thermal sensation and the perception of microclimate parameters was analyzed quantitatively. The results showed that the effect of microclimate parameters on the actual thermal sensation was very significant. The actual thermal sensation varies greatly from the seasons. People feel the most comfortable in the transition season. Among the four parameters, temperature has the greatest effect on ATSV in cold season and severe cold season, solar radiation has the greatest effect on ATSV in transition season and hot season. In the severe cold season and hot season, the wind speed also has a significant effect on ATSV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Built Environment)
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10 pages, 503 KiB  
Communication
“Everybody I Know Is Always Hungry…But Nobody Asks Why”: University Students, Food Insecurity and Mental Health
by Nayantara Hattangadi, Ellen Vogel, Linda J Carroll and Pierre Côté
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1571; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061571 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 12321
Abstract
Food insecurity is a substantial problem in Canadian university students. Multiple cross-sectional studies suggest that nearly a third of university students across Canada report food insecurity. Yet, little is understood about the experiences of food-insecure students and the impact of their experiences on [...] Read more.
Food insecurity is a substantial problem in Canadian university students. Multiple cross-sectional studies suggest that nearly a third of university students across Canada report food insecurity. Yet, little is understood about the experiences of food-insecure students and the impact of their experiences on their mental health. To address this, a multi-method study was conducted using quantitative and qualitative approaches to describe the prevalence, association and experience of food insecurity and mental health in undergraduate students. The current paper reports on the qualitative component, which described the lived experiences of food-insecure students, captured through face-to-face focus group interviews with participants (n = 6). The themes included (1) contributing factors to food insecurity; (2) consequences of food insecurity; and (3) students’ responses/attempts to cope with food insecurity. The findings illuminated student voices, added depth to quantitative results, and made the experience of food insecurity more visible at the undergraduate level. Additional research is needed to understand students’ diverse experiences across the university community and to inform programs to support students. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Sovereignty, Food Security, and Sustainable Food Production)
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31 pages, 1123 KiB  
Review
Research Topics in Accounting Fraud in the 21st Century: A State of the Art
by Monica Ramos Montesdeoca, Agustín J. Sánchez Medina and Felix Blázquez Santana
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1570; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061570 - 14 Mar 2019
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 27218
Abstract
Companies play a role in society that clearly goes beyond mere economic interest. Their contribution to social development and to the sustainability of the territory where they are located seems unquestionable. However, after the great financial scandals of companies such as ENRON, WorldCom [...] Read more.
Companies play a role in society that clearly goes beyond mere economic interest. Their contribution to social development and to the sustainability of the territory where they are located seems unquestionable. However, after the great financial scandals of companies such as ENRON, WorldCom or AHOLD, interest groups require accurate and transparent financial information. The development of more demanding financial reporting standards seems, however, not to have been up to scratch, since accounting fraud continues to be detected all over the world. The search, therefore, for possible causes that may induce companies to act unethically was the main motivation behind this research. To do this, a review of the literature in high-impact journals that has dealt with accounting fraud, covering the main lines of research, was carried out. The findings of the literature review highlight the importance of responsible corporate governance and good accounting practices, as well as the importance of certain psychological characteristics of managers and employees as enhancers of the lack of ethics. It is clear that the social cost of accounting fraud should be minimized, and governments should develop specific policies that combine responsible corporate governance in companies with the sustainability of their environment. Full article
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11 pages, 233 KiB  
Article
Energy Efficiency as a Wicked Problem
by Patrik Thollander, Jenny Palm and Johan Hedbrant
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1569; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061569 - 14 Mar 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6520
Abstract
Together with increased shares of renewable energy supply, improved energy efficiency is the foremost means of mitigating climate change. However, the energy efficiency potential is far from being realized, which is commonly explained by the existence of various barriers to energy efficiency. Initially [...] Read more.
Together with increased shares of renewable energy supply, improved energy efficiency is the foremost means of mitigating climate change. However, the energy efficiency potential is far from being realized, which is commonly explained by the existence of various barriers to energy efficiency. Initially mentioned by Churchman, the term “wicked problems” became established in the 1970s, meaning a kind of problem that has a resistance to resolution because of incomplete, contradictory, or changing requirements. In the academic literature, wicked problems have later served as a critical model in the understanding of various challenges related to society, such as for example climate change mitigation. This aim of this paper is to analyze how the perspective of wicked problems can contribute to an enhanced understanding of improved energy efficiency. The paper draws examples from the manufacturing sector. Results indicate that standalone technology improvements as well as energy management and energy policy programs giving emphasis to standalone technology improvements may not represent a stronger form of a wicked problem as such. Rather, it seems to be the actual decision-making process involving values among the decision makers as well as the level of needed knowledge involved in decision-making that give rise to the “wickedness”. The analysis shows that wicked problems arise in socio-technical settings involving several components such as technology, systems, institutions, and people, which make post-normal science a needed approach. Full article