Search Results (36)

The digitalization of business activities is already a reality in most developed countries. India, driven by strong information technology, is rapidly digitalizing across business industries. In the retail industry, this shift is visible in the adoption of omnichannel strategies to enhance value for customers, loyalty and trust, retailer’s image, overall shopping experience, and operational productivity. The present study assesses the extent of omnichannel transformation in the five leading Indian retail sectors viz. Consumer Electronics, Fashion and Apparel, Furniture and Home Decor, Grocery and Supermarkets, and Personal Care and Hygiene. The research design uses mystery shopping approach to collect data from 166 nationally present retailers to analyze their level of omnichannel implementation and digital adoption. The authors performed all statistical analyses and visualizations in R using the ggstatsplot package. The results highlight a less-than-ideal picture of channel integration, suggesting that while top retailers in each sector dominate channel integration, most others have made limited progress. Among the sectors, the Furniture and Home Decor sector leads in channel integration. Other contributions of this study include the enhancement of the existing measuring tool by introducing new indicators. The study reveals gaps in omnichannel implementation to help managers plan strategic improvements. Full article

Background: The competitiveness of Indonesia’s Muslim fashion industry requires evaluation through both internal efficiency and external strategic factors, yet existing approaches often assess these dimensions separately. Methods: This study develops a Weighted Efficiency Competitive Score (WECS) that integrates Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to measure operational efficiency and Porter’s Five Forces to capture market pressures. The weights of α and β were calibrated through sensitivity analysis under the constraint α + β = 1, with values ranging from α = 0.3 to 0.7 and β = 0.7 to 0.3, using data from 23 Muslim fashion businesses in Jakarta. Results: The analysis identified α = 0.6 and β = 0.4 as the most stable configuration, and only 30% of firms achieved both high efficiency and strong market positioning. Strategic leaders such as JT. Co and PM. Co demonstrated that digital transformation, disciplined cost structures, and strong supply chain partnerships foster sustainable competitiveness. Conclusions: The WECS framework offers a replicable method to quantitatively integrate micro and macro determinants of competitiveness, contributes to the literature by bridging efficiency and strategy evaluation, and provides practical guidance for managers and policymakers to enhance decision support systems in strengthening the Muslim fashion industry’s global positioning. Full article

To contribute to the emerging knowledge on the sustainability impacts of small, circular clothing reuse businesses in the US, we employed a case study research methodology to empirically test the case of Circular Thrift, an innovative, community-based startup business model with potential to create a circular fashion ecosystem on the firm level. Primary data on circular activities were collected on site within the first year of business operation. The Life Cycle Assessment methodology was conducted to assess environmental impact avoidance. The social impact of reused products was assessed to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the benefits of born circular business models. Tangible environmental benefits accounted for the collection of 10,772 apparel units and resulted in the diversion of 2311.05 kg (approximately 5095 pounds) of clothing from the local landfill. Social impact accounted for 45.86% of the collected items that were given back to the local community. Empirical testing of the environmental benefits of a Circular Thrift business model makes a strong case for scaling up reusable efforts as a means to address post-consumer textile waste at the local community level within the US, where formal and government-regulated resource collection and recovery systems still do not exist. Full article

Podcasts are reshaping how management ideas are disseminated and consumed in the digital age. This conceptual essay applies insights from management fashion theory to analyze how podcasts operate as hybrid media that both mirror and amplify popular business ideas. We explore the interplay among platform dynamics, storytelling formats, and the performative roles of podcast hosts as fashion-setters. Through illustrative examples, we show how podcasts elevate certain management styles, repackage leadership narratives, and bypass traditional gatekeeping structures. This essay concludes with reflections on the implications of podcasting for the credibility, diversity, and direction of management discourse, and outlines future research paths in this emerging domain. Full article

Accurate retail demand forecasting is integral to the operational efficiency of any retail business. As demand is described over time, the prediction of demand is a time-series forecasting problem which may be addressed in a univariate manner, via statistical methods and simplistic machine learning approaches, or in a multivariate fashion using generic deep learning forecasters that are well-established in other fields. This study analyzes, optimizes, trains and tests such forecasters, namely the Temporal Fusion Transformer and the Temporal Convolutional Network, alongside the recently proposed Time-Series Mixer, to accurately forecast retail demand given a dataset of historical sales in 45 stores with their accompanied features. Moreover, the present work proposes a novel extension of the Time-Series Mixer architecture, the LSTMixer, which utilizes an additional Long Short-Term Memory block to achieve better forecasts. The results indicate that the proposed LSTMixer model is the better predictor, whilst all the other aforementioned models outperform the common statistical and machine learning methods. An ablation test is also performed to ensure that the extension within the LSTMixer design is responsible for the improved results. The findings promote the use of deep learning models for retail demand forecasting problems and establish LSTMixer as a viable and efficient option. Full article

In the world of globalization and increasing business competition, innovation has become a significant component of the sustainability of an organization. One of the important components affecting an organization’s ability to innovate is human resource management (HRM). This study analyzes how HRM practices relate to banking sector sustainability, testing theoretical pathways through organizational innovation and human capital as potential mediators. SPSS v25 was used to analyze data collected from 207 banking sector employees. The results demonstrate that the human capital of an organization can be increased by the practices of human resource management, which stimulates organizational innovation in the same fashion. This study also shows that human capital is a partial mediator of the relationship between human resource management practices and organizational innovation, highlighting its importance for converting human resource management activities into innovative results. Considering these results, banks are advised to implement complete human resource management strategies that combine operational efficiency with workforce capacity development to create a dynamic banking environment allowing for continued innovation. The proposed mediation model based on empirical data contributes to the literature and provides insights for banking institutions, which can use human capital to drive innovation in difficult situations. Full article

This study conducts a comparative assessment of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) integration strategies of three leading companies in Hong Kong—H&M Group, China Gas Company Limited (Towngas), and MTR Corporation Limited (MTR)—each operating in distinct sectors with unique sustainability challenges and opportunities. The analysis adopts the Challenge–Evaluation–Planning–Action–Review (CEPAR^®) framework developed by the International Chamber of Sustainable Development to examine how these companies identify and evaluate ESG-related risks, formulate action plans, implement sustainability initiatives, and refine their strategies. The findings reveal H&M’s strong emphasis on sustainable fashion, with a target of using 100% sustainable materials by 2030 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 56%. Towngas faces the complex challenge of transitioning from fossil fuels to cleaner energy and is investing in zero-carbon technologies to meet regulatory standards and stakeholder expectations. MTR focuses on sustainable urban development and efficient mass transit, prioritizing community engagement and reducing environmental impact. This study underscores the importance of sector-specific ESG approaches tailored to a company’s operational context. It also demonstrates how ESG integration is enhanced by proactive planning, transparent reporting, and alignment with long-term corporate values. By showcasing both successful practices and areas requiring further attention, this research contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable business practices in Hong Kong. Moreover, it provides actionable policy implications for government agencies and regulatory bodies. The insights gained can inform strategic decision-making across sectors and support the development of a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive economy aligned with Hong Kong’s long-term climate and governance goals. Full article

The fashion industry represents a dynamic expression of cultural diversity and plays a crucial role in national economic health. This research designs strategic management guidance for BANU, a sustainable clothing startup in Senegal aimed at empowering local families to improve their lifestyles. Utilizing an exploratory research strategy, the study develops a comprehensive strategic plan for BANU as a natural textile dyes company, examining factors influencing its development at the macro, micro, and organization layers to identify key strategic issues and strategic options as a comprehensive strategic management plan for BANU to grow. A multifaceted strategic approach is recommended, including tailored operational strategies aligned with local traditions, sustainability, and customer engagement. Collaborations with local businesses, suppliers, and educational institutions are advised to strengthen BANU’s market presence. Additionally, differentiation through unique natural dye clothing and partnerships are encouraged. As BANU evolves, a shift towards corporate strategy, diversification, and international market expansion is suggested to enhance strategic management and ensure sustainable growth. Full article

One of the core objectives of the European Green Deal in pursuing climate neutrality and sustainable development is the decarbonization of high-impact sectors. Among the most polluting is the fast fashion industry, driven by linear business models that must urgently transition to circular economy frameworks and decarbonized supply chains. Fast fashion poses significant environmental and social challenges due to its high greenhouse gas emissions, excessive resource consumption, and substantial waste generation. To foster greater sustainability within the sector, this study examines environmental indicators defined by the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), in accordance with the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) 2022/2464. Aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), these standards aim to harmonize sustainability disclosures and enable better decision-making across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions throughout Europe. This research focuses on five key environmental aspects—climate change, pollution, water resource management, biodiversity, and circular economy/resource use—across four leading fast fashion brands: Mango, Zara, H&M, and Shein. Using an exploratory web-based methodology, this study evaluates how these companies disclose and implement ESG strategies in their supply chains. The central aim is to assess the sustainability and resilience of their operations, with particular emphasis on communication strategies that support the transition from linear to circular business models. Ultimately, this study seeks to highlight both the progress and persistent challenges faced by the fast fashion industry in aligning with ESG and ESRS requirements. Full article

The textile and fashion industry produce a significant amount of solid waste annually. Most of this waste is either disposed of or burned; very little is reused. This research investigates the potential of reusing and recycling remnant fabric to create sustainable luxury fashion products in a circular economy. Focusing on three factories namely Factory A, Factory B, and Factory C, this study analyzes product diversification, capacity, capital investment, supply chain dynamics, and manufacturing operations. A qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews with industry practitioners from the case factories was employed. Data from purchasing orders, production reports, inventory reports, and monthly invoices were analyzed. The factories manufactured a range of sustainable products, emphasizing floor mats, ladies’ handbags, and bedding items (pillow covers). The analysis revealed that each factory achieved a 30–40% profit margin on their monthly sales. Notably, approximately 95% of the remnant fabric was recycled in the production process, with merely 5% being discarded and resold for further use. These findings indicate local employment opportunities and substantial contributions to socio-economic advancement. This study recommends adopting a circular economy model to generate new business opportunities and income streams from remnant fabric. It encourages new financial investment and technical innovations to promote growth in this sector and benefit wider stakeholders. Full article

This article aims to identify the relationship between sustainability and strategic management to determine whether sustainability can be considered a strategic management research fashion. This involves a bibliometric analysis of recent academic literature from 2021 to 2023 to identify the latest academic research, key trends, collaboration and keyword networks within this relationship. The analysis was conducted using two datasets from the Scopus database. These datasets focus on English-language journal articles on business, management and accounting. The first covers academic research on strategic management, while the second expands to sustainability and sustainable development. The results show that strategic management research focusing on sustainability has recently grown faster (24.70%) and with higher funding frequency (22.4%) than the whole strategic management research field (14.30% and 17.5%, respectively). Furthermore, the geographical analysis of co-authorship identified articles from 88 countries, suggesting a broad interest in this relationship. Notably, the strategic management network mapping revealed a unique, sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability cluster. Moreover, extended mapping revealed four clusters: strategic and innovation-driven sustainability, operational corporate sustainability, crisis management and environmental economics, and sustainable supply chain and resource management. The thematic analysis further highlights well-developed sustainability and strategic management research topics like digitalisation, circular economy, sustainable supply chain management, sustainable development goals, industry 4.0, COVID-19, environmental sustainability, etc. that are contributing to the progress of sustainability and strategic management research. The results thus confirm the rapid growth and widespread coverage of research on sustainability and strategic management, highlighting sustainability as a strategic management research fashion. Full article

The proposed article addresses pressing sustainability challenges, advocating for a profound transformation of existing development models, particularly emphasizing sustainable production and lifestyles. Utilizing a research method grounded in a comprehensive international knowledge base, the study explores the evolution of design for sustainability (DfS) approaches. Its significant contribution lies in systematically investigating connections among diverse DfS approaches, providing an initial framework for situating practices within the fashion and furniture industries. The research outcomes obtained iteratively involve mapping design-driven sustainability practices in European fashion and furniture companies. This mapping reveals a transition from a product-centric to an organization-centered design perspective, calling for a holistic ecosystemic framework to revolutionize business operations. The article analyzes contemporary design-driven practices, proposing an interpretative model that identifies ongoing practices fostering incremental changes toward sustainability guided by design. Furthermore, the article outlines a three-stage design-driven sustainability continuum, synthesizing potential future trajectories. Beyond contributing to the understanding of current practices, the research provides insights into future possibilities, highlighting the transformative role of design in reshaping consumeristic systems. Ultimately, the study offers valuable insights into the transformative power of design, paving the way for sustainable business practices in the fashion and furniture industries. Full article

The athleisure market has experienced significant growth in recent years, establishing itself as a mainstream trend in the fashion industry. Given the escalating demand for athleisure wear, businesses must secure sustainable growth by comprehending customer intentions to repurchase. This study conducted a survey to collect customer data in order to study customers’ intentions to repurchase athleisure wear. Additionally, survey questions were developed through a literature review and incorporated into the survey. To determine the suitable sample size for the analysis while considering statistical significance, the study took into account the current total population of South Korea, a confidence level of 95%, and a margin of error of 5%. This calculation determined that a sample size of 400 in this study was well-suited to the data analysis. In a study investigating customer intentions to repurchase athleisure wear, several influential factors were identified. Firstly, the purpose of product use (motivation for wearing) and functionality emerged as critical determinants affecting customer intentions to repurchase. Customers who perceived a clear purpose of use and functional excellence were more inclined to repurchase, underscoring the paramount importance of designing athleisure products with a strong focus on functionality. Nevertheless, it was observed that male and female customers exhibited distinctive levels of satisfaction with the product. Male customers placed greater emphasis on the product’s essential attributes, whereas female customers highlighted the importance of how athleisure wear fits into their everyday lives and its aesthetics. This divergence indicates that male and female customers possess varying preferences when it comes to product attributes. Consequently, it is imperative to devise tailored marketing strategies that align with the distinct priorities and interests of male and female consumers during the sale of athleisure wear products. In summary, this study underscores the significance of comprehending customer behavior and intentions to repurchase within the athleisure market. By prioritizing the articulation of the product’s purpose and enhancing its functionality, businesses operating in the athleisure sector can secure enduring growth and success. Full article

The traditional e-commerce business chain is being reconstructed around the content of short videos and live streams, and the interest e-commerce is thriving as a new trend in the e-commerce industry. Diversified content promotes the rapid development of interest e-commerce. For consumers, their preferences for different content reflect their consumption level to a certain extent. The purpose of this study is to accurately predict the purchasing power level with the consumer content preference, and provide new ideas for interest e-commerce business. In this paper, the new swarm intelligence algorithm is used to find the optimal misclassification cost, and three cost-sensitive models are established. On this basis, the content preference of interest e-commerce consumers is used to predict the level of purchasing power. The results show that the content preference of interest e-commerce consumers, such as “fashion”, “photography” and “interpretation”, have a significant effect on the prediction of purchasing power at the 95% confidence level. The accuracies of the optimized cost-sensitive support vector machine in predicting consumer purchasing power are all above 0.9, and the highest is 0.9792. This study effectively alleviates the problem that the classification results tend to be biased towards negative samples, especially when the imbalanced rate of the sample is high. It not only provides researchers with an efficient parameter optimization method, but also reflects the relationship between consumer content preference and purchasing power, providing data support for interest e-commerce operations. Full article

Social media usage is a direct result of Internet connectivity and is gaining increased prominence in business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business (B2B), and consumer-to-business (C2B) relationship building, which is allowing marketers to devise and implement digital marketing strategies that are perceived as enhancing a customer’s well-being. Through the process of utilizing social media (SM) to share information with consumers, marketers are affording themselves with the concept of value co-creation and ensuring that the development of knowledge is given priority. To explain how this happens in an emerging economy, in-depth personal interviews were undertaken with the owners of five retail fashion companies in Vietnam. The findings indicate that fashion retail companies in Vietnam are deploying digital marketing strategies that deliver perceived enhanced value to consumers through the process of value co-creation. This highlights the advantage of using SM in relation to increasing retail staff’s ability to convert information into usable resources such as intelligence and knowledge. By achieving knowledge conversion, retail staff fulfill the role of ‘knowledge broker’ and ‘knowledge connector’, and identify how organizational intervention, such as new operating structures, can help to deliver perceived enhanced value to customers. Full article