Search Results (501)

With the development of information and communication technologies, analysing new risks of moral harassment at work is becoming increasingly pertinent, especially with the expansion of teleworking and hybrid working (a mix of remote and face-to-face work per week) in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an attempt to respond to the new issues of labour regulation, this study places special emphasis on new risks of moral harassment in hybrid work and teleworking contexts, considering both the international and European framework and the legal regime in Portugal, identifying its specificities. With the rise in teleworking in the post-pandemic period, the online monitoring of workers has accentuated the difficulty in drawing the line between managerial power and harassment. Moral harassment at work is a persistent challenge and organisations must recognise, prevent and respond to inappropriate behaviour in the organisation. The results of this study—based on the results of an online survey completed by employees (with employment contracts)—show that teleworking employees recognise that they have been pressured, above all, both to respond to messages quickly and pressure to work beyond hours and suggest possible gender differences in the way harassment in hybrid work and teleworking contexts is reported. Full article

Cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae)-based dietary supplements are commonplace, but cyanobacteria-enhanced foods, such as spirulina crackers, are just appearing on New Zealand supermarket shelves. While much research has been devoted to consumer attitudes towards macro-algae-based products, little research has been devoted to micro-algae-based or cyanobacteria-enhanced consumer products. The current study, following the Capability–Opportunity–Motivation to Behaviour theory, examines likely consumer drivers of favouring or disfavouring spirulina crackers. These drivers include food neophilia, food neophobia, perception of sustainability and health-related product attributes, involvement with algae and an exploratory driver, snacking behaviour. Fully supported drivers (related to increased favour and decreased disfavour) included food neophilia and perception of sustainability and health-related product attributes. Algae involvement was only related to increased favour, and food neophobia was not supported. Surprisingly, snacking behaviour was related to increased disfavour of spirulina crackers. Both theoretical and managerial implications are offered. Full article

The implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in public design processes enhances efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. However, public agencies often encounter significant barriers, particularly regarding organisational and managerial readiness. This study develops a BIM implementation framework tailored to the specific needs of an Italian public agency. The research adopts a qualitative approach, combining 15 semi-structured interviews with process mapping Using (Business Process Modeling Notation) BPMN. The current as-is workflows were analysed and validated by internal stakeholders. Based on this analysis, strategic objectives were defined, relevant (Building Information Modelling) BIM uses were selected, and revised to-be processes were proposed, integrating new roles and responsibilities according to the standards. The framework addresses both technical and organisational dimensions of BIM adoption, highlighting the need for training, coordination, and stakeholder engagement. The main outcomes include a structured process model, a priority-based selection of BIM uses, and a role matrix supporting organisational transformation. The added value for researchers lies in the replicable methodology that combines empirical process mapping with implementation planning. For practitioners, especially consultants in sustainable design, the study offers a practical roadmap for aligning BIM adoption with project goals, regulatory compliance, and environmental performance targets in complex public sector contexts. Full article

With the advancement of Agriculture 4.0, intelligent systems and data-driven technologies offer new opportunities for pork supply-demand balance regulation, while also confronting challenges such as production cycle fluctuations and epidemic outbreaks. This paper introduces a knowledge-driven smart system for pork supply-demand regulation, which integrates essential components including a knowledge base, a mathematical-model-based expert system, an enhanced optimization framework, and a real-time feedback mechanism. Around the core of the system, a nonlinear constrained optimization model is established, which uses adjustments to newly retained gilts as decision variables and minimizes supply-demand squared errors as its objective function, incorporating multi-dimensional factors such as pig growth dynamics, epidemic impacts, consumption trends, and international trade into its analytical framework. By harnessing dynamic decision-making capabilities of reinforcement learning (RL), we design an optimization architecture centered on the Q-learning mechanism and dual-strategy pools, which is integrated into the honey badger algorithm to form the RL-enhanced honey badger algorithm (RLEHBA). This innovation achieves an efficient balance between exploration and exploitation in model solving and improves system adaptability. Numerical experiments demonstrate RLEHBA’s superior performance over State-of-the-Art algorithms on the CEC 2017 benchmark. A case study of China’s 2026 pork regulation confirms the system’s practical value in stabilizing the supply-demand balance and optimizing resource allocation. Finally, some targeted managerial insights are proposed. This study constructs a replicable framework for intelligent livestock regulation, and it also holds transformative significance for sustainable and adaptive supply chain management in global agri-food systems. Full article

The transition to the circular economy (CE) is one of the EU’s current strategic policies to improve its competitiveness and sustainability. While the EU has developed a framework for monitoring overall progress toward the CE, there are gaps in monitoring specific priority sectors, such as the bioeconomy. In order to support industry and policymakers in this sector, this paper presents the application of the BIORADAR’s product circularity monitoring framework to five bio-based fertilizers. The framework is composed of two publicly available indicators: the circular index and the circularity indicator of nutrient; and two new indicator proposals: the biodegradable content and the nutrient slow-release index. Making use of life cycle inventories and supplementary data from the scientific literature, these four indicators were calculated for algae biomass, compost, feather meal, spent mushroom substrate, and wood vinegar. The framework proved to be useful for measuring the circularity at the product level for bio-based fertilizers, especially shedding light on the virgin non-renewable materials consumption, waste generation, biodegradability, nutrient recovery process efficiency, and nutrient release speed. It constitutes the first approach to measuring circularity tailored to bio-based fertilizer. By incorporating it into eco-design, innovation, and managerial decision-making processes, key stakeholders can rely on guiding metrics to support their transition toward higher circularity levels. Full article

Food waste significantly impacts the restaurant industry’s financial viability and environmental sustainability. This study explores training practices used to minimize food waste and identifies obstacles encountered in implementing these practices. Semi-structured interviews with 10 chefs from diverse restaurants in a mid-South U.S. state were conducted. Two themes emerged from the qualitative analysis. The results revealed that the predominant training methods were verbal instruction, mentoring, and hands-on coaching, emphasizing real-time feedback and individualized guidance. Training for front-of-house staff primarily included reducing unnecessary table items, whereas back-of-house employees focused on portion control and repurposing ingredients. Mentoring emerged as critical, especially for new employees with limited culinary experience, ensuring that they develop critical thinking skills and resourcefulness in minimizing waste. Chefs identified significant barriers, including staff cooperation, knowledge gaps, employee turnover, and resource limitations. Overcoming these challenges necessitates stronger managerial commitment, standardized guidelines, and incentive-based reinforcement. This study concludes that cultivating an organizational culture that embeds sustainability into training practices is essential. Practical strategies such as mentoring and continuous reinforcement can mitigate food waste, enhance operational efficiency, and promote a sustainable food system. Future research should quantify training impacts on waste reduction and examine consumer-side factors influencing restaurant food waste. Full article

In the context of increasing environmental awareness and resource scarcity, trade-in and remanufacturing have emerged as important strategies for sustainable product management. This study constructs decision-making models for a monopolistic manufacturer operating in a two-period market. The manufacturer produces new products in Period 1, recycles used products via trade-in for remanufacturing, and sells both new and remanufactured products in Period 2. Depending on whether the remanufactured product price is pre-committed, two models (no price commitment and price commitment) are established. The model optimization reveals that, regardless of the price commitment, four recycling and remanufacturing strategies emerge when the manufacturer engages in remanufacturing. The choice of strategy is jointly influenced by the unit residual value of the used product ($s$) and the unit cost of the remanufactured one ($c_r$). The theoretical findings for a special case ($c_r=s=0$) demonstrate that pre-committing the price of remanufactured products compels the manufacturer to simultaneously lower the price of new products and reduce trade-in subsidy while elevating the remanufactured product price. This pricing realignment reduces combined sales volumes across both periods, ultimately diminishing the total profit over two periods. Moreover, price commitment does not boost the remanufacturing rate. This study provides theoretical guidance and managerial insights for manufacturers in terms of pricing strategies and the reuse of used products. Full article

This study investigates whether government subsidies promote R&D cost stickiness in the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry in China—that is, whether public funding encourages firms to retain R&D resources even during periods of declining sales. While prior literature primarily explores the relationship between subsidies and R&D investment levels, it often overlooks firms’ financial position and dynamic cost behaviors. Given that R&D investment has high adjustment costs and is sensitive to cash flows, reductions in R&D spending during downturns may reflect managerial cost asymmetry rather than a crowding-out effect of subsidies. Moreover, government subsidies may serve as a signal of long-term market optimism, motivating managers to retain R&D resources during economic downturns. Using a panel dataset of 573 listed new energy vehicle (NEV) firms in China’s A-share market from 2007 to 2021, we construct a model based on the asymmetric cost behavior framework to empirically assess the impact of government subsidies on R&D cost stickiness. The results show that government subsidies significantly increase the degree of R&D cost stickiness. Serving as a signal of future market optimism, subsidies raise managerial expectations and incentivize decisions to retain R&D-related costs during economic downturns. This positive relationship is more pronounced in firms with high levels of green innovation, large-scale enterprises, and non-state-owned firms. These findings suggest that public funding alleviates managerial pressure to cut R&D expenses amid revenue declines, thereby supporting firms’ long-term innovation strategies. Our study contributes to the cost management literature by highlighting a novel channel through which subsidies influence managerial discretion under uncertainty. It also provides policy implications for the future phase-out of subsidies, emphasizing the need for complementary market mechanisms to sustain innovation investment, particularly for small, young, and financially constrained firms. Full article

In the digital economy era, firms pursue innovation while also considering their environmental impact to ensure alignment with sustainability. However, existing research offers limited insights into how corporate environmental ethics influence the relationship between big data analytics capabilities (BDACs) and green radical innovation (GRI). This study investigates the impact of BDACs, environmental ethics, and GRI, using a sample of 291 firms and integrating resource-based theory with an environmental ethics perspective. Empirical results indicate that environmental ethics positively moderate the positive relationships between the three dimensions of BDAC—managerial, technical, and talent capability—and GRI. Moreover, there are differences in the moderating effects on this relationship. This study enriches boundary condition research on how BDACs impact GRI. Additionally, it contributes to understanding the mechanisms through which environmental ethics affect GRI, highlighting the combined effect of environmental ethics and BDAC. Furthermore, this study advances research on the heterogeneous role of environmental ethics, emphasizing the importance of enhancing corporate environmental ethics in transforming BDA technical capability into GRI. This contribution offers a new perspective on how firms can more effectively leverage their BDAC toward sustainable development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Over the past three decades, emergency medicine in Romania has evolved from a developing specialty into a cornerstone of the national healthcare system. As we reflect on these 30 years, it becomes evident that the lessons learned and the systems developed form a vital foundation for the future. This study aims to explore how the accumulated experience can guide us toward building a more resilient emergency medical system, one that prioritizes quality, ensures patient and provider safety, and embraces modern principles of healthcare management. The objectives of this study were to explore the long-term perspectives of physicians and nurses working in emergency departments (EDs), to determine the triggering factors that may lead to abandoning the specialty, and to identify of malpractice risks arising from doctor–patient interaction. Methods: This study employed an observational design and utilized an opinion questionnaire to assess the participants’ perspectives. Qualitative data were presented as frequencies and percentages. Quantitative data were expressed as means and standard deviations after verifying normal distribution with the Shapiro–Wilk test. Comparisons between groups for qualitative variables were conducted using the chi-square test. For comparisons of quantitative variables between two groups, Student’s t-test was employed following confirmation of homogeneity of variances with Levene’s test. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 1228 estimated responders, 641 completed the questionnaire. A total of 577 of participants met the inclusion criteria: 256 (44.4%) nurses and 321 (55.6%) doctors, with an average age of the responders of 40.06 years. Nurses reported the highest level of managerial support (83.2%, p < 0.001). EPs had the highest rate of non-participation in working groups for procedures/protocols/guidelines (49.5%, p < 0.001). Intensive care unit medical doctors (ICU-MDs) and EPs were the main groups reporting a deficiency in employer-provided resources to manage conflict situations (63.7%, 61.7%; p <0.001). EPs (28%) reported practicing defensive medicine (inadequate educational support, the absence of clear protocols). Workplace burnout was reported by the ICU-MDs and EPs responders (96.3%; 93.4%; p < 0.001), and 26% of EPs expressed interest in professional reorientation. Conclusions: This study highlights four strategic directions for rebuilding a resilient healthcare system focused on improving quality of care and safety: development of procedures/protocols, managerial reorganization, restoration of healthcare professionals’ trust through new strategies, and academic development. Full article

When sustainable emerging technologies (SETs) enter mainstream markets, a battle unfolds between pioneers and incumbents to establish the new dominant design. The purpose of this article is to explore the key factors that determine the outcome of such technological battles. Based on an extensive literature review and drawing on insights from behavioral economics, five research hypotheses are proposed to examine whether the final outcome depends on the discontinuous or disruptive nature of the SET—specifically, whether its entry into the mainstream market is direct or indirect—and on whether incumbents perceive it as a threat or an opportunity. The article also aims to clarify the prevailing confusion surrounding the concept of disruptive technology by proposing a refined definition that builds upon and complements previous ones. From an academic perspective, the contribution lies in incorporating behavioral economics into the analysis of technological battles, thus opening new avenues for research, as well as offering a definition of disruptive technology that could help standardize research frameworks in this field. From a managerial standpoint, this article supports innovation managers in understanding the introduction and expansion of SETs, enabling them to develop more effective strategic responses. Full article

Facing growing uncertainty and rapid technological change, traditional supply chain management can no longer meet the complexity and performance needs of manufacturing firms. Consequently, supply chain quality management (SCQM) has gained increasing attention as a key approach. At the same time, supply chain quality integration (SCQI), supply chain strategy (SCS), supply chain capability (SCC), and digital intelligence (DI) are recognized for their potential to enhance coordination, adaptability, and value creation across the supply chain. In this study, we investigate the impact of SCQM on firm performance (FP), focusing on the mediating roles of SCQI, SCS, and SCC and the moderating role of DI. Based on survey data from Chinese manufacturing enterprises, structural equation modeling (SEM) is employed to analyze these relationships. The results reveal that SCQM positively affects FP and significantly enhances SCQI, SCS, and SCC. Furthermore, SCQM influences FP indirectly through SCQI and SCS, underscoring the key mediating roles of the latter. DI is also found to significantly moderate the SCQM–FP relationship, strengthening the dynamic interaction among these variables and offering practical insights for improving FP via DI in SCQM frameworks. In this research study, we build a new theoretical model grounded in the Structure–Conduct–Performance (SCP) paradigm, filling a gap in the existing literature. For the first time, we jointly explore the mediating effects of SCQI and SCS and the moderating role of DI in the SCQM–FP link, providing an innovative contribution that enriches both academic understanding and managerial practice. Full article

The health and social care needs of children and adults with disabilities are often neglected in many low- and middle-income countries. International opinion favours the creation of community-based supports rather than the institutional and clinic-based care that has dominated to date. However, models of care that are reliant on community leadership have been slow to develop within and across less affluent countries. Moreover, the managerial models inherent in institutional-based care are likely to be inadequate in such settings. This descriptive study aimed to explore the leadership qualities required in initiating and sustaining community-based supports. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of 16 leaders of projects in Africa, Asia, and South America. They included people with sensorial, physical, and intellectual disabilities as well as non-disabled leaders of local and national projects plus others whose leadership was at a regional or international level. Two main questions were addressed: what are the qualities required to function as a community leader and how can these qualities be nurtured in low resourced settings? The insights gained would inform the preparation and training of community leaders. Thematic content analysis identified three core themes: first, personal qualities such as empathy with an understanding of the personal circumstances of persons in need of support; second, communicating clearly the vision and values informing their work; and thirdly, building and mobilising community support from families and neighbours. The nurturing of leadership comes through mentoring and coaching, the empowerment of others, networking opportunities, and the development of inter-personal and communication skills. These themes were commonly expressed across the 16 leaders from all the participating nations and at all levels of responsibility, which suggests a universality of approach in relation to people with disabilities. The findings are in marked contrast to current practices in health and social care that have valued professional expertise over lived experience, knowledge, and technical skills over compassion and empathy, and the provision of person-centred “treatments” over developing community and personal self-reliance. Nonetheless, the challenges involved in establishing and sustaining new styles of leadership are many and will not be quickly resolved. Full article

Cloud computing represents a groundbreaking technological change that transforms traditional IT operational paradigms, driving significant improvements in supply chain efficiency and unlocking new value through digital capabilities. Despite its growing influence, empirical research on this subject remains limited, with unclear explanations of the specific ways cloud computing enhances supply chain operations. The precise mechanisms through which it influences supply chain dynamics are yet to be fully explored. This study employs survey data from Chinese enterprises utilizing cloud computing, applying Smart PLS 3.0 for partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess how cloud-based technical competencies affect supply chain outcomes. Grounded in IT capability theory, we conceptualize cloud computing’s technical dimensions as Flexible IT Infrastructure and Cloud/Business Synergy while incorporating supply chain governance as a mediator and market uncertainty as a moderator to clarify the relationship between cloud capabilities and performance. Our findings advance both scholarly and managerial perspectives on cloud computing’s role in modern supply chains. Full article

Digital marketing strategies are vital for enhancing customer engagement, promoting brands, and ensuring sustainability. This study explores the influence of digital marketing on customer engagement and brand promotion within the dynamic tourism and hospitality industry while addressing a significant gap in incorporating employee position as a moderating variable. A quantitative research method was employed to collect data from 350 hotel employees in Tehran 4- and 5-star hotels. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was conducted to explore the moderator role. Key findings indicate that digital marketing strategies enhance customer engagement and positively influence brand promotion. Additionally, the moderating effect of employee position takes into account the differences among employees regarding service expectations and perceptions. Specifically, it highlights how the skills of managerial positions are better utilized when implementing digital strategies. This study supplements theoretical frameworks and practical applications and improves the strategic use of digital marketing in tourism and hospitality. The case study provides new insights for policymakers and hoteliers in the tourism and hotel industry. Full article