Search Results (876)

This study attempts to examine the interconnections between digital transformation, leadership, organizational culture, and organizational sustainability among Greek enterprises in the Industry 4.0 context. A quantitative research design was utilized to attain this objective, employing survey data gathered from 412 managerial-level participants across several industries. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed to validate the measurement model, followed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the proposed correlations among the constructs. The findings reveal that digital transformation, leadership, and organizational culture each have a substantial positive influence on organizational sustainability, with digital transformation exhibiting the most pronounced benefit. Furthermore, their alignment has a synergistic effect that amplifies the economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainability. These findings validate the multifaceted character of sustainability within the Industry 4.0 framework and underscore the interrelation of technological, human, and cultural competencies. The research contributes to the field of theory by offering a comprehensive framework for sustainable organizational transformation and practical implications for managers and policymakers who are in the process of developing strategies that are oriented towards sustainability, innovation, and resilience in digitally evolving environments. Full article

Artificial Intelligence plays an exponentially growing role in producing data-driven policy insights. In this policy-oriented case study, AI technology is examined as a necessary coordination node through evidence-based and data-enhanced policies, which can efficiently balance the processes of different and possibly competing sectors, such as agriculture and tourism. The focus is on the NUTS 1 region of the Aegean Islands and Crete (EL4) in Greece. The analysis aims to create a viable and resilient ecosystem of environmental, economic and social sustainability through innovation. Applying a “Growth Pole Theory” approach, key public administration frameworks like the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and TAPIC (Transparency, Accountability, Participation, Integrity, Capacity) governance framework are discussed and analysed to structure the AI deployment and policy considerations for sustainable development. The paper argues in favour of AI’s transformative potential across both the agriculture and tourism sectors. Full article

The pharmaceutical sector has evolved toward innovation-driven and sustainability-oriented development, driven by increasing regulatory pressure and global health challenges. In this context, cork (Quercus suber L.) has emerged as a promising bio-based resource due to its renewable nature, near-zero-waste processing chain, and growing evidence of biological activity. Cork by-products are rich in phenolic compounds, triterpenes, lignin derivatives, and other secondary metabolites exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties, with relevance for pharmaceutical and dermocosmetic applications. These bioactivities are associated with the modulation of oxidative stress, inhibition of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, and support of skin barrier function. This review provides an updated and focused overview of the chemical composition, bioactive potential, and valorization pathways of cork by-products, with particular emphasis on their translation into pharmaceutical and dermocosmetic formulations. Key challenges related to extraction standardization, bioavailability, safety, and clinical validation are critically discussed, highlighting future directions for the sustainable development of cork-derived bioactive ingredients within circular bioeconomy frameworks. Full article

Against the backdrop of economic recovery and ongoing market restructuring, China’s hotel industry is undergoing a significant shift from being service-based to becoming strategy-driven and competitive. This study aims to identify the key factors driving hotel competitiveness utilizing a multidimensional quantitative perspective. Based on a structured questionnaire survey administered to hotel managers across provinces and cities in China, primary data was collected from a total of 727 valid responses. As such, exploratory factor analysis, comprising 31 ranked items, and multiple regression analysis were performed using SPSS, identifying four dimensions that significantly affect hotel competitiveness: namely, operational characteristics, service quality, customer satisfaction, and competitive performance. The results show that operational characteristics are the primary determinants of hotel competitiveness. Specifically, sustainable development strategy, digital technology adoption, product and service innovation, and pricing strategies were the most significant factors leading to competitive advantage. Unlike previous studies that emphasized service quality and customer satisfaction as the dominant drivers of competitiveness, this study finds that a hotel’s competitive advantage relies heavily on developing strategic operational innovation and resource allocation capabilities. This study’s novelty lies in its use of national empirical data to validate the multidimensional composition and inherent logical relationships for competitive advantage. It also proposes a multidimensional framework for analyzing hotel competitiveness, specifically designed for the developmental characteristics of China’s hotel industry, highlighting the need to transform from a service-oriented to a strategy-driven operational approach. The findings of this paper offer empirical evidence for hotel enterprises to refine management structures, foster innovation, and thereby develop strong capabilities for a sustainable competitive advantage. Full article

This study investigates the role of family involvement and succession planning in shaping the long-term sustainability of family businesses in Indonesia, with a specific focus on the mediating effect of transgenerational entrepreneurial orientation (TEO). This research responds to calls for integrative models that move beyond examining these factors in isolation. Indonesia offers a unique context due to its dominance of family-controlled firms and informal succession traditions, which shape entrepreneurial value transmission across generations. A quantitative approach was employed using survey data from 210 respondents representing active family businesses in Indonesia. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4.0 was used to test reliability, validity, and structural relationships. Additional analyses included HTMT for discriminant validity, CVPAT for predictive relevance, and importance–performance map analysis (IPMA) to identify managerial priorities. The results reveal that family involvement and succession planning both exert significant positive effects on long-term family business sustainability, with TEO playing a mediating role. Family involvement strongly enhances both sustainability and entrepreneurial orientation, while succession planning contributes more indirectly through the development of TEO. The IPMA indicates that family leadership in governance and openness to innovation are highly important but underperforming drivers, suggesting key areas for improvement. The model explains 51.9% of the variance in TEO and 48.6% in long-term sustainability, with significant mediation paths (β = 0.092–0.104, p < 0.05). The cross-sectional design limits causal inference, and the focus on Indonesian firms may constrain generalizability to other cultural contexts. Future research could adopt longitudinal and cross-country comparative designs while also examining the role of digital transformation and generational differences in sustaining family firms. The findings highlight the need for Indonesian family firms to professionalize succession planning while strengthening transgenerational entrepreneurial orientation. Practical steps include formal mentoring, clear successor criteria, and embedding innovation and proactiveness in family governance. This study extends the family business literature by conceptualizing TEO as a dynamic capability that bridges family involvement, succession planning, and sustainability. By integrating these perspectives, it offers a more comprehensive understanding of how family firms can achieve resilience and continuity across generations. Full article

Technological flexibility is widely recognised as a driver of product innovation, yet its role in enabling the transition toward sustainable products remains insufficiently understood. This study addresses this gap by examining how technological flexibility shapes product–market strategies through two pathways: (1) technological flexibility—environmental scanning—product-market strategies (T–E–S) and (2) technological flexibility—environmental scanning—circular economy principles—product-market strategies (T–E–C–S). Using an abductive design and a survey of 300 medium and large manufacturing firms in Poland, we analyse eight dimensions of environmental scanning, seven circular-design principles, and four Ansoff-based strategic orientations. Non-parametric correlation tests and Kruskal–Wallis analyses, and post hoc tests show that technological flexibility significantly increases environmental scanning intensity. Yet only five macro-environmental segments trigger circular-design behaviour, and only two principles—repairability and waste minimisation translate into sustainable product strategies. Results reveal two competing logics: a commercial logic focused on market opportunities and an ecological logic centred on sustainable design. Their integration occurs only under high technological flexibility and scanning engagement. The study contributes new empirical evidence on mechanisms linking flexibility, scanning, circularity, and sustainability-oriented product innovation. Full article

In an increasingly secular and pluralistic age marked by declining religious affiliation and rising individualized spiritual pursuits, accompanied by soaring mental health issues, the need for psychologically grounded perspectives on spiritual health is urgent. Drawing on developmental psychology, positive psychology, and psychology of religion and spirituality, this article introduces the Thrive Spiritual Health Framework. Spiritual health involves experiencing and responding to a loving source of transcendence in cognitive, affective, behavioral, and relational ways, and integrating those responses into narrative identities that inform who we are and who we belong to, shape our ethical ideals, inform virtues, and orient purpose—allowing us to sustain lives of love. The framework synthesizes six interrelated facets—transcendence, habits and rhythms, relationships and community, identity and narrative, vocation and purpose, and ethics and virtues (THRIVE)—through which spirituality nurtures thriving. Each facet is contextualizable across cultural and secular settings, highlighting both opportunities and vulnerabilities of contemporary spirituality. While individualized spiritual pathways may empower autonomy and innovation, they also risk fragmentation without relational and communal support. The framework provides an empirically grounded resource for research and practice, clarifying when spirituality promotes thriving and offering guidance for spiritual innovation in pluralistic contexts. Full article

Urban resilience has emerged as a crucial objective for achieving sustainable urban development. However, its practical integration into planning remains limited. This study evaluates the extent to which resilience thinking is integrated into Chengdu’s urban planning system by combining policy-theoretical analysis with empirical evidence. Drawing on a framework of nine resilience attributes, we conduct content analysis of Chengdu’s three types of statutory plan documents (Socioeconomic Development Plan, Urban and Rural Plan, and Land Use Plan) and a questionnaire survey of 70 expert planners. The results reveal that resilience is reflected implicitly in the plans through engineering-oriented attributes such as robustness, efficiency, and connectivity. In contrast, social and ecological attributes like inclusion, redundancy, and innovation are largely absent. Planners demonstrate moderate awareness of resilience, yet associate it predominantly with rapid response and infrastructure robustness rather than long-term adaptation or community capacity-building. These findings indicate the dominant top-down, growth-centric planning logic that constrains the adoption of broader socio-ecological resilience concepts. This paper concludes with policy recommendations for institutionalizing resilience in Chinese urban planning through legal mandates; multi-sectoral coordination; and participatory, adaptive planning frameworks. Full article

Universities are central to regional high-quality development, yet existing studies often rely on output-based indicators and neglect efficiency as well as the contributions of architecture and engineering disciplines. This study addresses this limitation by constructing an evaluation–identification framework that links technological innovation efficiency to regional development. Regional progress is measured with a composite index derived from multi-criteria decision analysis; innovation efficiency is evaluated using a non-oriented DEA–SBM model under constant returns to scale; and causal effects are tested with a two-way fixed-effects panel approach. Results reveal steady growth in regional development, marked spatial disparities in efficiency, with frontiers concentrated in certain provinces, and a consistently positive effect of efficiency on development, with stronger marginal impacts in central and western regions. By adopting an efficiency–mechanism perspective, the study highlights architecture-related disciplines as key drivers of sustainable growth and provides guidance for innovation alliances, evaluation reform, and managerial enhancement. Full article

Sustainable business model innovation in social enterprises (SEs) is a crucial means of enhancing social welfare, yet its mechanisms remain underexplored. This paper aims to reveal how different institutional logics drive the sustainable business model innovation in SEs at various stages of their lifecycle. In order to achieve this goal, an exploratory longitudinal single-case study approach was employed to systematically analyze the development trajectory of a typical Chinese SE. Our findings indicate that SEs are influenced by different institutional logics over time and achieve sustainable business model innovation through differentiated resource orchestration strategies. During the founding stage, driven by public welfare logic, SEs establish the service-oriented business model through resource building. During the growth stage, by introducing market logic, SEs develop the platform-based business model through resource bundling. During the integration stage, SEs further embed government logic and build the ecosystem-based business model through resource leveraging. In doing so, we are able to expand on the understandings of sustainable business model innovation in SEs and the impact of institutional logic on such innovation. Full article

Smart Manufacturing Systems (SMSs) have evolved into intelligent, data-driven ecosystems that integrate cyber–physical systems, digital twins, and artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. This review synthesises more than 250 recent studies across four domains: manufacturing technologies, systems management, sustainable production, and human–robot collaboration. In process optimisation, hybrid machine learning and genetic algorithms reduce surface roughness in machining by up to 35% and decrease energy use in additive manufacturing by 20–30%. In systems management, digital twins and reinforcement learning enable adaptive scheduling and predictive maintenance, increasing operational flexibility and reducing industrial downtime. Sustainability-oriented research shows that additive manufacturing can cut energy consumption by up to threefold compared with subtractive routes, while aluminium recycling and hot-forming processes lower life-cycle impacts. Furthermore, the integration of ISO 14001, ISO 50001, and ISO 14040 supports consistent environmental and energy performance assessment across sectors. Building on this evidence, the review critically examines recent developments in manufacturing technologies, systems management, sustainable practices, and human–robot collaboration, highlighting emerging paradigms such as explainable AI and human-centric design that strengthen safety, transparency, and resilience. Open challenges and research opportunities are outlined to guide future innovation toward intelligent, adaptive, and sustainable manufacturing systems. Full article

The shift to renewable energy is a key goal for the European Union as it aims for climate neutrality; however, the effectiveness of climate-focused funding instruments varies significantly across member states. This research investigates the influences of mitigation investments, R&D spending, environmental tax revenues, subsidies, GDP growth, and capital formation on renewable energy expansion within the EU-27, placing particular emphasis on the structural differences between Old Member States (OMS) and New Member States (NMS). The study utilizes robust long-run estimation techniques alongside causality analysis over a span of 13 years, from 2010–2023. The findings highlight notable distinctions among the EU-27, OMS, and NMS regions. While the EU-27 and OMS show that funds designated for climate mitigation and R&D are critical drivers of the clean energy transition, in the NMS, environmental taxes, subsidies, innovation, and gross fixed capital formation play vital roles in advancing this transition. Furthermore, economic development shows mixed results in achieving sustainable objectives, underscoring the necessity for climate-oriented funding and initiatives. Therefore, policy measures should focus on mitigation finance and innovation across the EU, while the design of subsidies and environmental tax structures must be tailored to each region to ensure a fair and expedited transition. Full article

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are commonly produced through wet-chemical methods that require high temperature and pressure and involve multiple synthesis steps. Our research group has developed an innovative, sustainable, and patented one-step aqueous synthesis operating at ambient temperature and pressure, enabling the direct production of SPIONs in suspension. In this work, we investigated the extension of this method to obtain polymer-coated SPIONs for biomedical imaging applications. Two water-soluble and biocompatible polymers—poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)—were selected and prepared into twelve samples varying in polymer concentration and iron precursor molarity. Each formulation was characterized and compared to bare SPIONs synthesized with the same approach using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and alternating gradient magnetometry (AGM). The results confirm that the one-step method yields polymer-coated nanoparticles with a cubic spinel magnetite core. PEG produced spherical, monodisperse particles (10–30 nm) exhibiting superparamagnetic behavior but lower magnetization values (1–5 emu/g). In contrast, PVA-coated nanoparticles showed a morphology dependent on polymer concentration and reagent molarity, while maintaining an average size of ~10 nm and superparamagnetic behavior, with magnetization comparable to bare SPIONs (25–50 emu/g). A preliminary MRI evaluation of a selected PVA-coated sample revealed relaxivity values of r₁ = 0.12 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹ and r₂ = 6.44 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹, supporting the potential of this synthesis route for imaging-oriented nanomaterials. Full article

The agricultural economic policy in Mexico has inadequately addressed the integrated sustainability needs of the rural sector. This study adopts a sustainability perspective to examine economic policy distortions and market failures in the export-oriented rose cultivation sector, and evaluates their effects on the economic and social sustainability of producers in Tenancingo and Villa Guerrero, Mexico. A Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) and CONEVAL poverty line metrics were used to evaluate private and social profitability as indicators of financial viability and resource use efficiency. Findings indicate that, despite being supported by distortionary policies, the rose export sector remains competitive and financially viable, constituting a key pillar of economic sustainability. Moreover, the social profitability of rose production exceeded its private profitability, suggesting a net positive socioeconomic benefit and a sustainable allocation of resources from a societal perspective. Furthermore, per capita income in the rose production unit (RPU) exceeded the poverty line established by CONEVAL, directly supporting social sustainability and strengthening livelihood resilience. The study concludes that current resource allocation mechanisms are inefficient for sustainability over the long term. It emphasizes the need for policy shifts toward greater innovation, more effective technology transfer, improved market access, and stronger human capital to strengthen the sustainability of the sector as a whole. Rose cultivation exhibited a significant positive multiplier effect on the regional economy, reinforcing its contribution to sustainable rural development. Full article

This study examines the impact of Green Entrepreneurial Orientation (GEO), Managerial Environmental Concerns (MECs), and Green Absorptive Capacity (GAC) on the environmental performance of Pakistani SMEs. The Dynamic Capabilities View (DCV) and Natural Resource-Based View (NRBV) demonstrate that innovation focused on sustainability and competitive advantage is enhanced by managerial engagement, knowledge capability, and environmental awareness. A cross-sectional survey involving 350 managers of SMEs in Pakistan utilized covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). The MEC-to-GEO direction was insignificant, and this implies that the issue of managerial concern is not a driving force towards the initiation of green entrepreneurial endeavors. The confirmatory factor analysis model for the 350 SMEs demonstrates a satisfactory fit (CFI = 0.947; RMSEA = 0.073), along with reliability and validity. GEO and EP are positively influenced by GAC and MECs, with R² values of 0.204 and 0.526, respectively. The findings indicate that the absorptive and managerial capabilities of SMEs can integrate environmental responsibility into strategic decision-making, exceeding regulatory criteria to foster proactive environmental innovation. The study emphasizes ethical leadership, environmental competitiveness, and social responsibility through green information management and cooperative networks. The sustainability ideas and GEO are enhanced in developing nations by linking global green initiatives with local institutions and cultural contexts. Organizational management and policymakers should promote environmental education, ecological innovations, and sustainable practices within sectors. The limitations of the study include the use of self-reported data and cross-sectoral replication utilizing objective environmental indicators. Full article