The purpose of this review paper is to present a holistic conceptualization by synthesizing mindfulness and social sustainability literature and introducing an integrative mindfulness-social ...sustainability framework. To this end, we conducted an extensive review of the mindfulness and social sustainability literature. The findings revealed that there is a paucity of research that has examined the relationship between mindfulness and social sustainability. While some recent studies have begun to explore the role of mindfulness in ecological sustainability, the link between mindfulness and social sustainability has remained under-researched. This paper introduces an integrative mindfulness-social sustainability framework that explicates how mindfulness practice can be employed in the workplace context to achieve social sustainability outcomes. In this regard, we first discuss how mindfulness is related to social sustainability at the individual (e.g., employee health and well-being) and organizational (e.g., ethical behavior, employee performance, workplace spirituality) levels. Next, we examine how individual and organizational social sustainability might relate to some wider societal sustainability outcomes (e.g., social justice, collective social capital). We argue that this is one of the few early theoretical papers that has investigated the potential connections between two important, albeit fragmented disciplines—mindfulness and social sustainability. This paper suggests potential courses of action to address social sustainability challenges by integrating mindfulness and social sustainability.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on global supply chain sustainability and provide an important pathway to develop an initial understanding of how ...organizations can develop more resilient and socially sustainable supply chains in a post-COVID world.
Design/methodology/approach
To gain fresh insights on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chain social sustainability and resilience issues, an extensive literature review was conducted. To this end, recent scholarly research articles, articles from practitioner journals, magazine articles and policy documents and reports, as well as blogs and briefings published by international organizations were critically reviewed.
Findings
The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a major shake-up of global supply chain operations and has contributed to varied sustainability outcomes. While the pandemic caused reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, it has had serious social implications for the livelihoods and well-being of workers and their families. The findings further suggested that it is imperative for companies to build resilience in their global supply chain operations to better respond to future shocks and disruptions by adopting strategies such as employee protection schemes, advanced digital technologies, diversification, localization and regionalization and stakeholder collaboration.
Originality/value
This review paper contributes to emerging global supply chain sustainability literature and practice by synthesizing and explicating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chain social sustainability and resilience. In addition, this paper offers some practical recommendations to enhance the social sustainability impacts and resilience of global supply chains in a post-COVID world.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2010), innovation relates to both the development of new products, processes and technologies as well as their ...diffusion and application that in turn translate into improved firm performance. The United Nations (2021) estimated that implementing the SDGs can create US$12 trillion in business opportunities, and without the interest and persistent support of the business sector, it will be impossible to successfully achieve the SDGs by 2030. ...by aligning their strategies and practices to the SDGs, firms can make significant contributions to achieving the 2030 Agenda (Eweje et al., 2020). ...firms have a pivotal role in creating innovative solutions for a long-standing problem that requires more concerted approaches (Cordova & Celone, 2019) to accelerate technology development and diffusion and bring innovative products to the market (OECD, p. 14). Increasingly, firms are adopting Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing technologies as well as cutting-edge information and communication technologies – cloud computing and cognitive computing, radio-frequency identification (RFID), green lean six sigma (GLSS) approach, cyber-physical systems (CSP), digital sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain technology, 3D printing, machine learning, Internet of things (IoT), robotics and big data and analytics – to achieve sustainable outcomes (Allam & Dhunny, 2019; Alves, Galina, & Dobelin, 2018 Dantas et al., 2020; Farrukh, Mathrani, & Sajjad, 2021; Malik & Raziq, 2022; Sarkis, Cohen, Dewick, & Schröder, 2020; Saunila, Nasiri, Ukko, & Rantala, 2019; Tjoa & Tjoa, 2016; Wu, Guo, Huang, Liu, & Xiang, 2018).
Project Managers’ (PMs) competencies are critical issues for international development projects (IDPs), and the success of IDPs is largely dependent on how prudently and effectively a PM manages the ...IDPs operations. So far, the topic of PMs Competencies is mainly explored in the private sector context using a survey-based research approach, and very few attempts have been made to examine the competencies of PMs in the IDPs sector. Accordingly, this study examines the PMs’ competencies at each phase of the project life cycle (Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing) by drawing on the sample of 15 PMs from the IDPs’ sector by employing a Delphi method, which enables aggregation of experts’ opinions in a more structured and systematic manner. Findings of this study proposed five of the most critical competencies within each phase of the project life cycle and ranked based on their relative importance, for example, leadership, communication, planning, innovation, motivation, etc. The findings contribute to emerging literature and bring new insights on project managers’ competencies in the IDPs sector.
The impact of supervisory communication apprehension (SCA) on subordinates' job performance was investigated in this study. We also examined the impact of task-related uncertainty in mediating the ...relationship between SCA and subordinate work performance, as well as the role of information-seeking behavior in moderating the relationship between task-related uncertainty and subordinate job performance. A sample of subordinates and their supervisors from public and private sector enterprises in Pakistan were used in the study. The concept of communication apprehension is not limited to a single organization or industry, and the conditions suggest that apprehensive supervisors are likely to exist in different organizations and industries in Pakistan, including banks, telecommunications, and development sector organizations. Company directors and leaders of human resources departments were contacted to reach out to possible respondents. SmartPLS software was used to evaluate the data using a structural equation modeling technique which is commonly used in explanatory studies (Atta et al., 2021). We found evidence to support ideas predicting the association between SCA and subordinate job performance, as well as the mediating role of task-related ambiguity in the relationship. Furthermore, the findings show that information-seeking activity has a moderating effect on the link between task-related ambiguity and subordinate job performance. This is one of the first studies to look at major mediating and moderating mechanisms in the link between SCA and subordinate job performance.
Increasing food waste, natural resource depletion, and climate change issues have forced plastic food packaging (PFP) companies to align their business strategies with sustainability aspects. At the ...same time, however, companies operating in the food packaging industry continue to face tensions while pursuing divergent sustainability goals simultaneously. Drawing on paradox theory, this study aims to examine paradoxical sustainability tensions in the PFP industry and propose potential resolution strategies to resolve diverse tensions arising from addressing competing social, economic, and environmental concerns simultaneously. To this end, we employed a qualitative research methodology and interviewed 15 senior corporate managers and consultants in the PFP industry. Based on the empirical data, we develop categories of sustainability tensions related to operations and supply chain, recycling, and external stakeholders associated with performing, organizing, learning, and belonging paradoxes. Further, we propose resolution strategies including multi‐stakeholder collaboration, research and innovation, circular economy, and use of integrated business strategies which are aligned with the acceptance, spatial separation, temporal separation, and synthesis approaches of the paradox theory. To the best of our knowledge, it is one of the early studies that embrace a paradox lens to investigate the sustainability tensions and resolution strategies in the PFP industry. Further, the study results could guide practitioners and policymakers in the PFP industry to comprehend underlying paradoxical sustainability tensions and promote resolution strategies to address divergent yet desirable economic, social, and environmental considerations simultaneously.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that drive or prevent companies' implementation of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices. To this end, we interviewed 29 senior ...managers from 23 New Zealand‐based companies. The key reported drivers were customer expectation, top management commitment, moral and ethical values of managers, reputation management, and economic and operational benefits. Conversely, cost concerns, strategic and structural restraints, supplier and customer issues, and a lack of effective regulations were cited as critical obstacles to SSCM implementation. Thus, the evidence from our findings provides support for both instrumental and normative logics for SSCM implementation. The findings further indicate that, in general, instrumental and normative logics are congruent; however, varied tensions arise when managers seek to simultaneously address competing yet desirable SSCM aspects. Accordingly, we argue that it is imperative to understand, work through, and manage such tensions as balancing divergent sustainability aspects holds considerable potential for successful SSCM implementation.
Abstract Increasingly, pressing sustainability issues including the rise in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rates, climate change‐related vulnerabilities, and natural resource depletion have propelled ...companies to transition from a linear economy to a circular economy (CE). While circular business models are gaining currency in the manufacturing sector, empirical research on CE transition in the continuous process industry in developing economies is scarce. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to investigate the drivers and barriers of CE adoption in the textile industry of Pakistan. To this end, we utilized a qualitative methodology, and a total of 22 semi‐structured interviews were conducted with consultants and senior corporate managers working in the textile sector. Building on the natural resource‐based view (NRBV) and institutional theory, the findings revealed various internal drivers (resource efficiency‐related, organization‐related, and research and innovation‐related factors) and external drivers (market, regulatory, and societal factors) for CE transition. Additionally, the findings demonstrated internal barriers including behavioral, technical, and economic issues, and external issues such as customer and brand‐related barriers, regulatory and policy‐related barriers, as well as supply chain‐related barriers hindering the adoption of CE. We argue that it is one of the early studies to utilize the NRBV and institutional theory to examine the drivers and barriers and provide novel insights into the CE transition in the textile process industry in a developing economy. The findings can assist academics, consultants, practitioners, and policymakers to understand and promote CE as a sustainable strategy in the textile process industry.
Purpose
Manufacturing companies continue to encounter a diverse set of obstacles while embracing sustainable development goals. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to explore critical ...sustainable development-related barriers to flexible packaging manufacturing companies in the New Zealand context.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on a qualitative multiple case studies approach, the authors collected data from the New Zealand flexible packaging industry. Semistructured interviews were conducted with the senior corporate managers in two large flexible packaging companies. Following the thematic analysis approach, the authors analyzed the information collected from the participants and synthesized our findings under the key dimensions of internal and external barriers to sustainable development.
Findings
The findings revealed that internal barriers to sustainable flexible packaging are linked to economic, operational and technical issues. Conversely, external barriers include global crises and disruption, customer behavior and preferences and institutional and infrastructural-related aspects. Based on the analysis of empirical findings, the authors further identified the underlying reasons for sustainable flexible packaging barriers and recommended guidelines that could assist corporate managers and policymakers in addressing obstacles inhibiting the flexible packaging industry from adopting sustainable business practices.
Originality/value
The authors argue that this study is one of the early studies to consider inhibiting factors to incorporate sustainable development into the New Zealand flexible packaging industry context. Building on a range of theoretical perspectives, the authors extend the current body of knowledge seeking to advance the sustainable development agenda in the New Zealand flexible packaging industry and offer recommended pathways fostering sustainable development in a distinctive manufacturing context.
Green‐lean‐six sigma (GLSS) is an evolving strategy that can be applied in the manufacturing context to address pressing environmental issues. However, due to a lack of research in this area, ...investigating the motivations behind GLSS implementation is crucial to develop a deeper understanding of factors that shape the overall environmental management strategy of a firm. Drawing on the natural‐resource‐based view and institutional theory, we explore the GLSS drivers and compare developed and developing country contexts by conducting in‐depth interviews with senior consultants specializing in GLSS implementation from New Zealand (NZ) and Pakistan (PK). Findings reveal that the key drivers of GLSS adoption in NZ are general environmental awareness, creating a company image, and government pressure, whereas the main drivers for PK include cost reduction, international customers' influence, and competitiveness. These findings throw light on the reasons for GLSS adoption in different regions and have significant theoretical and practical implications towards improving environmental performance.
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