World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development

Publisher:: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Publication date:: 2021-02-01

ISBN:: 2042-5945

Issue Number

Latest documents

Sustainable transformation of low-income communities: multidisciplinary approach to scalable solutions
An empirical exploration of Agile manufacturing for enhanced business performance in Indian manufacturing industry
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of agile manufacturing practices on business performance of Indian medium and large-scale manufacturing industry. Design/methodology/approach: A survey questionnaire was designed to attain the research objectives. Agile manufacturing questionnaire was sent to around 500 randomly selected manufacturing organizations in the northern spectrum of India through e-mails and posts, out of which 154 usable responses have been received. This study investigates the inter-relationships between various agile manufacturing implementation practices and business performance measures using various statistical techniques. This paper deploys Games–Howell hoc test to establish the statistical significance of business performance improvements, progressively accrued over a reasonable period of time, through holistic agile manufacturing implementation. Findings: The paper validates the contribution of agile manufacturing toward realization of the significant improvements in various business performance measures such as customer-related achievements, financial achievements, business-related achievements, operational achievements, employee-related achievements, and supplier-related achievements. Further, the discriminant validity test has been used in this paper for classifying highly successful and moderately successful organizations. Research limitations/implications: The paper only concentrated on manufacturing organizations in northern India. The results of this paper cannot generalize across all the sectors and spectrum of Indian manufacturing organizations. Originality/value: This paper develops an insight into the strong potential of agile manufacturing implementation practices in affecting business performance measures.
Household demand for basic foodstuffs in a recessed economy: a case study of Southwest Nigeria
Purpose: The economic recession that Nigeria recently passed through caused distortions in economic and well-being of Nigerians. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of the economic recession on households’ demand for basic foodstuffs in Southwest Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 380 respondents drawn from urban areas of Lagos, Osun and Oyo states using multistage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System were employed to analyze data collected. Findings: The study showed sharp increase in the prices of basic foodstuffs during recession. Households were compelled to spend higher percentage of their monthly income on basic foodstuffs. Also, 51.1 percent of the respondents were government workers who experienced inconsistent or modulated monthly salary during the period. The percentage of households that were food insecure was 36.4 percent. Osun State had the highest monthly per capita expenditure (₦5,147.13) on foodstuffs, followed by Lagos and Oyo states while rice had the highest expenditure share (0.26), followed by yam (0.18), beans (0.106), vegetable oil (0.104) and garri (0.101). The breakdown also showed that 11.7, 18.1 and 17.7 percent of the total household monthly expenditures in Lagos, Osun and Oyo states, respectively, were spent on basic foodstuffs. Research limitations/implications: There purchasing power of naira reduced significantly during recession, thus compelled households to spend more on basic foodstuffs compared to similar purchases before economic recession. Practical implications: The reduction in purchasing power of naira affected the formal and informal sector. Irregular salary for civil servants reduced their expenditure on goods and services. Originality/value: The study is original and topical, serving as literature of accounts that transpired among the households as far as demand for basic foodstuffs is concerned during the economic recession.
Impact of big data analytics capabilities on supply chain sustainability. A case study of Iran
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model to explain the impact of big data analytics capabilities (BDAC) on company’s supply chain sustainability (CSCS). The secondary objective of the study is to assess the relationship between different dimensions of supply chain sustainability and companies’ BDAC. Design/methodology/approach: This research was carried out by conducting a survey among 234 pharmaceutical companies in Iran (a case study of Iran), using a standard questionnaire of BDAC and United Nations (UN) online self-assessment on supply chain sustainability. However, the respond of managers of 188 companies were usable in this research. Smart PLS3 was used to employ partial least squares method to examine the validity and reliability of the measurement and structural model. Findings: The results of this study demonstrate that BDAC have a strong impact on both pharmaceutical supply chain sustainability, and the dimensions including vision, engage and internal. It is found that the relationships between BDAC and the other dimensions of supply chain sustainability including expect, scope and goals are not significant but positive. Research limitations/implications: Research on the relationship between BDAC and CSCS, especially in the pharmaceutical supply chain, is scanty, and this gap is highlighted in developing countries and the pharmaceutical supply chain that plays a prominent role in public health. This paper discusses several important barriers to forming a sustainable supply chain and strong BDA capabilities. Practical implications: This paper could be a guide to managers and consultants who are involved in big data analytics and sustainable development. Since UN urges companies do the online self-assessment, the results of this paper would be attractive and useful for UN global compact specialists. Originality/value: No study has directly measured the relation between BDAC and CSCS and different dimensions of CSCS, using a comprehensive survey throughout all pharmaceutical companies in Iran. Moreover, this research assesses the different dimensions of BDA capabilities and supply chain sustainability. This paper represents the facts about situation of sustainability of pharmaceutical supply chain and BDAC in these companies, and discloses several related issues that are serious barriers to forming a sustainable supply chain and strong BDAC. In addition, this paper provided academic support for UN questionnaire about CSCS and used it in the survey.
A conceptual examination of Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma models for managing waste in manufacturing SMEs
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine and evaluate various Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma (LSS) models proposed by various researchers, which have been implemented in manufacturing organizations. Design/methodology/approach: The present study has followed three major steps in methodology. In the first step, pooling of various research articles has been done, followed by development of the primary results. At the final step, analysis and development of the LSS model have been performed. Findings: This paper evaluated and examined various models of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and LSS and developed an advanced LSS model that can be deployed in any manufacturing organization with the purpose of scrap reduction. Originality/value: The findings of this study will assist shop floor managers to implement an LSS model in their organizations, which can effectively reduce the waste and enhance the overall productivity and quality of the manufactured products.
An investigation of barriers to waste management techniques implemented in Indian manufacturing industries using analytical hierarchy process
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify the various barriers in the implementation of waste management techniques in manufacturing organizations. Design/methodology/approach: In this study, 121 SMEs of the manufacturing sector have been extensively surveyed, to assess the relative impact of barriers in the waste management technique in a manufacturing organization. Further, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) has been used to identify the most significant barriers. Findings: Major barriers in the implementation of a waste management technique in a manufacturing organization have been identified and their weightage has been calculated through the AHP model. Originality/value: This study will assist the floor managers in manufacturing organizations to identify the major barriers and to plan accordingly for the adequate implementation of waste management technique.
The collaborative roles of the government and private sector to foster innovation in Bahrain
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the government and private sector collaboration by focusing on their roles in influencing the innovation activities crucial for the development of a knowledge economy (KE) in Bahrain. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative methodology based on an explorative single multi-unit case study strategy was used with individual and focus group interviews as primary sources of data collection. Perspectives of 22 individuals and three focus groups involving participants working in private, semi-government and government sectors that influence the economy of Bahrain were collected along with reports and articles published regarding those sectors as second sources of data compilation. Findings: The preliminary findings show that Bahrain’s pursuit of a KE has already begun by the government developing policies and regulations for the financial sector to innovate in financial technology (FinTech). It was also found that in order for innovation processes and products to be developed further in Bahrain, the government had to play a stronger role in promoting, facilitating and incentivizing those processes and developments. The role of the private sector emerged as the sole producer of innovation and the main entity responsible for producing innovative products and services that would inject direct values into the commercial economy of the innovation ecosystem. Originality/value: This is the first study that examines the influence of collaboration between the government and the private sector on innovation development in Bahrain. This research also provides an assessment tool that can serve as the groundwork for studies in the Gulf Cooperative Council countries since those countries share similar culture, language, religion and a hydrocarbon-dependent economy as Bahrain and are aiming to develop KE strategies.
Justification of synergistic implementation of TQM-SCM using fuzzy-based simulation model
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the contribution of significant factors in the success of supply chain management (SCM) implementation and in synergistic approach (SCM-TQM) terms of business performance of Indian medium- and large-scale manufacturing industry. Design/methodology/approach: This research paper deploys the fuzzy inference system (fuzzy logic tool box) to evaluate the success of SCM and synergistic approach’s implementation. For this purpose, significant factors for each SCM approach as well as synergistic approach are identified from relevant literature and validated by industry experts. Findings: The results of fuzzy rule viewer and surface view tool of fuzzy tool box in MATLAB have highlighted that synergistic approach is better as compared to SCM approach. Furthermore, top management support and leadership role, SCM issues and total quality management (TQM) issues have emerged as significant predictor variables for successful synergistic implementation of TQM-SCM in Indian industries. Originality/value: TQM and SCM are considered as performance improvement techniques by the manufacturing organizations. The present research work establishes that combined (TQM-SCM) initiatives have contributed more as compared to only SCM approach in the business performance of Indian manufacturing industry. So, the study stresses upon the need for improving coordination between various manufacturing parameters as well as competitive dimensions of TQM and SCM paradigms to enjoy higher potential of business performance.
By applying an ARDL bounds testing approach and causality test to investigate the electricity consumption and production with economic growth. Empirical evidence from Pakistan
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore and investigate the electricity consumption and production and its linkage to economic growth in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach: The authors used an augmented Dickey–Fuller unit root test to check the stationarity of the variables, while an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach and causality test were applied to investigate the variables long-term association with the economic growth. Findings: The study results show that electricity consumption in the agriculture, commercial and industrial sector has significant association with economic growth, while electricity consumption in the household and street lights demonstrate a non-significant association with the economic growth. Furthermore, results also exposed that electricity production from coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, nuclear and oil sources have significant association with the economic growth of Pakistan. Originality/value: This study made a contribution to the literature regarding electricity consumption and production with economic growth in Pakistan by using an ARDL bounds testing approach and causality test. This study provides a guideline to the government of Pakistan that possible steps are needed to improve the electricity production and supply to fulfill the country demand.
Neo Ekistics for flood mitigation in cities
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the potential of ecologically driven urban design interventions to substantiate urban form performance in coping with the increasing flood threats particularly in the Middle East region. The paper applies ecological principles to new urban interventions for pluvial flood adaptation in Muscat city, Oman. The interventions incorporate the physical dimensions of both the natural (topography) and the built environment (urban morphology). The study demonstrates different scenarios in Muscat city in Oman and discusses the different challenges faced at different socio-economic and ecological levels. Design/methodology/approach: The paper adopts a case study approach. The methods include semi-structured interviews aiming to gain insight from experts in the field of study about salient physical interventions in the urban context that is potentially going to help mitigating flood consequences. Mitigation scenarios were guided by the participants’ recommendations in the area. Scenarios were tested across two complementary phases using two software packages, the first of which is the pre-processing phase accomplished by using the Aeronautical Reconnaissance Coverage Geographic Information System and the second is the flood analysis phase done by the Hydrological Environmental Center for River Analysis System (HECRAS) platform. The scenarios were evaluated in relation to the successfulness and reliability of physical solutions based on to which extent the flood wave depth and coverage was reduced. Findings: The paper provides an alternative resilient holistic approach to achieve socially and ecologically sensitive and less expensive flood mitigation solutions in the Middle East. Originality/value: The paper provides a new approach to flood mitigation linking ecological principles to the social dimension of human activities and experience in closely knitted communities.