Validation of technology push strategies for achieving sustainable development in manufacturing organizations through structural equation modeling
| Date | 02 January 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/WJSTSD-08-2017-0022 |
| Pages | 72-93 |
| Published date | 02 January 2018 |
| Author | Anuj Singla,Inderpreet Singh Ahuja,APS Sethi |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management,Environmental technology & innovation |
Validation of technology push
strategies for achieving sustainable
development in manufacturing
organizations through structural
equation modeling
Anuj Singla
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran, Mohali, India
Inderpreet Singh Ahuja
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjabi University, Patiala, India, and
APS Sethi
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib, India
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to investigate and select various significant technology push (TP)
strategies affecting sustainable development in manufacturing organizations. The study deploys structural
equation modeling (SEM) technique to empirically validate the interrelationships amongst significant TP
strategies and sustainable development indicators in SEM-TP Model.
Design/methodology/approach –Confirmatory factor analysis approach is utilized to generate an
effective SEM-TP Model by using AMOS 21 (Analysis of Moment Structures) software. The data have been
collected from different manufacturing organizations practicing TP strategies, using a well-framed TP
questionnaire for the evolution of SEM-TP Model.
Findings –SEM modeling of various TP strategies like, innovative capability (IC), research and
development, corporate strategy (CS) and export orientation towards achieving sustainable development in
manufacturing industries has been performed. SEM-TP Model has been planned and reports obtained before
and after modification indices (MI) of the model are correlated, which further establishes improvements in
model’s effectiveness. The research concludes that two TP strategies namely, IC and CS are found to be
significant in the present context. These strategies have emerged as a foundation for several development
initiatives and actively support manufacturing industries in achieving sustainable development. The results
obtained from final model may support organizational managers and TP practitioners to improve the overall
performance of manufacturing industries involved in the present study. The manufacturing enterprises will
be able to frame or enhance their corporate strategies and innovative capabilities in a more appropriate way.
Research limitations/implications –In the present study, contributions of TP practices are determined to
accomplish sustainable development in manufacturing industries. Otherwise, issue-wise independent
modeling can also be performed to assess the importance of TP practices towards achieving quality and
sustainable development under specific orientations.
Practical implications –The research gives priority to enhancement in the coordination among various
TP practices and sustainable development parameters in the industries, to inculcate TP as a crucial strategy
to meet challenges in global markets.
Social implications –It has been exhibited from model that adequate TP strategies can effectively
contribute towards recognition of sustainable development to compete in the highly progressive markets.
The results of various interrelationships among TP practices and sustainable development indicators in SEM-TP
Model portray the effectiveness of TP practices for accomplishment of organizational and social ambitions.
Originality/value –The outcomes of the study will help organizational managers, HR executives and TP
practitioners in manufacturing industries to know about the significant TP strategies to be followed
holistically for achieving sustainable development.
Keywords Sustainable development, Structural equation modeling, Confirmatory factor analysis,
Manufacturing industries, Technology push strategies
Paper type Research paper
World Journal of Science,
Technology and Sustainable
Development
Vol. 15 No. 1, 2018
pp. 72-93
© Emerald PublishingLimited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/WJSTSD-08-2017-0022
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5945.htm
72
WJSTSD
15,1
1. Introduction
1.1 Context of research
Technology can be defined by a number of ways, most of which gives a description of
manufacturing and product development industries. Martino (1983) suggested that
technology is an overall utilization of means to provide commodities essential for corporal
sustainability and contentment. Zhao and Reisman (1992) contribute to the definition of
technology as per social planning, management and business. On the whole, technology
denotes a vast area of persistent application of dimensions of the real life. It contains the
whole thought of methodology applied on different spheres with their aggregate hardware
and programing elements. As per Gregson (1994) new technology is frequently used to
displace the old one. Technology is a stimulant for change. However, the change that results
can be observed separately (as positive or negative) by different individuals or groups
depending upon their approach with reference to change. Riccaboni and Pammolli (2003)
analyzed connection among technical systems, local correspondence, and the global
network of industries. Abbasi et al. (2017) discussed the findings of research conducted
between 2013 and 2016, based on the promotion of technology layout for the creative
industries. The roadmap presented in their work was built based on input from communities
of creative and information and communication technologies (ICT) during the validation
phases of the research. Therefore, the study is directed towards the development of latest
technologies and related business models and expertise, and provides guidance for making
strategies in this regard.
The Technology push (TP) strategy drives the product coordination philosophy of “if we
build it, they will adopt it”owing to a number of fields. The TP strategies set up a discussion
among technology managers about the fundamental principles and their driving forces.
It was inferred that innovation is motivated by science and that consecutively stimulate
technology (Chidamber and Kon, 1994). TP indicates that technology has independent
objectives, which depends on determinants of technology (Howells, 1997). There are many
definitions of sustainability which have been proposed by various researchers over the time.
According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainable
development is a procedure of advancement where the utilization of assets, command on
investments, arrangement of technological development (TD) and corporate revolution,
are made persistent with subsequent and existing requirements. Sustainable development is
arising as a world-wide key perception that we must acknowledge to accommodate
socio-economical, technological and environmental challenges (Jovane et al., 2008).
The manufacturing industries have witnessed many challenges in last four decades,
involving drastic changes in innovative capability (IC), research and development (RD),
corporate strategy (CS), export orientation (EO), flexibility, customer satisfaction (CSA) and
other related issues. These challenges are compelling the manufacturing organizations to
adopt innovative methodology to develop new products, and to exploit sustainable
manufacturing tools and techniques efficiently (Bogue, 2014).
1.2 Structural equation modeling (SEM) in manufacturing industries
Modeling of industrial manufacturing processes bears severe complications due to
association with a number of independent variables. The independent variables
(TP strategies) have strong impact on dependent variables (sustainable development
indicators). Moreover, independent variables interact with each other and more
approximations are needed to favorably model the production process. A conceptual
theoretical structure called SEM was developed in 1970s to discover relationships among
various independent and dependent variables. In addition to this, few researchers practiced
SEM in their research. Vinodh and Joy (2012) used SEM in sustainable manufacturing
practices and they studied sustainable manufacturing practices across various industrial
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Structural
equation
modeling
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