Firm Resources, Environmental Perceptions, Business-level Strategies and Firm Performance

Firm Resources, Environmental Perceptions, Business-level Strategies and Firm Performance PDF Author: James George Almeida
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Firm Resources, Environmental Perceptions, Business-level Strategies and Firm Performance

Firm Resources, Environmental Perceptions, Business-level Strategies and Firm Performance PDF Author: James George Almeida
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Key Factors of Sustainable Firm Performance

Key Factors of Sustainable Firm Performance PDF Author: Mustafa Emre Civelek
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 1609620747
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 175

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Book Description
The uncertainty and volatility of modern commercial environments have shifted the foundations of business success and survival. Key factors that affect firm performance and determine sustainability now include knowledge creation, knowledge management, uncertainty management, organizational intelligence, and supply chain administration. This book proposes an analytical approach to identifying and enhancing these critical factors and describes how firms can exploit their strengths and compensate for their disadvantages. Sustaining business success requires competitive strategies that are rational and analytical. Firms that know their goals have an advantage over their rivals; those that can innovate and incorporate the knowledge they develop will prosper, even in the most competitive situations. Managers and business practitioners can learn from this book how to identify the key factors that make their firms effective and successful, and how to ensure they remain sustainable over time.

Environmental Innovation and Firm Performance

Environmental Innovation and Firm Performance PDF Author: Javier Amores Salvadó
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 1137264047
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 139

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Book Description
The links between a firm's competitiveness and the natural environment have been studied since the mid 90's. This volume explores, both theoretically and empirically, the relationships between environmental product innovation, green image and firm performance.

Strategic information systems management for environmental sustainability : enhancing firm competitiveness with Green IS

Strategic information systems management for environmental sustainability : enhancing firm competitiveness with Green IS PDF Author: Löser, Fabian
Publisher: Universitätsverlag der TU Berlin
ISBN: 3798327696
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 292

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Book Description
During the last three decades, information and communication technologies have fundamentally changed the way we work, live and communicate. The ubiquity of internet services, which become increasingly interactive and complex, together with enhanced connectivity, facilitated by innovative mobile devices, induces an ever-rising demand for computing, storage and data transmission capacities. Today, information systems (IS) constitute the backbone of the globalized economy and are indispensable for modern business and production processes. At the same time, environmental sustainability has evolved as the most pressing societal challenge of the 21st century, in particular due to the looming threats of climate change. By virtue of their global influence and reach, business companies significantly contribute to the creation of environmental problems, but owing to their organizational knowledge, capabilities and resources, they also have the capacity and ability to play a key role in shaping the path towards a more sustainable development. The companies leading the way have noticed that corporate sustainability is not necessarily a burden that negatively impacts their bottom line. If strategically managed, environmental product and process innovations can decrease operational costs, enhance corporate reputation, and differentiate from competitors. With regard to environmental sustainability, IS play a contradictory role: on the one hand, the manufacturing, operation and disposal of information technology (IT) infrastructure are responsible for serious environmental impacts: from the mining of conflict minerals to carbon dioxide emissions that equal those of the airline industry to enormous amounts of toxic e-waste. On the other hand, IS are perceived as key enablers of a "green" economy: environmental management systems and the reengineering of business processes can substantially reduce the environmental impacts of business organizations, while technological innovations provide opportunities to decrease the ecological footprint of end-user products and services. Many organizations have started to implement first environmental measures to decrease IT energy consumption and to reduce operational costs, mostly in an unstructured and uncoordinated manner though. Although Green IS practices feature a considerable potential to increase corporate environmentalism while creating promising business opportunities, the adoption of enterprise-wide cross-functional initiatives aimed at implementing Green IS has been rather slow. Economic uncertainties regarding the long-term effects of Green IS adoption and the lack of appropriate management frameworks have been identified as main inhibitors of an encompassing implementation of Green IS initiatives throughout the enterprise. In this context, this thesis addresses relevant research gaps, contributes to theory development in the evolving Green IS research discipline, develops practice-oriented management frameworks, and emphasizes the importance of following a strategic approach to leverage the competitive potential of Green IS. This cumulative thesis comprises an introduction that includes a literature review and a pre-study, four theory-based conceptual research articles, and two empirical studies, one of them building on qualitative, exploratory case study research whereas the other relies on quantitative data which has been analyzed with structural equation modeling. This thesis targets four specific research goals to advance theory-building in Green IS research and to promote the adoption of Green IS in practice. First, this thesis clarifies and defines the central terms and key concepts Green IT, Green IS, Green IS strategy, and Green IS practices drawing on a transdisciplinary research approach. Second, the most important challenges and inhibitors of Green IS adoption are identified and characterized. In particular, the lack of management frameworks, which encourage a holistic implementation that follows a strategic rationale, the complexity of strategic Green IS alignment, the multi-dimensional performance impacts of cross-functional initiatives and, above all, the uncertainty relating to the business case of Green IS practices, are identified as the most pressing challenges. Third, current actions of business firms to address these challenges are examined. Building on exploratory case study research, distinctive Green IS strategies are identified in managerial practice. Most notably, the empirical insights from quantitative survey research suggest a positive relationship between Green IS adoption and firm competitiveness, thus decreasing the economic uncertainty which inhibits the implementation of far-reaching environmental initiatives. Fourth, practice-oriented management frameworks are developed. The fine-grained Green IS strategy concept advises the formulation of strategies addressing the corporate, competitive, and functional management level. The proposed typology of four Green IS strategies illustrates distinct strategic options, from which executives can choose under consideration of their competitive targets and the firm-specific context. To allow for consistency of Green IS strategies, the presented alignment framework facilitates coherence with economic and environmental corporate goals. Furthermore, the actors, roles and responsibilities relevant to the alignment process are described. In addition, a management framework for the holistic adoption of Green IS, which specifies decisive management areas and distinguishes between three degrees of environmental impacts, is presented along with a comprehensive catalogue of Green IS implementation measures. As a consequence, this research offers both empirical insights and conceptual models to advance the adoption of Green IS initiatives, thus meeting the challenges of climate change and turning corporate sustainability into a business opportunity. Informationssysteme (IS) zeigen in Bezug auf ökologische Nachhaltigkeit gegensätzliche Eigenschaften. Einerseits verursachen die Herstellung, der Betrieb sowie die Entsorgung von Informationstechnologie (IT) – Infrastrukturen schwerwiegende negative Umweltauswirkungen: Vom Abbau von Konfliktmineralien über Kohlendioxidemissionen bis hin zu beträchtlichen Mengen giftigen Elektroschrotts. Andererseits werden IS als Schlüsseltechnologien für eine nachhaltige Wirtschaft gesehen. Umweltmanagementsysteme und die Umgestaltung von Geschäftsprozessen können den ökologischen Fußabdruck von Organisationen bedeutend verringern. Zudem eröffnen technologische Innovationen neuartige Möglichkeiten, die Umweltauswirkungen von Produkten und Dienstleistungen über den gesamten Lebenszyklus hinweg zu senken. Zahlreiche Organisationen haben damit begonnen, einzelne Green-IT-Maßnahmen zu implementieren um den Energieverbrauch und operative Kosten zu senken. Allerdings verfolgen die meisten Unternehmen hierbei keinen strukturierten oder strategischen Ansatz. Obwohl Green-IS-Initiativen beachtliche Potentiale zur Verbesserung der ökologischen Nachhaltigkeit von Organisationen bieten und gleichzeitig vielversprechende wirtschaftliche Chancen eröffnen, schreitet die Umsetzung von bereichsübergreifenden Green-IS-Maßnahmen in Unternehmen nur langsam voran. Ökonomische Unsicherheiten in Bezug auf die Rentabilität derartiger Maßnahmen sowie der Mangel an adäquaten Management-Frameworks werden in diesem Zusammenhang als zentrale Hinderungsgründe für eine strategische und ganzheitliche Umsetzung von Green-IS-Initiativen identifiziert. Diese Dissertation adressiert diese Hinderungsgründe, schafft Schlüsselkonzepte für den neuen Green-IS-Forschungszweig, entwickelt praxisorientierte Management-Frameworks und hebt die Bedeutung eines strategischen Ansatzes bei der Implementierung von Green IS hervor. Diese Forschungsarbeit offeriert empirische Einblicke wie auch konzeptionelle Modelle um die Umsetzung ganzheitlicher Green-IS-Initiativen in Organisationen voranzutreiben. Unternehmen haben somit die Chance, den Herausforderungen des Klimawandels verantwortungsvoll zu begegnen und gleichzeitig durch eine nachhaltige Unternehmensführung Wettbewerbsvorteile zu generieren.

Perception of Environment, Strategic Choice and Firm Performance

Perception of Environment, Strategic Choice and Firm Performance PDF Author: Mzamo P. Mangaliso
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The underlying tenet of this study was that perception of the environment and firm performance influences executives' propensity to choose a given strategy. Hypotheses were formulated and tested using senior executives from the largest corporations in South Africa, and from the largest U.S. firms with operations in South Africa. Data were collected through a mail questionnaire and personal interviews conducted both in the U.S. and South Africa. One of the hypothesized relations to be significant: perception of higher performance was related to preference for entrepreneurial strategies. Another was found to be opposite what was hypothesized: distance from the subsidiary was found to have an attenuating effect on the perception of environmental turbulence.

ECIC2011-Proceedings of the 3rd European Conference on on Intellectual Capital

ECIC2011-Proceedings of the 3rd European Conference on on Intellectual Capital PDF Author: Geoff Turner
Publisher: Academic Conferences Limited
ISBN: 1906638942
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 628

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Book Description
These proceedings represent the work of presenters at the 3rd European Conference on Intellectual Capital (ECIC 2011). The Conference is hosted this year by the University of Nicosia in Cyprus. The Conference Chair is Geoff Turner from the University of Nicosia and the Programme Chair is Clemente Minonne from the School of Management and Law, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland. The opening keynote address is given by John Girard from Minot State University in the USA. John will address the question Social Knowledge: Are we ready for the future? The second day of the conference will be opened by Ludo Pyis from AREOPA in Belgium who will consider Intellectual Capital Accounting: how to measure the unmeasurable. We also look forward to a Knowledge Cafe on the topic of What intellectual capital ideas and developments do you expect to live and see? facilitated by Helen Paige from The Paige Group, South Australia.

Societal, Environmental and Stakeholder Drivers of Competitive Advantage in International Firms

Societal, Environmental and Stakeholder Drivers of Competitive Advantage in International Firms PDF Author: Salil K Sen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The configuration and context of business at the global level is transforming with the growing need for sustainability coupled with growth. The intensified competition, consumer expectations, governance imperative and natural resource crunch have driven corporate leadership to synthesize their corporate social responsibilities with corporate strategies. Investors are incorporating sustainability evaluations in their due diligence, employees adhere to firms with reputation and stakeholder pressures unfurl innovation. However, there is a distinct need for an appropriate framework for the implementation of CSR programs that dove-tail with the firm strategies. A related challenge is the diffusion of the CSRŐstrategy linkage down the line from the leadership level to the operational level. This research aims to establish a dynamic framework based on societal, environmental and stakeholder drivers of international firms, who follow best practices, and their effect on the Economic Value Added © and perceived Competitive Advantage. The distinctiveness here is the dynamic nature of the framework that companies may choose and adapt to benchmark their CSR performance periodically. In a way, the linkage between the societal, environmental and stakeholder drivers and EVA can motivate corporate leadership to adopt CSR vigorously so as to drive the firm towards sustainability through best practices with performance. The case analysis showed that Global and Asian emphasis on the value drivers are not very different and it is possible to consider a common set of Societal, Environmental and Stakeholder drivers. These drivers are applicable irrespective of Industry and location differences. This study is distinctive as it links the apparently intangible values of societal, environmental and stakeholder drivers with the measurable Economic Value Added. Another distinguishing feature of this research is that it identifies the difference between firms' internal perception of Competitive Advantage derived from the societal, environmental and stakeholder drivers and its actual effect as assessed by Economic Value Added. This research endeavored to unshackle the mere intuitive appeal of CSR and install a dynamic framework of Societal, Environmental and Stakeholder drivers' linkage with Economic Value Added and perceived Competitive Advantage for firms to adopt. When firms are aware of the relevant critical drivers, they could effectively adapt to emerging-markets. A firm could adopt a proactive stance in order to surpass compliance, to be ahead of environmental demands and to invest more environmental measures to exceed legislative demands. The company might decide to adopt a market-oriented strategy with adaptive component, by engaging with consumers, enter new markets with eco-products and reorient through constant tracking of competitors' actions. As evident from this research, firms develop codes of conduct like ethical orientation, demonstrating expected behavior, ongoing process improvement and real-time reporting. A significant implication from this research is the involvement of stakeholders in the form of drivers in a firm's strategy becomes a valuable capability which leads to perceived competitive advantage. The key drivers are not definitive. Individual companies need to review their initiatives and applicability closely. The challenge for companies is to permeate the entire hierarchy in the spirit of value adding initiatives derived from Societal, Environmental and Stakeholder drivers. The dynamic framework evolved through this research contributes towards this objective. The Societal, Environmental and Stakeholder drivers may be adapted in their own meaningful way at the ground level. The overall firm reputation could aggregate from the cumulative slices of value driven steps at the operational level and up the hierarchy. The case studies and the survey undertaken in this research study indicates the applicability of Societal, Environmental and Stakeholder drivers across regions (USA and Asia), across industries (sample firms were selected from 17 different industries), across differing levels of Gross Domestic Product (sample firms are from highly varying GDP countries). This research study contributes to the aspect of attracting investments by linking the Societal, Environmental and Stakeholder drivers with Economic Value Added (EVA). The Foreign Direct Investors closely monitor the EVA while deciding the destination for their investment capital. Firms with good reputation on product and service quality, ability to attract, develop and retain talent and have superior societal and environmental performance, attract capital resources. A significant contribution in terms of the research methodology is to highlight the role of EVA as an assessor of Competitive Advantage. EVA has the potential to become an integral entity in the strategy implementation process of a firm. Capital investors aim to maximize the company's stream of future EVAs. When linked with incentives, EVA may drive the managers to take decisions that lead to creation of value. The findings create opportunities for further research. Firms could be interested to benchmark their CSR performance and identify the critical drivers periodically. Firms with negative EVA or low positive EVA could be endeavoring to review its position. Future research could address the issue that managers face, to objectively judge the Societal, Environmental and Stakeholder drivers' impact on the creation of value. Such research would probe key processes, established systems and decision making, which would be re-aligned to create added value. The scope of future research should be broadened to include regions not included like Europe, South America and Africa. Due to the growing relevance of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) as nodal points for growth, the research must address correlations between the impact of growth on sustainability issues like global warming and societal issues like quality of life. The new growth nodes are appearing to be preferred destinations for investors. Companies are increasingly under scrutiny not only for the creation of value but for good governance that incorporates the Societal, Environmental and Stakeholder drivers. Managers are being motivated by EVA-linked rewards as a sustainable metric for performance. Customers, suppliers and network partners are valuing the reputations of companies with whom they are associated. Corporate entities who can add momentum to their core strategy with the sustainable prime movers, viz., the Societal, Environmental and Stakeholder drivers, would emerge as the successful companies of the future.

Environmental Protection and the Social Responsibility of Firms

Environmental Protection and the Social Responsibility of Firms PDF Author: Bruce L. Hay
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 113652682X
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description
Everyone agrees that firms should obey the law. But beyond what the law requires-beyond bare compliance with regulations-do firms have additional social responsibilities to commit resources voluntarily to environmental protection? How should we think about firms sacrificing profits in the social interest? Are they permitted to do so, given their fiduciary responsibilities to their shareholders? Even if permissible, is the practice sustainable, or will the competitive marketplace render such efforts and their impacts transient at best? Furthermore, is the practice, however well intended, an efficient use of social and economic resources? And, as an empirical matter, to what extent do firms already behave this way? Until now, public discussion has generated more heat than light on both the normative and positive questions surrounding corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the environmental realm. In Environmental Protection and the Social Responsibility of Firms, some of the nation‘s leading scholars in law, economics, and business examine commonly accepted assumptions at the heart of current debates on corporate social responsibility and provide a foundation for future research and policymaking.

Corporate Environmental Strategies and Value Creation

Corporate Environmental Strategies and Value Creation PDF Author: Rosita Capurro
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030672786
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 88

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Book Description
The rise of sustainability has swept away the traditional views about firms’ competitiveness, survival and profitability, advocating new approaches. Although the strategic decisions on sustainable issues become more important, many firms have erroneously narrow view of environmental strategies and related practices generally have only an outward-looking focus. In line with these considerations, this book aims to investigate the “environmental dimension” as a new “strategic variable” for contributing to strengthen the competitive positioning of firms and to increase the value creation process. The author provides a comprehensive framework for green management by highlights practices and tools to translate strategy into effective environmental ideas. The focus is on goals and actions, from a side, and on the implementation of appropriate control systems useful for monitoring the results of environmental performance, on the other. As such, the book enriches sustainability literature, offers new insights for scholars, and provides implications for practitioners involved in green management.

Dissertation Abstracts International

Dissertation Abstracts International PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Dissertations, Academic
Languages : en
Pages : 564

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