Research on Innovation and Strategic Risk Management in Manufacturing Firms

Chinese manufacturing companies in Bangladesh are committed to achieving optimal investment policy for investors in different industries. The purpose of this research is the strategic risk assessment; where the research approach involves collecting qualitative data through questionnaire survey and compute variables with programmed Rough Set Theory. Researchers have identified a set of key internal and external strategic uncertainties and also accessed the most important attributes from strategic risks. Here, Sector regulation, changing the tax law and organizational governance as the most degree of risk factors in strategic risk analysis. Overall, the focus of our research is to identify strategic risk attributes and proposed a risk assessment framework by demonstrating empirical study analysis of specific industries in Bangladesh those are directly invested by Chinese investors

The circular economy and sustainability: a systematic literature review

The interest of this study lies in the fact that the transition from a linear to a circular economy is of key interest in relevant business and academic fields, although the circular economy is an emerging issue and theoretical and empirical research has been limited until recently. However, circular business models are receiving more and more attention, and it is therefore strategically necessary to develop tools that facilitate their implementation. Therefore, because of increasing interest amongst research in the circular economy and sustainability, the purpose of the present study and its strength lies in the systematic presentation of both of these specific academic streams. The approach was qualitative and based on a systematic literature review. We examined several areas in which the circular economy has a place. We highlight sustainability, consumer behaviour, innovation, remanufacturing, operations management, supply chains, intellectual capital, 3D printing, big data, and recycling. We also consider drivers, challenges, the relationship between circular economy and small to medium-sized enterprises, and the influence of circular economy in specific sectors such as textiles and food. It is hoped that the study will facilitate a possible sustainable solution that contrasts with the current linear model of production and resource management. The circular economy has the potential to create positive synergies in economic, social, and environmental areas, despite its recent origin © 2022, Cuadernos de Gestion.All Rights Reserve

La economía circular y la sostenibilidad: una revisión sistemática de la literatura

[EN] The interest of this study lies in the fact that the transition from a linear to a circular economy is of key interest in relevant business and academic fields, although the circular economy is an emerging issue and theoretical and empirical research has been limited until recently. However, circular business models are receiving more and more attention, and it is therefore strategically necessary to develop tools that facilitate their implementation. Therefore, because of increasing interest amongst research in the circular economy and sustainability, the purpose of the present study and its strength lies in the systematic presentation of both of these specific academic streams. The approach was qualitative and based on a systematic literature review. We examined several areas in which the circular economy has a place. We highlight sustainability, consumer behaviour, innovation, remanufacturing, operations management, supply chains, intellectual capital, 3D printing, big data, and recycling. We also consider drivers, challenges, the relationship between circular economy and small to medium-sized enterprises, and the influence of circular economy in specific sectors such as textiles and food. It is hoped that the study will facilitate a possible sustainable solution that contrasts with the current linear model of production and resource management. The circular economy has the potential to create positive synergies in economic, social, and environmental areas, despite its recent origin.[ES] El interés del presente estudio radica en que la transición de una economía lineal a una circular tiene gran influencia tanto en los ámbitos empresariales como en los académicos, aunque la economía circular es un tema emergente y la investigación teórica y empírica ha sido limitada hasta hace poco. Si bien, los modelos empresariales circulares están recibiendo cada vez más atención, por lo que es estratégicamente necesario desarrollar herramientas que faciliten su aplicación. Por ello, debido al creciente interés de la investigación hacia la economía circular en términos de sostenibilidad, el objetivo del presente estudio y su principal fortaleza reside en la presentación sistemática de estas dos corrientes académicas específicas. El enfoque aplicado fue cualitativo y se basó en una revisión sistemática de la literatura. Estudiamos varias áreas en las que la economía circular tiene cabida. Entre ellas destacamos la sostenibilidad, el comportamiento de los consumidores, la innovación, la remanufacturación, la gestión de operaciones, las cadenas de suministro, el capital intelectual, la impresión 3D, el big data y el reciclaje. También consideramos los impulsores y los retos, existentes entre la economía circular y las pequeñas y medianas empresas, así como la influencia de la economía circular en sectores específicos como el textil y el alimentario. Se espera que este estudio proporcione una visión sostenible que contrasta con el actual modelo lineal de producción y gestión de recursos; ya que la economía circular tiene el potencial de crear sinergias positivas en los ámbitos económico, social y medioambiental, a pesar de su reciente origen.We acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and FEDER (project ECO2017-85451-R), and from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (SIA: 998758 2019)

Making Rules, Making Tools: How Can Shape Grammar Support Creative Making?

Design theory has previously studied the practices of architects, industrial designers and engineers. Designer-makers, designers who work independently, designing and making objects with close attention to tools and materials, have not been similarly studied. A renewed interest in craft and making, in part catalysed by new computational and digital fabrication tools at designer’s disposal, strengthens the case for studying successful design-through-making processes. An analogy between rules transforming shapes and tools transforming material provided the initial indication that concepts from shape grammar could be aligned with making processes, to potentially support creative making and deliver new theoretical and applied knowledge for both spheres. The first part of the thesis examines shape grammar theory as a method of modelling designer-maker creative episodes, to inform designer practice. Evidence was gathered from interviews with designer-makers, observations from a design process carried out by the author and other literature on designer-makers. This evidence was analysed in the context of shape grammar and established creativity literature in order to seek formal descriptions of creative episodes. It was found that designer-makers used tools to define personal and shared design worlds and focussed on and undertook specific activities relating to tools which have been classified; tool selection, tool combination and tool transformation, all of which have creative potential. Tool transformation was found to have further scope for definition and it was found that designers can perform parametric, functional and reformatting transformations on tools to produce new and useful design outcomes. Shape grammar schemas were found to provide useful descriptors for the operations performed by designer-makers on tools. The second part of the thesis inquires if shape grammar as a design method can support creative computational making, by specifically exploring the use of shape grammar weights, a way of modelling material properties alongside shape operations, as a tool for generating designs for multi-material 3D printing. A number of design reasoning and computational making experiments were carried out and the process and results reported and considered. The outcome is a range of specified weights systems and a general schema for defining and using weights as tool for managing material properties for multi-material 3D printing that can be used and transformed by computational makers. The general weights schema also extends previous theoretical definitions of shape grammar weights. This part of the thesis also demonstrated the importance of tool development and transformation as a basis for creative episodes in design-through-making processes

An integrated recycling approach for GFRP pultrusion wastes: recycling and reuse assessment into new composite materials using Fuzzy Boolean Nets

In this study, efforts were made in order to put forward an integrated recycling approach for the thermoset based glass fibre reinforced polymer (GPRP) rejects derived from the pultrusion manufacturing industry. Both the recycling process and the development of a new cost-effective end-use application for the recyclates were considered. For this purpose, i) among the several available recycling techniques for thermoset based composite materials, the most suitable one for the envisaged application was selected (mechanical recycling); and ii) an experimental work was carried out in order to assess the added-value of the obtained recyclates as aggregates and reinforcement replacements into concrete-polymer composite materials. Potential recycling solution was assessed by mechanical behaviour of resultant GFRP waste modified concrete-polymer composites with regard to unmodified materials. In the mix design process of the new GFRP waste based composite material, the recyclate content and size grade, and the effect of the incorporation of an adhesion promoter were considered as material factors and systematically tested between reasonable ranges. The optimization process of the modified formulations was supported by the Fuzzy Boolean Nets methodology, which allowed finding the best balance between material parameters that maximizes both flexural and compressive strengths of final composite. Comparing to related end-use applications of GFRP wastes in cementitious based concrete materials, the proposed solution overcome some of the problems found, namely the possible incompatibilities arisen from alkalis-silica reaction and the decrease in the mechanical properties due to high water-cement ratio required to achieve the desirable workability. Obtained results were very promising towards a global cost-effective waste management solution for GFRP industrial wastes and end-of-life products that will lead to a more sustainable composite materials industry

Fuzzy algorithm applied to factors influencing competitiveness: A case study of Brazil and Peru through affinities theory

Innovation plays a crucial role in the economy of nations worldwide. In Latin America, countries foster competitiveness through public and private incentives to support innovation. Moreover, entrepreneurship incentives seek to improve countries’ performance, although factors such as low business growth rates and informality can compromise it. Despite the efforts, there are several difficulties in achieving competitiveness, and few studies in developing countries. Therefore, the article explores the relationship between the factors that influence competitiveness, especially the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in Brazil and Peru. The research uses quantitative-qualitative methodology through modeling and simulation and a case study. The authors use the Affinities Theory to verify the relationship between the indicators that make up the competitiveness landscape and its most significant and attractive factors, adapting the methodology established by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness ranking. As a result, this algorithm allows us to know the relationships between five factors of economic attractiveness and four competitiveness indicators. As its main contributions, the study advances the frontier of knowledge about innovation and entrepreneurship, as few studies explore competitiveness in developing countries. Also, it offers a detailed explanation of the application of this algorithm, allowing researchers to reproduce this methodology in other scenarios. Practically, it might support policymakers in formulating development strategies and stimuli for business competitiveness. In addition, academic and business leaders can strengthen university-business collaboration with applied research in innovation and entrepreneurship. One limitation would be the number of countries participating in the research. The authors suggest future lines of research.Project number 522RT0130 in Programa Ibero-americano de Ciências y Tecnologia para el Desarrolho (CYTED)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An analysis of the theory- and employment-demands on mathematics for electrical engineering programmes at technikons

A preliminary study indicated a degree of dissatisfaction with the present mathematics curriculum at technikons amongst academic staff members of technikons as well as members of the electrical-engineering industry. The hypothesis of this study is that the present mathematics curricula for electrical-engineering at technikons are not fully compatible with the demands emanating from the theoretical and the industrial-training (in-service or workplace) components of the training of electrical-engineering technicians. The intent of this study is, firstly, to propose a framework of thought supporting engineering-mathematics curriculum-change in the context of electrical-engineering programmes as offered at technikons. The actual formulation of the syllabus content is supported by a curriculum-change model which takes cognisance of both the theoretical-demands and the workplace- demands in accordance with the aims of co-operative education espoused by technikons in South Africa. Secondly, a literature study of relevant past research leads to the development of a research methodology sympathetic to the present philosophy of technikon education for engineering-technicians in the country. The research methodology involves, firstly, a questionnaire response from practising engineers and technicians. Secondly, it involves the gathering of suggestions from technikon academic staff and the analysis thereof by a work-group representative of all technikons, and led by the researcher. Thirdly, seventy-nine (79) reference-texts to the electrical-engineering programmes (study-levels 1 to 4), offered at the Peninsula Technikon, were analysed for its mathematical content. The research findings supports the hypothesis. The thesis culminates in set of recommendations with regard to the applicability and composition of mathematics syllabi for electrical-engineering programmes at technikons

Smart contract and web dapp for tracing sustainability indicators in the textile and clothing value chain

Mestrado em Engenharia Informática na Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão do Instituto Politécnico de Viana do CasteloNa sociedade atual, o têxtil e vestuário é um dos maiores setores de mercado do mundo. O rápido crescimento desta indústria está a ter impactos sem precedentes na sustentabilidade do planeta, respondendo por consequências negativas ambientais, sociais e de saúde. As tendências da fast-fashion, juntamente com a falta de transparência na cadeia de valor têxtil global, somam-se a cenários desfavoráveis para o mundo, à medida que os níveis crescentes de poluição e consumo de recursos dentro da cadeia de valor atingem máximos históricos a cada ano que passa. O ciclo de vida de uma peça de roupa precisa de se adaptar a um modelo económico regenerativo em vez de linear, que acaba no equivalente a um caminhão de lixo de produtos têxteis sendo descartado num aterro sanitário a cada segundo [1]. Não só as indústrias precisam de reformular os seus processos para circularizar as suas cadeias de valor e promover ações sustentáveis, mas também os consumidores precisam de participar do processo de manter os produtos no círculo da cadeia de valor, pois cabe a eles decidir o destino final de um produto vestuário aquando o seu fim da vida útil. Com estas questões em mente, esta dissertação visa desenvolver duas soluções que possam mitigar os problemas a cima mencionados e promover ações sustentáveis rumo a uma economia circular na cadeia de valor do têxtil e vestuário. Uma solução business-to-business baseada em smart contracts do Hyperledger Fabric para gerir a cadeia de valor do têxtil e vestuário com funcionalidade de rastreabilidade foi desenvolvida como prova de conceito para apoiar as reivindicações de sustentabilidade dos participantes na cadeia de valor, da fibra à peça final de vestuário. A actual funcionabilidade de rastreabilidade desenvolvida no smart contract fornece aos operadores da cadeia de valor a capacidade de rastrear um lote até à sua origem, contudo, também limita a escalabilidade devido ao aumento exponencial do tamanho do bloco, especialmente se considerarmos uma cadeia de valor circular. Para os consumidores, foi proposta uma aplicação descentralizada business-to-consumer-to-consumer com elementos de eco-gamificação para promover o envolvimento e motivação do utilizador para a realização de tarefas que contribuam para a adoção de uma economia circular na cadeia de valor do têxtil e vestuário. Após testar a usabilidade da aplicação com o questionário AttrakDiff, concluiu-se que o sistema precisa de focar a sua usabilidade em prol de um produto orientado à tarefa em vez da orientação pessoal atual da aplicação a fim de promover ações que contribuam para a economia circular da cadeia de valor do têxtil e vestuário.In today’s society, Textile and Clothing (T&C) is one of the biggest market sectors world wide.The sheer size and fast growth of this industry is having unprecedented impacts on sustainability, accounting for negative environmental, social and health consequences. The fast-fashion trends along side the lack of transparency in the global T&C value chain add up to unfavorable scenarios for the world as the increas- ing levels of pollution and resource consumption within the value chain reach historic highs with every year that passes. The lifecycle of a clothing item needs to adapt to a regenerative economic model instead of a linear one that ends up in the equivalent of a garbage truck full of textiles being disposed into a landfill every second [1]. Not only do the industries need to revamp their processes to circularize their value chains and promote sustainable actions, but the consumers also need to partake in the process of keeping the products in the value chain loop as it is up to them to make the final decision upon the end-of-life of an item of clothing. With these issues in mind,this dissertation aims to develop two solutions that can mitigate the aforementioned problems and promote sustainable actions towards a circular economy in the T&C value chain. A Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Business-to-Business (B2B) T&C value chainmanagement smart contract solution builton Hyperledger Fabric with traceability features was developed to support the sustainability claims of participants in the value chain, from fiber to garment. The current traceability feature developed into the smart contract provides value chain operators the capabilities to trace a batch back to its origin, however, it also constraints scalability due to the exponential in crease in block size specially if considering a circular value chain. For the consumers, a Business-to-Consumer-to-Consumer (B2C2C) Decentralized Application (DApp) was proposed with eco-gamification elements fo rpromoting the user’s engagement and motivation to complete tasks that contribute for the adoption of a circular economy in the T&C value chain. After testing the consumer DApp’s usability with the AttrakDiff survey, it was concluded that the system needs to focus it susability towards a task-oriented product instead of the current self-oriented results in order to promote actions that contribute to the circular economy of the T&C value chain