4,045 research outputs found

    Graduate Catalog of Studies, 2023-2024

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    An empirical investigation of the relationship between integration, dynamic capabilities and performance in supply chains

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    This research aimed to develop an empirical understanding of the relationships between integration, dynamic capabilities and performance in the supply chain domain, based on which, two conceptual frameworks were constructed to advance the field. The core motivation for the research was that, at the stage of writing the thesis, the combined relationship between the three concepts had not yet been examined, although their interrelationships have been studied individually. To achieve this aim, deductive and inductive reasoning logics were utilised to guide the qualitative study, which was undertaken via multiple case studies to investigate lines of enquiry that would address the research questions formulated. This is consistent with the author’s philosophical adoption of the ontology of relativism and the epistemology of constructionism, which was considered appropriate to address the research questions. Empirical data and evidence were collected, and various triangulation techniques were employed to ensure their credibility. Some key features of grounded theory coding techniques were drawn upon for data coding and analysis, generating two levels of findings. These revealed that whilst integration and dynamic capabilities were crucial in improving performance, the performance also informed the former. This reflects a cyclical and iterative approach rather than one purely based on linearity. Adopting a holistic approach towards the relationship was key in producing complementary strategies that can deliver sustainable supply chain performance. The research makes theoretical, methodological and practical contributions to the field of supply chain management. The theoretical contribution includes the development of two emerging conceptual frameworks at the micro and macro levels. The former provides greater specificity, as it allows meta-analytic evaluation of the three concepts and their dimensions, providing a detailed insight into their correlations. The latter gives a holistic view of their relationships and how they are connected, reflecting a middle-range theory that bridges theory and practice. The methodological contribution lies in presenting models that address gaps associated with the inconsistent use of terminologies in philosophical assumptions, and lack of rigor in deploying case study research methods. In terms of its practical contribution, this research offers insights that practitioners could adopt to enhance their performance. They can do so without necessarily having to forgo certain desired outcomes using targeted integrative strategies and drawing on their dynamic capabilities

    Ideas Explosion! How Church Can Create More Ideas

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    In this project, I am addressing my NPO: A healthy church nurtures a culture of humble exploration and responsive innovation. One of the key findings is that there is not enough material focused on how a healthy church can process and explore ideas. In addition, church leaders often feel ill-equipped for a process that requires creativity. Believing that God made everyone creative, especially the church, this project is a book that details a system to explore ideas, properly discern strengths and weaknesses, and prepare leaders to make informed decisions. I created the Gather-Discern-Decide (GDD) Process from research findings, personal experiences, and feedback to guide ideation for churches. The project targets pastors and church leaders with 400 or fewer members in congregationally led systems. The book currently contains six chapters plus an introduction and a conclusion. Part 1 (chapters 1 and 2) of the book seeks to establish humanity’s partnership with God in the works of creation. It includes four values that a healthy ideation process reinforces in a congregation. Part 2 (chapters 3-6) details the GDD Process and its ability to leverage low-risk creative endeavors into larger, risky church goals. The GDD Process helps build a culture of humble exploration and responsive innovation

    The integration of circular economy within corporate sustainability reporting: towards a framewok

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    Apesar da adoção crescente de iniciativas de desenvolvimento sustentável, as economias baseadas no consumo e na extração de materiais e energia não conseguem abordar questões globais como o esgotamento de recursos, as alterações climáticas e a perda de biodiversidade. Como resultado, académicos e decisores políticos têm procurado vias alternativas para a criação de valor económico e social, e que ao mesmo tempo minimizem os impactes ambientais negativos. O modelo de economia circular (EC) de produção e consumo, que promete transformar os sistemas económicos lineares, tem vindo a ser rapidamente integrado nas iniciativas de sustentabilidade organizacional. As empresas estão cada vez mais sensibilizadas para a transição para a EC, encarando como uma oportunidade para implementar práticas inovadoras de responsabilidade social. Este compromisso crescente das empresas em melhorar a implementação de estratégias e práticas de EC exige o desenvolvimento de directrizes para assegurar uma comunicação externa consistente e eficaz. Os relatórios de sustentabilidade permitem às empresas mostrar não só ocompromisso com a sustentabilidade, mas também aumentar a transparência das actividades empresariais. À medida que os modelos de EC ganham presença no sector privado, os relatórios continuam a ser um canal de interação privilegiada com as partes interessadas, assegurarando que as empresas estão a ser responsabilizadas pela implementação dosobjectivos de sustentabilidade assumidos. Na ausência de directrizes “normalizadas” para avaliar e comunicar a internalização da circularidade na organização, não está a ser aproveitado todo o potencial da utilização de relatórios como instrumento de apoio à transição para a sustentabilidade organizacional. As evidências existentes sugerem uma baixa inclusão da EC nos relatórios de sustentabilidade, e reforçam a existência de lacunas de investigação significativas sobre a intersecção da EC com os relatórios de sustentabilidade. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho de investigação visa explorar e apoiar a a integração da EC nas práticas e abordagens associadas a relatórios de sustentabilidade nas empresas. Para atingir este objectivo principal, foram equacionados quatro objectivos específicos de investigação: 1) investigar como é que a literatura existente e as abordagens metodológicas associadas à conceção e operacionalização de relatórios de sustentabilidade orientam as empresas na integração das questões de EC nos relatórios de sustentabilidade; 2) analisar o conteúdo relacionado com EC presente nos relatórios de sustentabilidade de empresas classificadas em rankings de sustentabilidade; 3) explorar as perspectivas e experiências das empresas que divulgam conteúdos de EC nos relatórios de sustentabilidade; 4) propor recomendações para melhorar o a comunicação dos conteúdos de EC pelas empresas. Este trabalho segue uma concepção interpretativa e indutiva da investigação, utilizando métodos qualitativos e quantitativos para a recolha e análise de dados. Mais especificamente, as estratégias de investigação incluiram uma revisão sistemática da literatura, análise de conteúdo, inquéritospor questionário, entrevistas semi-estruturadas e grupos focais. A investigação ao ter sido baseada em métodos mistos, incluindo a utilização de diferentes métodos de recolha de dados, permitiu reforçar as principais conclusões obtidas neste estudo. Os principais resultados deste trabalho de investigação são consubstanciados em três artigos científicos, com o objectivo de contribuir para as discussões teóricas e práticas sobre EC em relatórios de sustentabilidade de organizações empresariais. Dos resultados do primeiro objectivo de investigação, verificou-se que a EC foi incluída apenas em cinco dos quinze modelos e abordagens de relatórios de sustentabilidade analisados, e na maioria das vezes incluídos como: i) um tema incluído voluntariamente e, apresentado como material suplementar; ou ii) discutidos dentro de um único tópico: gestão de recursos ou resíduos. Além disso, a EC é mais comummente descrita através da definição da Fundação Ellen MacArthur e a responsabilidade pela selecção dos dados da EC continua a ser da responsabilidade exclusiva da empresa, uma vez que não existem diretrizes ou normas para este efeito. As conclusões sugerem também que as empresas que procuram aconselhamento a partir destes modelos de apresentação de relatórios não irão muito provavelmente reportar as questões da EC ou descreverão apenas qualitativamente as actividades da EC sob uma perspectiva restrita, normalmente focada na gestão de resíduos. Os resultados do segundo objectivo revelaram que, embora a EC esteja a ser explicitamente mencionada em quase todos os relatórios de sustentabilidade analisados, o conteúdo de EC é muito limitado e não está presente nas diferentes componentes do relatório de sustentabilidade. Especificamente, CE é descrita na mensagem do presidente executivo em apenas 20% das empresas, e em 28% das avaliações de materialidade da empresa. Além disso, observou-se que as empresas efetuam uma ligação superficial do conteúdo da EC com os Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável, e sem qualquer justificação quantitativa para a maioria dos casos. Relativamente a objectivos e indicadores de EC, menos de um terço das empresas revelaram objectivos que focam sobretudo iniciativas de circularidade de nível estratégico e indicadores que avaliam sobretudo práticas de circularidade de escala operacional. Globalmente, estas conclusões destacam duas visões de EC no âmbito das estratégias empresariais: 1) EC é um pilar importante; ou 2) EC é uma extensão (ou substituição) de temas associados às áreas de resíduos e/ou de gestão. No âmbito do terceiro objectivo, as empresas investigadas destacaram sete factores críticos para reportar EC, bem como identificaram vários desafios e benefícios associados à comunicação externa dos dados de EC. Em relação à relevância e exequibilidade do reporte de EC, as empresas evidenciaram que, em geral, o conteúdo de EC é relevante para todos os elementos-chave do conteúdo dos relatórios de sustentabilidade, contudo, consideraram os elementos de "Riscos e Oportunidades" e "Desempenho de Sustentabilidade" como os menos exequíveis para desenvolver e divulgar dados da EC. Os resultados do quarto objectivo de investigação traduziram-se por uma série de recomendações práticas, relevantes para os profissionais que trabalham com questões de EC, de relatórios de sustentabilidade e ainda aqueles envolvidos com a sustentabilidade organizacional em geral. Em particular, as empresas devem dar prioridade à identificação de riscos e oportunidades relacionadas com a EC, e reconhecer a hierarquia das estratégias da EC ao medir e divulgar os respetivos dados. Devem ainda reconhecer a EC como uma poderosa ferramenta de reporte no contexto da criação de valor empresarial e assegurar que as metas relacionadas com a EC são acompanhadas por indicadores relevantes para evitar potenciais alegações de ”greenwashing”. No conjunto, os resultados desta investigação fornecem vários contributos para a concretização do objectivo central: explorar e apoiar a necessária integração da EC no âmbito das práticas e modelos de relatórios de sustentabilidade das empresas. Os principais resultados demonstram que a integração da EC não só é uma evidência, como está em rápida evolução no âmbito da elaboração de relatórios de sustentabilidade das empresas. Esta investigação conclui com reflexões teóricas sobre as percepções corporativas da EC e a sua relação com a sustentabilidade que emerge nos relatórios de sustentabilidade. Além disso, os resultados revelam várias sinergias e limitações entre as percepções de valor dentro dos processos de EC e de criação de valor empresarial. Esta investigação apresenta um primeira contributo para apoiar a integração da EC nos processos de reporte da sustentabilidade das empresas, estabelecendo uma visão geral das actuais tendências e fraquezas dos relatórios, ao mesmo tempo que destaca numerosas oportunidades de trabalho futuro para facilitar e impulsionar a transparência na transição para uma EC.Despite the mainstreaming of sustainable development initiatives, overconsuming and extractive economies fail to address global issues such as resource depletion, climate change and biodiversity loss. As a result, academics and policymakers have been looking for alternative pathways to creating economic and societal value, whilst minimising adverse environmental impacts. The circular economy (CE) model of production and consumption, which promises to transform linear economic systems, is then rapidly being integrated within organisational sustainability initiatives. Companies are increasingly viewing the transition towards CE as an opportunity to implement innovative social responsibility practices. This increased commitment from companies to improving their CE implementation demands the development of guidelines to ensure meaningful and consistent external communication. Sustainability reports allow companies to display not only their commitment to sustainability but increase transparency of their business activities. As the CE model gains momentum in the private sector, reporting remains a viable pathway for stakeholders to ensure companies are being held accountable for achieving their sustainability objectives. With an absence of standardised guidelines for assessing and publishing progress towards circularity, the full potential of reporting as a tool to facilitate change towards improved corporate sustainability is not being realised. Early evidence suggests a low uptake of CE within sustainability reports and significant research gaps exist concerning the intersection of CE and sustainability reporting. Within this context, this research aims to explore and support the emergence of CE within corporate sustainability reporting practices and approaches. To achieve this aim, four research objectives are offered: 1) investigate how existent sustainability reporting approaches and literature guide companies to include CE issues within their corporate sustainability reports, 2) explore CE-related content within the corporate sustainability reports of sustainably-ranked companies, 3) capture the perspectives and experiences of companies disclosing CE within their corporate sustainability report and 4) provide recommendations to improve the feasibility of companies disclosing CE content. This thesis follows an interpretivist and inductive research design, utilising both qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection and analysis. More specifically, strategies include a systematic literature review, multiple content analyses, semi-quantitative surveys, semistructured interviews and focus groups. By conducting a mixed methods study with multiple data collection methods, the overall conclusions have been strengthened. The main results from this thesis constitute three appended research articles, aiming to contribute findings to both academic and industry discussions on CE. Within the outcomes of the first objective, CE was found to be included within only five of the fifteen sustainability reporting frameworks and approaches reviewed and most often included as: i) a voluntary issue within supplementary material; or ii) discussed within a single topic: resource or waste management. Furthermore, CE is most commonly described using the definition from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the responsibility for CE-data selection remains the responsibility of the company. The findings also suggest that companies seeking advice from these reporting frameworks will most likely not report CE issues at all or only qualitatively describe CE activities from a narrow waste management perspective. The outputs of the second objective determined that whilst CE is being explicitly mentioned within almost all of the sustainability reports analysed, very few integrated CE-content within each of the examined sustainability report elements. Specifically, CE was described in the CEO’s message of only 20% of companies and in 28% of the company’s materiality assessments. Moreover, companies were observed to be linking CE content superficially with the SDGs, with most instances being void of any quantitative justification. With respect to targets and indicators for CE, less than one third of companies were found to disclose them, with targets mostly measuring high-ranking circularity strategies and indicators mostly low-ranking circularity strategies. Overall, these findings signal two main representations of CE within corporate strategies: 1) CE is a major pillar; or 2) CE is an extension (or replacement) of existing waste and/or management issues. Within the third objective, investigated companies highlighted seven critical factors for CE disclosure, as well as several challenges to- and benefits of- externally communicating their CE data. With respect to relevance and feasibility, companies determined that generally, CE-content is relevant to all key content elements of sustainability reports, however, found the elements of ‘Risks and Opportunities’ and ‘Sustainability Performance’ to be the least feasible to develop and disclose CE data for. The outcomes of the fourth objective propose a number of practical recommendations relevant for practitioners of CE, sustainability reporting and those involved with general corporate sustainability. In particular, companies should prioritise identifying CE-related risks and opportunities, acknowledge the hierarchy of CE strategies when measuring and disclosing CE data, recognise CE as a powerful storytelling tool within corporate value creation and ensure that CE-related targets are accompanied by relevant indicators to avoid potential claims of greenwashing. Collectively, the chapters within this thesis provide numerous insights on achieving the central aim: to explore and support the emergence of CE within corporate sustainability reporting practices and approaches. In general, the findings of this research demonstrate that the integration of CE is not only evident but rapidly evolving within corporate sustainability reporting. This thesis concludes with theoretical reflections on the corporate perceptions of CE and its relationship with sustainability emerging within sustainability reports. Additionally, results reveal various synergies and limitations between perceptions of value within a CE and corporate value creation processes. This research presents a first attempt to support the integration of CE within corporate sustainability processes, establishing an overview of current reporting trends and shortcomings whilst also highlighting numerous opportunities for future work to facilitate and drive transparency within the transition towards a CE.This research was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 765198

    LIPIcs, Volume 274, ESA 2023, Complete Volume

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    LIPIcs, Volume 274, ESA 2023, Complete Volum

    A strategic turnaround model for distressed properties

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    The importance of commercial real estate is clearly shown by the role it plays, worldwide, in the sustainability of economic activities, with a substantial global impact when measured in monetary terms. This study responds to an important gap in the built environment and turnaround literature relating to the likelihood of a successful distressed commercial property financial recovery. The present research effort addressed the absence of empirical evidence by identifying a number of important factors that influence the likelihood of a successful distressed, commercial property financial recovery. Once the important factors that increase the likelihood of recovery have been determined, the results can be used as a basis for turnaround strategies concerning property investors who invest in distressed opportunities. A theoretical turnaround model concerning properties in distress, would be of interest to ‘opportunistic investing’ yield-hungry investors targeting real estate transactions involving ‘turnaround’ potential. Against this background, the main research problem investigated in the present research effort was as follows: Determine the important factors that would increase the likelihood of a successful distressed commercial property financial recovery. A proposed theoretical model was constructed and empirically tested through a questionnaire distributed physically and electronically to a sample of real estate practitioners from across the globe, and who had all been involved, directly or indirectly, with reviving distressed properties. An explanation was provided to respondents of how the questionnaire was developed and how it would be administered. The demographic information pertaining to the 391 respondents was analysed and summarised. The statistical analysis performed to ensure the validity and reliability of the results, was explained to respondents, together with a detailed description of the covariance structural equation modelling method used to verify the proposed theoretical conceptual model. vi The independent variables of the present research effort comprised; Obsolescence Identification, Capital Improvements Feasibility, Tenant Mix, Triple Net Leases, Concessions, Property Management, Contracts, Business Analysis, Debt Renegotiation, Cost-Cutting, Market Analysis, Strategic Planning and Demography, while the dependent variable was The Perceived Likelihood of a Distressed Commercial Property Financial Recovery. After analysis of the findings, a revised model was then proposed and assessed. Both validity and reliability were assessed and resulted in the following factors that potentially influence the dependent variables; Strategy, Concessions, Tenant Mix, Debt Restructuring, Demography, Analyse Alternatives, Capital Improvements Feasibility, Property Management and Net Leases while, after analysis, the dependent variable was replaced by two dependent variables; The Likelihood of a Distressed Property Turnaround and The Likelihood of a Distressed Property Financial Recovery. The results showed that Strategy (comprising of items from Strategic Planning, Business Analysis, Obsolescence Identification and Property Management) and Concessions (comprising of items from Concessions and Triple Net Leases) had a positive influence on both the dependent variables. Property Management (comprising of items from Business Analysis, Property Management, Capital Improvements Feasibility and Tenant Mix) had a positive influence on Financial Turnaround variable while Capital Improvements Feasibility (comprising of items from Capital Improvements Feasibility, Obsolescence Identification and Property Management) had a negative influence on both. Demography (comprising of items only from Demography) had a negative influence on the Financial Recovery variable. The balance of the relationships were depicted as non-significant. The present research effort presents important actions that can be used to influence the turnaround and recovery of distressed real estate. The literature had indicated reasons to recover distressed properties as having wide-ranging economic consequences for the broader communities and the countries in which they reside. The turnaround of distressed properties will not only present financial rewards for opportunistic investors but will have positive effects on the greater community and economy and, thus, social and economic stability. Vii With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, issues with climate change and sustainability, global demographic shifts, changing user requirements, shifts in technology, the threat of obsolescence, urbanisation, globalisation, geo-political tensions, shifting global order, new trends and different generational expectations, it is becoming more apparent that the threat of distressed, abandoned and derelict properties is here to stay, and which will present future opportunities for turnaround, distressed property owners, as well as future worries for urban authorities and municipalities dealing with urban decay. The study concluded with an examination of the perceived limitations of the study as well as presenting a comprehensive range of suggestions for further research.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, School of the built Environment, 202

    Perceptions of surveillance: exploring feelings held by Black community leaders in Boston toward camera enforcement of roadway infractions

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    Roadway camera enforcement programs have been found to effectively reduce vehicle travel speeds, as well as decrease the number and severity of collisions. Despite a wealth of evaluative research confirming this enforcement approach's aptitude at promoting safer roadway behavior, fewer than 50 % of US states currently host camera-based programs. Public opposition is frequently cited as the cause for the slow proliferation of this enforcement strategy. However, with public demand for police reform having an increasing presence on the national political stage, how might feelings toward camera technology currently stand among groups most marginalized by existing enforcement systems, and how might those feelings vary by type of enforcement application? Through a series of focus groups, this work centers Black voices on matters of surveillance and roadway enforcement by discussing sentiment toward camera programs with Black community leaders. This discussion is contextually situated in Boston, Massachusetts, where legislation that would allow for camera enforcement of roadway infractions is actively being deliberated in the State Senate. Findings culminate in a list of right-sizing and procedural recommendations for policy makers hoping to gain support for camera enforcement, improve roadway safety, and advance racial equity in our systems of policing and governance

    Academic integrity : a call to research and action

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    Originally published in French:L'urgence de l'intégrité académique, Éditions EMS, Management & société, Caen, 2021 (ISBN 978-2-37687-472-0).The urgency of doing complements the urgency of knowing. Urgency here is not the inconsequential injunction of irrational immediacy. It arises in various contexts for good reasons, when there is a threat to the human existence and harms to others. Today, our knowledge based civilization is at risk both by new production models of knowledge and by the shamelessness of knowledge delinquents, exposing the greatest number to important risks. Swiftly, the editors respond to the diagnostic by setting up a reference tool for academic integrity. Across multiple dialogues between the twenty-five chapters and five major themes, the ethical response shapes pragmatic horizons for action, on a range of disciplinary competencies: from science to international diplomacy. An interdisciplinary work indispensable for teachers, students and university researchers and administrators
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