Revitalising Business Sustainability through Full-Range Leadership Approach: A Supply Chain Management View

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) worldwide, particularly those in emerging economies, disrupting their operations and affecting their sustainability. However, most SMEs were not able to utilize effective leadership to enhance their resilience and navigate the crisis successfully. This study aims to examine the relevance of the Full-Range Leadership Model in understanding the relationship between leadership styles and business sustainability, in the context of operations and supply chain management. The study used a cross-sectional survey approach with a purposive sampling technique to collect data from 214 SMEs in Malaysia. The findings of this study suggest that transformational and transactional leadership styles are significant and positive factors that contribute to business sustainability. On the other hand, laissez-faire leadership is a significant and negative factor that hinders the development of business sustainability and resilience. Therefore, SMEs should incorporate and leverage different leadership styles to strengthen their resilience in the post-pandemic work economy. This study has important implications for SMEs to improve their sustainability and resilience in the face of future crises. By adopting effective leadership styles, SMEs can improve their resilience, build their capacity to adapt to changes and enhance their long-term sustainabilit

Circular Supply Chain Management and Circular Economy: A conceptual model

This study develops a circular supply chain management model. The review shows how CSCM promotes green supply chain management and sustainability by extending its sustainable dimension beyond the original producer. Closed-loop and open-loop supply chains are CSCM components. Using contingency theory and transaction cost theory, the CSCM model proposes that product circularity in closed-loop and open-loop supply chains affects a company's circular economy performance. This model explains CSCM's popularity in current literature, which supports the circular economy. Keywords: Circular, Closed-loop, Open-loop, Sustainability, Supply Chain eISSN: 2398-4287© 2022.. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under the responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians), and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7iSI7.376

Examining the Impact of Supply Chain Leadership on Governance Mechanisms and Suppliers’ Performance in Manufacturing Industries

Despite the growing body of literature recognising the influence of supply chain leadership and governance mechanisms on supply chain practices, studies on these two domains are currently disconnected. Furthermore, while the importance of supply chain leadership is mentioned and highlighted in the literature, less is known about the role of buying firms’ leadership styles as the determinants of governance mechanisms and suppliers’ performance. Drawing upon theories of stakeholder, institutional, transformational-transactional leadership, social exchange and transaction cost economics, this thesis fills some of the gaps in the current literature by examining the effects of supply chain leadership on governance mechanisms and suppliers’ performance. A number of hypotheses were developed and proposed, and a convergent parallel mixed methods research design was used to examine the effects of supply chain leadership on governance mechanisms and suppliers’ performance in Malaysian manufacturing industries. 190 questionnaire survey responses were collected and analysed using structural equation modelling, while 25 semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that transformational and transactional leadership positively influenced different governance mechanisms with transformational leadership driving towards trust-based governance and transactional leadership pushing towards contract-based governance. The direct positive effects of transformational and transactional leadership towards suppliers’ performance are also evident in this thesis. However, the findings reveal that laissez-faire leadership negatively influenced contract-based governance and suppliers’ performance. Nonetheless, this thesis discovers that the indirect effects of supply chain leadership to suppliers’ performance were partially mediated through governance mechanisms. The findings provide insights on reconceptualising supply chain leadership. This thesis integrates supply chain leadership and governance mechanisms in one model and reconciles the role of both concepts towards suppliers’ performance. Furthermore, this thesis provides an explanation of the relationships between supply chain leadership and suppliers’ performance by looking into the mediating role of governance mechanisms. By integrating those concepts, the disengagement between supply chain leadership, governance mechanism and suppliers’ performance is minimised. Nonetheless, the findings offer guidance and suggestions to supply chain managers (in both buying firms and suppliers) on the role of buying firms’ leadership styles and their influence towards suppliers’ performance regardless of both parties’ supply chain positions. Findings from this thesis can help the buying firms to re-evaluate their leadership styles as the relationship with each supplier is unique and the idea of relying on a single leadership style has a potential to disrupt the performance of both parties

Creating Memorable Visitor Experiences by Assessing the Satisfaction Level and Behavioural Consequences of Attendees

AbstractFor many organizations, attending and organizing an event are perceived as being essential, because it is necessary to do business, to advance one's career, or because it is required by one's job. Conferences have a tremendous effect both to the organizers and the attendees. Therefore, it is paramount for an organization to appreciate the importance of memorable experience provides and gains in a conference. Many event organizers, especially those that hold conferences on a national or international level, have to understand the multiple and sometimes complex dimensions used by attendees in assessing the performance of the conference, and in their intentions to revisit or recommend the conference to others. Due to the scarcity of empirical study related to this topic especially in Malaysia, this research attempts to investigate the relationship of satisfaction level on a conference performance towards the behavioral consequences of the attendees. Independent variable includes (1) value for money, (2) educational value, (3) family value, and (4) business value. Dependant variables are (1) return intention and (2) intention to recommend to others. The framework is adapted from Severt, Wang, Chen, & Breiter (2007). It is estimated that the questionnaires will be distributed to the attendees at prospective international conference in Kuala Lumpur. It is expected that this study will provide a better understanding to both conference organizers and attendees specifically and to the MICE industry generally on how the performance of a conference determine the behavioral consequences of attendees, thus assisting MICE key players on which of the perceived performances should be emphasized in order to entice maximum attendees

Conceptualising Stakeholder Commitment, Closed-Loop Supply Chains and Organisational Performance: A Circular Economy Perspective

In the supply chain context, circular economy (CE) initiatives strive to minimise waste and pollution by promoting remanufacturing to reduce the reliance on virgin materials. To realise the CE, closed-loop supply chains (CLSCs) have been identified as the backbone of its implementation. Unfortunately, little attention has been paid to exploring the contribution of CLSC practices in manufacturing industries, particularly towards the transition to a more circular economy in emerging economies. This study aims to propose a conceptual framework for examining the impact of stakeholders’ commitment on CLSCs and organisational performance. In general, this study proposes that stakeholders’ commitment (customers’ pressure, top management commitment, buying firms’ leadership, and government support) has a significant impact on CLSCs implementation. Furthermore, this study also proposes that CLSCs implementation contributes significantly towards organisational performance. This study suggests that future studies should conduct an empirical investigation using the conceptual framework of this paper. It is expected that this study will facilitate discussions on the need to deepen the comprehension of stakeholders’ commitment and its influence on CLSCs and organisational performance. The study contributes to the existing literature by addressing the gaps between stakeholders’ commitment, CLSCs, and organisational performance in realising the transition towards CE. Research paper Keywords: Circular economy, closed-loop, supply chain, reverse logistic, stakeholder, sustainability Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Johari, N. A. M., Mokhtar, A. R. M., & Sayuti, N. M. (2022). Conceptualising Stakeholder Commitment, Closed-Loop Supply Chains and Organisational Performance: A Circular Economy Perspective. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Economics, 10(2S2), 109–137.  &nbsp

Conceptualising Stakeholder Commitment, Closed-Loop Supply Chains and Organisational Performance: A Circular Economy Perspective

In the supply chain context, circular economy (CE) initiatives strive to minimise waste and pollution by promoting remanufacturing to reduce the reliance on virgin materials. To realise the CE, closed-loop supply chains (CLSCs) have been identified as the backbone of its implementation. Unfortunately, little attention has been paid to exploring the contribution of CLSC practices in manufacturing industries, particularly towards the transition to a more circular economy in emerging economies. This study aims to propose a conceptual framework for examining the impact of stakeholders’ commitment on CLSCs and organisational performance. In general, this study proposes that stakeholders’ commitment (customers’ pressure, top management commitment, buying firms’ leadership, and government support) has a significant impact on CLSCs implementation. Furthermore, this study also proposes that CLSCs implementation contributes significantly towards organisational performance. This study suggests that future studies should conduct an empirical investigation using the conceptual framework of this paper. It is expected that this study will facilitate discussions on the need to deepen the comprehension of stakeholders’ commitment and its influence on CLSCs and organisational performance. The study contributes to the existing literature by addressing the gaps between stakeholders’ commitment, CLSCs, and organisational performance in realising the transition towards CE. Research paper Keywords: Circular economy, closed-loop, supply chain, reverse logistic, stakeholder, sustainability Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Johari, N. A. M., Mokhtar, A. R. M., & Sayuti, N. M. (2022). Conceptualising Stakeholder Commitment, Closed-Loop Supply Chains and Organisational Performance: A Circular Economy Perspective. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Economics, 10(2S2), 109–137.  &nbsp

Pancreatic surgery outcomes: multicentre prospective snapshot study in 67 countries

Background: Pancreatic surgery remains associated with high morbidity rates. Although postoperative mortality appears to have improved with specialization, the outcomes reported in the literature reflect the activity of highly specialized centres. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes following pancreatic surgery worldwide.Methods: This was an international, prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional snapshot study of consecutive patients undergoing pancreatic operations worldwide in a 3-month interval in 2021. The primary outcome was postoperative mortality within 90 days of surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore relationships with Human Development Index (HDI) and other parameters.Results: A total of 4223 patients from 67 countries were analysed. A complication of any severity was detected in 68.7 percent of patients (2901 of 4223). Major complication rates (Clavien-Dindo grade at least IIIa) were 24, 18, and 27 percent, and mortality rates were 10, 5, and 5 per cent in low-to-middle-, high-, and very high-HDI countries respectively. The 90-day postoperative mortality rate was 5.4 per cent (229 of 4223) overall, but was significantly higher in the low-to-middle-HDI group (adjusted OR 2.88, 95 per cent c.i. 1.80 to 4.48). The overall failure-to-rescue rate was 21 percent; however, it was 41 per cent in low-to-middle-compared with 19 per cent in very high-HDI countries.Conclusion: Excess mortality in low-to-middle-HDI countries could be attributable to failure to rescue of patients from severe complications. The authors call for a collaborative response from international and regional associations of pancreatic surgeons to address management related to death from postoperative complications to tackle the global disparities in the outcomes of pancreatic surgery (NCT04652271; ISRCTN95140761)

Worldwide Disparities in Recovery of Cardiac Testing 1 Year Into COVID-19

BACKGROUND The extent to which health care systems have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide necessary cardiac diagnostic services is unknown.OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the pandemic on cardiac testing practices, volumes and types of diagnostic services, and perceived psychological stress to health care providers worldwide.METHODS The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations from baseline in cardiovascular diagnostic care at the pandemic's onset and 1 year later. Multivariable regression was used to determine factors associated with procedure volume recovery.RESULTS Surveys were submitted from 669 centers in 107 countries. Worldwide reduction in cardiac procedure volumes of 64% from March 2019 to April 2020 recovered by April 2021 in high- and upper middle-income countries (recovery rates of 108% and 99%) but remained depressed in lower middle- and low-income countries (46% and 30% recovery). Although stress testing was used 12% less frequently in 2021 than in 2019, coronary computed tomographic angiography was used 14% more, a trend also seen for other advanced cardiac imaging modalities (positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance; 22%-25% increases). Pandemic-related psychological stress was estimated to have affected nearly 40% of staff, impacting patient care at 78% of sites. In multivariable regression, only lower-income status and physicians' psychological stress were significant in predicting recovery of cardiac testing.CONCLUSIONS Cardiac diagnostic testing has yet to recover to prepandemic levels in lower-income countries. Worldwide, the decrease in standard stress testing is offset by greater use of advanced cardiac imaging modalities. Pandemic-related psychological stress among providers is widespread and associated with poor recovery of cardiac testing. (C) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation