ATTRIBUTES OF CONSUMERS MOST LIKELY TO USE GOODGUIDE.COM SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION ABOUT “GREEN” HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

This study investigates the attributes of consumers most likely to be influenced in a number of ways by the information provided by an online environmental infomediary (OEI) GoodGuide.com to advise consumers on the overall and specific sustainability attributes of personal care and household chemical and food products. Consumer attributes are characterized using the value-belief-norm theory and the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale. An experimental treatment was applied to a sample of both undergraduate and graduate students at the Faculty of Business Administration, University of New Brunswick Fredericton, Canada, after which a survey was administered to the respondents. Data analysis using a series of logistic regressions was used in this study. Study results indicate the usefulness of both theoretical frameworks in understanding consumer predisposition to use OEI provided information and the potential of social networking and use of mobile devices and apps in facilitating access and use of green information

Supply Chain Business Process And IT Infrastructure Support For Cultivating Absorptive Capacity Capability: A Cluster Analysis Study

This study looks at organizations’ perceptions of the importance of absorptive capacity attributes in the deployment of radio frequency identification (RFID) in a supply chain and their relationships with supply chain process integration and information technology infrastructure support. Data for this pilot research study was collected using a survey questionnaire administered online to members of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). Both two proposed hypotheses were supported in this study using the cluster data analysis procedure. The ability to cultivate absorptive capacity attributes, indeed, are positively associated with both IT infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration

Importance Of Absorptive Capacity Attributes In Radio Frequency Identification Supply Chain Initiatives

This study explores if firms using RFID are characterized by higher levels of selected absorptive capacity attributes. Data from 37 firms is used to test the key proposition. The data confirms that firms complying with RFID mandates have higher levels of absorptive capacity attributes than their noncompliant counterparts

Blockchain-Based Healthcare: Three Successful Proof-of-Concept Pilots Worth Considering

This paper features the use of blockchain technology in the healthcare industry, with special focus on healthcare data exchange and interoperability; drug supply chain integrity and remote auditing; and clinical trials and population health research. This study uses the research method of analyzing the published case studies, academic articles, trade articles, and videos on MEDRec, Patientory, and the AmerisourceBergen/Merck alliance with SAP/CryptoWerk. The “blockchain” concept was introduced around October 2008 when a proposal for the virtual currency, bitcoin, was offered. Blockchain is a much broader concept than bitcoin and has the following key attributes: distributed database; peer-to-peer transmission; transparency with pseudonymity; irreversibility of records; and use of computational logic. The following three healthcare use cases have been taken up for proof-of-concept pilots by MEDRec, Patientory, and the AmerisourceBergen/Merck collaboration with SAP/CryptoWerk. While blockchain technology has a promising potential for specific use cases in the healthcare industry, there are major challenges to deal with as well

Understanding Nike\u27s “Considered Index” Green Initiative Using the Technology-Organization-Environment Framework

This study explains the implementation of an environmental management information system that supports the sustainability goals of Nike using the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework of Tornatzky and Fleischer. Literature review is applied to a single firm in using the TOE framework, with particular emphasis on the technological context of the framework. The use of Nike’s firm level decision support systems is highlighted in this study. Suggestions are made about improving Nike\u27s Material Sustainability Index (MSI), its key sustainability tool, which is at the heart of the firm\u27s group decision support system tool

HP Brazil: Journey Towards Industrial Internet of Things Within Industry 4.0 Context

This paper features a case study of Hewlett Packard Brazil’s deployment of radio frequency identification-enabled Exceler8 platform to support its product assembly using Flextronics in Sorocaba, Sao Paulo and distribution by DHL. The study also identifies the stage HP Brazil belongs to in its journey to being a full smart factory using the framework of Odwazny et al. (2018). The case study and content analysis methods are used in analyzing the concepts prescribed by the Industry 4.0, smart factory, and Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) frameworks to HP Brazil’s RFID system. The Odwazny et al. (2018) framework identifies HP Brazil as being in the maturity stage, with selected attributes of the “smart factory” stage since its Exceler8 platform supports vertical integration in its assembly, distribution, and recycling sites. Hopefully, empirical work will be pursued with vigor in the future to gain an understanding of the actual conditions that support the successful deployment of both Industry 4.0 and IIOT initiatives. Firms interested in applying Industry 4.0 and IIOT concepts within their production environments would be guided by this study. Applying the German Industry 4.0 model, their Industry 4.0 initiative would seek to (1) enable collaboration between humans and machines; (2) produce customized products in small batches; (3) optimize high automation; and (4) deploy devices in flexible and eco-friendly production processes to meet customization requirements

RFID and environmental sustainability: Case of Weatherford firm in the oil and gas drilling industry

This paper features a one-case study analysis focusing on Weatherford, an oil and gas exploration firm operating in 75 countries and the firm’s use of radio frequency identification (RFID) for its TRIP1 system used to direct the work of function tools downhole in a well reservoir. Two theoretical frameworks, the Socio-Technical Systems Theory and the Affordances Theory are used to interpret Weatherford’s RFID deployment in this one specific application. This study uses the qualitative case study method and content analysis in evaluating the primary data. The importance of RFID specifically for applications in the oil and gas exploration industry ties in directly with the current urgent concern of society for environmental sustainability

Critical Success Factors for the Implementation of Business-To- Business Electronic Procurement

This article investigates the critical success factors of e-procurement—the purchase of goods and services for organizations, which usually represents one of the largest expense items in a firm\u27s cost structure. Data was gathered using the survey method and a random sample drawn from the membership of the Institute for Supply Management and the Council of Logistics Management. Data was analyzed from 74 firms that implemented e-procurement. Factor analysis resulted in a four-factor solution: (1) factor one suggests the rationalization of the firm\u27s management of its suppliers; (2) factor two calls for redesigning affected business processes and influencing end-user/employee procurement-related behaviors; (3) factor three refers to carefully orchestrating an e-procurement technology planning process with one\u27s suppliers and using intelligence in designing the software and mining the data it produces; and (4) factor four relates to selecting an e-procurement solution and/or simultaneously participating in a number of electronic environments supporting e-procurement

A Collaborative Electronic Commerce Project for an MIS Course: Constructing Online Catalogs

This paper features a study on the use of electronic catalogs and retail storefronts as a concrete collaborative class project for an Management Information Systems (MIS) course with an Electronic Commerce theme in the Business curriculum and a survey of the MBA students that undertook this project in response to the course requirements. Survey results provide positive indications for the achievement of the goals of collaborative inquiry, team-based and active learning, constructivist pedagogical approach, and learning by doing. The technical details of the project are also described in the study

An empirical investigation of the level of electronic data interchange (EDI) implementation and its ability to predict EDI system success measures and EDI implementation factors

Electronic data interchange (EDI) is a critical technology used in supply chain management systems involving logistics functions. This study explores the construct of “level of EDI implementation” in order to establish its relationship with system success and the criticality of selected implementation factors. Using the survey method that employed a pair of questionnaires for a customer‐supplier dyad engaged in EDI, the final data set consists of 128 firms constituting 64 dyads. Level of EDI implementation is positively related to one out of four EDI system success measures and is associated with the criticality of the following implementation factors: use of cross‐functional EDI teams, the conduct of pilot projects, the inclusion of security and auditing controls, the conduct of training for end users, maintenance of trading partner relationships, use of value‐added network services, and guidelines for digital signatures