Chiral expansion and Macdonald deformation of two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory

We derive the analog of the large $N$ Gross-Taylor holomorphic string expansion for the refinement of $q$-deformed $U(N)$ Yang-Mills theory on a compact oriented Riemann surface. The derivation combines Schur-Weyl duality for quantum groups with the Etingof-Kirillov theory of generalized quantum characters which are related to Macdonald polynomials. In the unrefined limit we reproduce the chiral expansion of $q$-deformed Yang-Mills theory derived by de Haro, Ramgoolam and Torrielli. In the classical limit $q=1$, the expansion defines a new $\beta$-deformation of Hurwitz theory wherein the refined partition function is a generating function for certain parameterized Euler characters, which reduce in the unrefined limit $\beta=1$ to the orbifold Euler characteristics of Hurwitz spaces of holomorphic maps. We discuss the geometrical meaning of our expansions in relation to quantum spectral curves and $\beta$-ensembles of matrix models arising in refined topological string theory.Comment: 45 pages; v2: References adde

Business-Civil Society Collaborations in South Korea: A Multi-Stage Pattern Matching Study

In this study, we use an empirical example to demonstrate how a multi-stage pattern matching process can inform and substantiate the construction of partial least squares (PLS) models and the subsequent interpretation of and theorizing from the findings. We document the research process underlying our empirical investigations of business – civil society collaborations in South Korea. The four-step process we outline in this paper can be used to ensure the meaningfulness of the structural model as well as to maximize the use of PLS for theorizing. This methodological advancement is particularly helpful in situations when literature reference points exist, but further contextual information may add nuances to prevalent knowledge. The findings from the qualitative flexible pattern matching part of the study prompted us to conduct a multi-group analysis. The resulting path changes in the base model led to the identification of four partnering strategies for business-CSO collaborations: (1) partnering for visibility; (2) partnering for compliance; (3) partnering for responsibility outsourcing; and (4) partnering for value co-creation

Small- and medium-sized enterprises and sustainable development: In the shadows of large lead firms in global value chains

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the potential contribution of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and derive implications for policymakers based on the insights. Our findings indicate that despite their comparatively smaller size, SMEs can contribute significantly to the achievement of the SDGs. We conclude that both lead firms and policymakers need to take a more differentiated approach in their interactions with SMEs. Instead of universally regarding smaller firms as standard takers, lead firms and policymakers need to acknowledge that they can make a significant contribution to standard-setting and standard-adapting efforts. Consequently, SMEs need to be regarded as an important resource in multi-stakeholder initiatives regarding the SDGs

Sustainable Business Model Innovation: Review, Analysis and Impact on Society

Sustainability issues are on the rise and companies are pressured to respond [1]. Arguably, company response is a rather reactive approach and insufficient given the evidence regarding broken planetary boundaries and the immediate need for business transformation and alignment of the economic system with the planetary system [2]. For appropriately communicating social and environmental priority issues, and prompting discussions regarding natural resources and energy [3], the business model concept has become an increasingly useful tool [4,5]. Indeed, issues related to the environment, natural resources and climate change are increasingly looked at through the lens of business model innovation, adaptation and transformation processes to examine value generation at economic, social and environmental levels [6,7]. A unique feature of the business model perspective is that it allows non-science managerial audiences to appreciate discussions about planetary boundaries and system change requirements, which otherwise would be suppressed by the narrow focus on management concepts such as revenue and profit. The business model and sustainable business model innovation literatures thus offer a mechanism to reorient firm-level innovation towards sustainability, supporting conservation of natural resources [8], and addressing social and environmental concerns [9] [10]. Societal and environmental concerns are not a recent phenomenon, but have been raised in various circles since the 1960s/70s [11,12]. For reasons related to economic prioritisation over the environment, as well as industrial-strength denial [13], real actions and sustainability innovations, however, have not entered the mainstream of the business and management literature until very recently [14]. The business model is an important conceptual advancement in this context, as it helps to balance economic with sustainability imperatives. Bocken, et al. [15] investigate how businesses might create balanced social, environmental and economic value through integrating sustainability more fully into the core of their business. Joyce and Paquin [16] introduce a triple layered business model, based on the traditional business model canvas, to address and incorporate sustainability issues. They argue for vertical and horizontal coherence of the business models regarding the economic, environmental, and social layer of the business model. Yang, et al. [17] promote the idea of business model innovation as successful transformation towards sustainability. Furthermore, it is important to be aware that sustainable innovation has become an essential feature internationally [18]. Although the diffusion of sustainable innovation remains a challenge for many, it is indispensable in order to overcome economic barriers and gain user acceptance [9]. The rationale for becoming a sustainable company lies in the value proposition and the capacity for innovation development [17]. In fact, an increasing number of start-ups are committed to the use of innovation as a vehicle for differentiation [19], through the use of sustainable technology [20]. As a consequence of the importance of sustainability today, more and more business models are emerging with sustainable innovations and a global approach, where innovation and technology become key tools for their development [21,22]. Thus, there has been a shift in business models around the world, which pay close attention to sustainability as a vehicle to evolve and achieve success [23]. Business models and the notion of business model innovation (BMI) has received considerable scholarly interest in the last decade in the manufacture and service domain [24]. Lopez-Nicolas, et al. [25] found significant gender differences in business model innovation for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Sinkovics, Sinkovics and Yamin [4] have looked at the business model reformulation at the bottom of the pyramid. The idea of transforming the logic of the organization through business model and business model innovation [26] has also been applied to the area of sustainability, although the notion of sustainable business model innovation, in this context, has sometimes been reduced to (economic) business continuity. This is why, within this special issue, we deliberately focus on ‘sustainability’ as it relates to social, and environmental issues, above and beyond economic business model innovation aspects [18]. Considering sustainability and incorporating green as a core part of a business can help many companies today to reduce costs, seize opportunities in emerging markets and gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace [9]. Some authors have suggested that sustainable business models can create social and customer value as a consequence of integrating the environment into business activities [23]. This has led more and more organisations to prioritise the diffusion of clean and renewable energy [5]. Although interest is growing, sustainable innovation in business models has not yet received the full attention it deserves [17] and there is some debate about its conceptualisation [27]. In particular, many countries still ignore the potential of sustainable innovation within the firm, so that initiatives for new government regulations are rare [20]. In short, innovation in current business models is already a necessity to generate new innovative solutions in social [28], customer [29], environmental [30] and sustainable aspects [10]. For successful commercialisation of sustainable innovations, it can be crucial to have a value proposition that provides green values, a supply chain that engages suppliers to take environmental responsibility, along with initiatives that motivate customers to take consumption responsibilities [18]. In addition, a financial model is needed that shows a balance between economic and ecological costs/benefits among the participants involved in the business model [5]. This special issue is concerned with the study of different aspects related to sustainable business models. We invited papers to take such questions further. How can the renewal of business models lead to improved responsiveness and firm-resilience in a resource-constrained world? Is it possible to achieve systematically higher performance outcomes over traditional business models [20]? What are the promises and perils of new technologies and analytical tools such as big data and advanced ICTs [31] for business model innovation [3]? Is there any guidance for sustainability entrepreneurs? [1] and how can we control and avoid the “dark sides” of such advanced technologies? [32]. After several rounds of review, different works have been selected that have focused on studying the evolution of this concept, its application to different areas (waste management or healthcare industry) and future lines of action to be taken into account for the correct implementation of sustainable business models. The following section describes the main contributions of this work and their theoretical and empirical implications

Massive Vacua of N=1* Theory and S-duality from Matrix Models

In this note we show how Dijkgraaf and Vafa's hypothesis relating the exact superpotential of an N=1 theory to a matrix model can be used to describe all the massive vacua of the N=1*, or mass deformed N=4, theory including the Higgs vacuum. The matrix model computation of the superpotential for each massive vacuum independently yields a modular function of the associated effective coupling in that vacuum which agrees with previously derived results up to a vacuum-independent additive constant. The results in the different massive vacua can be related by the action of SL(2,Z) on the N=4 coupling, thus providing evidence for modular invariance of the underlying N=4 theory.Comment: 9 pages, JHEP.cl

Sustainable Business Model Innovation: An Umbrella Review

The purpose of this paper is to conduct an umbrella review of systematic literature reviews of sustainable business model innovation. Despite its relative novelty, sustainable business model innovation is a multifaceted phenomenon. Our aim is to capture the different manifestations of sustainable business model innovation and organise their antecedents and outcomes into an integrative framework. The Web of Science database was used to identify existing systematic literature reviews. The final sample for analysis comprised 57 review articles published up to March 2021. The qualitative data analysis software NVivo was used to facilitate the analysis

The social value creation of MNEs - a literature review across multiple academic fields

Purpose: This study investigates how different academic fields within and outside of international business (IB) engage with the topics of social value creation in the context of multinational enterprises (MNEs). The aim is to take stock of the main themes and offer suggestions for future research avenues. Design/methodology/approach: The paper undertakes a scoping review. We use the Web of Science database to identify relevant articles. The database search yielded 466 articles. The NVivo software was used to code and identify key thematic areas. Findings: The matrix analysis performed in NVivo yielded 15 main thematic areas spanning 37 research fields. However, further analysis revealed that 89% of the articles originated from 13 fields. Furthermore, while IB journals represent the second-largest field home to publications related to the social value creation of MNEs, they only account for 12% of the sample. Originality/value: The paper responds to prior calls to reduce disciplinary silos through the performing of a thematic analysis across a multitude of research fields. Keywords: Social value, multinational enterprise, MNE, scoping review, CSR. Article Classification: Literature Revie

N=1* vacua, Fuzzy Spheres and Integrable Systems

We calculate the exact eigenvalues of the adjoint scalar fields in the massive vacua of N=1* SUSY Yang-Mills with gauge group SU(N). This provides a field theory prediction for the distribution of D3 brane charge in the AdS dual. We verify the proposal of Polchinski and Strassler that the D3-brane's lie on a fuzzy sphere in the supergravity limit and determine the corrections to this distribution due to worldsheet and quantum effects. The calculation also provides several new results concerning the equilibrium configurations of the N-body Calogero-Moser Hamiltonian.Comment: 20 page

Exact Superpotentials from Matrix Models

Dijkgraaf and Vafa (DV) have conjectured that the exact superpotential for a large class of N=1 SUSY gauge theories can be extracted from the planar limit of a certain holomorphic matrix integral. We test their proposal against existing knowledge for a family of deformations of N=4 SUSY Yang-Mills theory involving an arbitrary polynomial superpotential for one of the three adjoint chiral superfields. Specifically, we compare the DV prediction for these models with earlier results based on the connection between SUSY gauge theories and integrable systems. We find complete agreement between the two approaches. In particular we show how the DV proposal allows the extraction of the exact eigenvalues of the adjoint scalar in the confining vacuum and hence computes all related condensates of the finite-N gauge theory. We extend these results to include Leigh-Strassler deformations of the N=4 theory.Comment: 28 pages, 1 figure, latex with JHEP.cls, replaced with typos corrected and one clarifying commen

G2 Hitchin functionals at one loop

We consider the quantization of the effective target space description of topological M-theory in terms of the Hitchin functional whose critical points describe seven-manifolds with G2 structure. The one-loop partition function for this theory is calculated and an extended version of it, that is related to generalized G2 geometry, is compared with the topological G2 string. We relate the reduction of the effective action for the extended G2 theory to the Hitchin functional description of the topological string in six dimensions. The dependence of the partition functions on the choice of background G2 metric is also determined.Comment: 58 pages, LaTeX; v2: Acknowledgments adde