Arctic oil and gas field logistics and offshore service vessel capacities : the case of the Norwegian and Russian High Arctic

I denne rapporten gjøres en gjennomgang av logistikk opplegget og leveringskjeden fra forsyningsbase på land til olje og gassfelt til sjøs på de nordligste feltene i Norge og Russland. Ulike krav til offshore servicefartøy diskuteres i lys av utfordringer knyttet til is og ising, lange distanser og begrenset infrastruktur

Digital technologies within the supply chain management curriculum : an experiential learning approach to understanding knowledge co-creation (an essay)

This study explores how knowledge co-creation in the learning process is affected and facilitated by digital technologies, in particular 3D printing and RFID reading. A qualitative single-case study presents the learning process in class based on a model of intermodal transportation with RFID reading and 3D-printed objects. Data from five semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, situation observations in three experiential labs, and archival materials are interpreted through the experiential learning approach to emphasize the role of 3D printing in learning and knowledge creation. The study reveals how digital technologies transform the learning process to help students develop practical skills in the supply chain management (SCM) field. The active experimentation further shows that the use of 3D printing and RFID reading encourage meaningful communication between students and lecturers and increases students’ active engagement in learning and knowledge creation. The findings reveal that the learning process in the digital era becomes transformed into increasingly new forms of integrative knowledge and competence, emphasizing practical and technical skills. It results in a shift from passive to active learning or from a teacher-centered to a student-centered approach to developing students’ practical skills for companies’ needs when adopting new technology in practice. The study shows the potential of digital technologies for further adoption in SCM and logistics curriculums beyond the so-called STEM disciplines. More empirical studies applying experiential learning are suggested on how learning from formal education and so-called strategic learning from companies’ experience can be integrated into the process of knowledge co-creation based on digital technology.publishedVersio

Embryological features, pollen and seed viability of Arnica montana (Asteraceae) – a threatened endemic species in Europe

The embryological features, mode of reproduction and reproductive capacity (pollen and seed viability) on two naturalized populations of Arnica montana in Bulgaria were studied. The embryological study shows that A. montana is a facultative apomictic species in which sexual reproduction predominates. In this species, it was established that there is a comparatively high viability of the mature pollen and embryos, which enables the successful realization of its reproductive capacity. The results of the study on A. montana reveal that both sexual and asexual vegetative reproduction with rhizomes undoubtedly play more important roles than the apomixis (namely diplospory) for support and preservation of the populations

Social responsiveness within the Russian arctic supply chains : evidence from isolated communities through the anthropological view

This chapter focuses on social responsiveness initiatives in supply chain management (SCM) and explores how local residents in the isolated northern settlements of the White Sea respond to social needs and develop socially responsible food supply chains in Arctic local communities. Data from 50 semi-structured and in-depth interviews with local respondents and authorities of 13 northern island and coastal settlements of the White Sea were interpreted through an anthropological approach. Our findings reveal that local residents’ social responsiveness is essentially a “response” to economic challenges and, as a rule, is advocated by the need for the adaptation and maintenance of mobility, which is initiated and carried out by residents or entrepreneurs, mostly without much support from local authorities. Further, commitment and trust play a powerful mediating role in integrating SCM practices and social exchange. Additionally, our findings show that social issues and cultural attributes can be both a challenge and a source of innovation and inspiration within existing SCM practices. Our study extends current knowledge regarding how social responsibility principles and responsiveness enable supply chains to contribute to the needs of local communities in terms of the values of the northern settlements’ society.publishedVersio

Carbon capture, transport and storage projects in Norwegian seabed : sustainable implications and challenges of new green technologies rooted in the past

The accumulation of greenhouse gases, more specifically carbon emissions, in the environment has resulted in severe health issues and climate change. Great efforts are being made to minimize the adverse effects of CO2 by using renewable energy sources and carbon capture technologies, with transport components and management of CO2 supply chains constituting a breakthrough in developing climate-resilient carbon cycles. However, there is a critical need to analyze whether the effect is sustainable. This chapter explores how supply chain management facilitates the implementation and further institutionalization of the world’s sustainable and climate strategies in the North Sea, with subsequent application in the Arctic Ocean. Data from eight semi-structured interviews and archival materials were analyzed in terms of the economic, environmental, and social aspects of sustainable development. The findings revealed that international and European law are not yet prepared to accept CO2 transit by ship. However, the effect of huge political pressure reflects what has been politically feasible, not what is desirable from a sustainability point of view. Substantial investments have been channeled into carbon capture, transport, and storage (CCTS) projects that include infrastructure construction, e.g., piping and terminals, but, at the same time, there is growing concern about the negative environmental and social impacts of CCTS projects on coastal communities and Indigenous Peoples. The chapter also addresses a number of the legal and commercial challenges CCTS projects in Norway have to overcome in response to political ambitions. Further, social “values and attitudes” are highlighted as factors that can be significant for the acceptance and further development of carbon capture, transport, and storage projects. The study provides an understanding of how new supply chain practices emerge by responding to political ambitions and institutional factors.publishedVersio

Paving the way for social sustainability in arctic supply chain operations : a novel research agenda

The extant corpus of research on supply chain sustainability in the Arctic exhibits a conspicuous neglect of the social dimension, rendering it the most underprivileged among the three pillars of sustainability (Ahi and Searcy, 2015; Mani et al., 2016; Govidan et al., 2021). Notwithstanding the mounting attention riveted on the environmental dimension of Arctic supply chain operations, with a clear-cut emphasis on reducing their carbon footprint, the social implications of these operations have largely been shunted aside (Tsvetkova, 2020a). This is particularly worrisome, especially considering that such operations frequently entail indigenous communities and other local stakeholders who may be impacted by them in myriad ways (Brooks and Frost, 2012). Thus far, there is a critical need for research into social sustainability in Arctic supply chain operations, in order to ramp up our comprehension of, and to address, the social issues and opportunities elicited by these activities. As the title of this introductory chapter eloquently implies, it seeks to fill this opulent lacuna by outlining a much-needed and novel research agenda that paves the way toward social sustainability in Arctic supply chain operations. Drawing on the existing scholarship, this chapter illuminates the current status of research within the realm of supply chain operations, with an explicit emphasis on the social sustainability aspect. It commences by examining supply chain operations as a captivating research phenomenon, followed by a nuanced discussion of the neglected and unjustly forsaken concept of social sustainability in the supply chain management landscape. The intricate and multifaceted nature of the concept at hand is underscored in this discussion, making it challenging to develop a one-size-fits-all framework that can effectively address the multifarious social dynamics inherent in context-specific supply chains. The Arctic is then portrayed as a distinctive research terrain that demands special attention, due to its crucial role in advancing sustainability efforts. Finally, the outline of the anthology is unveiled, affording a concise and lucid overview of the research to come.publishedVersio

Reflections on lessons learned and future directions : a succinct epilogue

Upon completing this exploration journey through the pages of this book, we are left with a profound realization of the immense work that still needs to be undertaken to address the critical role of supply chain management (SCM) in nurturing a socially sustainable Arctic. The diverse studies collected in this anthology provide a rich tapestry of insights into the various manifestations of supply chain practices and their social impacts across different Arctic regions. However, despite their varying geographic coverage, all of these works acknowledge that developing and maintaining supply chains in the Arctic’s extreme environments is a formidable challenge, not only in terms of cost-effectiveness for businesses but even more so in fulfilling commitments to local communities and Indigenous Peoples. As we draw closer to the end of this anthology, it is time to reflect on the valuable lessons we have learned. While by no means exhaustive, three lessons are particularly salient.publishedVersio

Reindeer herders in arctic supply ecosystems : searching for the harmony between value-creation and value-capture

This study examines the relationship between value-creation and value-capture in supply chain management (SCM) practices in Arctic extreme environments. Of particular interest is how these practices have been continuously (re)shaped by the interactions between oil and gas businesses and Indigenous reindeer herders. A qualitative single-case study presents onshore supply chain operations in Arctic oil and gas field projects. Drawing on data from 18 interviews, personal observations, and archival materials, the study identifies how the development of new transportation routes can result in social contradictions and unforeseen consequences for Indigenous communities. The findings also suggest that the creation of supply ecosystems can contribute to value-creation and value-capture for oil and gas projects, e.g., the need for redundant capacities, and local communities, particularly through social responsibility practices in the response to extreme environments and business boundaries. Further, the findings disclose value as something unique to an ecosystem and the context in which it emerges and the actor for whom it emerges. Therefore, the process of value-creation in an ecosystem extends beyond the actors’ ordinary operational activities and daily routines. Ultimately, the study highlights the emergence of new forms of integration among actors in supply ecosystems and their potential for unexpected social outcomes, owing to the complex interplay of collective interdependencies of co-existence.publishedVersio

On the distribution of Helichrysum arenarium (l.) Moench (Asreraceae) in Bulgaria

Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench is herbaceous perennial plant belonging to Asteraceae family. The plant is well known in phytotherapy for its potential in the treatment of gallbladder disease and is classified as endangered in a number of European countries. In Bulgaria it is a protected species according to the Biodiversity Act (Annex 4) and is in the List of Species of Medicinal Plants under special regimen of conservation and use. The data on the distribution of H. arenarium in the Bulgarian flora have not been updated for more than 20 years. The aim of this study is to determine the current distribution of H. arenarium in Bulgaria on the basis of reviewing the available herbarium specimens in the Bulgarian herbariums, literature data, and personal collections. As a result, the locations of the species on the territory of the country were described and mapped. In Bulgaria H. arenarium is represented with only a few populations located in a limited area in the northeastern part of the country, in a narrow strip between the towns of Shumen and Varna