57 research outputs found
Exploring the relationships between core elements of TQM implementation
No full textThe purpose of the study proposed in this paper is to empirically examine the relationships between important sets of variables known to influence the successful implementation of TQM. The study is presently in the design stage. The sets of variables are TQM principles, organizational culture, and remedial strategies to reduce the barriers to successful TQM implementation. To date, each set of variables has been examined in the literature largely separately. Accordingly, the proposed study would be the first holistic approach that attempts to investigate these relationships collectively to develop a comprehensive TQM implementation model. Primary survey data will be collected from service industry companies of Bahrain. The strength and direction of relationships among the variables will be examined using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression
Recommended from our members
PPP: the instrument for transforming the public services
No full textFew current issues in public management are as controversial as public private partnerships (PPPs). The intensity of the debate reflects the importance of the concept to the government as it focuses on its central policy objective of improving public services, and the degree of opposition that is ranged against it. Opinion is divided with alternative views emerging across the political spectrum. Private Public Partnerships presents a fresh and wide-ranging review of the core issues behind the debate, capturing the experiences and insight of practitioners at the forefront of the first wave of PPP programmes, research and analysis from leading academics who have studied the performance of PPPs, and critical views from advocates and opponents of the concept
Demonstrating an Ontological Framework for Sustainable PVC Material Science: A Holistic Study Combining Granta EduPack, Bibliometric Analysis, Thematic Analysis, Content Analysis, and Protégé
No full textData Availability Statement:
The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article material. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors.Addressing the growing need for sustainable innovation in PVC materials, this study presents an illustrative framework that develops and demonstrates an ontological system that integrates lifecycle simulation using Granta EduPack, systematic literature analysis (including bibliometric, thematic, and content analytics) of peer-reviewed publications, and Protégé-based semantic reasoning, and their combination, in a holistic manner. Material and use-phase data for PVC, HDPE, PP, PET, and FRP cooling-tower components were sourced from ANSYS Granta EduPack Level-3 Polymer Sustainability 2023 R2 Version; 23.2.1, and a systematic analysis of the literature was then encoded as ontology classes, properties, and individuals following the Seven-Step ontology development method. Eco-audit simulations, standardised to a functional unit of 1 kg cooling tower fill material, reveal that the use phase dominates environmental impact (67 MJ primary energy, ~80% of total lifecycle), while material production and end-of-life recycling contribute ~15% and credits of ~900 MJ and 28 kg CO2 via recycling offsets. Ontology reasoning with corrected SWRL rules and SPARQL queries classifies VirginPVCRef and PVC10ES as strong structural materials (tensile strength ≥ 40 MPa), identifies PVCRH40 as high-moisture-risk (water absorption > 0.10 g/g), and ranks hydro-thermal dechlorination (recyclability 0.90) over mechanical recycling (0.55). A systematic analysis of 40 Scopus-indexed publications (2015–2025) highlighted key themes in recycling technologies, LCA emissions, additive toxicity, ontology frameworks, machine learning integration, circular economy policy, and cooling-tower applications. Demonstrated via a simulation-based cooling-tower case study, hybrid PVC-FRP designs yield the highest justified Material Sustainability Performance Index (MSPI), outperforming PVC-only and FRP-only alternatives. This framework provides a conceptual decision-support tool for exploring PVC material optimisation, illustrating pathways to enhancing circularity and environmental responsibility in industrial applications. The proposed framework is, therefore, not intended as a validated decision-support tool, nor does it claim analytical optimisation or predictive performance but rather serves as a method of illustration that shows how domain knowledge can be formally structured using ontology principles linked to simulation representations, and that was examined for internal logical consistency.This research received no external funding
Digital/web-based technologies and purchasing and supply management: A UK Study
No full textThe digital revolution on the web/internet is believed to be having a major impact on the performance of firms’ purchasing and supply functions. Beyond anecdotal evidence however, little is known about the actual level of utilisation of web-based interaction technologies in purchasing and supply management (P&SM). This paper addresses this gap through an empirical survey of 156 UK-based organisations. Findings indicate that only six in every ten organisations use digital/web-based technology (DWBT) in P&SM, and that the usage level is particularly low in SMEs. Current uses, and the importance of DWBT in P&SM in the future are reported. The paper also investigates the perceived benefits of DWBT in this area, and the link between uses, benefits and P&SM relationship orientation. The evidence suggests that at present DWBT is not a key driver of closer (collaborative) buyer-supplier relationship development. Implications are put forward
Examining sustainability performance in supply chain: The case of the Greek dairy sector
No full textThis paper evaluates the sustainability performance of the Greek dairy chain and the performance of its individual members by using key indicators in relation to efficiency, flexibility, responsiveness and product quality. We assessed the importance of these indicators based on the relevant perceptions of key members of this chain. A structured questionnaire was developed where nineteen sustainability-related issues were examined. Two hundred and fifty three members of the Greek dairy supply chain responded including breeders, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and catering companies. Our findings illustrate the immediate need for improvement in many key sustainability performance indicators. They also show the critical role of large dairy manufacturers who are the “sustainability performance champions” in this chain and are the driving force for the implementation of many sustainability initiatives
Recommended from our members
Private-public partnerships: policy and experience
No full textFew current issues in public management are as controversial as public private partnerships (PPPs). The intensity of the debate reflects the importance of the concept to the government as it focuses on its central policy objective of improving public services, and the degree of opposition that is ranged against it. Opinion is divided with alternative views emerging across the political spectrum. Private Public Partnerships presents a fresh and wide-ranging review of the core issues behind the debate, capturing the experiences and insight of practitioners at the forefront of the first wave of PPP programmes, research and analysis from leading academics who have studied the performance of PPPs, and critical views from advocates and opponents of the concept
Firm size and sustainable performance in food supply chains: Insights from Greek SMEs
No full textThis paper analyses sustainable performance differences within the Greek food supply chain and provides numerous statistical comparisons of its key members (growers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers) with respect to firm size. In an attempt to fill a gap in the relevant literature, we examined micro, small and medium-sized firms against a set of sustainable performance measures and we employed survey research using a sample of 997 firms operating in the Greek food supply chain. Key informants evaluated their firms based on sustainable performance measures (consumption, flexibility, responsiveness, product quality and total supply chain performance). The results were analysed using ANOVA. The findings identify the Greek food supply chain members who over-perform or underperform in relation to size. These include small growers, wholesalers, retailers, medium-sized manufacturers and wholesalers, micro manufacturers and retailers. Specific reasons are provided for these sustainability performance differentials including the role of locality as well as the asset and resource intensity of some operations (e.g. manufacturing). Another key finding relates to small firms which are the top performers in terms of sustainability performance measures especially in the areas of flexibility and responsiveness. Members of this chain also underperform in the product conservation time measure, irrespective of size, and we highlight the urgent need for this to be addressed. Findings of this paper will prove useful for food SMEs and policymakers planning to introduce specific sustainability incentives related to firm size and to the food chain
Recommended from our members
Strategy and Performance: achieving competitive advantage in the global marketplace
No full textTerms such as the 'new competitive landscape', 'hypercompetition' and 'inherent instability and change' have been used over the past decade to describe the changing global competitive environment. A plethora of strategic and operational measures have been used to enable firms to gain sustainable competitive advantage, with varying degrees of success. Yet we remain in largely uncharted territory with strategic preparation for the future becoming a critical activity. Strategy and Performance provides academics, practitioners and students with a highly focused approach to competing in the global marketplace
- …
