1,721,051 research outputs found
Industrial sustainability performance measurement system—challenges for the development
No full textThe enhancement of industrial sustainability performance is of pivotal importance in the current debate. To properly measure sustainability-related performance, firms need a performance measurement system (PMS). The development of such a system is rather challenging as several aspects should be considered, both in general terms and above all in the context of industrial sustainability. This chapter aims at providing an overview on the challenges connected to the development of an effective PMS for industrial sustainability, with a specific focus on (1) usefulness, usability, completeness, and balance; (2) practical methods employed for the selection of indicators; and (3) contexts of applications. A framework of PMSs is presented as a possible example, and suggestions for future streams of research are offered
Barriers to Industrial Sustainability Measures: A Proposal for a Novel Integrated Framework
No full textThe present work is aimed to offer a contribution in the field of industrial sustainability, by indicating relevant elements for developing an integrated taxonomy of barriers to industrial sustainability measures. To do so, a thorough literature review has been carried out, taking into account contributions on barriers to Eco-efficiency, Energy efficiency and OHS. The studies have been classified according to four main features. Firstly, how barriers have been aggregated, i.e. namely by examples of barriers (single ones or a list of them), classification or taxonomy. Secondly, the empirical nature of the study, i.e. whether studies were theoretical, empirical, or theoretical followed by an empirical application. Thirdly, the origin of the barriers, internal or external with respect to the firm organization. Finally, the different nature of the barriers considered in each study. Stemming from the literature review, the bases for a novel integrated theoretical framework are drawn
Investigating the entrepreneurial orientation of circular-social hybrid start-ups by assessing their path toward sustainability: Evidence from 20 European cases
Full text linkCircular-social hybrid start-ups have a remarkable potential to create environmental, social, and economic value. Despite their relevance for the sustainability transition, there is a dearth of literature analysing their entrepreneurial orientation and how they create environmental and social value in their business models. Therefore, the present study, framed in the theory of entrepreneurial orientation, empirically assesses the dynamics of creating positive sustainable value by aligning the initial orientation with the sustainability activities and performance. The research is conducted through semi-structured interviews with the founders of twenty European start-ups. The study shows that circular-social hybrid start-ups have a strong sustainability orientation, but some display difficulties in achieving their initial mission. This entrepreneurial path from mission to reality is identified by uncovering business model dynamics and leverage points: scale-up and growth, use of digital solutions, improvement of working conditions, research and development, and alignment of business processes. These leverage points influence the potential mission drift of the start-up, i.e. its deviation from the path to sustainability. Entrepreneurs can use this study to identify leverage points to support their path toward sustainability
Barriers to energy efficiency measures and the role of industrial sustainability
No full textEnergy efficiency is largely recognized as a major contributor for industrial sustainability. In order to improve their energy efficiency and thus industrial sustainability performances firms should implement energy efficiency measures (EEMs), that are not largely diffused yet. Hitherto, EEMs have been evaluated exclusively by looking at barriers from an energy efficiency decision maker’s viewpoint, thus not accounting for a broader sustainability perspective. When considering the latter, the Triple Bottom Line could be taken: within an industrial context, it can be identified with the areas of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Eco-efficiency (in which energy efficiency is gaining increasing relevance). For this reason, the present work is aimed at better understanding barriers to EEMs adoption, by analyzing them through different perspectives and insights offered by several responsible of single areas of industrial sustainability within a firm.
To address this research gap, we have investigated through explorative case studies some firms within Northern Italy with a specific model on barriers to industrial sustainability measures,. The results seem to show that an EEM should be analyzed under different perspectives. New with respect to previous literature, a more proper perspective for analyzing an EEM should be that of industrial sustainability, and not just that of energy-efficiency, since it may result limited. Energy and Environmental managers may have a different perspective on barriers than the OHS’s one, highlighting barriers not perceived by just one area’s responsible. Moreover, an EEM may be stopped by reasons not knowledgeable to energy efficiency, rather to other areas, such as, e.g. OHS. Lastly, an EEM may have positive effects (co-benefits) on other areas of industrial sustainability, that may be perceived only by such areas. The study concludes with some remarks for policy and industrial decision- makers, and advice for further research
The role of phonological awareness for learning how to read: an overview
Full text linkThis overview aims to study the role of phonological awareness for learning how to read. We have searched studies about the relationship between this competence and reading on educational electronic databases and then we have included the studies that met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies were included. The studies show that the phonological awareness is the competence that affects more reading, even if with some difference between languages.
Il ruolo della consapevolezza fonologica per l’apprendimento della lettura: una revisione descrittiva
La presente revisione descrittiva si pone l’obiettivo di indagare il ruolo svolto dalla consapevolezza fonologica all’interno del processo di apprendimento della lettura. Dopo una ricerca sui repository in rete di studi che avessero l’obiettivo di indagare il rapporto fra la consapevolezza fonologica e la lettura e che soddisfacessero i criteri di inclusione stabiliti, sono stati selezionati sette studi. Dall’analisi di queste ricerche, si conferma la tendenza a ritenere che la consapevolezza fonologica sia la competenza che maggiormente influenza l’apprendimento della lettura, anche se con qualche differenza in base al sistema ortografico di riferimento
Improving Sustainability in Supply Chains: An Integrated Analysis of Barriers, Drivers and Performance
Full text linkLow-cost intensity-based plastic optical fibre sensing system for permanent structural health monitoring
No full textFibre optic sensors are attracting an increasing interest in structural monitoring applications because of their sensitivity combined with other unique properties such as immunity to electrostatic discharges, intrinsic fire safety and minimum invasiveness. However, their wide diffusion in permanent monitoring systems is still hampered by the costs of the interrogators. This limitation can be overcome using plastic optical fibres to fabricate displacement transducer based on the variation of the fibre link attenuation. The intensity-based measurement technique and the use of plastic optical fibres allow keeping the advantages of optical fibre sensors, while reducing the overall costs to that of conventional electromechanical sensors. In this paper the characterization of the developed sensing system, including the long term performances in a two-year in-situ test in a prestigious monument in Venice, is presented. Several transducers with different embodiments have been fabricated and tested achieving resolution better than 0.02 mm in a 3.5 cm range. An experimental evaluation of the temperature effects and of the temperature compensation methods is also considered
In Situ Calibration of Heterogeneous Acquisition Systems: The Monitoring System of a Photovoltaic Plant
Full text linkThis paper deals with the metrological management of an acquisition system that has been developed for monitoring an experimental photovoltaic (PV) plant. The acquisition system has been conceived for comparing the performance of different PV technologies and for verifying the nominal specifications of the PV modules. For these reasons, the traceability of the monitoring system has to be ensured, and therefore, it must be periodically calibrated. A remotely exercised procedure is proposed for the calibration of the acquisition system, which is based on a calibrator specifically designed for this application. This calibrator has the capability to act as a reference for heterogeneous quantities, including electrical quantities, temperature, and solar irradiance. The architecture of this calibrator is described, and experimental results for the preliminary characterization of the prototype are described
SVILUPPO E GESTIONE IN QUALITÀ DEL SISTEMA DI MONITORAGGIO DI UN IMPIANTO FOTOVOLTAICO
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