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The ability of film stars to attract viewers is a widely accepted rationale for hiring expensive actors. However, the precise mechanisms behind this ‘drawing power’ remain unclear. By reviewing the existing literature, six possible antecedents of drawing power are identified. Artists with high acting abilities (i) increase a film’s artistic appeal, (ii) function as markers of quality and (iii) facilitate the matching process with the right audiences. Widely popular, commonly perceived as beautiful/handsome but often less talented actors, on the other hand, rather (iv) facilitate the marketing campaigns of films, (v) offer entertaining interactions with famous personalities and (vi) provide manifold opportunities for gossiping. Based on a discussion of the implications for theory and a preliminary analysis of a sample of Hollywood actors, managerial recommendations for those who have and those who depend on star drawing power are developed.
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the strategic consequences of manufacturing location decisions, with a focus on understanding the link between collocating manufacturing with other value chain activities, via reshoring or retaining and organizational agility.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses qualitative data from 115 interviews with executives from UK high value manufacturing companies to explore the recent phenomenon of reshoring and the strategic effects of manufacturing location.
Findings
The location of manufacturing is operationally and strategically important for multinational companies. The spatial dispersion of manufacturing is determined by firm-specific and external factors, both of which are subject to constant change. The analysis shows that concentrating on manufacturing in their home countries enables firms to increase organizational agility and stimulate innovation. Better integration with and more extensive collaboration between related value chain activities, such as research and development, sales and marketing, leads to higher flexibility, speed and responsiveness to customer requirements. However, under certain conditions, firms also continue to benefit from the known advantages of offshoring.
Originality/value
This research sheds light on possible strategic downsides of global value chains, characterized by dispersed activities and intermitted processes. The results provide evidence that retaining manufacturing or bringing back manufacturing operations to a company’s home country can increase organizational flexibility, speed, adaptability, innovativeness and responsiveness to customer requirements. As these capabilities are critical for long-term survival, especially in dynamic environments, firms need to review their global factory configurations and determine whether the short-term advantages of foreign locations continue to justify offshoring practices.
Over the past decade, the proliferation of entrepreneurial ventures and small firms with sustainable business models have pushed the sustainability agenda in the fashion industry. Despite prominent success stories, these companies often encounter significant operative challenges that hinder growth or even cause business failure. This paper adopts a qualitative research design and uses data gathered during 18 expert interviews with entrepreneurs and executive managers of 18 firms from 13 countries to identify and explore the dominant challenges that micro- and small-sized sustainable fashion companies struggle with. The results indicate that communicating with consumers is perceived as surprisingly difficult, especially because sustainable brands need to justify higher prices and explain the added benefits of their products. Second, resource constraints lead to operative friction and overburdening of the decision makers and their small management teams. Third, sustainable sourcing and production processes are economically difficult in an industry that continues to occupy a mass and low-cost logic. Against the background of these insights, a range of managerial recommendations are developed and contextualized in the framework of the Business Model Canvas. This novel approach makes the suggestions which are rooted in the resource-based view actionable and supports sustainable businesses to better manage their operations and achieve growth. For example, collaborative approaches with different stakeholders may mitigate constraints across all three identified problem areas.
Conceptualising event value co-destruction and developing a future agenda for events research
(2021)
Purpose
Value co-destruction has received little attention in an event-related context. This appears surprising, given that the interactions among actors at an event may also reduce the value for other participants, stakeholders and that of the entire event or the event's service ecosystem. This paper first aims to conceptualise value co-destruction and to provide an overview of related research in an event context. Second, a future research agenda for value co-destruction processes in an event context is developed.
Design/methodology/approach
Journals of the “Scimago Journal and Country Rank” were systematically reviewed for the keywords “value co-destruction”, “value destruction” and “negative value co-creation”. A second literature review specifically aimed at the events context extended the search scope to non-Scimago journals, Google Scholar and Google Web using the same keywords. All identified articles were qualitatively analysed concerning (1) the conceptualisation of value co-destruction and (2) reasons for value co-destruction.
Findings
The review of previous research highlights a limited scope of analysis, a focus on value co-destruction as an outcome and on interactions at the meso-level. Based on these findings, a holistic definition of value co-destruction is proposed. The paper identifies two major directions for future studies on value co-destruction at events and suggests specific examples.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to a more holistic understanding of value co-creation and co-destruction in an event setting. For example, a clearer understanding of the interactions that reduce the overall value of an event may assist to better design valuable events in the future.
Transport operations are climate sensitive. Despite this, scientific literature and corporate practice present little evidence on how corporate actors use climate adaptation measures to prepare their transport operations for climate change. This paper explores two research questions: How can the acceptance among corporate decision-makers towards climate adaptation measures for their transport operations be explained? Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Diffusion of Innovations we develop a theoretical framework for dealing with climate adaptation measures for transport operations (step 1). We support the use of this framework through a literature review (1989–2020) (step 2) and semi-structured interviews with German companies that have implemented best practice measures (step 3). The results show that the handling of climate adaptation measures for transport operations can be described in three acceptance phases: acceptance of attitude, action, and use. We conclude that these phases determine the approaches required for promoting climate change adaptation.
Sustainable Digital Entrepreneurship : Examining IT4Sustainability as Business Development Path
(2022)
There is an increasing interest within the field of Information Systems as well as political agendas to identify the potential of digital technologies to promote sustainable development. Nonetheless, sustainable entrepreneurship and digital entrepreneurship are widely treated separately within the literature, suggesting that there is little understanding of how entrepreneurs could employ digital technologies to promote sustainable development. Based on an empirical, qualitative research approach, relying on Grounded Theory methodology, this paper identifies characteristics of sustainable digital entrepreneurs. An investigation of the manifestations of the sustainable digital orientation reveals a rather diffuse understanding of the relation and potential synergy effects. In response to this gap, the paper presents examples on how sustainable digital entrepreneurs employ digital and disruptive technologies to tackle sustainability challenges (IT4Sustainability development path), including information and communication technology, such as digital platforms, artificial intelligence, or drone technology. The presented approaches range from second-mover approaches associated with low digital maturity limited to the business level to the development of new business models facilitating the sustainable transition of whole sectors. These insights are summarized in an IT4Sustainability maturity model, which presents different starting points for entrepreneurs. Relevant theoretical, practical, and policy implications are discussed, especially concerning the education on IT4Sustainability, including Corporate Digital Responsibility.
In recent years, various studies have highlighted the opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) for our society. For example, AI solutions can help reduce pollution, waste, or carbon footprints. On the other hand, there are also risks associated with the use of AI, such as increasing inequality in society or high resource consumption for computing power. This paper explores the question how corporate culture influences the use of artificial intelligence in terms of sustainable development. This type of use includes a normative element and is referred to in the paper as sustainable artificial intelligence (SAI). Based on a bibliometric literature analysis, we identify features of a sustainability-oriented corporate culture. We offer six propositions examining the influence of specific manifestations on the handling of AI in the sense of SAI. Thus, if companies want to ensure that SAI is realized, corporate culture appears as an important indicator and influencing factor at the same time.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to distinguish different types of sustainable digital entrepreneurs (SDEs) and explore their approaches toward enhancing organizational resilience.
Design/methodology/approach
Investigation of entrepreneur characteristics using Grounded Theory methodology; 12 semi-structured telephone interviews with (owner-)managers of digital-resilient small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in Germany; adaptation of a sustainability-digitalization-matrix for initial clustering; investigation of reoccurring patterns (within and between clusters) through variable-oriented content analysis; application of the capability-based conceptualization of organizational resilience for synthesis and extension.
Findings
First, the authors present a new typology of SDEs, including descriptions of the four main types (Process-Oriented System Thinker, Unconventional Strategist, Dynamic Visionary and Success-Oriented Opportunist). Second, the authors propose a conceptual framework with six success factors of organizational resilience. The framework accentuates the influence of SDEs on organizational culture and the macro-environment.
Practical implications
Digital sustainability and resilience are emerging management principles. The insights gained will allow (future) entrepreneurs to perform a self-assessment and replicate approaches toward enhancing SME resilience; for example, governing the co-creation of an organizational culture with a strong integrative view on sustainability and digitalization.
Originality/value
SMEs are characterized by high vulnerability and a reactive response to the disruptions caused by sustainability crises and digitalization. Blending sustainable and digital entrepreneurship at a micro-level, the authors identified the success factors underpinning organizational resilience that are associated with the characteristics of four types of SDEs.
Information systems (IS) play a central role in promoting corporate sustainability and pro-environmental behavior. This study explores the use of mobile apps for fostering sustainability-oriented corporate culture. It accentuates issues relating to sustainability-oriented corporate culture (RQ1), app meta-requirements as a strategic approach to addressing these issues (RQ2), as well as design and implementation principles (RQ3). Referring to the literature on sustainability apps, gamification, and nudging, our qualitative research design combines an analysis of four corporate apps intending to promote sustainable behavior and expert interviews (Grounded Theory). The proposed framework supports the planning, realization, and monitoring of this targeted app use. Single cultural dimensions inform seven issues in culture development. Five meta-requirements address this multi-dimensionality, challenges provided by new digital working environments, and principles of Green IT. Four design principles support, extend, and integrate current knowledge on app features, nudging, and gamification. Five variables determine the app intervention and maturity level. We conclude that this targeted app use should intend to foster the sustainability orientation within all dimensions of corporate culture instead of being limited to promoting sustainable behavior.
Background
Citizen energy cooperatives (CECOs) are an important element for realising the transformation of the European energy system from a central system, dominated by a few market players to a decentralized system with the participation of many citizens, in which energy supply is largely based on renewable energy sources. This article identifies success factors that ensure a working organization that is capable of implementing projects to support the energy transition and improving the well-being of citizens.
Methods
The aim of this study is to identify success factors using the example of CECOs in north western Germany through a two-step process. The first step is a literature review to identify success factors of CECOs. Second, 12 semi-structured expert interviews with managers of CECOs are conducted and evaluated by means of a qualitative content analysis. The interviews identified the success factors and barriers of CECOs. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The coding process was carried out using a qualitative data analysis software (ATLAS.ti 8.4.5,).
Results
The results show that three factors particular should be present, but can influence each other, to lead to successful CECOs: (1) the CECOs require business models with low complexity, as business models that span different stages of the value chain can overwhelm organizational managers. (2) Committed key individuals must be found and promoted. They need the support of the members. (3) Social and ecological principles are the core values of CECOs. The maintenance and strengthening of social–ecological credibility must be promoted in the public perception.
Conclusions
The results show that CECOs emerge from a strong social cohesion in a society. In addition, local "key individuals" need to be identified and supported. To this end, the framework conditions (e.g., policy, legislation, municipal support, etc.) must be adapted in such a way that these "key individuals" in CECOs are not overburdened. The analysis of the interviews also revealed that political or regulatory barriers are often cited as obstacles to the implementation of community energy projects.
In the race against climate change, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a fundamental role. To clarify the contribution of corporate culture to SMEs' emission reduction, three perspectives can be useful: corporate culture as driver and barrier, current and planned corporate culture development actions, and the corporate culture profile as an outcome. As the first application of the extended Belief-Action-Outcome framework, this single case study exemplifies the role of corporate culture in an SME from the steel construction and manufacturing sector in Germany. The investigated SME has achieved emission reduction while increasing its revenue and is an early adopter of sustainable and digital development. The rich insights from an employee survey, semi-structured interviews, observation, and document analysis allowed us to outline an informed approach toward corporate culture development that emphasizes vision development of the desired corporate culture and the role of information systems for promoting emission reduction.
In recent years, the issue of land consumption or land use has become increasingly important in many areas of our society. Logistics processes in particular take up a lot of space and have a significant impact on the environment. The question is how this use of land can be optimised. Based on a systematic literature review and interviews with experts in the period between May 2021 and July 2021, this paper presents indicators that constitute or influence space-efficient logistics in the context of cooperation. The results show that in addition to the established cooperation characteristics, there are other indicators that are directly related to land use. In the logistics sector, there is strong competitive pressure and, as a result, little trust between companies. It has been shown that with the help of a neutral moderator, the gap between trusting, land-efficient cooperation and one’s own entrepreneurial interests can be narrowed, and cooperation can be profitable for all participants. In addition, digitisation actually does not seem to be sufficient to meet the information needs of a cooperation. The exchange of information not only serves to automate processes, but also makes cooperation more transparent. It shows that legal and municipal requirements need to be developed. It also becomes clear that the indicators have a mutual influence on each other and cannot be considered in isolation when it comes to the actual implementation of a cooperation. By increasing the efficiency of cooperative processes and value creation, it offers the opportunity to make land use more sustainable.
In view of the rapid depletion of natural resources and the associated overloading of the biological ecosystem, the concept of circular business models (CBMs) is increasingly discussed in the literature as well as in business practice. CBMs have the potential to significantly reduce the demand for natural resources. Despite their increasing relevance, the diffusion of CBMs in business practice is largely unexplored. Consequently, this article investigates the extent to which CBMs have already been adopted by large German companies. To answer this question, the annual and sustainability reports of the members of the DAX40 are analyzed for the presence of five specific types of CBMs. Data was gathered for the years 2015 and 2020 in order to describe the development over time. The results show an increasing prevalence of CBMs in the DAX companies. In addition, it is noticeable that CBM types that serve to close material cycles are implemented more frequently than those that decelerate material cycles. In particular Sharing Platforms and Product as a Service stand out due to comparatively low adoption. Potential reasons for these findings are discussed and managerial as well as policy implications suggested.
While recent studies have demonstrated that events are fundamentally climate sensitive, this seems to not be fully considered in event research or corporate event practice. Thus, this study aims to identify the influencing factors that affect the acceptance of climate adaptation measures among decision-makers in the event industry. The analysis was divided into three main parts. First, the existing literature related to climate change in an events context was reviewed. Using 15 semi structured interviews, the findings from this review were then critically discussed with stakeholders in Germany involved in event planning. Finally, explicit climate adaptation measures were proposed and discussed. Based on all findings, there appears to be a low level of awareness of and interest in climate adaptation amongst German event industry players. There is an imminent need for further research on climate adaptation and for decision-makers to better prepare for climate change in order to counteract resulting negative impacts.
While the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) in multinational enterprises has been receiving attention for some time, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have recently begun to recognize the potential of this new technology. However, the focus of previous research and AI applications has therefore mostly been on large enterprises. This poses a particular issue, as the vastly different starting conditions of various company sizes, such as data availability, play a central role in the context of AI. For this reason, our systematic literature review, based on the PRISMA protocol, consolidates the state of the art of AI with an explicit focus on SMEs and highlights the perceived challenges regarding implementation in this company size. This allowed us to identify various business activities that have been scarcely considered. Simultaneously, it led to the discovery of a total of 27 different challenges perceived by SMEs in the adoption of AI. This enables SMEs to apply the identified challenges to their own AI projects in advance, preventing the oversight of any potential obstacles or risks. The lack of knowledge, costs, and inadequate infrastructure are perceived as the most common barriers to implementation, addressing social, economic, and technological aspects in particular. This illustrates the need for a wide range of support for SMEs regarding an AI introduction, which covers various subject areas, like funding and advice, and differentiates between company sizes.
This chapter examines the integration of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) into identity-based brand management by focusing on Dove’s brand management as a case study. The Dove “Real Beauty” campaign highlights the potential for brands to address gender equality and female empowerment by aligning with pro-female and feminist principles. A narrative literature review shows how the components of identity-based brand management have been observed in scholarly discussions. Despite mixed responses and criticisms, Dove initiated important conversations around beauty standards and gender equality. The chapter emphasizes the need for authenticity, sensitivity, and continuous improvement in integrating SDG 5 into brand management while acknowledging the potential risks and limitations of consumerist therapy and false hopes. Future research could therefore explore diverse brands, industries, and cultural contexts, as well as the role of intersectionality in identity-based brand management.
The excitement sparked by the emergence of AI open platforms has encountered significant scrutiny from educators and educational planners, who have raised valid concerns about issues such as plagiarism, testing protocols, and the authenticity of content submitted by students. While these concerns are timely and crucial, it's essential not to overlook other pressing issues that often go unnoticed in the lived educational experience of learners, particularly within the field of social sciences. This paper aims to advocate for a humanistic approach with a focus on education in the generative AI Era.