• Energy Research

Yard waste is one of the key components of municipal solid waste and can play a vital role in implementing zero-waste strategy to achieve sustainable municipal solid waste management. Therefore, the objective of this study is to predict yard waste generation using the grey theory from the predicted municipal solid waste generation. The proposed model is implemented using municipal solid waste generation data from the City of Winnipeg, Canada. To identify the generation factors that influence municipal solid waste generation and yard waste generation, a correlation analysis is performed among eight socio-economic factors and six climatic factors. The GM (1, 1) model is utilized to predict individual factors with overall MAPE values of 0.06%-10.39% for the in-sample data, while the multivariable GM (1, N) grey model is employed to forecast the quarterly level of municipal solid waste generation with overall MAPE values of 5.64%-7.54%. In this study, grey models predict quarterly yard waste generation from the predicted municipal solid waste generation values using only twelve historical data points. The results indicate that the grey model (based on the error matrices) performs better than the linear and nonlinear regression-based models. The outcome of this study will support the City of Winnipeg's sustainable planning for yard waste management in terms of budgeting, resource allocation, and estimating energy generation.

Green supply chain management (GSCM) has emerged as an important issue to lessen the impact of supply chain activities on the natural environment, as well as reduce waste and achieve sustainable growth of a company. To understand the effectiveness of GSCM, performance measurement of GSCM is a must. Monitoring and predicting green supply chain performance can result in improved decision-making capability for managers and decision-makers to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. This paper identifies and analyzes various green supply chain performance measures and indicators. A probabilistic model is proposed based on a Bayesian belief network (BBN) for predicting green supply chain performance. Eleven green supply chain performance indicators and two green supply chain performance measures are identified through an extensive literature review. Using a real-world case study of a manufacturing industry, the methodology of this model is illustrated. Sensitivity analysis is also performed to examine the relative sensitivity of green supply chain performance to each of the performance indicators. The outcome of this research is expected to help managers and practitioners of GSCM improve their decision-making capability, which ultimately results in improved overall organizational performance.

To ensure business continuity in the post-COVID-19 era, decision-makers should reconfigure their traditional supply chain (SC) networks, assisted by the development and implementation of cutting-edge technologies. Recently, Industry 5.0 (I5.0) has gained increasing attention as a paradigm offering salient features for the creation of resilient and inclusive operations by ensuring long-standing SC sustainability. However, there has been insufficient analysis of the challenges of implementing I5.0 in SCs. Therefore, this study aims to understand the challenges of implementing I5.0 when managing the impact of SC disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic in an emerging economy. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for this research. First, the challenges to I5.0 implementation were identified through a literature review and experts’ feedback. Those challenges were examined and prioritised using the Best-Worst Method (BWM). Second, the contextual relationships amongst these challenges were analysed using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) with cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis. Findings showed that to adopt I5.0 initiatives successfully in order to manage the post-COVID-19 impact on SC sustainability, the active involvement of senior managers is required in the execution process. Findings also showed that financial support and funding (e.g., tax reduction, short loans, etc.) from investors and the government play a pivotal role in enabling sustainability in SCs. Finally, the challenges were classified using MICMAC analysis to provide valuable insights for managing future disruptions. This study is expected to help managers and decision-makers successfully overcome the challenges of implementing I5.0 in SCs and thus improve SC sustainability.

PurposeThe apparel industry of Bangladesh is rethinking lean manufacturing (LM) deployment because of the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to COVID-19, LM implementation in the apparel industry has become more difficult. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore the barriers to implementing LM practices in the apparel industry of Bangladesh in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachFor evaluating the barriers, an integrated framework that combines the Delphi method and fuzzy total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) has been designed. The application of fuzzy TISM has resulted in a structured hierarchical relationship model of the barriers with driving and driven power.FindingsThe findings reveal that “lack of synchronization of lean planning with strategic planning”, “lack of proper understanding of lean concept” and “low priority from the top management” are the three top most important barriers of LM implementation in apparel industry.Practical implicationsThese findings will help the apparel industry to formulate strategy for implementing the LM practices successfully. The proposed model is expected to contribute to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) such as Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12); Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8); Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9) via resilient strategies.Originality/valueThis study is one of few initial efforts to investigate LM implementation barriers during the COVID-19 epidemic in a real-world setting.

Most countries depend on coal-fired thermal power plants (CTPPs) to meet energy demands. However, the adverse environmental impacts of CTPPs also remain a major concern. As the energy generations from renewable energy resources are still in the developing stage, reliance on CTPPs is inevitable. Hence, the efficiency of CTPPs has to be improved, while decreasing carbon emissions. This study aims to identify and evaluate the key factors that need to be addressed in improving the performance and minimizing the carbon emission of CTPPs. With the literature review and industrial interaction, twenty-four key factors are identified. Next, an integrated approach of the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and fuzzy decision-making and trial laboratory (FDEMATEL) is used to evaluate the key factors. FAHP prioritizes the key factors and FDEMATEL reveals the relationship among the key factors. Results indicate air preheater leakage, plugging by ash, high levels of air ingress, air preheater secondary fire, and high levels of corrosion as the top five key factors affecting CTPP performance. Based on the outcome, the study offers some implications that may assist the industrial management in taking timely actions in improving the performance of CTPPs.

Objectif L'objectif de ce document est d'explorer les défis organisationnels et liés aux facteurs humains liés à la norme de gestion des services de technologie de l'information (TI) ISO 20000 dans un contexte d'économie émergente. Ensuite, cette recherche a proposé certaines implications des défis liés à la mise en œuvre de la durabilité environnementale et de l'économie circulaire. Conception/méthodologie/approche Pour atteindre l'objectif de la recherche, une étude empirique a été entreprise. Les données requises pour la présente étude, basées sur une échelle de Likert et à l'aide de questionnaires, ont été collectées par le biais d'enquêtes, d'entretiens, de conversations téléphoniques et de réunions avec les responsables et le personnel des entreprises informatiques. Le classement des défis a été obtenu en fonction de la moyenne et de l'écart type calculés à partir des réponses à l'enquête. Constatations Les résultats ont indiqué que le soutien de la haute direction était le défi le plus important pour la mise en œuvre réussie des systèmes de gestion des services informatiques. D'autres défis importants étaient la justification d'investissements importants, le support client premium, la coopération et la coordination entre les équipes de support informatique, une documentation appropriée et une conception efficace des processus. Implications pratiques La recherche actuelle devrait aider les responsables informatiques à mettre en œuvre la norme ISO 20000 et à gérer la durabilité environnementale et l'économie circulaire dans leurs réseaux organisationnels. Originalité/valeur À la connaissance des auteurs, la présente étude est la première tentative d'explorer les défis organisationnels et liés aux facteurs humains d'ISO 2000 dans un contexte d'économie émergente. En outre, la présente étude propose des implications pour les défis de la durabilité environnementale et de l'économie circulaire. Propósito El propósito de este documento es explorar los desafíos organizacionales y relacionados con el factor humano para la norma de gestión de servicios de tecnología de la información (TI) ISO 20000 en un contexto de economía emergente. Luego, esta investigación ha propuesto algunas implicaciones de los desafíos para implementar la sostenibilidad ambiental y la economía circular. Diseño/metodología/enfoque Para cumplir con el propósito de la investigación, se realizó un estudio empírico. Los datos requeridos para el estudio actual, basados en una escala Likert y utilizando cuestionarios, se recopilaron a través de encuestas, entrevistas, conversaciones telefónicas y reuniones con los gerentes y el personal de la empresa de TI. La clasificación de los desafíos se obtuvo en función de la media y la desviación estándar calculadas a partir de las respuestas de la encuesta. Hallazgos Los resultados indicaron que el apoyo de la alta dirección fue el desafío más importante para la implementación exitosa de los sistemas de gestión de servicios de TI. Otros desafíos importantes fueron la justificación de una inversión significativa, la atención al cliente premium, la cooperación y coordinación entre los equipos de soporte de TI, la documentación adecuada y el diseño eficaz del proceso. Implicaciones prácticas Se espera que la investigación actual ayude a los gerentes de TI a implementar la norma ISO 20000 y a gestionar la sostenibilidad ambiental y la economía circular en sus redes organizativas. Originalidad/valor Según el mejor conocimiento de los autores, el estudio actual es el primer intento de explorar los desafíos organizacionales y relacionados con el factor humano para ISO 2000 en un contexto de economía emergente. Además, el presente estudio propone implicaciones para los desafíos de la sostenibilidad ambiental y la economía circular. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore organizational and human factor-related challenges to information technology (IT) service management standard ISO 20000 in an emerging economy context. Then, this research has proposed some implications of the challenges to implementing environmental sustainability and circular economy. Design/methodology/approach To fulfill the research purpose, an empirical study was undertaken. The data required for the current study, based on a Likert scale and using questionnaires, were collected through surveys, interviews, telephonic conversations and meetings with IT firm managers and staff. The ranking of challenges was obtained based on the mean and standard deviation calculated from the survey responses. Findings The results indicated that senior management support was the most significant challenge for the successful implementation of IT Service Management systems. Other significant challenges were the justification of significant investment, premium customer support, co-operation and co-ordination among IT support teams, proper documentation and effective process design. Practical implications The current research is expected to help IT managers implement ISO 20000 and to manage environmental sustainability and circular economy across their organizational networks. Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first attempt to explore the organizational and human factor-related challenges to ISO 2000 in an emerging economy context. Furthermore, the current study proposes implications to the challenges to environmental sustainability and circular economy. الغرض الغرض من هذه الورقة هو استكشاف التحديات التنظيمية والبشرية المتعلقة بالعوامل التي تواجه معيار إدارة خدمات تكنولوجيا المعلومات ISO 20000 في سياق الاقتصاد الناشئ. ثم اقترح هذا البحث بعض الآثار المترتبة على التحديات التي تواجه تنفيذ الاستدامة البيئية والاقتصاد الدائري. التصميم/المنهجية/النهج لتحقيق الغرض البحثي، تم إجراء دراسة تجريبية. تم جمع البيانات المطلوبة للدراسة الحالية، بناءً على مقياس ليكرت وباستخدام الاستبيانات، من خلال الاستطلاعات والمقابلات والمحادثات الهاتفية والاجتماعات مع مديري وموظفي شركة تكنولوجيا المعلومات. تم الحصول على تصنيف التحديات بناءً على المتوسط والانحراف المعياري المحسوب من إجابات الاستبيان. النتائج أشارت النتائج إلى أن دعم الإدارة العليا كان التحدي الأكثر أهمية للتنفيذ الناجح لأنظمة إدارة خدمات تكنولوجيا المعلومات. وتمثلت التحديات الهامة الأخرى في تبرير الاستثمار الكبير، ودعم العملاء المتميز، والتعاون والتنسيق بين فرق دعم تكنولوجيا المعلومات، والتوثيق المناسب والتصميم الفعال للعملية. الآثار العملية من المتوقع أن يساعد البحث الحالي مديري تكنولوجيا المعلومات على تنفيذ ISO 20000 وإدارة الاستدامة البيئية والاقتصاد الدائري عبر شبكاتهم التنظيمية. الأصالة/القيمة على حد علم المؤلفين، فإن الدراسة الحالية هي المحاولة الأولى لاستكشاف التحديات التنظيمية والبشرية المتعلقة بالعامل لمعيار ISO 2000 في سياق الاقتصاد الناشئ. علاوة على ذلك، تقترح الدراسة الحالية الآثار المترتبة على التحديات التي تواجه الاستدامة البيئية والاقتصاد الدائري.

Rapid industrialization and the increased use of consumer electronic goods have increased the demand for energy. To meet the increasing energy demand, global nations are looking for energy from renewable sources rather than non-renewable sources, to adhere with the sustainability principle. As energy from renewable sources is still in the experimental stage, there is a need to use available energy sources optimally. Considering this, the present study aims to identify, evaluate, and reveal the interrelationship among critical challenge factors in improving the heat rate performance of coal-fired thermal power plants. The study identifies twenty critical challenges through a comprehensive literature review. Then, to evaluate the identified critical challenges, the grey-DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) technique is used. For evaluating the challenges, this study conducts an empirical analysis in a thermal power plant in India. The findings reveal that air preheater leakage, coal flow balancing, and air heater air outlet temperature are the top three critical challenges hampering the thermal power plant’s performance. Additionally, fourteen challenges come under the cause group, while eight challenges come under the effect group. The findings of the study can assist industrial managers in overcoming problems in their thermal power plants. The results can also guide the development of a robust and reliable framework for mitigating these challenges.

Une sensibilisation accrue à l'environnement a inspiré la communauté industrielle à développer des modèles commerciaux durables (SBM). En conséquence, la SBM est devenue un sujet à la mode dans la communauté des chercheurs. Cette revue analyse la SBM pour comprendre son importance, les tendances émergentes, les opportunités, les défis et les tendances futures qui profitent aux universitaires et aux praticiens. L'examen de la littérature a été effectué à l'aide du cadre PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Soixante-trois articles de recherche pertinents ont été extraits de la base de données Scopus et examinés dans cette étude. Des analyses bibliométriques et de réseau ont été menées pour construire des domaines de cluster et trouver des domaines de recherche émergents. L'analyse bibliométrique montre que la SBM a évolué à partir du développement durable et de l'innovation. L'analyse du réseau révèle cinq domaines émergents : les stratégies SBM, les défis dans le développement des SBM, les moteurs des SBM, le rôle de l'innovation dans les SBM et les technologies numériques dans les SBM. En outre, cette revue indique que la plupart des études sur la SBM sont quantitatives, en se concentrant sur l'industrie manufacturière. Les futures orientations de recherche de SBM ont également été proposées sur la base des résultats de cette étude. El aumento de la conciencia ambiental ha inspirado a la comunidad industrial a desarrollar modelos de negocio sostenibles (SBM). En consecuencia, la SBM se ha convertido en un tema de moda en la comunidad de investigación. Esta revisión analiza la SBM para comprender su importancia, las tendencias emergentes, las oportunidades, los desafíos y las tendencias futuras que benefician a académicos y profesionales. La revisión de la literatura se realizó utilizando el marco Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Se extrajeron sesenta y tres artículos de investigación relevantes de la base de datos Scopus y se revisaron en este estudio. Se realizaron análisis bibliométricos y de redes para construir dominios de clústeres y encontrar áreas de investigación emergentes. El análisis bibliométrico muestra que SBM evolucionó a partir del desarrollo sostenible y la innovación. El análisis de la red revela cinco áreas emergentes: estrategias de SBM, desafíos en el desarrollo de SBM, impulsores de SBM, el papel de la innovación en SBM y las tecnologías digitales en SBM. Además, esta revisión indica que la mayoría de los estudios sobre SBM son cuantitativos, centrándose en la industria manufacturera. También se han ofrecido futuras direcciones de investigación de SBM basadas en los hallazgos de este estudio. Increased environmental awareness has inspired the industrial community to develop sustainable business models (SBMs). Accordingly, SBM has become a trendy topic in the research community. This review analyses SBM to understand its significance, emerging trends, opportunities, challenges, and future trends benefitting academics and practitioners. The literature review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. Sixty-three relevant research articles were extracted from the Scopus database and reviewed in this study. Bibliometric and network analysis were conducted to construct cluster domains and to find emerging research areas. Bibliometric analysis shows that SBM evolved from sustainable development and innovation. The network analysis reveals five emerging areas: SBM strategies, challenges in developing SBMs, drivers of SBMs, the role of innovation in SBMs, and digital technologies in the SBM. Furthermore, this review indicates that most studies on SBM are quantitative, focusing on the manufacturing industry. Future research directions of SBM have also been offered based on the findings of this study. ألهمت زيادة الوعي البيئي المجتمع الصناعي لتطوير نماذج أعمال مستدامة (SBMs). وفقًا لذلك، أصبحت SBM موضوعًا عصريًا في مجتمع البحث. يحلل هذا الاستعراض الإدارة القائمة على النتائج لفهم أهميتها والاتجاهات الناشئة والفرص والتحديات والاتجاهات المستقبلية التي تفيد الأكاديميين والممارسين. تم إجراء مراجعة الأدبيات باستخدام عناصر الإبلاغ المفضلة للمراجعات المنهجية وإطار التحليلات الوصفية (PRISMA). تم استخراج 63 مقالة بحثية ذات صلة من قاعدة بيانات سكوبس ومراجعتها في هذه الدراسة. تم إجراء تحليل ببليومتري وتحليل شبكي لبناء مجالات المجموعات وإيجاد مجالات البحث الناشئة. يُظهر التحليل الببليومتري أن الإدارة القائمة على النتائج تطورت من التنمية المستدامة والابتكار. يكشف تحليل الشبكة عن خمسة مجالات ناشئة: استراتيجيات SBM، والتحديات في تطوير SBMs، ومحركات SBMs، ودور الابتكار في SBMs، والتقنيات الرقمية في SBM. علاوة على ذلك، تشير هذه المراجعة إلى أن معظم الدراسات حول SBM هي دراسات كمية، تركز على الصناعة التحويلية. كما تم تقديم اتجاهات البحث المستقبلية لـ SBM بناءً على نتائج هذه الدراسة.