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20 pages, 819 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploitation, Exploration, or Ambidextrousness—An Analysis of the Necessary Conditions for the Success of Digital Servitisation

by Mirosław Matusek

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010324 - 25 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2384

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to investigate the level of necessity for one of the three conditions (organisational capabilities), i.e., exploitation, exploration, and organisational ambidexterity to achieve the desired level of business performance in digital servitisation of manufacturing enterprises. Servitisation (at present, [...] Read more.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the level of necessity for one of the three conditions (organisational capabilities), i.e., exploitation, exploration, and organisational ambidexterity to achieve the desired level of business performance in digital servitisation of manufacturing enterprises. Servitisation (at present, also in combination with Industry 4.0 solutions) is perceived as an important factor for the competitiveness of manufacturers. The idea of (digital) servitisation can also be considered in terms of sustainability. The main expectation here is that successful servitisation will result in a lower environmental impact by moving away from the traditional business model, in which the manufacturer produces the products and then transfers the responsibility for their ownership and use to the customer, towards achieving benefits from the customers’ use of the products (the product remains the property of the manufacturer). Achieving success in digital servitisation requires, among other things, appropriate use of dynamic capabilities, such as exploitation, exploration, or their combination, i.e., organisational ambidexterity. However, it is still unclear to what extent an ambidextrous organisation engages in both types of activities to increase the combined level of exploration or exploitation and how this affects company performance in digital servitisation. On the basis of a survey of a sample of 167 manufacturers, the necessary conditions for achieving the desired performance values were determined. For this purpose, one non-parametric method was used, i.e., necessary condition analysis (NCA). The results show that ambidexterity is not, in every case, a necessary condition for achieving better performance in digital servitisation. Organisational ambidextrousness is a necessary (but not sufficient) condition for better performance in dimensions such as market share, customer retention, sales growth, and overall firm performance. For competitive position, the limiting factor is exploration only, whereas for customer satisfaction, it is exploitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics through Smart Technology)

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18 pages, 1468 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Probabilistic Forecasting for Demand of a Bike-Sharing Service Using a Deep-Learning Approach

by Heejong Lim, Kwanghun Chung and Sangbok Lee

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15889; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315889 - 29 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1881

Abstract

Efficient and sustainable bike-sharing service (BSS) operations require accurate demand forecasting for bike inventory management and rebalancing. Probabilistic forecasting provides a set of information on uncertainties in demand forecasting, and thus it is suitable for use in stochastic inventory management. Our research objective [...] Read more.

Efficient and sustainable bike-sharing service (BSS) operations require accurate demand forecasting for bike inventory management and rebalancing. Probabilistic forecasting provides a set of information on uncertainties in demand forecasting, and thus it is suitable for use in stochastic inventory management. Our research objective is to develop probabilistic time-series forecasting for BSS demand. We use an RNN–LSTM-based model, called DeepAR, for the station-wise bike-demand forecasting problem. The deep-learning structure of DeepAR captures complex demand patterns and correlations between the stations in one trained model; therefore, it is not necessary to develop demand-forecasting models for each individual station. DeepAR makes parameter forecast estimates for the probabilistic distribution of target values in the prediction range. We apply DeepAR to estimate the parameters of normal, truncated normal, and negative binomial distributions. We use the BSS dataset from Seoul Metropolitan City to evaluate the model’s performance. We create district- and station-level forecasts, comparing several statistical time-series forecasting methods; as a result, we show that DeepAR outperforms the other models. Furthermore, our district-level evaluation results show that all three distributions are acceptable for demand forecasting; however, the truncated normal distribution tends to overestimate the demand. At the station level, the truncated normal distribution performs the best, with the least forecasting errors out of the three tested distributions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics through Smart Technology)

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25 pages, 4139 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Relationship between Chinese Urban Residents’ Perceptions of Sustainable Consumption and Their Efficiency Behavior: A Mediation and Moderation Analysis Based on the Social Practice Approach

by Jianfang Liang, Ruiwen Wang and Jingjun Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11262; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811262 - 8 Sep 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2162

Abstract

There exists a problem of insufficient perception of sustainable consumption and the “perception–action paradox” among Chinese urban residents. To address this problem, we construct a holistic research framework, integrating micro and macro levels based on the “Social Practice Approach”, with lifestyle as the [...] Read more.

There exists a problem of insufficient perception of sustainable consumption and the “perception–action paradox” among Chinese urban residents. To address this problem, we construct a holistic research framework, integrating micro and macro levels based on the “Social Practice Approach”, with lifestyle as the mediating variable and supply conditions as the moderating variable. This study aims to reveal the relationship between the sustainable consumption perception and efficiency behaviors of Chinese urban residents, as well as the associated influence mechanisms. Our results show that a sustainable consumption perception exerts a significantly positive influence on four dimensions of lifestyle and efficiency behaviors. Significant differences are explicitly identified among the four dimensions of lifestyle on efficiency behavior, and the mediating effect between sustainable consumption perception and efficiency behaviors, especially the development concern and price concern. Product sustainability perception and product facility availability conditions significantly positively moderate the relationship between sustainable consumption perception and efficiency behavior. Exploring the four dimensions of lifestyle and their deep-seated mediation effect on efficiency behavior will broaden the theoretical perspective of efficiency behavior research and guide sustainable consumption practices in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics through Smart Technology)

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19 pages, 631 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Capacity Allocation Models with Effort Dependent Demand in Global Supply Chain

by Seungbeom Kim and Kwanghun Chung

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1375; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031375 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2495

Abstract

In a demand driven market, optimal allocation of capacity to the demand has been one of the major issues. In this paper, we consider a single global freight firm allocating its capacity to its own regional sales offices. The firm sells cargo space [...] Read more.

In a demand driven market, optimal allocation of capacity to the demand has been one of the major issues. In this paper, we consider a single global freight firm allocating its capacity to its own regional sales offices. The firm sells cargo space based on two types of contracts: long-term and spot sales. Regional sales offices utilize their effort to generate more demand in their designated region. In other words, it is assumed that the demand is dependent on their efforts. First, we find a closed-form solution for the optimal level of the efforts of a single sales office in a specific region. Then, we study the case when the firm allocates its limited total capacity to two sales offices. We investigate different methods of capacity allocation: decentralization, centralization, and mixed, by conducting numerical studies. Different from the traditional finding, we suggest that the decentralization method is not always dominated by the centralization method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics through Smart Technology)

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16 pages, 1745 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supply Chain Governance Mechanisms, Green Supply Chain Management, and Organizational Performance

by Sang M. Lee and Donghyun Choi

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13146; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313146 - 27 Nov 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3819

Abstract

While firms understand that implementing green supply chain management (GSCM) is important, they seem uncertain about how to manage their green initiatives by looking beyond their own facilities. Building a green supply chain requires the participation of all partner firms across the supply [...] Read more.

While firms understand that implementing green supply chain management (GSCM) is important, they seem uncertain about how to manage their green initiatives by looking beyond their own facilities. Building a green supply chain requires the participation of all partner firms across the supply chain. However, partner firms are different in size, situation, capabilities, and even industries. Thus, encouraging them to participate in green initiatives is difficult. Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) hesitate to comply with green initiatives as they require a substantial amount of investment. This study empirically examines the causal relationship between the partnership governance mechanism and the success of GSCM. Based on transaction-cost economics theory (i.e., opportunism) and relational perspectives (i.e., trust) as the theoretical background, this study found that governance mechanisms between suppliers and manufacturers are positively related to GSCM performance. It showed that formal governance is important in the process-management side, while relational governance is critical for sharing knowledge in GSCM. The implications of the study results provide strategic insights on how the choice of governance mechanism affects GSCM performance and thus a firm’s competitiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics through Smart Technology)

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15 pages, 511 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Evidence of Distributed Trust in Blockchain-Based Sustainable Food Supply Chain

by Jaehun Joo and Yuming Han

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10980; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910980 - 3 Oct 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4966

Abstract

It is necessary to identify what factors affect distributed trust and validate their effect on distributed trust and user satisfaction in an area of the food supply chain for sustainable business. The purpose of the present study is to examine determinants of distributed [...] Read more.

It is necessary to identify what factors affect distributed trust and validate their effect on distributed trust and user satisfaction in an area of the food supply chain for sustainable business. The purpose of the present study is to examine determinants of distributed trust in the blockchain-based food supply chain and test seven hypotheses derived from the structural equation model integrating distributed trust, its three determinants, and user satisfaction. Transparency, traceability, and security are suggested as three determinants of distributed trust along the blockchain-based food supply chain. Data were collected from users of Chinese firms employing blockchain-based food supply chains to validate the research model and test the seven hypotheses. The present study contributes to clarifying the significance of distributed trust and suggesting evidence of its role in the food supply chain. The present study discussed trust-free systems based on blockchain technology related to sustainability through the findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics through Smart Technology)

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Review

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18 pages, 817 KiB

Open AccessReview

Application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Logistics: A Literature Review

by Yi Li, Min Liu and Dandan Jiang

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14473; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114473 - 4 Nov 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5426

Abstract

The booming development of e-commerce has brought many challenges to the logistics industry. To ensure the sustainability of the logistics industry, the impact of environmental and social sustainability factors on logistics development needs to be considered. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)/drones are used in [...] Read more.

The booming development of e-commerce has brought many challenges to the logistics industry. To ensure the sustainability of the logistics industry, the impact of environmental and social sustainability factors on logistics development needs to be considered. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)/drones are used in the logistics field because of their flexibility, low cost, environmental protection and energy-saving advantages, which can achieve both economic benefits and social benefits. This paper reviews 36 studies on UAVs applications in logistics from the Web of Science database from the past two years (2021–2022). The selected literature is classified into theoretical models (the traveling salesman problem and other path planning problems), application scenarios (medical safety applications and last-mile delivery problems) and other problems (UAV implementation obstacles, costs, pricing, etc.). Finally, future directions of UAVs are proposed, such as different application scenarios that can be considered and different algorithms that can be combined to optimize paths for UAVs to specific flight environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics through Smart Technology)

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18 pages, 712 KiB

Open AccessReview

Shuttle-Based Storage and Retrieval System: A Literature Review

by Yi Li and Zhiyang Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14347; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114347 - 2 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2299

Abstract

While the e-commerce logistics industry is developing rapidly, its sustainable development has received certain attention. The ultimate goal of sustainable development is to achieve common, coordinated, fair, efficient, and multi-dimensional development. To promote the sustainable development of logistics, the automation technology of warehousing [...] Read more.

While the e-commerce logistics industry is developing rapidly, its sustainable development has received certain attention. The ultimate goal of sustainable development is to achieve common, coordinated, fair, efficient, and multi-dimensional development. To promote the sustainable development of logistics, the automation technology of warehousing is undoubtedly an excellent breakthrough, since the automation technology can not only make the warehousing system efficient and with a low-error rate, but also affect the energy consumption of the warehousing system. This paper studies the Shuttle-Based Storage and Retrieval System (SBS/RS) in automated warehousing. Moreover, the paper classifies the existing literature into three categories: Physical design (including depth, configuration, and number of tiers); control strategy (including scheduling rules, storage strategies, scheduling command, and interference); and performance evaluation (including throughput, time, and energy). These categories are all factors that warehouse designers must consider when designing a system. Finally, this paper proposes future research directions for SBS/RS: Adding speed metrics, limiting buffer size, targeting space constraints, applying four-way shuttles, and increasing the carrying capacity of a single machine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics through Smart Technology)

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24 pages, 20854 KiB

Open AccessReview

Review of Research on Digital Supply Chain Management Using Network Text Analysis

by Jebum Pyun and Jin Sung Rha

Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9929; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179929 - 3 Sep 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6991

Abstract

Studies that have examined the digital transformation’s association with supply chains have been actively conducted for over 10 years, and studies on digital supply chain management have been increasing. However, there is a lack of consensus on the definitions of or views about [...] Read more.

Studies that have examined the digital transformation’s association with supply chains have been actively conducted for over 10 years, and studies on digital supply chain management have been increasing. However, there is a lack of consensus on the definitions of or views about the digital supply chain; thus, researchers in the academic or industrial fields propound various concepts of digital supply chains, which results in confusion during the exchange of opinions or transmission of concepts in many cases. The purpose of this study is to identify the research trends from various articles on the digital supply chain that have been published so far, summarize and analyze the theories and concepts pertaining to it, and review future topics of research. Network text analysis was conducted by extracting information from unstructured text data to identify research trends. The results of the analysis showed that many studies have examined the digital supply chain in terms of sustainable management. “Sustainability” was the most influential word in the keyword network, and the digital transformation of supply chains is essential for the sustainable viability of firms in the era of Industry 4.0 and digital transformation. Many studies have focused on technology for big data analysis and the IoT as technologies to fulfill digital supply chains and maintained that COVID-19 has increased risk factors such as global supply chain disruptions, which is why global firms must monitor the supply chain in real time by securing end-to-end visibility and making corporate-level efforts to build a digital supply chain to instantly detect and deal with related risks. The common groups of keywords were related to “supply chain integration”, “resilience”, “digital technologies”, and “digital transformation”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics through Smart Technology)

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