Purpose This study investigates the drivers, organisational dynamics and management practices of food waste in a quick commerce (Q-commerce) retailer in Europe. It addresses the lack of empirical research on food waste in Q-commerce, a rapidly expanding but underexplored retail model.Design/methodology/approach A single-case study was conducted at Company Q, a Q-commerce operator in Europe. A mixed-methods approach combined secondary data on waste from five stores over six months with seven semi-structured interviews across Supply Chain, Category Management and Operations. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, while qualitative data were thematically coded using ATLAS.ti.Findings Food waste was primarily driven by inaccurate forecasting, inadequate storage and handling, poor promotional planning and short shelf lives of perishables. These drivers were amplified by Q-commerce's fast-paced model. Additional barriers included key performance indicator (KPI) misalignment across departments and technological limitations. Current measures, namely, discounting, donations and limited cross-departmental coordination, were largely reactive, while employees identified opportunities in AI forecasting, automated discounting, supplier collaboration and KPI integration.Research limitations/implications Findings are based on a single case study. Future research should adopt a multi-case design to validate the generalizability of the findings.Practical implications The study highlights how Q-commerce operators can move from reactive waste mitigation toward preventive strategies.Originality/value This research is among the first empirical analyses of food waste in Q-commerce, extending food waste scholarship into new retail formats and bridging operational theory with managerial practice in sustainable retail management.

Our study analyses the role of both private and public debt, in conjunction with other financial and institutional factors, in shaping environmental performance (EP). Prior research on debt and EP has yielded inconclusive results and neglected the role of private debt and the interplay of various intervening factors. We address these gaps by applying Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to data from 59 countries. We find multiple pathways to achieving both high and non-high EP, highlighting the lack of a single best approach. Additionally, the results denote that high (non-high) public or private debt does not constrain a high (non-high) EP. The findings also demonstrate that no single financial means, including either type of debt or GDP alone, is necessary by itself for achieving high EP; rather, a combination of at least two financial means is necessary for such an outcome. Relatedly, the absence of all financial means is not sufficient to achieve non-high EP. Moreover, the role of debt on EP tends to depend on the other factors with which it is combined. Finally, financial means must be combined with different mixes of institutional factors for achieving a high and a non-high EP. Hence, our results reconcile previously mixed findings by indicating that the role of private and public debt on EP is contingent on other factors. This underscores the importance of considering the complex interplay between factors influencing environmental outcomes. Accordingly, this research offers insights into theory and informs policy decisions targeting both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Supply chain resilience has become a critical objective for managers navigating an increasingly uncertain environment. This study examines how supply chain digitalization contributes to resilience through the lens of the dynamic capabilities framework. Specifically, we investigate the mediating role of triple-A capabilities-agility, adaptability, and alignment-in this relationship. We use survey data from 408 Portuguese manufacturing firms and employ a mixed-method approach encompassing structural equation modeling (SEM), fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), and necessary condition analysis (NCA) to test our hypotheses. The results from SEM underscore the positive effect of supply chain digitalization on enhancing triple-A capabilities, with alignment and adaptability serving as significant mediators, while agility does not. The fsQCA identifies three alternative configurations of digitalization and triple-A capabilities that firms use to achieve resilience, providing evidence for joint effects. Additionally, NCA identifies supply chain alignment as a necessary condition for resilience. Our findings contribute to supply chain management research by characterizing how the interplay between digitalization and triple-A capabilities fosters resilience, offering practical insights for managers seeking to prioritize investments in digitally enabled capabilities.

Environmental sustainability has become a critical priority in supply chain management, driven by evolving customer expectations and regulatory pressures. While digitalization's role in improving operational efficiency is well-established, its specific impacts on environmental performance through downstream supply chain processes remain underexplored. Drawing on Information Processing Theory (IPT), this study investigates how downstream supply chain digitalization (DSCD) enhances information processing capabilities, enabling firms to effectively implement distinct green supply chain management (GSCM) practices—internal environmental management, eco-design, green purchasing, and investment recovery. Using structural equation modeling on data collected from 373 manufacturing firms in Portugal, our findings demonstrate that internal and external GSCM practices mediate the relationship between DSCD and EP. Specifically, internal environmental management systems are foundational in facilitating external GSCM practices, thus amplifying DSCD's impact on EP. This research contributes to the supply chain management literature by highlighting how downstream digitalization enables firms to address customer-centric sustainability challenges and by emphasizing the essential role of internal structures in supporting environmental goals. Practically, the study guides supply chain managers in aligning downstream digitalization investments strategically with targeted sustainability initiatives to enhance environmental outcomes.

Purpose Businesses are increasingly called upon to support the improvement of society and the environment, and one way to do so is by expanding into international markets, particularly through exports. Despite the importance and recognised challenges of a global approach to sustainable value creation, sustainability research tends to focus on domestic contexts. This paper aims to identify the boundary conditions linking sustainable value creation practices with firm performance in the international context. Design/methodology/approach The authors merge the sustainable value creation and the international marketing literature to develop two propositions that capture the emerging nature of the field and the lack of concluding evidence regarding the link between international sustainable value creation practices and firm performance. The authors test these propositions empirically by analysing 519 responses to a survey of exporting firms in Portugal, using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Findings The authors identify seven configurations that support sustainable value creation in an international context. These consist of varying levels of standardised and tailored offers, management experience and competitive intensity. Practical implications The identification of seven different configurations helps managers decide whether and how to innovate when pursuing sustainable value creation opportunities in international markets. Social implications The authors propose that an effective way for governments to achieve national and transnational social and environmental agendas is to help businesses that pursue sustainable value creation to succeed in international markets. Given that four of the seven pathways to improve export performance that the authors identified require international management experience, the authors posit that an effective way to support the internationalisation of those businesses is through targeted training programmes and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Originality/value The authors respond to calls for research to integrate the sustainable value creation and the international marketing literatures, to identify how and when firms can create sustainable value creation in an international context and thus support the resolution of global, social and environmental problems. The finding that there are multiple configurations that support this goal explains why empirical evidence collected thus far is inconclusive and helps identify the boundary conditions of existing theory.

Firm innovation is a characteristic of firms with a robust entrepreneurial orientation that wish to have a strong competitive position in their sector. Drawing on the theories of servant leadership and upper echelons, this study aims to highlight the mechanisms through which CEO servant leadership enhances firm innovation. This paper examines (1) knowledge absorptive capacity as a mediator in the CEO servant leadership–firm innovation relationship, and (2) the moderating role of social capital (internal and external) in this relationship. Original data from 176 large and medium-sized hotels in the Canary and Balearic Islands (Spain) were used to test the hypotheses, and a partial least squares (PLS) analysis using Smart PLS 4 revealed that CEO servant leadership was positive for firm innovation, which was, in turn, mediated by firm knowledge absorptive capacity. Furthermore, the relationship between CEO servant leadership and firm knowledge absorptive capacity was found to grow stronger as internal social capital increased, while external social capital strengthened the positive link between firm knowledge absorptive capacity and firm innovation. New light is therefore shed on how and when CEO servant leadership is most effective in fostering firm innovation. Additionally, our firm-level findings contribute to the servant leadership literature, which is dominated by individual and group-level research, and expand the mounting evidence for the positive impact of CEO servant leadership on firm-level outcomes.

The proliferation of scientific literature presents researchers and clinicians with substantial problems, particularly in terms of being current with the fundamental literature in their respective domains. There is a need for efficient tools that can analyse and visualize trends and patterns in scientific literature as the number and complexity of bibliographic databases continues to grow. CiteSpace is an example of such a tool. It is a Java application that is freely available and was built for the purpose of displaying and evaluating scientific literature. In this article, after reviewing the literate of our main keyword; project performance, EVM analysis approach and sustainability, we decided to search for keywords related to this topic in the citation database Web of Science . Furthermore, the result of this research shows the relationship and correlation of sustainability, performance and planning and control of projects. In addition, the effect of sustainability and sustainable development on the methods of earned value, which is introduced as earned green value management, was investigated and its improvement points were reviewed.

In this research we explore, building on dynamic capabilities, the influence that certain strategies followed by international new ventures (INVs) have on their responses to the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, we access the effect of business digitalization, early internationalization and internet international strategy on two possible responses to the crisis. Through the data gathered by a survey of 153 INVs, we were able to test the hypothesized framework using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique. We find that all the hypothesized relationships were confirmed. Therefore, business digitalization strategy, early internationalization strategy and internet international strategy have a positive effect of both responses to the crisis: production recovery (short-term response) and digital transformation (long-term response). This study provides two insightful contributes to the international entrepreneurship field: i) these three strategies (business digitalization, early internationalization and internet international focus) incorporate dynamic capabilities that give INVs advantages in reacting to a crisis; and ii) faced with a crisis situation, INVs simultaneously implement short-term and long-term responses.

Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship between market-oriented environmental sustainability (MES) and green export-related resources and capabilities, analyzes the impact of these resources and capabilities on the eco-friendly export marketing strategy and assess the influence of such strategy on export performance. Design/methodology/approach This study uses survey data from 241 manufacturing export firms analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The results show a positive influence of MES on green export-related resources and capabilities. Further, while green export-related capabilities directly affect eco-friendly export marketing strategy, resources only influence it indirectly through capabilities. The results also show that the adoption of an eco-friendly export marketing strategy contributes to firm’s export performance. Originality/value This study makes an important contribution to sustainability and exporting literature by evaluating the behavior of firms in terms of MES and eco-friendly export marketing strategy.

Purpose Retailers are increasingly using self-service technologies to improve customer experience and reduce costs. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that could explain the level of continuance intention of mobile self-scanning applications in retail. Based on previous theoretical streams, the present study integrates technology readiness (TR) and service quality into the technology acceptance model. Design/methodology/approach Using data collected through an online survey of 217 users of a mobile self-scanning application of a large supermarket chain operating in Portugal, the study uses partial least squares structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The results indicate that the continuance usage of the self-scanning apps is directly driven by users' satisfaction and perceived usefulness. Findings also show that TR has a positive and significant impact on ease of use and perceived usefulness. Ease of use has a positive impact on users' satisfaction and perceived usefulness but has no direct effect on the continuance intention to use the application. Perceived quality has a positive direct effect on satisfaction and a positive indirect effect on continuance intention. Finally, need for interaction has a negative effect on TR. Originality/value This work contributes to a better understanding of the emerging market for mobile self-scanning applications in retail applications, particularly relevant in a digital transition context.

Tourism lifestyle entrepreneurs’ (TLEs) businesses are associated with sustainable business models (SBMs) due to a link to the place. This link is a source of essential local knowledge that provides differentiation, competitiveness, and sustainability. Given the importance of local knowledge to SBMs, this article explores knowledge management by examining how TLEs acquire and integrate knowledge as well as its effects on innovativeness and self-efficacy. We use a sequential mixed-methods approach in which we first conducted a qualitative study with four in-depth semi-structured interviews with TLEs, followed by a quantitative study through a survey of 115 TLEs, and third we conducted another qualitative study based on four semi-structured interviews. The results indicate that entrepreneurial communication has a significantly positive and direct effect on both the innovativeness and self-efficacy of TLEs. A community-centered strategy has a positive influence on innovativeness and self-efficacy but via the indirect effect of entrepreneurial communication. Local knowledge assimilation plays a mediating role between the acquisition of local knowledge and innovativeness and self-efficacy. These findings provide a general understanding and framework about how TLEs link the elements of an SBM to greater innovativeness and self-efficacy.

Using the resource-based view, we examine the roles of international and digital orientations as determinants of the digitalization and the early internationalization strategies of international new ventures (INVs). We also examine the effect of implementing those strategies on the innovation performance of INVs during the COVID-19 pandemic. We tested this conceptual framework by using structural equation modeling (AMOS) on a database of 213 INVs. The results indicate that international orientation is a fundamental determinant of both strategies, while digital orientation only fosters a digitalization strategy. Moreover, both strategies were critical to increase innovation performance during the pandemic. This study expands the literature in the field of international entrepreneurship in three different ways: i) it highlights the relevance of innovation performance for INVs during the pandemic; ii) it underlines the relevance of both the early internationalization and the digitization strategies to promote innovation performance; and iii) it reinforces the importance of international and digital orientations as critical resources for defining strategy.

This paper analyzes the role of temporary/permanent employment in the way employees respond to person-organization fit (P-O Fit) with organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs), and whether mindfulness redraws this relationship. Compared to permanent employees, temporary employees may have fewer future prospects in their organization, thus leading them to engage less in this type of behavior, the potential returns of which are typically unspecified in time and are likely beyond their temporary reach. However, the self-regulatory, present-moment awareness and non-judgmental acceptance functions of mindfulness could reverse this relationship. Structural equation modeling using data from 280 employees of 10 Spanish hotels revealed that temporary (permanent) employees reacted to P-O Fit with lower (higher) OCBs, unless they were mindful, in which case their OCBs increased (decreased). The findings show that employment status and mindfulness redraw the P-O Fit - OCB relationship and that mindfulness makes temporary (permanent) employees respond to P-O Fit with increased (decreased) OCBs.

This study relies on a novel research approach to analyze how national income, income inequality, institutional quality, and culture combine to generate different recipes for eliciting subjective well-being (SWB). Specifically, we use fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, which facilitates the study of the combinations of conditions (paths) that act synergistically to achieve a certain outcome. The study uses data from over 70 countries and finds several combinations of conditions for different periods which lead equally to high SWB, as well as several configurations equally leading to low SWB. Additionally, we find that high national income, income equality, high-quality institutions, and each of the cultural dimensions are not necessary conditions for high SWB. However, high-power distance and low individualism are necessary conditions to achieve low SWB. The results for a few individual conditions are in line with previous studies, but we also determine that the effect of the remainder depends on the other conditions present in each combination. Overall, the results deliver an original and contrasting view of the factors leading to a nation's high or low SWB.

PurposeOrganizations are faced with increasing pressure to engage in sustainable development. There is an ongoing discussion on how to incorporate green thinking into lean management systems. This study aims to investigate configurations of lean and green supply chain management (GSCM) practices associated with high environmental performance.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses survey data from a sample of Portuguese manufacturing firms and apply fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to examine the data. This configurational technique allows to capture the synergetic effect of lean and GSCM practices and identify distinct combinations leading to the outcome of interest.FindingsSeven configurations of lean and green practices are associated with high environmental performance. The implementation of lean practices is required in all configurations. Analysis of alternative combinations reveals trade-offs between lean initiatives and environmental goals. Four configurations require low level of implementation of pull production. In one configuration, high environmental performance is achieved with low implementation of statistical process control and without lean employee involvement.Research limitations/implicationsThis study expands the literature on lean management by identifying different strategies to integrate lean and GSCM practices to achieve high environmental performance.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest different strategies to achieve high environmental performance. Managers need to selectively implement lean and green supply chain practices to achieve the desired combinatorial effect, which may require not to implement specific lean practices.Originality/valueThe study demonstrates the synergetic effects of lean and green practices on environmental performance using a configurational perspective. In addition, it identifies combinations that require a low level of implementation of specific lean practices.

Purpose Shifting demand and ever-shorter production cycles pressure manufacturing flexibility. Although the literature has established the positive effect of the firm's absorptive capacity on manufacturing flexibility, the separate role of the innovation competencies of exploitation and exploration in such a relationship is still under-investigated. In this study, the authors examine how these competencies affect manufacturing flexibility. Design/methodology/approach The authors use survey data from 370 manufacturing firms and analyze them using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB–SEM). Findings The results indicate that absorptive capacity has a strong, positive and direct effect on exploitative and exploratory innovation competencies, proactive and responsive market orientations, and manufacturing flexibility. The authors’ findings also demonstrate that the exploitative innovation competencies mediate the relation between responsive market orientation and manufacturing flexibility. Essentially, these exploitative innovation competencies produce a direct positive effect on manufacturing flexibility while simultaneously being a vehicle for absorptive capacity's indirect effects on it. An exploration innovation strategy does not significantly affect manufacturing flexibility. Originality/value This study contributes by combining key strategic features of firms with manufacturing flexibility, while providing new empirical evidence of the mediation of the exploitative innovation competencies in the relation between responsive market orientation and manufacturing flexibility.

The pandemic forced both organizations and consumers to make many adjustments to their daily lives. However, due the technological advances that have been seen in recent years, some tools have become much more widely used. Among them are the food delivery applications (FDAs) that experienced an exponential growth during the pandemic. This study proposes an integrated model based on the health belief model and the technology readiness and acceptance model to better understand the determinants of users’ continuance intention to use FDAs. Empirical data collected from 288 Portuguese users of FDAs during the pandemic was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results show that both the perceived susceptibility to and severity of COVID-19 infection positively influenced the perceived usefulness of food delivery applications. Technology readiness is also a predictor of perceived usefulness. Both self-efficacy and technology readiness predict users’ perceived ease of use. Users’ continuance intention to use food delivery applications is directly influenced by perceived usefulness and ease of use and indirectly by self-efficacy, technology readiness, perceived severity, and perceived susceptibility.

Tourism Lifestyle Entrepreneurs (TLEs) play an essential role in the innovation and competitiveness of tourist destinations. However, little attention has been paid to how these entrepreneurs manage local knowledge and turn it into innovation. This research examines how place attachment, community-centered strategy, and knowledge assimilation influence lifestyle entrepreneur’s innovativeness. A mixed methodology was applied with an online survey of 511 TLEs being conducted first, followed by a qualitative research where 24 additional TLEs were in depth-interviewed. Empirical evidence shows that, while place attachment and community-centered strategy have a positive linear relationship with lifestyle entrepreneur innovativeness, knowledge assimilation has a U-shaped relationship. Based on this U-shaped relationship, three types of TLEs were identified according to their capacity to transform assimilated knowledge into innovation, namely, opportunity seekers, professionals and laggards. The theoretical and practical implications are essential for the management of a tourism destination.

Tourism lifestyle entrepreneurs play an essential role in the innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness of tourism destinations. Thus, the ability of a destination to attract and retain this type of entrepreneur is an essential factor in strategic decisions. The limited research on this class of entrepreneurs implies that decision makers have little information about the factors that contribute to their willingness to stay in a particular destination. To address this challenge, this study employs a mixed-method approach, combining a quantitative survey-based study with a qualitative study by means of in-depth interviews. Based on survey data and using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis, this study identifies three equifinal configurations of antecedent factors (entrepreneurial self-efficacy, community-centered strategy, community attachment, and place attachment) that lead to a willingness to stay. Place attachment is the single-core condition. Moreover, the findings show that TLEs are not a homogeneous group. On the contrary, these entrepreneurs are driven by different motives and personal backgrounds. These results represent important insights for the definition of more sustainable strategies in destinations.

The agenda of researchers and practitioners in the tourism industry has focused on the demand for sustainable practices. Luxury hotels have also followed this trend, although studies are still limited. The aim of this study is to understand what environmental and social sustainability practices luxury hotels are adopting and how their management perceive the benefits and results from their adoption. This empirical research is based on a case study that triangulates data from semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and observation. The results show that luxury hotels have implemented environmental practices that address energy efficiency measures that reduce water consumption, waste, and carbon emissions and that control, protect, and maintain fauna and flora to promote of unique natural landscapes. They have focused on social practices that address the relations with charitable institutions, provide consumers high-quality services, and create a safe and healthy work environment. Luxury hotels have successfully implemented these practices to reduce operational costs. The study's findings provide practical guidance for hotel managers who seek to implement sustainability practices.