Translating sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments into operational management practices remains a challenge for organisations, including public higher education institutions. This study examines workload and capacity governance as an operational domain through which sustainability considerations can inform management-control decisions. Using a university enrolment process as an illustrative case, the mixed-method study combines process observation and time tracking, Business Process Modelling, semi-structured interviews, and P-Graph-based workload and capacity modelling. The model maximises completed enrolment cases subject to administrative capacity, processing-time requirements, process dependencies, and a 10–20% uncertainty range for case revisits. Three workload scenarios vary demand across 4400, 2200, and 1460 student cases. Results show declining completion rates as workload increases, with the paper-based second stage remaining particularly capacity-constrained. Interview evidence identifies workload concentration, rework, additional working time, and employee well-being concerns. The study contributes to sustainability-oriented management control research by showing how formal workload and capacity information can support resource allocation, capacity planning, and workload governance while connecting operational workload management with the social dimension of sustainability. The resulting case-derived framework provides a basis for examining these relationships in other administrative settings.

Background: Lean management is widely recognized as an effective approach to process optimization. However, its implementation in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), particularly in logistics and supply chain contexts, remains challenging. Resource constraints and inconsistent organizational commitment often hinder effective implementation. This study examines Lean adoption, leadership commitment, and implementation outcomes in SME logistics and supply chains. Methods: A mixed-methods design was used, combining a systematic literature review guided by PRISMA and PEO frameworks, followed by a structured survey. A total of 780 valid responses from SME professionals were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, and reliability assessment. Results: Top and middle management commitment was identified as a significant predictor of perceived Lean implementation success. A measurable gap was observed between respondents’ knowledge of Lean methods and their practical application, emphasizing the importance of strategic alignment, organizational culture, and employee engagement. Conclusions: The findings provide practical implications for strengthening Lean implementation in SMEs through enhanced managerial commitment and employee involvement. The study is limited by its focus on SMEs from a single country and the literature retrieved from one bibliographic database. Future research should include broader geographical coverage, multiple databases, and objective organizational performance indicators.

This paper reports an exploratory, descriptive survey about the ways in which organizations use data management systems in supply chain management and what users perceive to be their administrative advantages. The research applies administrative process sustainability in a restricted, procedural sense as the ability to keep information flows up to date, reduce unnecessary manual procedures, and enable consistent and open administrative procedures. The questionnaires were completed by employees of manufacturing and logistics organizations in Hungary and Kenya. Responses were summarized using descriptive statistics in SPSS and Excel. From the results, valuable insight is derived into the most used DMS, training levels of respondents, perceived effectiveness for key SCM activities, including purchasing, logistics, sourcing, and product disposal. Results showed generally expected advantages, including increased coordination, faster order processing, and improved integration with other functions. The contribution of the paper is practical and contextual; it documents existing DMS usage and user perceptions across two distinct settings without inferring any causality. Limitations are a modest, non-probability sample and reliance on self-reported perceptions.

Background: This study seeks to explore the link between smart city development and demand-responsive transport, analyze the ways of integrating demand-responsive transport into smart mobility concepts, estimate public perceptions about those phenomena, and review any international efforts aimed at promoting sustainable environmentally friendly transport options for cities in the EU. Methods: A systematic literature review was used as a basis for the current study; it is grounded in the analysis of scientific sources available in Scopus with the application of both PEO and PRISMA models. Survey analysis was also applied in order to examine public perception towards smart cities and DRT. Results: The results show that, even though the topics of smart cities and smart mobility have received significant attention in scholarly research, their links to demand-responsive transport still need more exploration. This paper describes the main features of smart mobility, urban mobility, and demand-responsive transport as well as the implications associated with each concept from an environmental, social, and operational perspective. In addition, the current international activities and examples of sustainable and flexible mobility systems are discussed. Conclusions: This paper presents a thorough examination of the relationships among smart mobility, urban mobility, and demand-responsive transportation.

Environmental awareness is playing an increasingly important role in all segments of the world, with sustainability and recycling being key elements. The aim of the research is to examine the challenges companies face in terms of sustainability when implementing procurement and supply chain management processes related to interior design. The research focused on four main questions: how procurement and supply chain management are reflected in construction processes, what challenges these processes face, and how they can influence the sustainable use of materials in architectural supply chains. The literature review was based on a systematic literature review using the PRISMA screening process and the PEO framework, utilizing the SCOPUS database and processing 70 scientific articles following the selection process. During the research, I also used the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), in which I asked interior designers about their positive and negative experiences with the procurement of sustainable materials and supply chain management processes. The methodology thus provided deeper insight into the decision-making processes of professionals, where sustainability conflicts with economic and operational realities. The qualitative research was supplemented by a questionnaire survey, which aimed to assess sustainability, its prevalence, and professional obstacles. The results of the research show that this topic is a research gap, but the openness of professionals shows a positive trend. Companies face numerous challenges related to new technologies and environmental awareness in order to create or transform well-functioning supply chain management processes.

The increasing pressure on public institutions to adopt digital solutions has raised new questions about the actual sustainability of such transformations, particularly in administrative systems that remain resource-intensive despite partial digitalisation. While digitalisation is widely promoted as a path to greater efficiency and environmental responsibility, its sustainability outcomes are far from guaranteed. This study critically examines these assumptions through the case of a university enrolment system, identifying inefficiencies and exploring how digitalisation can optimise resource use and improve performance. The widely assumed link between digitalisation and sustainability is not universally valid, as outcomes depend on context, implementation, and infrastructure. The economic, environmental, and social impacts of digital transformation are assessed using process mapping, a conceptual sustainability framework, and estimates of paper and processing efficiency. Digital workflows are shown to reduce administrative workload, lower paper waste, and enhance accessibility, while underscoring the need to avoid unnecessary information technology practices, redundant communication flows, and poorly structured information management that may offset sustainability gains. For example, annual carbon dioxide emissions were reduced from 85,926 kg to 85,006 kg when transitioning from a hybrid to a fully digital enrolment process, primarily by eliminating paper-related emissions and reducing electricity use. The study provides a policy-oriented sustainability indicator framework to guide decision-makers in evaluating public sector digitalisation efforts, while also offering a structured approach to assess trade-offs and implementation conditions. The research contributes methodologically by combining process modelling with sustainability indicators - a rarely integrated approach in public administration - and lays a foundation for future computational optimisation models focused on institutional governance and sustainability-oriented digital transformation.

Environmental awareness is playing an increasingly important role in all segments of the world, with sustainability and recycling being key elements. The aim of the research is to examine the challenges companies face in terms of sustainability when implementing procurement and supply chain management processes related to interior design. The research focused on four main questions: how procurement and supply chain man-agement are reflected in construction processes, what challenges these processes face, and how they can influence the sustainable use of materials in architectural supply chains. The literature review was based on a systematic literature review using the PRISMA screening process and the PEO framework, utilizing the SCOPUS database and pro-cessing 70 scientific articles following the selection process. During the research, I also used the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), in which I asked interior designers about their positive and negative experiences with the procurement of sustainable materials and supply chain management processes. The methodology thus provided deeper insight into the decision-making processes of professionals, where sustainability conflicts with eco-nomic and operational realities. The qualitative research was supplemented by a ques-tionnaire survey, which aimed to assess sustainability, its prevalence, and professional obstacles. The results of the research show that this topic is a research gap, but the openness of professionals shows a positive trend. Companies face numerous challenges related to new technologies and environmental awareness in order to create or transform well-functioning supply chain management processes.

As institutions seek to reduce their environmental impact, administrative processes must be optimized for energy and resource efficiency. This study integrates control theory with P-graph methodology to develop a structured framework for sustainable administrative workflows, focusing on university enrollment systems. P-graph-based optimization identifies minimum-energy pathways and optimal resource configurations, while Model Predictive Control (MPC) and nonlinear control enable real-time process adaptation under dynamic conditions. A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) compares the carbon footprint of digital and paper-based workflows, evaluating IT infrastructure energy use versus traditional operations. Simulated control strategies support energy-efficient decision-making, highlighting best practices for emission reduction and operational flexibility. The result is a decision-support framework that embeds P-graph into a dynamic control context, guiding control strategy selection to minimize energy use and emissions. This scalable approach supports sustainability-oriented process management across public service domains.

The rise of Industry 4.0 has made digital transformation a critical element of modern supply chain management, offering organizations a pathway to competitive advantage. While the prior literature has examined aspects of digitalization, few studies present a comprehensive view of the transformation process through to its practical application. This study proposes and aims to validate a digital transformation model developed by the author, based on a systematic literature review of 284 articles from Scopus and Web of Science. The model outlines a progression from data management to the integration of enabling technologies, culminating in enhanced supply chain decision-making. It introduces three key metrics—readiness, adoption, and Digital Maturity—to guide companies through distinct stages of transformation. Validation will be conducted using a mixed-methods approach, combining expert interviews and a quantitative survey with SCM professionals. This study offers both a theoretical framework and practical roadmap to support organizations in evolving their digital transformation strategies.

Administrative workflows in public services, such as university enrolment are increasingly recognized as complex systems characterized by nonlinear dynamics, interdependencies, and variable operational constraints. These characteristics often lead to inefficiencies in resource allocation and compromise process sustainability. This study develops a novel control-theoretic optimization framework that integrates feedback, adaptive, and predictive control strategies with the P-graph methodology to address these challenges. The proposed approach models enrollment workflows using system dynamics and P-graph-based network optimization, enabling structured representation, real-time control, and scenario-based decision-making. To assess sustainability and efficiency, the model simulates varying scenarios of student demand, digital transformation levels, and administrative capacity. Key performance indicators (KPIs) such as resource utilization, delay reduction, and process flexibility are used to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of Model Predictive Control (MPC), discrete-event control, and feedback control strategies. Results show that optimized scenarios achieved a 50 % reduction in CO2 emissions and over 2 h reduction in average processing time, significantly improving sustainability. This research uniquely applies control-theoretic methods to public administration and extends the P-graph methodology beyond industrial domains. The outcome is a scalable decision-support framework for policymakers aiming to enhance the resilience and sustainability of administrative service processes under dynamic conditions.

Digital Twins provide comprehensive capabilities to solve critical logistics problems such as visibility, monitoring, optimization, prediction, and simulation. This study explores the existing DT readiness assessment models in SCs and logistics, discovers their limitations, and proposes a conceptual model based on an organization’s internal and external attributes to strategize DT implementation in logistic functions. The results showed that the existing readiness assessment models have weaknesses and drawbacks, motivating the researchers to develop a new logistic DT readiness assessment model. This study identified six main organizational dimensions directly affecting measuring overall logistics’ DT readiness, which are management readiness, personnel readiness, information readiness, organization readiness, product readiness, and process flow readiness. Their relationship is mediated by Technology Integration and moderated by Supply Chain Complexity, which was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling to show the importance of strategizing DT implementation in logistics.

The concept of sustainable urban mobility has gained increasing attention in recent years due to the challenges posed by rapid urbanization and environmental degradation. The objective of this study is to explore the role of on-demand transportation in promoting sustainable urban mobility, incorporating insights from customer interests and demands through survey analysis. To fulfill this objective, a mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a systematic literature review with survey analysis of customer interests and demands regarding on-demand transportation services. This study combines a systematic literature review and a targeted survey to provide a comprehensive analysis of sustainable urban mobility, addressing gaps in understanding customer preferences alongside technological and financial considerations. The literature review encompassed various aspects including technological advancements, regulatory frameworks, user preferences, and environmental impacts. The survey analysis involved collecting data on customer preferences, satisfaction levels, and suggestions for improving on-demand transportation services. The findings of the study revealed significant insights into customer interests and demands regarding on-demand transportation services. Analysis of survey data indicated that factors such as convenience, affordability, reliability, and environmental sustainability were key considerations for customers when choosing on-demand transportation options. Additionally, the survey identified specific areas for improvement, including service coverage, accessibility, and integration with existing transportation networks. By providing flexible, efficient, and environmentally friendly transportation options, on-demand services have the potential to reduce congestions, improve air quality, and enhance overall urban livability.

In the quest for sustainable and circular practices within supply chains, both downstream and upstream strategies play pivotal roles. This structured literature review aims to compare the indicators of sustainability and circularity between downstream and upstream supply chain strategies, evaluating their impact through practical cases and empirical studies. The downstream strategies, which focus on waste management, customer engagement, and reverse network planning, are explored alongside upstream strategies such as sourcing environmentally friendly raw materials and integrating design for circularity principles. This paper assesses the efficacy of these strategies through a comprehensive review of scholarly articles, reports, and case studies in achieving sustainability and circularity goals. The literature review reveals that downstream strategies often face challenges related to felxibility and operational efficiency while crucial for managing end-of-life products and optimizing resource utilization. Conversely, upstream strategies, emphasizing eco-friendly sourcing and circular design principles which demonstrate significant potential for long term sustainability and circularity. Practical cases illustrate how upstream interventions can lead to reduced environmental impact, enhanced resource efficiency, and increased product longevity across various industries. Furthermore, the review highlights the interconnectedness of downstream and upstream strategies within the broader supply chain ecosystem. Synergistic approaches that integrate both strategies demonstrate the highest potential for driving transformative change towards sustainable and circular supply chains. Ultimately, this review underscores the importance of integrated approaches that leverage both downstream and upstream strategies to achieve lasting environmental and economic benefits to provides insights for policymakers and researchers seeking to prioritize interventions that maximize sustainability and circularity across the supply chain.

Background: Despite ongoing efforts to improve resource recovery, waste continues to end up in landfills. Companies are increasingly pressured to address sustainability, particularly under the extended producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks. Objectives: This article examines how Industry 4.0 technologies can enhance the sustainability of waste collection within reverse logistics systems. By exploring the link among waste management, reverse logistics and Industry 4.0, the study identifies opportunities to improve resource use, reduce environmental impact and boost operational efficiency. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted using ScienceDirect and Web of Science database, two major databases, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-guided mapping study clearly, illustrated inclusion and exclusion steps. Keywords were structured using the PEO (Population, Exposure, Outcome) approach, resulting in 47 articles analysed and categorised into five themes. Results: The review identifies five key thematic areas in the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies with reverse logistics: collection system design and optimisation, application of core Industry 4.0; stakeholder engagement and consumer participation, policy frameworks and governance and barriers to efficient collection. While Industry 4.0 tools improve routing, traceability and efficiency, their impact increases when aligned with supportive policies and user engagement. Decentralised models, EPR schemes and incentive-driven systems significantly enhance return rates and environmental outcomes. Conclusion: The synergy between technological innovation, infrastructure planning and behavioural incentives is vital for effective reverse logistics. The review highlights limited empirical validation and calls for research on aligning technology adoption with local policy and informal sector realities. Contribution: This review introduces a conceptual framework integrating five interdependent dimensions, offering a unified framework for sector-wide sustainable reverse logistics.

With the help of a detailed survey, this article aims to examine how effective communication can aid the lean transformation process within a company. Lean methodologies enable companies to create processes and systems that are so efficient that they give them a significant competitive advantage in the marketplace. On the one hand, these improvements can be made by reducing costs and losses and, on the other, by increasing value to the customer. In this study, a survey was carried out in Hungary among 20 Hungarian companies with lean practices, collecting more than 800 employee responses and focusing on the benefits of lean practices in manufacturing companies. Both managers and employees expressed the same opinion, highlighting the importance of communication in the transformation process. The research was conducted among companies with lean experience, and the results and conclusions described can be applied to the lean implementation projects of Hungarian manufacturing companies. Lean practitioners identified communication as almost as important as team composition and management commitment. The research showed that the success of the transformation depends not only on implementing but also on sustaining and remaining dedicated to change, which is only feasible with the right form and frequency of communication.

The goal of this article is to examine traffic education and its examination system, using a new approach based on the House of Quality method. While every country has its own legal rules and requirements regarding how traffic education and examinations are conducted, there is a direct relationship between traffic education, its examination system and road safety. Therefore the quality of such a complicated process is of great interest for both stakeholders: the authorities and the citizens. These stakeholders both have their own objectives regarding the system, consequently increasing its complexity. This article investigates, as its case study, the system in Hungary. The House of Quality method has been expanded to provide a unique approach to examine the goals and objectives of both stakeholders, revealing similarities and differences and their interrelationships. Secondary data on the effectiveness of the traffic education and examination system are also analysed. Based on the HOQ model representations of the goals and objectives of the stakeholders regarding the traffic education and exam system, it can be established that the stakeholder points of view are closer to each other in the case of the test system than that of the education system. However, there are unsolved contradictions between the stakeholders that have to be handled, as opinions regarding the quality of the service and the criteria of the stakeholders’ satisfaction are very diverse.

Digital Twins (DT) are an emerging trend in diversified industrial sectors and their value chains. This study aims to explore current DT applications within SCs, focusing on sustainable inbound and outbound logistics and identifying key enablers that will facilitate the successful adoption of DTs in SCs. Using the PEO model and employing the PRISMA framework, this study screened articles from the Scopus database to explore the existing knowledge related to this topic. A steep increase in articles related to DTs over the past 10 years indicates that there is growing attention in exploring and leveraging this technology for various applications. The successful adoption of DTs is driven by several key factors, including advanced technological infrastructure; standardized processes; continuous improvement; knowledge workers; technologies like IoT, IIoT, AR/VR; and managerial support.

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized retail by enhancing business decision-making. This research applies the RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary) framework for customer segmentation, promoting sustainable consumer behaviour and eco-friendly products. Mobility issues, such as efficient goods movement and customer access, are also pivotal in sustainable retail supply chains. A systematic literature review (SLR) and Python-based clustering techniques (K-Means, hierarchical, DBSCAN) are employed to analyse a four-year dataset of customer data. The SLR identified six key areas from 71 articles. Clustering results varied: RFM binning found four clusters, K-Means and Mean Shift found three, and hierarchical and DBSCAN found two. The study emphasizes a data-centric retail strategy and the transformative impact of machine learning on customer engagement.

The European Union set out several directives and standards for governments and local authorities on environmental policy issues in the planning and management of public services. Public service provisioning is subject to both traditional expectations (such as customer-friendliness and efficiency) and new environmental stewardship and sustainability expectations. This paper analyzes public service processes, particularly the university enrolment process. Our analysis used public service models (Service Blueprinting, Business Process Modeling, Process Chain Network) and a mathematical model (P-graph). Our research aims to analyze the university enrolment process and its efficiency, considering sustainability aspects and expectations and identifying the points that can be modified and improved to make it more efficient, sustainable, qualitatively positive, and economical. According to our research, school administrators are overburdened during the enrolment process, often resulting in overtime work and a high turnover ratio. Our results clearly show the high inefficiency of this administrative process, as administrators can only partially meet their expected labor targets during their regular working hours. We found that the university enrolment process can be improved and made more efficient and sustainable. Using the P-graph, we have found the process’s optimal path and resource requirements in a way that was not feasible with previous models. Heartened by these results, we propose introducing and applying the P-graph as a new model to study other public service processes.

Through the application of a reverse logistics benchmark approach, this paper aims to investigate prevailing waste management practices in the European Union (EU) countries. In detail, it will analyze existing waste management practices, identify successful efforts, and identify areas for improvement within the EU region, in order to answer how can different collection waste management practices promote sustainability and integrate with reverse supply network? In this article, a structured literature review is carried out to examine the existing literature background, and public reports are collected and analyzed published by EU nations on waste management. The aim of the article is to understand their current state and evaluate the applicability of reverse logistics techniques in enhancing waste collection, recycling, and disposal. By answering the research question, the examination can provide valuable insights and recommendations for policymakers, as well as those involved in managing waste or stakeholders with an interest in enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of waste management practices in EU countries.