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This paper investigates the transformation of information sharing and multi-tier supply chain management (MSCM) from the perspective of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the context of Industry 4.0. SMEs are typically sharing less information digitally, are less active in conducting MSCM, but must be integrated in digital supplier networks to achieve supply chain transparency or traceability. For this purpose, this paper empirically analyzes SMEs from the manufacturing industry in Austria and Germany are investigated regarding information sharing and MSCM. The responses are analyzed to test three hypotheses, using 81 replies from manufacturing SMEs in Austria and Germany. The three hypotheses investigate the upstream and downstream MSCM practices of SMEs as well as which kind of information is shared with and by SMEs. The results help to understand and reveal potential barriers for information sharing besides technical possibilities to SMEs in order to be actively involved in MSCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electricity market transitions from a market clearing in which flexible generation meets inflexible demand to one in which inflexible generation meets flexible demand. Consequently, new types of flexibility are needed to balance generation and demand. This paper mainly aims to analyse competition and synergy between various flexibility options in the electricity market. The developed European electricity market model maximises the joint socio-economic welfare of the electricity and the hydrogen market. Transmission grid,- storage expansion, electric vehicle demand side flexibility and hydrogen sector coupling are flexibility options. This work examines the implementation of different flexibility options in the bidding zones Austria and Germany. Austria, with a very high storage capacity in the alpine arc and Germany, with massive wind turbine capacities serve as representative case study. Results show that the storage location heavily influences the corresponding socio-economic welfare increase. Hence, location-dependent synergy and competition between storage and transmission line expansion can occur. In contrast, sector coupled hydrogen production and storage expansion compete with each other as both will reduce very low electricity prices. Demand-side flexibility primarily benefits end-users while producer surplus reduces. In combination with storage expansion, further positive synergistic effects for end-users occur. The combination of storage expansion and demand-side flexibility can replace transmission line expansion and vice versa if used comprehensively. Further efforts could address the evaluation of these effects if the individual flexibility providers aim for something other than a system-wide but individual optimum. • Implementation of several flexibility options into the European electricity market. • Storage location and transmission capacity have a huge influence on the results. • Consumers benefit from combined storage and demand-side flexibility use. • Additional electricity demand by sector coupling increases renewable energy revenue. • Storage and sector coupling compete with each other as both reduce price volatility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are said to engage significantly less with corporate sustainability (CS) than their larger peers, because they are more reluctant to voluntarily engage in CS beyond regulatory thresholds. However, the mechanisms for changing the reluctance of SMEs with regard to CS are poorly understood. By drawing on self-determination and stakeholder theory from a social proximity perspective, this paper argues that stakeholders play a key role in influencing the controlled CS motivation of SMEs, and that SMEs will consider the claims of 'proximate' stakeholders as being more salient than 'distant' regulatory pressure, with the latter even potentially exercising a negative effect on SMEs' controlled CS motivation. The hypotheses are empirically tested using survey-based data from a sample of 344 privately-held SMEs operating in Germany and Austria. Results of the structural equation model confirm that 'proximate' employee and community pressure reduces controlled CS motivation and ultimately increases overall CS performance, whilst 'distant' regulatory pressure has precisely the opposite effect, ultimately reducing the CS performance of SMEs. These findings help to clarify that the close attachment of SMEs to their employees, and their deep embeddedness in the local community might be important catalysts with regard to CS improvements of SMEs, whilst regulatory pressure reduces their willingness to engage in CS, since this is often perceived as an unfair, demotivating, external imperative, which compromises their self-determination. Lastly, theoretical and managerial implications are provided. [Display omitted] • We analyze the influence of stakeholder pressure on corporate sustainability (CS). • Social proximity (close vs. distant) is a driver of stakeholder salience in SMEs. • Close employee and community pressure reduces controlled CS motivation. • Distant regulatory pressure increases controlled CS motivation. • Policy-makers should be cautious to apply regulatory pressure to spur CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]