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Grounded in dynamic capabilities, this study mainly aims to model emergency departments' (EDs) sustainable operations in the current situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by using emerging big data analytics (BDA) technologies. Since government may impose some restrictions and prohibitions in coping with emergencies to protect the functioning of EDs, it also aims to investigate how such policies affect ED operations. The proposed model is designed by collecting big data from multiple sources and implementing BDA to transform it into action for providing efficient responses to emergencies. The model is validated in modeling the daily number of patients, the average daily length of stay (LOS), and daily numbers of laboratory tests and radiologic imaging tests ordered. It is applied in a case study representing a large-scale ED. The data set covers a seven-month period which collectively means the periods before COVID-19 and during COVID-19, and includes data from 238,152 patients. Comparing statistics on daily patient volumes, average LOS, and resource usage, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, we found that patient characteristics and demographics changed in COVID-19. While 18.92% and 27.22% of the patients required laboratory and radiologic imaging tests before-COVID-19 study period, these percentages were increased to 31.52% and 39.46% during-COVID-19 study period. By analyzing the effects of policy-based variables in the model, we concluded that policies might cause sharp decreases in patient volumes. While the total number of patients arriving before-COVID-19 was 158,347, it decreased to 79,805 during-COVID-19. On the other hand, while the average daily LOS was 117.53 min before-COVID-19, this value was calculated to be 165,03 min during-COVID-19 study period. We finally showed that the model had a prediction accuracy of between 80 to 95%. While proposing an efficient model for sustainable operations management in EDs for dynamically changing environments caused by emergencies, it empirically investigates the impact of different policies on ED operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In rapidly changing business conditions, it has become extremely important to ensure the sustainability of supply chains and further improve the resiliency to those events, such as COVID-19, that can cause unexpected disruptions in the value supply chain. Although globalized supply chains have already been criticized for lack of control over sustainability and resilience of supply chain operations, these issues have become more prevalent in the uncertain environment driven by COVID-19. The use of emerging technologies such as blockchain, Industry 4.0 analytics model and artificial intelligence driven methods are aimed at increasing the sustainability and resilience of supply chains, especially in an uncertain environment. In this context, this research aims to identify the problematic areas encountered in building a resilient and sustainable supply chain in the pre-COVID-19 era and during COVID-19, and to offer solutions to those problematic areas tackled by an appropriate emerging technology. This research has been contextualized in the automotive industry; this industry has a complex supply chain structure and is one of the sectors most affected by COVID-19. Based on the findings, the most important problematic areas encountered in SSCM pre-COVID-19 are determined as supply chain traceability, demand planning and production management as well as purchasing process planning based on cause and effect groups. The most important issues to be addressed during COVID-19 are top management support, purchasing process planning and supply chain traceability, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Today's primary challenges in supply chains (SCs) include considerable greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and disruptions. Addressing these requires the examination of three interconnected SC paradigms, i.e. decarbonisation, resilience, and Closed-Loop SCs (CLSCs). This paper seeks to investigate and assess the criteria for decarbonised resilient CLSCs, as influenced by the global pandemic, specifically within the context of Iran's small and medium pharmaceutical enterprises, employing a mixed-method approach. Initially, a Systematic Literature Review was employed to identify a categorised list of decarbonised resilient CLSC criteria by determining the impact of COVID-19 on SCs. Afterwards, the list was indigenised via the fuzzy-Delphi method. Two popular Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making methods, i.e. fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory and fuzzy Interpretive Structural Modelling-Matrix-based Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC), were then employed to investigate the finalised criteria. This paper has innovatively enhanced these methods by incorporating a multi-scenario analysis approach. The findings indicate that technological advancements, issues related to market and communication, and raw material markets significantly affect other criteria. Transportation and logistics are also crucial in reducing lead times, waste, and CO2 emissions. Two countermeasures are recommended for senior managers, i.e. (i) the identification and application of suitable basic and advanced technologies across each SC process and (ii) engaging in a coevolutionary process beginning with SMEs' cooperation and collaboration towards their co-creation. The importance of regulatory bodies was also emphasised in devising effective policies to improve the markets for raw materials and finished products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Advances in smart technologies (Industry 4.0) assist managers of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to control quality in manufacturing using sophisticated data-driven techniques. This study presents a 3-stage model that classifies products depending on defects (defects or non-defects) and defect type according to their levels. This article seeks to detect potential errors to ensure superior quality through machine learning and data mining. The proposed model is tested in a medium enterprise—a kitchenware company in Turkey. Using the main features of data set, product, customer, country, production line, production volume, sample quantity and defect code, a Multilayer Perceptron algorithm for product quality level classification was developed with 96% accuracy. Once a defect is detected, an estimation is made of how many re-works are required. Thus, considering the attributes of product, production line, production volume, sample quantity and product quality level, a Multilayer Perceptron algorithm for re-work quantity prediction model was developed with 98% performance. From the findings, re-work quantity has the highest relation with product quality level where re-work quantities were higher for major defects compared to minor/moderate defects. Finally, this work explores the root causes of defects considering production line and product quality level through association rule mining. The top mined rule achieves a confidence level of 80% where assembly and material were identified as main root causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Blockchain technologies have played a crucial role in transforming the retail industry, leading to remarkable advancements in recent times. Its pivotal role in managing risky environments by offering preventive and proactive measures cannot be overstated. The research contribution lies in introducing a set of criteria for assessing the adoption of Blockchain technology, specifically designed to evaluate the resilience of the retail sector. This study aims to ensure the establishment of a sustainable, resilient supply chain across diverse retail categories, particularly in the face of uncertain circumstances. A hybrid decision-making approach that combines the Best-Worst Method (BWM) and Fuzzy TODIM has been employed to achieve these objectives. This study encompasses various types of retail companies to assess and compare their resilience levels by adopting Blockchain technology. The results of this study robustly suggest that speciality retailers with well-established, long-term partnerships are more predisposed to embrace and leverage the capabilities of Blockchain technologies. Conversely, discount retailers in Turkey face various challenges that impede their effective integration of Blockchain technologies. These challenges encompass collaborating with suppliers on short-term agreements and the unavailability of product tracking, among other factors. As a result, the outcomes of this study offer valuable insights for retailers in the sector, suggesting that they should consider modifying their operational strategies to better align with the adoption and integration of Blockchain technologies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Major global urbanization has burdened cities, necessitating circular use of scarce resources, demanding superior service delivery for citizens while expecting increased operational efficiency in governance. Responsible use of smart systems like AI, cloud etc. can address contemporary socio-economic-governance problems. Digital technology can integrate various urban functions into a common service delivery platform. Platform-based public services enable resource sharing and circular economy, building smart communities that treat nations as digital enterprises and their citizens as customers while achieving operational efficiency in governance. Integration of several urban functions into a single platform facilitates ubiquitous urban public service delivery and efficient government operations. Digital platforms can be built by horizontal integration of several technologies like analytics, cloud, IOT, blockchain etc. by breaking silos. Multi-functional urban digitization is complex, especially for a diverse country like India; this also requires responsible use of technologies like AI, cloud etc. which use public data. This necessitates a robust and secure transformation architectural framework. Academia, industry, and policy-makers are currently evaluating an Indian city specific adaptation of Enterprise Architecture as a potential urban digital transformation framework. This study produces a design artifact that defines elements of enterprise architecture adaptation for Indian cities. The study recommends cross industry horizontal integration in business architecture by converging urban functions such as mobility, safety, communities etc. The study also suggests horizontally integrated and responsible use of analytics, IOT and cloud in technology architecture to build a uniform urban public service delivery platform. This research uses design science research methodology, which is popular in practice due to its problem-solving approach and emergence in contemporary IS research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Supply chains are gradually transforming into more global structures. To ensure sustainability and resilience in face of the problems that arise in globalizing supply chains, it is becoming an important issue today; a supply chain must be flexible, agile and responsive. Therefore, the aim of the study is to focus on resilience in sustainable global supply chains (GSC) to avoid disruptions caused by pandemics such as COVID-19; it is also conducted research on responsiveness of sustainable global supply chains during COVID-19. In this study, dynamic capability perspective and contingency theory are used to conceptualize theoretical models for COVID-19. Moreover, a partial least squares (PLS) model is used to analyse the research hypotheses with 200 responses collected from companies which have complex supply chain structures. As a novel result, the relationship between flexibility, agility and responsiveness of global supply chain is revealed. Supply chain agility is found to be directly affected by supply chain flexibility. Moreover, supply chain flexibility and supply chain agility directly affect the responsiveness of the global supply chain. In addition, the agility of the supply chain acts as a partial mediator variable in the effect of supply chain flexibility on responsiveness. • Global supply chains are more vulnerable against disruptions.. • It is critical to being flexible, agile and responsiveness of supply chains. • The study aims to investigate responsiveness of sustainable supply chains during COVID-19. • Partial least squares model is used to data analysis in this study. • As result, flexibility, agility, responsiveness directly related with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Organic waste disposal methods, notably landfilling, not only deplete resources but also contribute to environmental challenges. This research looks at potential barriers to organic waste management solutions. The objective of this study is to identify the barriers to organic waste management solutions from an actor's perspective, and to explore their causal relationships to overcome the organic waste management problem from a system perspective. Several key challenges were identified regarding organic waste management solution, the current intervention overview indicates that promoting and tracking attention towards "value to waste" would be an effective solution approach. Waste collection fees, unethical behavior, and a lack of engagement and commitment in activities show a subsequent effect on consumer-household solutions, which are currently acting as priority barriers in this research. In order to have a better understanding of this complex issue, a detailed knowledge of barriers (leading to organic waste) is discovered and evaluated with the application of fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL). The data for this research has been taken in the context of a developing economy like India. This work can provide structural support to the managers by knowing the cause (influencing) and effect-group (influencing) barriers to the effective implementation of an organic waste management system in a circular economy context. [Display omitted] • The research explores potential barriers to organic waste management solutions. • A fuzzy decision making method is used to evaluate the complex problem. • The method evaluates the key barriers in context of expert-made fuzzy judgments. • The study has been carried out and is focused in context of developing countries. • The study promotes flexible strategies to provide support to managers involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Food waste management is a growing environmental and economic issue for a developing country like India. This exploratory paper aims to prioritize key practices as "criteria" for food supply chains that lead to food waste reduction to ensure green waste management. Twenty-five criteria from the existing literature and expert inputs were assessed to resolve food waste reduction issues in food supply chains, especially in the agricultural sectors. The study identifies and ranks the intensities of each of the listed criteria. In the study, the Best-Worst Method, a multi-criteria decision-making approach, is applied. According to the findings, waste prevention at the earlier stages of food supply chains is given more priority compared to food waste minimization and treatment at the later stages. Hence, the study concludes "skill and training" as the highest ranked criteria, followed by "protection and infrastructure." Further, the study infers that understanding the individual intensities of criteria within a food supply chain can affect waste generation at each level, having a significant impact on waste reduction. The data in this research was evaluated in the Indian context. • Explores the green waste management problem in food supply chains. • 25 sub-criteria & 5 main criteria are listed in the circular economy context. •Conducted an empirical case study in the Uttarakhand region in India. • The Best Worst Method is used to evaluate the outcomes. • Training of growers is ranked as the topmost criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Blockchain technology is a revolutionary new protocol for sharing and updating information by linking ledgers or databases in a decentralised, peer-to-peer, open-access network. Blockchain is designed to ensure the data is stored and updated in a secure, tamper-proof and irreversible way. Despite being in its nascent stages, the blockchain research is developing rapidly in different fields, making it imperative to capture the ethical and sustainability implications of blockchain development and implementation. The circular economy also focuses on enhancing sustainability and social responsibility, alongside economic growth. In this article, we critically review blockchain technology's current and potential contribution to the circular economy through the lens of sustainability and social responsibility. This paper contributes to the Industry 4.0 literature by identifying, collating and organising the disparate research on blockchain, with a critical focus on its positive impact and potential repercussions for the ethics agenda. Within this narrative review, we argue and highlight the extant and potential alignment of blockchain with circular economy. Our findings show that blockchain technology can contribute to the circular economy by helping to reduce transaction costs, enhance performance and communication along the supply chain, ensure human rights protection, enhance healthcare patient confidentiality and welfare, and reduce carbon footprint. We also evaluate the challenges to blockchain implementation for circular economy, in terms of trust, illegal activities, potential for hacking and the need to address these through suitable legislation and policy development. Furthermore, we acknowledge the potential upfront costs involved in implementing blockchain technology, although we observe that the benefits are likely to exceed the challenges. We conclude this article with recommendations for future research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Internet of Things-enabled technologies help to collect data and make it understandable, especially in supply chain processes, thus minimizing the problems that may arise in supply chains. It is extremely important to support this process with Internet of Things-enabled technologies, especially in supply chains that are vulnerable to disruptions such as the dairy supply chain. Moreover, dairy supply chains are the type of supply chains where the most waste is generated; evaluating this waste is very beneficial to the circular economy. Therefore, monitoring data in dairy supply chains and using Internet of Things-enabled technologies prevent losses; it is critical to have Internet of Things-enabled circular dairy supply chains in operation. The aim of this study is to determine the success factors of Internet of Things-enabled circular dairy supply chains based on the various stages of these chains; we hope to match each dairy supply chain stage with a success factor of Internet of Things-enabled technology and determine a ranking for these factors. Hence, six success factors of Internet of Things-enabled circular supply chains are weighted for each stage of the chain; Internet of Things-enabled digital technologies are then matched with each stage of the chain, and the success factor is determined. The ranking of factors can then be drawn up through the integration of Step Wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) and Technique for Order Preference Similar to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The outcome of this study will provide managers and policy makers with insights into Internet of Things-enabled circular dairy supply chains., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.) more...