Fatuma Namisango

During the past decade, environmental awareness and consciousness have increased dramatically particularly in the developing countries. Given the ever-increasing emphasis on the UN member countries for contributing towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the notion of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) has gained increased traction, and as such it has become a powerful driver toward reducing the harmful impacts of the production processes, activities and emissions on the natural environment. However, it is still unexplored as to what extent the Green Intellectual Capital (GIC) and Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) when subject to the application of Quick Response Technology (QRT) affect the GSCM practices for augmenting the environmental performance of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the developing countries. It is therefore critical to evaluate the link between the above variables with an aim to derive sustainable environmental performance. Thus, by evaluating from the lens of Resource-Based-View (RBV) theory, this research offers a synergistic framework of the relationship between GIC, GHRM and GSCM when subject to a moderation effect of QRT for achieving the Firm Environmental Performance (FEP). In order to examine this, we invited participants from 244 SMEs of Pakistan to participate in this research and the data were statistically analysed using the Smart-PLS-based Structural Equation Modelling. The results demonstrated that GIC and GHRM, when mediated through GSCM and moderated by QRT, significantly enhanced the environmental performance of the SMEs. From the viewpoint of its theoretical contribution, this research adds a novel scholarly perspective to the GHRM, GIC and GSCM literature. On the policy and practice front, it offers sense-making insights and policy recommendations for the SMEs in the developing countries that are striving to adopt and maintain sustainable supply chain practices for deriving environmental performance. Additionally, from the SDG perspective, this research directly contributes towards achieving some specific SDGs in the developing countries, thereby formally sensitising SMEs, Governments, NGOs, Social Communities and Individuals in these countries to focus on the attainment of the SDGs.

The role of SMEs is pivotal in driving the global economies. These represent 90 % of the business firms and provide over 50 % of the employment globally. Owing to an ever-increasing environmental consciousness, the manufacturing SMEs, particularly in the developing economies, have undergone strategic transformations by incorporating green capabilities into their production processes. Given the widespread environmental issues faced at the global landscape, especially the challenges encountered by the SMEs of the developing countries like Pakistan, it is important to investigate and address these issues in a sustainable manner. Therefore, this research investigated the collective influence of green resource capabilities such as Green Intellectual Capital (GIC), Green Entrepreneurial Orientation (GEO) and Green Innovation (GI) for deriving green competitive advantage in the SMEs of Pakistan. In this regard, the data were gathered from the Senior Managers who worked in 380 manufacturing SMEs of Pakistan and subsequently analyzed through Smart-PLS based SEM technique. The findings revealed a significant positive association between the examined variables. This research adds to the theory & practice of sustainability by suggesting the SMEs to adopt the empirically-tested green resource capabilities for achieving sustainable economic, social and environmental performance.

The role of information systems (IS) in sustainability has increased, and so has the demand for sustainability skills and competencies as organisations and people pursue sustainable ways of operating and living for the planet, the plants, the people, and the profit. Educational institutions are critical in enabling sustainable development as they provide learning environments for sustainability education (SE). Universities worldwide are integrating SE into curricula to enable learners to develop essential sustainability competencies for various industries.

The IS curricula need a clear agenda for integrating SE to develop the essential skills and competencies for sustainable design and use of IS. Yet, the IS discipline lays the foundation for rethinking diverse information technologies (IT) in organisations and the everyday lives of individuals and groups.

We propose a critical investigation of how IS academics integrate SE into the current IS curricula. The study will reveal how the integrations are mapped to the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), the economic, social and governance (ESG) framework, and the external curricular bodies such as the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). The investigation will reveal the targeted sustainability competencies essential for IS practice. The anticipated outcomes are intended to guide the integration of SE in IS curricula in universities and develop critical sustainability competencies for enduring IS practice.

In recent years, “sustainability education” in Higher Education has become an increasingly popular topic among researchers driven by the constant calls for the research community to contribute novel research that can aid in building a sustainable world. The objective of this paper was to explore how sustainability concepts have been integrated in Information Systems (IS) curricula, to determine the state of knowledge in this area and provide guidance for future research. Using Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage scoping review process, the current landscape of sustainability in IS classrooms is mapped and key themes and factors which were found to influence sustainability education in IS are identified. Eight databases were searched for relevant papers published on this topic. Fifteen articles were selected and deemed high quality for a thematic analysis. As a result, nine themes emerged from the thematic analysis, and key research gaps and directions for future research are presented. The findings show that there is currently no unified approach to sustainability education in IS. This paper presents the themes in a novel conceptual research framework which can guide the incorporation of sustainability concepts in IS education. In addition, the framework can be used as the basis for future research in this area.

Purpose-The paper focuses on online younger viewers' motivation to purchase virtual gifts on live-streaming platforms. To explore influencing factors, this study draws on the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) theory and liberal-conservative thinking theory to establish the research model. It analyses factors that influence the use of environmental opportunity, personal capability and personal thinking style units, which differ from traditional user behaviour research. Design/methodology/approach-Through the variance-based structural equation modelling and partial least squares path modelling, three influencing factors positively affect online younger viewers' virtual gift-purchasing motivation: technical opportunity, financial capability and liberal thinking. Findings-Considering the economic imbalance between urban and rural regions, this paper focuses on online younger viewers' regional differences and designs their urban-rural backgrounds as moderating factors. The multi-group analysis based on a non-parametric approach presents several significant points in the current study, such as younger viewers from rural areas paying more attention to technical opportunities and liberal thinking factors. Originality/value-The study distinguishes the differences between urban and rural areas and explores online viewers' specific opinions on the virtual gift-sending system. The regional differences are caused by local technical development and economic background. The results can help live-streaming platform managers and related departments improve their techniques and functions, aiming to drive the development of the live-streaming industry.

The ever-increasing market turbulence has turned today's corporate landscape more competitive and complex. Particularly during the last two decades, the increased utilization of Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) globally transformed the services sector in terms of ease of business processes and improved client service delivery. However, in the current knowledge-based era, these tools & technologies would only be meaningful if these are appropriately utilized by a knowledgeable workforce. In other words, this knowledge age has changed the success mantra of business competitiveness by re-shifting the focus from ICT-based transformations to knowledge-based transformations, though the availability of ICT systems has further augmented the organizational capabilities. Moreover, truly capitalizing on these warrants a knowledge-enabled work culture and recognizing as such the strategic significance of in-house Intellectual Capital (IC) that serves as a prime mover of achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. However, the maximum potential of IC for deriving multi-stakeholder value has not been fully achieved. Therefore, by administering 12 face-to-face semi-structured interviews at Australian Professional Service Firms (PSFs), this research offers a novel perspective on IC valuation by presenting the concept of 'Triple Value Bottomline' coupled with 'IC Best Practices for PSFs'. These collectively offer IC evaluation, measurement and management mechanisms. Overall, the findings reveal immense potential of IC for achieving diverse value outcomes for multi-stakeholders in PSFs.

The growth of social media has enabled new operating methods and sparked organizational optimism in social technologies. We must broadly and distinctively identify the practices enacted in the organizational use of social technologies, understand how these practices influence each other, and the mechanisms driving their achievement. This paper deduces the sociomaterial practices enacted in the organizational use of social media and the augmenting generative capabilities. We surveyed seventy-three (73) organizations, collected 267 usable responses and applied structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques to analyze the data. The paper offers two contributions. First, we utilize the affordances-in-practice perspective to identify and categorize organizational practices enacted on social media, including functional, symbolic, and interactive practices. Then, we highlight the role of organizational generativity in facilitating these practices. Generativity represents the ability to revitalize, procreate, and introduce new ways of acting in dynamic or transient situations. Overall, our findings show how social media practices relate to organizational generativity and the mediating role of symbolic-driven practices.
•Organizational practices on social media can be functional, symbolic, or interactive.•Organizational generativity augments social media practices.•Symbolic practices influence the functional and interactive practices.•Symbolic practices mediate the relationship between generativity and other practices.

The Professional Service Firms (PSFs) have gained widespread attention owing to their enormous contribution to the growth of global service economies. PSFs being knowledge-intensive firms frequently encounter a challenge of continually enhancing the knowledge competencies of their staff that forms the basis of organizational Intellectual Capital (IC) and derives competitive advantage for them. Nevertheless, a little research has been done governing the development of knowledge capital in the PSFs. This makes the role of High Performance Work Systems (HPWS) indispensible towards managing intellectual capital resources in these firms. However, the systematic application of HPWS in PSF context is still lacking the empirical basis. Therefore, by presenting a qualitative conceptual framework, this research offers a linking mechanism on how HPWS guide IC development in the service firms. By empirically testing these HPWS as (Ability, Motivation, and Opportunity)-enhancing practices via face-face interviews, the results demonstrate that HPWS play strategically significant role in building knowledge capital in the PSFs. Overall, this research offers practical insights to the KM and HR managers in service firms on achieving client service quality and satisfaction through a knowledge-smart workforce and perpetuate a sustainable competitive advantage.

As people live in cross-cultural contexts, there is a need to recognize and appreciate the role of different worldviews and how they shape our understanding of humanity, upbringing, and engagement in social or work environments. The key starting point to enable this is exploring the often-overlooked indigenous philosophies of life such as Ubuntu and examining how such value systems survive alongside opposing or similar traditions. This chapter improves the understanding of cultural values by discussing the central tenets of the African philosophy of Ubuntu, in comparison to the Western ways of life and the strategies that Africans in the diaspora are applying to preserve Ubuntu values. Strategies for promoting Ubuntu in the education system and community settings are also recommended with the goal of enhancing cross-cultural awareness.

The contribution of professional service firms (PSFs) has always been phenomenal in the knowledge economies. Given the ever-increasing focus on achieving knowledge-based trans-formations, the effectiveness of these firms is highly attributed to the knowledge capabilities embedded in their staff and how efficiently they are utilized in firm's optimal benefit. In view of growing services sector, it is vital for these firms to implement high performance work practices (HPWPs) so as to maintain high-quality services and meet competing client needs. However, the systematic implementation of these practices in the intellectual capital (IC) context is not fully developed. Hence, this research suggests a linkage mechanism on how HPWPs support IC development in the professional service firms. By operationalizing these practices as ability-, motivation-, and opportunity-enhancing bundles, the results indicate a positive effect on intellectual capital and the findings offer practical insights to the managers in service firms on building their knowledge capital and deriving competitive advantage.