scholarly journals Improving Firms’ Performance and Sustainability: The Case of Eco-Innovation in the Agri-Food Industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 5590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrián Rabadán ◽  
Ángela González-Moreno ◽  
Francisco J. Sáez-Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Environmental Responsibility ◽  
Company Performance ◽  
Initial Sample ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Sales Company ◽  
Innovation Cooperation

Companies’ environmental responsibility has significantly increased in the last decade. However, the question about the benefits that this responsible decision has on the company’s performance in the market remains. In this scenario, the main goal of this study is to analyze the conditions that improve the performance of companies in the agri-food industry, paying specific attention to technological eco-innovation and different types of cooperation (in the use and in the development of eco-innovations). Our initial sample contains data of agri-food companies operating in Spain. The Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) has been used as a new path for the analysis of firm’s data. Company performance has been considered by using a construct including three variables (increase in the sales, company profitability and cost reduction). Results show that the conditions that largely benefit company performance are R&D spending and the development of technological eco-innovation. Cooperation in the development and use of eco-innovations are especially important for the smaller companies, with the larger companies in the sector relying both in cooperation and in their own resources. The different recipes which improve the performance, as well as the sustainability of the sector, are presented in this study.

Fuzzy Multiple Attribute Conditions in fsQCA: Problems and Solutions

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 312-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Veri
Keyword(s):  
Fuzzy Logic ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Fuzzy Set ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Arithmetic Mean ◽  
Aggregation Techniques ◽  
Multiple Attribute ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Problems And Solutions ◽  
Problematic Issue

This article aims to clarify the fundamental aspects of aggregating fuzzy scores of conditions with multiple attributes in fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Fuzzy multiple attribute conditions (FMACs) are conditions that are built using different types of concepts. FMACs are flexible conditions that express the ontological nature of the concept and deals with the causal heterogeneity. In fact, researchers can add a new attribute to a concept in order to consider the concept’s meaning vis-à-vis to the outcome of interest instead of only considering the theory. In relation to FMAC fuzzy scores, we have individuated one problematic issue which is the aggregation strategy of attributes that are already calibrated that should be able to capture conceptual properties of membership and similarity. In this article, we will employ an empirical example in order to deal with causal heterogeneity and aggregation strategies. After discussing the disadvantages of the aggregation techniques used by QCA scholars, we individuate an axiomatic framework for defining logical conjunction operators that allows one to aggregate parts of concepts in accordance with membership and similarity. Then, we propose a technique to assign fuzzy scores to FMAC using the arithmetic mean–based compensatory fuzzy logic. This technique indirectly affects the solution formula(s) following the QCA and allows one to better locate cases in the XY plot during the post-QCA analysis.

scholarly journals Cooperation as the Secret Ingredient in the Recipe to Foster Internal Technological Eco-Innovation in the Agri-Food Industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2588
Author(s):  
Adrián Rabadán ◽  
Ángela Triguero ◽  
Ángela Gonzalez-Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Empirical Method ◽  
Food Sector ◽  
Internal Development ◽  
Antecedent Conditions ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Innovation Strategies ◽  
Product And Process

Although eco-innovation in the agri-food sector is receiving increasing amounts of attention, there is a lack of information about the specific conditions that encourage firms to develop eco-innovation strategies internally. Our empirical method relies on the data of Spanish firms operating in the agri-food sector, and uses the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). Specifically, we identify the recipes of antecedent conditions that effectively foster the internal development of technological eco-innovation, and then we analyze whether differences exist in the internal development of product and process eco-innovations. The results show that different combinations of conditions can yield internally developed eco-innovation, but all of them indicate that cooperation with stakeholders is the key to fostering technological eco-innovation in this industry. This conclusion encourages the creation of policies and incentives to promote cooperation in order to improve the sustainability of the sector.

Analyzing the development of approaches to company performance measurement

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1173-1188
Author(s):  
A.B. Kogan ◽  
A.N. Pristavka
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Performance Measurement ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Effectiveness Evaluation ◽  
Economic Science ◽  
Company Performance ◽  
Financial Indicators ◽  
Methodological Framework ◽  
Simple Set

Subject. The article presents various definitions of the efficiency concept, their changes as the economic science evolves, and describes various methods to measure company performance efficiency, ranging from a simple set of financial indicators to comprehensive systems for effectiveness evaluation. Objectives. The purpose of the study is to systematize the said definitions and identify a category that will meet the current condition of business environment. Methods. The study rests on the retrospective and comparative analysis of interpretations of the efficiency concept in the economic science. We also employ the historical and logical methods of general theoretical research. Results. We identify three approaches to the interpretation of the efficiency concept. Within the selected approaches, we consider the main methods for company performance measurement that have emerged since 1914. The paper formulates criteria, which were used to carry out the comparative analysis of these methods. The analysis enabled to trace all changes in the methods. Conclusions. We propose to use the term Integrated Company Efficiency and to develop methodological framework for measuring the comprehensive efficiency of companies operating in various industries.

Analysis of Entrepreneurship Education Model of Technology-Driven Agri-Food Industry Applying Line-by-line Coding Method of Grounded Theory

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (8) ◽  
pp. 266-274
Author(s):  
Byung- MoonSeol ◽  
Young-Lag KIM
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Coding Method ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Education Model ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach

Background/Objectives: This paper investigated and analyzed the phenomena in implementing the curriculum and characteristics of an entrepreneurship education model existing technology-driven agri-food industry. Methods/Statistical analysis: The line-by-line coding method of grounded theory approach by Strauss & Corbin was applied for this study and the collected data was analyzed with the NVIVO 12 program from QSR which is a tool for analyzing quality comparative analysis for better efficiency in open coding.

Characterization of Different Types of Biomass Wastes Using Thermogravimetric and ICP-MS Analyses

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (12) ◽  
pp. 4594-4600
Keyword(s):  
Thermogravimetric Analysis ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Wood Waste ◽  
Biomass Ash ◽  
Minor Elements ◽  
Ms Analysis ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Different Types

The purpose of this study was to characterize some types of biomass wastes resulted from different activities such as: agriculture, forestry and food industry using thermogravimetric and ICP-MS analyses. Also, it was optimized an ICP-MS method for the determination of As, Cd and Pb from biomass ash samples. The ICP-MS analysis revealed that the highest concentration of metals (As, Cd, Pb) was recorded in the wood waste ash sample, also the thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the highest amount of ash was obtained for the same sample (26.82%). The biomass wastes mentioned in this study are alternative recyclable materials, reusable as pellets and briquettes. Keywords: ash, biomass, ICP-MS, minor elements, TG

Enzyme Immobilization on Nanomaterials for Biosensor and Biocatalyst in Food and Biomedical Industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (24) ◽  
pp. 2661-2676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sundaresan Bhavaniramya ◽  
Ramar Vanajothi ◽  
Selvaraju Vishnupriya ◽  
Kumpati Premkumar ◽  
Mohammad S. Al-Aboody ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Enzyme Immobilization ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Immobilized Enzymes ◽  
Food Industries ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Simple Processing ◽  
Biomedical Industry

Enzymes exhibit a great catalytic activity for several physiological processes. Utilization of immobilized enzymes has a great potential in several food industries due to their excellent functional properties, simple processing and cost effectiveness during the past decades. Though they have several applications, they still exhibit some challenges. To overcome the challenges, nanoparticles with their unique physicochemical properties act as very attractive carriers for enzyme immobilization. The enzyme immobilization method is not only widely used in the food industry but is also a component methodology in the pharmaceutical industry. Compared to the free enzymes, immobilized forms are more robust and resistant to environmental changes. In this method, the mobility of enzymes is artificially restricted to changing their structure and properties. Due to their sensitive nature, the classical immobilization methods are still limited as a result of the reduction of enzyme activity. In order to improve the enzyme activity and their properties, nanomaterials are used as a carrier for enzyme immobilization. Recently, much attention has been directed towards the research on the potentiality of the immobilized enzymes in the food industry. Hence, the present review emphasizes the different types of immobilization methods that is presently used in the food industry and other applications. Various types of nanomaterials such as nanofibers, nanoflowers and magnetic nanoparticles are significantly used as a support material in the immobilization methods. However, several numbers of immobilized enzymes are used in the food industries to improve the processing methods which not only reduce the production cost but also the effluents from the industry.

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