Robert Sroufe

Duquesne University · Management Department

Business schools today are torn between two paradigms, with a resulting struggle about the nature and value of both teaching and research. Today’s dominant neoliberal paradigm pervades the vast majority of schools with its narrative of profit maximization, free markets, and limited government. Its proponents view competition, growth, and consumeris...

This study chronicles learning from faculty who designed and delivered collaborative, problem-based learning courses that anchor a one-year MBA emphasizing sustainability. While cultivating the application of learning across the curriculum, the authors engaged MBA students in solving complex, real-world sustainability challenges using a pedagogical...

To date, it is unclear as to how Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are implemented and what effects these systems have on other environmental and operational practices. This study reports empirical insights to EMS practices based on the largest EMS survey of manufacturing firms in the United States. The objective of the study is to test for a...

Wrapped in the context of sustainability, a global imperative, this chapter offers a blueprint for the integration of financial, environmental, social and governance reporting, an emerging practice that has profoundly changed the way organizations develop strategic plans, approach decision-making, measure success, and manage risks in the twenty-fir...

The spontaneous organizational citizenship behavior towards environment (OCBE) of employees in the workplace is crucial to businesses’ green development and low-carbon transition. However, it was not considered how such behavior could be encouraged for enhanced firm performance. From the natural resource-based view theory perspective, this study te...

Consistent with the worldwide call to combat environmental degradation concerns and advance sustainable development , there is increasing pressure on organizations to ensure organizational strategies include green initiatives. In this regard, environmental strategic focus is a relevant concept for scholars and business leaders. Underpinned by dynam...

This panel symposium will offer ONE Teaching Award winners' best practices and tips for incorporating sustainability into teaching strategies. The goal is to equip our academic colleagues with knowledge to share with students, our future business managers and leaders, on the role of business in tackling our greatest environmental, societal, and eco...

Purpose-Previous research tends to study various sustainable management practices (SMP) in isolation, leading to inconsistent conclusions about the effect of SMP on firm profit. This research aims to advance our understanding of the linkage between SMP configurations and financial performance by revealing the dynamics of substitutions and complemen...

The previous studies focused on environmental issues, identifying their root causes, urging prompt action to reduce environmental degradation. In this context, the current article extends the literature by incorporating the ecological impacts on the health sector and the role of sustainable development. The present study adds to the body of knowled...

In “The management for global sustainability opportunity: Integrating responsibility, sustainability, and spirituality”, Robert Sroufe of Duquesne University and Josep F. Mària, SJ, of ESADE, Ramon Llull University, explore how we can incorporate spirituality into business management practices and education while building on a foundation of respons...

This study aims to investigate organisational factors of blockchain adoption for carbon trading and energy efficiency. This study develops a new theoretical model based on technology, organisation and environment (TOE), and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theories to fill the literature gaps. The underpinning theories are utilised to capture the moti...

The growth of emerging digital technologies has led to premature and inconsistent conclusions about the relationship between circular economy and value chain activities. A structured, systematic review approach was used to examine the titles and abstracts of 912 papers from the circular economy and digital transformation, strategic management, and...

This study looks at the agriculture industry in the United States (US), waves of innovation, and scenario planning for decarbonization. First, a review of the field looks at prior work highlighting metrics and goals for decar-bonization. We next provide a synthesis of material obstacles and opportunities within this industry sector. Then, based on...

The integration of sustainability in the circular economy is an emerging paradigm that can offer a long term vision to achieve environmental and social sustainability targets in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Developing scalable and sustainable impacts in circular economy business models (CEBMs) has many challenges. Wh...

Green technologies play an essential role in designing and developing sustainable and environmental strategies at a country level. With a growing emphasis on green technology strategies in strategic decision making, there is an opportunity for developing and implementing strategies to accelerate green technologies in developing economies. Therefore...

The information within this study reviews the financial management literature focusing on proponents and opponents of corporate social responsibility (CSR). We review how CSR affects different areas of corporate finance. This study’s core objective is to explore the last 20 years (2000–2019) of CSR top-tier literature to develop and theoretically s...

This study aims to develop a theoretical circular economy model that examines the impact of eco-innovation practices on recycled product performance and competitiveness in Malaysian automotive industry. The supply of recycled materials has been recognized as one of the critical components to produce brand new automotive products. This empirical stu...

An exploration of the benefits of off-site construction. Initial research looking into research questions: is it sustainable, economic, and scalable? I found the benefits of offsite construction are becoming more broadly understood and accepted.1 The idea that buildings are constructed in a controlled environment makes for easily understood benefit...

The United Nations proposed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to foster sustainable development, including tackling environmental challenges and adopting cleaner production practices worldwide. Green technology is crucial for the implementation of the SDGs. Currently, there is an urgent need to form a long-term sustainable investment mechani...

Despite increasing business interest in sustainability in general and in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), the ability to increase suppliers’ ecological and social performance is generally insufficient for many companies. In this study, we outline an implementation process model for sustainable supply chain management. We do so by synthes...

Business education should give students the skills to solve complex global challenges. It should align management practices with goals for a sustainable future. Sadly, few management schools even discuss the real issues business leaders face today. This article challenges others to develop a curriculum that embeds sustainability in the core of thei...

The International Organization for Standardization and the Global Reporting Initiative promote their alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. This convergence of standards and information is causing the selection of a certification body to register these sustainability standards to become more complicated. Therefore, this s...

Design/methodology/approach: A survey-based methodology was used for this study, with textile organizations in three countries - Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The research focused on four areas related to environmental effects. The first area was the level of improvement of the organizations' environmental performance, which was examine...

Abstract:This paper looks at the concepts of Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) for the valuation of Transmedia Ecosystems (TEs) services in fog networking. Fog computing (FC) has delivered new services that cloud computing (CC) cannot make available, particularly those calling for QoE warranties. The suggested model is advant...

Research regarding the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) and the circular economy has gained traction since 2014. Paralleling the growth in the internet of things (IoT), the circular economy poses both risks and opportunities to various stakeholders in its development. This literature review aims to identify Industry 4.0 stakeholders' int...

Emission forecasting is vital for policy-making and emission reduction goals globally. This research aimed to perform an accurate model for forecasting and assessing CO2 emissions and the production of renewable electricity for the top two countries contributing to these emissions, the USA, and China. In this study, we employed three novel advanced...

Business schools expend resources to attract more and higher-quality applicants to their institutions, yet our understanding of what criteria resonate with those who want to find the right fit with a business school and its programs is, paradoxically enough, either not clear or dated. There is a dearth of research on what business students value, r...

Corporate sustainability is considered a fundamental paradigm and solution in creating a prosperous future for organizations. However, social sustainability issues and pandemic problems from COVID-19 have affected corporations and interrupted plans for sustainable development. To date, corporate sustainability frameworks have taken a relatively nar...

The purpose of this study is to examine the proliferation of retail-driven sustainability certification schemes focusing on the role of certification and its design from a corporate perspective. It does so by exploring three different cases of certification design in the food retailing industry: unilateral Tesco Nurture, collaborative GlobalGAP, an...

The buildings in which we teach management and decision analysis are ideal labs for advancing sustainability in management education, experiential learning, and integrated performance measurement. Utilizing building-based learning and design competition, student teams can learn about aspects of sustainability while proposing investments into the sp...

In this study, we are interested in how export firms organize knowledge management and increase product innovation performance. Prior studies have concluded that knowledge transfer from external actors leads to operational performance outcomes; others have questioned the positive influence of buyer‐driven knowledge transfer activities on innovation...

The diversity and comprehensiveness of sustainable development (SD) require new perspectives, which go beyond existing mindsets and practice. Hence, there is a high demand for creative approaches in SD. Although the connection between creativity and SD has already been addressed in research and practice, there is still a need to study how creative...

In this study, we investigate complex, country-level relationships between ISO 14001 certification, re- newable energy consumption, access to electricity, agriculture, and CO 2 emissions within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. These countries are important to look at they contain 20% of the world’s population,...

Integrated management is the process of including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in close coordination between business processes, functions, groups, organizations, and systems. In this context, decision-makers can better understand the dynamic systems in which they operate; define success based on sustainability-based perf...

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) within Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) depend on Flying Ad -Hoc Networks (FANETs) as well as on Computer Vision (CV). The Flying Nodes (FNs) play a paramount role in UAV CPSs because relying on imagery poses austere and diverse restrictions in UAV communications. Nowadays, UAV technology is switching from a single UAV...

The examination of implementing ISO standards can provide new insight as to their quality and environmental management benefits. These insights can be more impactful in manufacturing sectors and especially textiles as this sector is known for its environmental degradation and questionable supply chain practices. This exploratory study investigates...

Regarded as one of the most effective tools to guide quality systems management, ISO 9001 is a valuable certification. Yet, the growth observed throughout the world by this standard provides a strong polarisation of interest in this practice by the companies. Our research goals are to analyze and forecast trends involving ISO 9001 certification of...

Integrated management systems (IMSs) involve a strategy to manage multiple systems while meeting the needs and expectations of stakeholders. There are various management standards used for the development of IMS. This study aims to undertake research focused on how to develop an IMS. In this context, management standards, including the Internationa...

The main objective of the research and thinking presented in this study is to characterize the conditions and barriers related to the implementation of SDGs in supply chains. The explanation of the outlined research problem and the more detailed research issues prompted the authors to formulate the following auxiliary goals: identification and emph...

The main objective of the research and thinking presented in this study is to characterize the conditions and barriers related to the implementation of SDGs in supply chains. The explanation of the outlined research problem and the more detailed research issues prompted the authors to formulate the following auxiliary goals: identification and emph...

The implementation of Integrated Management Systems (IMS) has become a prerequisite for any organization looking to transform itself into a competitive and more sustainable enterprise. However, these efforts are not successful for some organizations, and there is an opportunity to explore what it takes to have an effective IMS implementation. Prior...

The purpose of this research is to propose a Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) implementation framework grounded in a literature review while categorizing practices adopted by firms' and industries. Given the evolution of the SSCM field and emerging trends, we examine why and how companies implement SSCM practices within a country context....

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of implementing standardized management systems on processes related to competitiveness. The authors also want to better understand how these systems create value for a client in organizations co-developing supply chains operating in Eastern and Central Europe. Design/methodology/approach...

Purpose This study aims to examine whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities influence firm performance based on a longitudinal survey for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. Empirical studies suggest that the SME sector plays an essential role in the economic development of Pakistan and can be considered the backb...

Your building has the potential to change the world. Existing buildings consume approximately 40 percent of the energy and emit nearly half of the carbon dioxide in the US each year. In recognition of the significant contribution of buildings to climate change, the idea of building green has become increasingly popular. But is it enough? If an ener...

The purpose of this empirical study is to undertake a comparative analysis of developing vs. developed countries based on adoption of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and SA8000 certifications and their impact on international trade. We utilize a combination of models including Deng’s Incidence Analysis (GIA), Absolute Degree GIA, Second Synthetic Degree GIA (S...

The impact of collaboration on innovation performance has been investigated in many studies. This study provides a unique view on innovation performance by exploring the mediating role of social performance between collaboration and innovation performance. For this, a structural model was tested through an empirical investigation with partial least...

By reviewing this chapter, the reader is exposed to the following: • An overview of measures, metrics, and performance measurement and management. This overview is necessary since these topics are often surrounded by a great deal of confusion. The introductory section will define the major constructs, identify and discuss their roles (with an empha...

Despite the increasing awareness of business and academic research toward creative thinking, the investigation of its uptake by industry is still limited. Supplier engagement attracts considerable interest as a means to improve green innovation. Previous research studies in an inter-firm relationship have addressed the impact of green innovation on...

This paper addresses the intervehicular communication in Connected Vehicles (CV) by emphasizing V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) and V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure) communications in terms of evolution, current standards, state-of-the-art studies, embedded devices, simulation, trends, challenges, and relevant legislation. To accomplish the objective this r...

This paper addresses the intervehicular communication in Connected Vehicles (CV) by emphasizing V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) and V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure) communications in terms of evolution, current standards, state-of-the-art studies, embedded devices, simulation, trends, challenges, and relevant legislation. To accomplish the objective this r...

Available from the publisher at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652619303956 The aim of this study is to identify the past, present, and future research trends for low carbon supply chain (LCSC) management. The literature on low carbon supply chain management has expanded, however, a systematic review of lessons learned an...

There is a global need for integrated solutions so that sustainable development can be feasible, engaging, and collaborative. In order to get to a more sustainable approach to solving complex and messy problem, we need a pathway toward implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Goal 17 is a critical enabler of this change. The inter...

WE ENVISION A FUTURE IN WHICH society will routinely consider restoring existing buildings to the performance standards of new ones—whether an existing building is abandoned and forgotten or outdated and underperforming. We hope that, over time, it becomes socially and financially unacceptable—even unfashionable—to build a new building when there i...

CARL ELEFANTE WROTE THESE WORDS over a decade ago when he was the director of sustainable design at Quinn Evans Architects in Washington, DC. He knew then that no amount of new green construction will get us where we need to go if we ignore existing buildings, adding that “four out of every five existing buildings will be renovated over the next ge...

THIS BOOK WAS DESIGNED TO accomplish one goal: prove to building owners of existing buildings that it is possible not only to make old buildings perform like new ones but also to do that without paying much, if any, premium in construction costs. The primary benefits of accomplishing that goal are obvious: a dramatic reduction of energy consumption...

SO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW you want to improve an existing building, and you have found the people in your organization who will support that mission. Now what? How do you get approval of your ideas to make them a reality? Building your case through an evidence-based approach to the project will show your team an integrated path to making your old...

If “something needs to change” resonates with you, then you probably need to read this book now. You will see that it is possible today to make old buildings perform like new ones without paying a premium in construction costs. The primary enablers are modern building science, sophisticated data analytics, and the harnessing of a vast offering of I...

“DON’T JUST TELL ME, SHOW ME” is a big part of this chapter as we focus on reliable measurement and verification systems that provide feedback on the key performance indicators defined in the building owner’s goals and targets. Reliable and cost-effective measurement and verification systems connect all the critical elements of smart buildings, equ...

IN MOST CASES, THE EASIEST PART of the process of transforming an existing building is to find all the ways the building is performing below expectations. Whether it’s because of inefficient use of energy or poor indoor environmental quality, buildings built even just ten years ago are underperforming and failing to meet modern occupant expectation...

Most People Aspire To Do the right thing. After working in and around the construction industry for the last thirty years, we can state emphatically that the vast majority of project team members are looking to contribute their expertise to create the best buildings possible. Building owners, given the choice, want the best buildings that money can...

IN THIS CHAPTER WE LOOK AT A few case study projects and the context for building the business case for each, showing decision makers of existing-building projects that they can afford this. We chose case studies that show a few different building types. We had a direct hand in these projects as advocates for the transformation of the buildings, th...

MANY PEOPLE THINK ZERO-ENERGY goals for new buildings are cost-prohibitive. We will show you that Zero-Energy goals can be achieved within a reasonable budget for new buildings and they are also possible when restoring and renovating existing buildings. To accomplish these goals within a reasonable budget, all that is required is to create a projec...

This interdisciplinary study examines why and how corporate leaders operationalize sustainability in organizational strategy, systems and activities. Through interviews with sustainability professionals using a cross-industry sample of multinational organizations recognized as top performers by multiple sources (Dow Jones Sustainability Index, News...

[Citation: Sroufe, R (2018) Integrated Management: How Sustainability Creates Value for any Business; Emerald Press, UK.] Integration has been a key theme across the general management, organizational behavior, supply chain management, strategy, information systems and the environmental management literature for decades. Sustainability continues t...

This interdisciplinary study coins the term Integrated Bottom LIne (IBL) and examines why and how corporate leaders operationalize sustainability in organizational strategy, systems and activities. Through interviews with sustainability professionals using a cross-industry sample of multinational organizations recognized as top performers by multip...

The operationalization of sustainability has for a long time focused on the environment. As this field of inquiry evolves, the relative neglect of social attributes of sustainability is a growing concern (Ehrgott et al., 2011; Hutchins and Sutherland, 2008; Littig and Griessler, 2005; Simola, 2012). Elkington (1997) posited that the evaluation of c...

Too often supply management leaders consider sustainability a cost of doing business or a trade-off. However, they are overlooking an opportunity for integration: allowing sustainability and technology to work side by side, as enablers of integrated supply chains and a focal point for change management. In this article we explore opportunities for...

With growing evidence of positive relationships between social sustainability and financial performance, there is a critical need for understanding how innovative organizations integrate sustainability and tie theory to practice. The research in this study uses a sample of Fortune 500 firms simultaneously listed in the Newsweek Green rankings, The...

Sustainability is changing and changing rapidly. It is becoming more widespread as companies and customers uncover its power and attractiveness and sustainability also receiving more attention in the press. Support for sustainability lies within new tools, frameworks, and approaches. The authors capture these and other developments in this two-volu...

This book provides a multi-perspective approach to sustainability and value chains to allow understanding from a variety of disciplines and professional backgrounds. Some of the key features of this book include: *Short vignettes of important trends along with relevant management issues; *Evidence-based management examples from leading multination...

This interdisciplinary study looks at the concept of an Integrated Bottom Line (IBL) and examines why and how corporate leaders operationalize sustainability in organizational strategy, systems and activities. Through interviews with sustainability professionals using a cross-industry sample of multinational organizations recognized as top performe...

Section IV of this book is a cross-disciplinary and represents organizational, institutional and international perspectives from Canada, the U.S., Brazil, India, and Sweden. This area focuses on innovative programs along with the catalysts, integration, and mechanics needed to establish and sustain programs. The goal of this portion of the book is...

Within this “how to” practices based study is a generalizable framework of engagement and collaborative learning to operationalize sustainability for any organization. Purposefully cultivating the application of cross-disciplinary engagement, a phased approach is proposed to understanding complex, real-world sustainability challenges while making t...

Environmentally Responsible Manufacturing (ERM) is a proactive managerial approach encompassing a company’s effort to integrate environmental practices into decision-making processes. The ERM body of knowledge is very diverse and has been shaped by research in numerous interdisciplinary areas. In the formative years of the ERM paradigm, this divers...

Sroufe, R., and Johnson, G. “Get Involved in Energy Efficiency”. Tapping Into Supply Management Issues and Trends; Inside Supply Management, 2015

Academic literature in the complex and growing field of sustainable supply chain management is often niche-based and fragmented. This study was driven by a need to understand the state of the literature, and to provide comprehensive insights for both academic and industry practitioners. Within this study we apply known qualitative data analysis tec...