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The evolution of vertically integrated organizations: The role of historical context

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Abstract

Vertical integration across three different types of economies and selected industries is studied to trace historical, political, and economic influences on the evolution of vertically integrated structures. Specifically, the focus in this article is on the industrial development that took place in Germany, the UK, Japan and the USA. The role of a domestic market, colony markets, and attempts to become a dominant colonizer all play a significant role in the development of various industries, and the efficiency levels that they attained. The role of government, the level of international competition, and other integration drivers salient in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are also discussed. A broad view of structural and contextual forces provides a better understanding of why certain industries chose to integrate the way they did.
... Their concern for the environment affects their consumption patterns and influences the environment around them (Lu et al., 2013). Because they feel an accountability towards the environment, Millennials introduce and instigate changes to bring about responsible consumption patterns (Desai & Mukherji, 2001). Research shows that this generation pursues brands that claim to help the environment. ...
... Consumer attitude toward marketing communications have a bearing on the consumer's attitude toward the brand itself (Newell et al., 1998). Green campaigns have been shown to motivate green behavior in consumers (Desai & Mukherji, 2001;Lee, 2014). Green campaigns can act as a type of environmental education and increase awareness of environmental problems (Chory-assad & Tamborini, 2003). ...
... Each construct was measured using metrics from a variety of previous research studies. A person's skepticism toward green brands was measured using four items gleened from studies by Albayrak et al. (2013), Desai and Mukherji (2001), and Wu et al. (2018). A person's environmental consciousness was measured using three items adapted from Mishal et al. (2017) and Kirmani and Khan (2018). ...
Article
Purpose The purpose of this study is to answer the following questions: What factors influence attitude toward green brands among Pakistani millennials? Does attitude toward green brands affect purchase intention? Does gender moderate the effect? Design/methodology/approach Data was collected through an online questionnaire distributed through multiple academic and professional networks. The questionnaire was answered by 242 Pakistani millennials. SmartPLS was used to conduct partial least square-structural equation modeling analysis. The analysis was conducted using a two-stage protocol typically followed in SEM analysis. First, an outer model assessment was done to measure construct reliability and validity. This was followed by hypotheses testing in the inner model assessment. Moderating effects were tested using the multigroup analysis feature of SmartPLS. Findings The antecedent factors tested in this study are green brand skepticism, environmental consciousness and attitude toward green campaigns. Results show that these factors do influence a person’s attitude toward a green brand, which, in turn, influences his/her purchase intention regarding that brand. Marketers of green brands can use the factors outlined in this study to improve consumer attitudes toward their company and products. This study showed that women are more positively affected by green campaigns. Green campaigns in Pakistan may be more successful if directed at female millennials. Practical implications This study conveys helpful implications for marketing managers, as specific antecedents are found to be significant predictors of purchase intention for green brands. Companies should not let the fear of consumer skepticism stop them from advocating their green products and initiatives. Green marketing campaigns can inspire millennials to encourage their social groups to be environmentally conscious. By actively helping the environment, these consumers may feel a sense of pride for their cohort and their country. As a result, Pakistan might undergo a transition to buying green brands, adopting green lifestyles and demanding green products from non-green brands. Originality/value Most of the research on green marketing and branding for millennials pertains to developed countries. However, as roughly 90% of the global millennial population live in developing countries, it is important to conduct research in developing countries. This paper specifically focuses on Pakistan, a developing country in South Asia. A propensity toward environmental issues among millennials makes this study an important one, both for the Pakistani market and for generalizations in populated developing countries having a similar profile.
... Another challenge is the need for high costs/investments (Desai, Mukherji 2001). Any business cost money, so when a firm chooses to either extend its operations or buy a new business, they will need extra capital to buy the new business and keep it running or to reinvest in the new technologies in order to avoid obsolescence and stay competitive. ...
... This finding is consistent with Desai and Mukherji (2001) implying that the need for high capital is not the challenge only in Tanzania but also in developed economies. Therefore, concluding that adoption of VI requires high capital. ...
... Another challenge is the need for high costs/investments (Desai, Mukherji 2001). Any business cost money, so when a firm chooses to either extend its operations or buy a new business, they will need extra capital to buy the new business and keep it running or to reinvest in the new technologies in order to avoid obsolescence and stay competitive. ...
... This finding is consistent with Desai and Mukherji (2001) implying that the need for high capital is not the challenge only in Tanzania but also in developed economies. Therefore, concluding that adoption of VI requires high capital. ...
Conference Paper
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... Several approaches have been used to meet the sustainable development goals, including those addressing packaging issues. Such goals consider multiple aspects of sustainability, such as social, economic, and environmental sustainability [67]. The articles that addressed the economic dimension presented themes related to the financial impacts on the packaging recycling chain in the public and private contexts. ...
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Various green constructs have been explored so far from different aspects, but surprisingly no study has been conducted to explain theoretically how green packaging, green campaigns, and green attitudes affect green behavioural intentions. This research aims to investigate how green packaging and green campaigns lead to the formation of a green attitude and subsequently affect the green behavioural intentions of consumers. Further, it investigates how the impact of green skepticism influences green attitudes and green behavioural intentions. The present research has been designed within the positivistic paradigm, and a self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect the data based on a convenience sample of 194. A SEM model was used to analyze the data based on SPSS and Amos 23. This research found that both green packaging and green campaigns positively influence to form a positive green attitude among customers and will consequently impact green behavioural intentions. The other construct studied was the negative influence of green skepticism on green attitude and green behavioural intentions, but the results were not statistically significant. This research contributes to bridging the gap that existed due to the nonexistence of a theoretical model needed to help policymakers and consumers who strive to protect the environment and behave as responsible citizens. This theoretical model explains the influence of green packaging, green campaigns, and green attitudes on green behavioural intentions.
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Healthcare waste management is considered one of the biggest challenges that the world is going to face in the future. This threat is becoming reality owing to the worldwide sharp rise in healthcare waste generation particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Like many other environmental crises, hospital plastic waste management is an area that got very little attention despite being highlighted in the literature, local media, as well as in international electronic and print media. This mini-review was conducted to assess the overall prevailing situation regarding hospital plastic waste management in Pakistan. Several illegal and unethical activities have been observed regarding hospital plastic waste management in Pakistan which includes unhygienic recycling, repacking of used hospital plastic items, open dumping on land, and disposal of hospital plastic waste in the ocean. To improve these conditions, suggestions have been made regarding the better management of hospital plastic waste. Graphical abstract
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The rapid population growth and the ongoing globalization of the economies result in increased competitiveness. Customers now prefer organizations’ that do not just meet but also exceed their needs. Vertical Integration (VI) has been used as a vital tool to increase competitiveness by aligning organizational functions and promoting new opportunities through supply chain management. Though, there has been ambiguity in findings on the impact of vertical integration on financial performance worldwide. Hence, the purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence regarding the impact of vertical integration on financial performance in African emerging economies, a case study of Olam Nigeria Limited. The secondary data was obtained from Olam's cross-sectional financial record between 2010-2018, and the primary data was from 175 respondents out of the 183 questionnaires administered to the employee sample frame. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings indicate a positive impact between the components of vertical integration and financial performance measures in Olam Nigeria Limited. This study is one of the first studies conducted in emerging economies after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) upgraded 9 African countries, including Nigeria. These findings can serve as a strategic, operational guide for business managers who may be considering vertical integration to improve their financial performance. This study also adds to the secondary source on the subject matter in the Nigerian Agribusiness sector, and it reiterates the three theories: transaction cost theory, resource-based theory, and property rights theory. However, the financial performance measurement metrics are limited to Olam's recommended parameters to gauge its progress, and the study did not cover the moderating variables.
Conference Paper
Full-text available
The rapid population growth and the ongoing globalization of the economies result in increased competitiveness. Customers now prefer organizations’ that do not just meet but also exceed their needs. Vertical Integration (VI) has been used as a vital tool to increase competitiveness by aligning organizational functions and promoting new opportunities through supply chain management. Though, there has been ambiguity in findings on the impact of vertical integration on financial performance worldwide. Hence, the purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence regarding the impact of vertical integration on financial performance in African emerging economies, a case study of Olam Nigeria Limited. The secondary data was obtained from Olam's cross-sectional financial record between 2010-2018, and the primary data was from 175 respondents out of the 183 questionnaires administered to the employee sample frame. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings indicate a positive impact between the components of vertical integration and financial performance measures in Olam Nigeria Limited. This study is one of the first studies conducted in emerging economies after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) upgraded 9 African countries, including Nigeria. These findings can serve as a strategic, operational guide for business managers who may be considering vertical integration to improve their financial performance. This study also adds to the secondary source on the subject matter in the Nigerian Agribusiness sector, and it reiterates the three theories: transaction cost theory, resource-based theory, and property rights theory. However, the financial performance measurement metrics are limited to Olam's recommended parameters to gauge its progress, and the study did not cover the moderating variables.