Business, Power and Sustainability in a World of Global Value Chains

Business, Power and Sustainability in a World of Global Value Chains
Author: Stefano Ponte
Publisher: Zed Books Ltd.
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2019-08-15
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1786992604

Download Business, Power and Sustainability in a World of Global Value Chains Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The interaction of sustainability governance and global value chains has crucial implications the world over. When it comes to sustainability the last decade has witnessed the birth of hybrid forms of governance where business, civil society and public actors interact at different levels, leading to a focus on concepts of legitimacy within multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs). Based in over 15 years of theoretical engagement and field research, Business, Power and Sustainability draws from both labour-intensive value chains, such as in the agro-food sector (coffee, wine, fish, biofuels, palm oil), and from capital-intensive value chains such as in shipping and aviation, to discuss how sustainability governance can be best designed, managed and institutionalized in today’s world of global value chains (GVCs). Examining current theoretical and analytical efforts aimed at including sustainability issues in GVC governance theory, it expands on recent work examining GVC upgrading by introducing the concept of environmental upgrading; and through new conceptions of orchestration, it provides suggestions for how governments and international organizations can best facilitate the achievement of sustainability goals. Essential reading on the governance of sustainability in the twenty-first century.

Sustainable Value Chain Management

Sustainable Value Chain Management
Author: François Maon
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 785
Release: 2016-04-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1317047583

Download Sustainable Value Chain Management Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The way organizations manage their value chain has changed dramatically over the past decade. Today, organizations take account of economic issues, but they also adopt a broader perspective of their purpose including social and environmental issues. Yet despite its global spread, sustainable value chain management remains an uncertain and poorly defined ambition, with few absolutes. The social and environmental issues that organizations should address easily can be interpreted as including virtually everything. Current literature on the topic seeks to understand the effects and management of initiatives dealing with diversity, human rights, safety, philanthropy, community, and environment. However, the penetration of social and environmental considerations into value chain management is described as ’desire lacking reality’ thereby making the idea a patchy success. The objective of this research anthology is to investigate different angles of sustainable value chain management. The book’s 27 chapters fill holes and explore new fields; the chapters are organised in five sections: Sustainable value chains - context, drivers, and barriers; Sustainable value chains - managing activities; Sustainable value chains - managing networks and collaboration; Sustainable value chains - integrative perspectives; and Sustainable value chains - specific sectorial and industry perspectives.

Value Chain Struggles

Value Chain Struggles
Author: Jeff Neilson
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 231
Release: 2011-07-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1444355449

Download Value Chain Struggles Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Adopting a 'global value chain' approach, Value Chain Struggles investigates the impact of new trading arrangements in the coffee and tea sectors on the lives and in the communities of growers in South India. Offers a timely analysis of the social hardships of tea and coffee producers Takes the reader into the lives of growers in Southern India who are struggling with issues of value chain restructuring Reveals the ways that the restructuring triggers a series of political and economic struggles across a range of economic, social, and environmental arenas Puts into perspective claims about the impacts of recent changes to global trading relations on rural producers in developing countries

Understanding the Dynamics of the Value Chain

Understanding the Dynamics of the Value Chain
Author: William D. Presutti
Publisher: Business Expert Press
Total Pages: 142
Release: 2013-01-25
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1606494511

Download Understanding the Dynamics of the Value Chain Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

In his 1985 book, Competitive Advantage, Michael Porter introduced the concept of the value chain and described it as “a systematic way of examining all activities a firm performs and how they interact, (necessary) for analyzing the sources of competitive advantage,” and introduced the idea of “linkages,” which was the real breakthrough in management thinking. Thinking of a firm as a series of horizontal and vertical linkages put the spotlight on the silo mentality within which firms operated and how business schools structured curriculum. The silo mentality caused business students unable to see the firm as a holistic entity, an understanding of how all of its parts fit together to develop competitive advantage. Students graduating with a silo mentality perpetuated the silo mentality in business firms. This book draws together existing knowledge to help facilitate the shift of mind necessary to effectively manage the value chain, and introduces a new conception of the value chain, one that has been copyrighted (2006) and provides a new perspective of the value chain commensurate with the demands of the 21st-century global economy.

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Business and Enterprise

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Business and Enterprise
Author: Joshua Bishop
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 298
Release: 2013-06-17
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1136497137

Download The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Business and Enterprise Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

This book is a product of the TEEB study (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity). It provides important evidence of growing corporate concern about biodiversity loss and offers examples of how leading companies are taking action to conserve biodiversity and to restore ecosystems. This book reviews indicators and drivers of biodiversity loss and ecosystem decline, and shows how these present both risks and opportunities to all businesses. It examines the changing preferences of consumers for nature-friendly products and services, and offers examples of how companies are responding. The book also describes recent initiatives to enable businesses to measure, value and report their impacts and dependencies on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The authors review a range of practical tools to manage biodiversity risks in business, with examples of how companies are using these tools to reduce costs, protect their brands and deliver real business value. The book also explores the emergence of new business models that deliver biodiversity benefits and ecosystem services on a commercial basis, the policy enabling frameworks needed to stimulate investment and entrepreneurship to realize such opportunities, and the obstacles that must be overcome. The book further examines how businesses can align their actions in relation to biodiversity and ecosystem services with other corporate responsibility initiatives, including community engagement and poverty reduction. Finally, the book concludes with a summary and recommendations for action.

Developing Sustainable Food Value Chains

Developing Sustainable Food Value Chains
Author: David Neven
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
Total Pages: 92
Release: 2014
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

Download Developing Sustainable Food Value Chains Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Using sustainable food value chain development (SFVCD) approaches to reduce poverty presents both great opportunities and daunting challenges. SFVCD requires a systems approach to identifying root problems, innovative thinking to find effective solutions and broad-based partnerships to implement programmes that have an impact at scale. In practice, however, a misunderstanding of its fundamental nature can easily result in value-chain projects having limited or non-sustainable impact. Furthermore, development practitioners around the world are learning valuable lessons from both failures and successes, but many of these are not well disseminated. This new set of handbooks aims to address these gaps by providing practical guidance on SFVCD to a target audience of policy-makers, project designers and field practitioners. This first handbook provides a solid conceptual foundation on which to build the subsequent handbooks. It (1) clearly defines the concept of a sustainable food value chain; (2) presents and discusses a development paradigm that integrates the multidimensional concepts of sustainability and value added; (3) presents, discusses and illustrates ten principles that underlie SFVCD; and (4) discusses the potential and limitations of using the value-chain concept in food-systems development. By doing so, the handbook makes a strong case for placing SFVCD at the heart of any strategy aimed at reducing poverty and hunger in the long run.

Quantified Eco-Efficiency

Quantified Eco-Efficiency
Author: Gjalt Huppes
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2007-06-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1402053991

Download Quantified Eco-Efficiency Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

A central asset of eco-efficiency analysis is that it does not depend on a specific evaluation of environmental impacts against economic effects. Several evaluation methods may be used, including those based on willingness-to-pay, panel procedures, and public statements on policy goals. This volume covers all aspects of eco-efficiency analysis and offers a global perspective on the subject.

Strategic Innovations for Dynamic Supply Chains

Strategic Innovations for Dynamic Supply Chains
Author: M?zrak, Filiz
Publisher: IGI Global
Total Pages: 362
Release: 2024-04-09
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

Download Strategic Innovations for Dynamic Supply Chains Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

In the years following the global Covid-19 pandemic, existing issues in global supply chains became exacerbated, bringing attention to the need for advancement and innovation to solve the complex problems. We live in an era characterized by relentless technological advancements, global interconnectedness, and evolving consumer demands, and the supply chain management landscape is being forced to undergo profound transformations. Strategic Innovations for Dynamic Supply Chains offers a comprehensive exploration of the paradigm shifts, emerging trends, and groundbreaking strategies shaping the future of supply chain dynamics. Ideal for professionals, academics, and decision-makers navigating the complexities of contemporary supply chain management, the collaborative effort behind this book combines the insights of leading experts, industry visionaries, and innovative thinkers to unravel the complexities of modern supply chain ecosystems and provide a roadmap for organizations seeking to thrive in constant change. It emphasizes the importance of sustainability and responsiveness, and provides strategic frameworks for decision-makers.