Factors influencing organizational agility in higher education

Critical success factors for successful technology innovation development in sustainable energy enterprises

Energy technology plays a crucial role in driving innovative and sustainable solutions in the evolving energy sector. This study addresses the fragmented understanding of the regulatory, economic, environmental, and social enablers essential for technological development in sustainable energy enterprises (SEEs). The study addresses the gap in the literature concerning how social, economic, technological, and environmental factors interrelate to influence technology innovation development. This research aims to identify and rank critical success factors (CSFs), analyze their interdependencies, and examine their driving power and dependence. Data were collected from eleven energy entrepreneurs, and the relationships among eight factors were evaluated via total interpretive structural modeling (TISM), and cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) was employed to categorize autonomous, driving, dependent, and linkage factors. The results highlight market dynamics as the foundation factor for technological development, whereas long-term sustainability emerges as the most dependent factor. Risk management, resilience, partnerships, and collaboration are identified as key linkage factors that influence SEE innovation. While the small sample size is a limitation, the findings provide valuable insights for energy entrepreneurs, practitioners, and policymakers by identifying CSFs that support informed decision-making, resource allocation, and strategy development for effective technology development. The study recommends fostering partnerships, adopting cost-reduction approaches to enhance performance, and investing in continuous research and development to ensure technological feasibility, differentiation, and market adaptability. The theoretical contribution lies in bridging research gaps through empirical insights, integrating existing theories, and paving the way for future studies in the growing field of sustainable energy innovation.

Development and validation of a questionnaire to measure educational agility: a psychometric assessment using exploratory factor analysis

BACKGROUND

To effectively navigate the growing complexities and rapid changes in today's environment, universities must cultivate agility among their members. Over the past decade, students have encountered a variety of experiences related to E-Learning and the provision of educational services through electronic platforms. This study aimed to develop and validate a Questionnaire of Educational Agility (QEdu-Agility) to assess the capacity of educational institutions to adapt to these evolving demands.

METHOD

This survey research aimed to validate QEdu-Agility. The statistical sample consisted of 372 students from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran, who had completed at least one academic year online during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. Participants were selected using the Cochran formula. The initial questionnaire was based on three standard instruments related to organizational agility and adapted for educational contexts. After establishing face and content validity, the preliminary version was validated by a focus group of five educational experts, comprising 30 items across five dimensions: responsiveness, adequacy, flexibility, speed, and integrity, measured on a 5-point Likert scale. To confirm the construct validity, the questionnaire was randomly distributed to students via email. Data analysis was conducted using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with varimax rotation, employing SPSS 24 software.

RESULTS

The content validity was confirmed with Content Validity Ratio (CVR) = 0.847, Content Validity Index (CVI) = 0.877, and the reliability with internal consistency was confirmed with R = 0.944. The CVI sub-components for relevance, clarity, and simplicity were obtained as 0.867, 0.853, and 0.847, respectively. According to EFA, the sample adequacy was confirmed with Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) index = 0.928 and significant Bartlett's test (P < 0.001). The total variance explained of the QEdu-Agility was about 60%. The first component of responsiveness accounted for 38.79% of the variance, followed by adequacy (7.99%), flexibility (5.17%), speed (3.91%), and integrity (3.57%) in subsequent components.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the construct validity indicated a good fit of the QEdu-Agility. Given that the concept of agility is highly contingent on the context, this tool could be retested for measuring educational agility in educational organizations, such as universities.

Workforce agility: a systematic literature review and research agenda

Introduction

The definition and operationalization of workforce agility, initially associated with multitasking abilities, have evolved to encompass aspects of adaptability, proactivity, and resilience, which are now widely accepted. However, some authors have expanded this concept by adding elements such as intelligence, collaboration, and social support, leading to confusion and disagreement on how to consistently measure workforce agility. Furthermore, the literature emphasizes the importance of workforce agility in achieving business goals and adopting innovative management models, yet it provides limited structured guidance for future research.

Methods

This study uses Scopus and Web of Science as the primary databases. The search was not limited to a specific period but included articles up to 2024, with an initial sample of 176 articles. After a screening process based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 74 articles were included in the thematic analysis and data synthesis.

Results

Workforce agility has been positioned as an independent, mediating, moderating, and dependent variable in various studies. Most studies examine workforce agility at the individual level, with only about 10 studies exploring this aspect at the organizational level. However, no research has specifically explored workforce agility at the team level to date. The primary objective of workforce agility research is to expand and connect theories with diverse methodological approaches, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. As a result, theoretical foundations and inter-variable relationships are established to identify recommendations for future research.

Discussion

More than 25 fundamental theories have been identified and categorized into nine groups. These nine groups were then reformulated into four general theories: Organizational and Management Theory, Communication and Social Interaction Theory, Behavioral and Learning Theory, and Economic Theory. Based on previous research, several recommendations for future research have been outlined, including conducting longitudinal studies, integrating mixed methods, considering the global cultural context, expanding research samples, developing conceptual models, exploring mediating and moderating variables, developing workforce agility theories, creating efficient evaluation methods, and implementing multilevel models.

Factors influencing the organisational homeostasis in healthcare organisations

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to identify organisational homeostasis factors in the context of healthcare organisations and to develop a conceptual model for green transformation.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

The organisational homeostasis factors were determined by review of literature study and the opinions of healthcare experts. Scheduled interviews and closed-ended questionnaires are employed to collect data for this research. This study employed "TISM methodology" and "MICMAC analysis" to better comprehend how the components interact with one another and prioritise them based on their driving and dependence power.

FINDINGS

This study identified 10 factors of organisational homeostasis in healthcare organisation. Recognition of interdependence, hormesis, strategic coalignment, consciousness on dependence of healthcare resources and cybernetic principle of regulations are the driving or key factors of this study.

RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS

The study's primary focus was on the organisational homeostasis factors in healthcare organisations. The methodological approach and structural model are used in a healthcare organisation; in the future, these approaches can be applied to other industries as well.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The key drivers of organisational homeostasis and the identified factors will be better comprehended and understood by academic and important stakeholders in healthcare organisations. Prioritizing the factors helps the policymakers to comprehend the organisational homeostasis for green transformation in healthcare.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

In this study, the TISM and MICMAC analysis for healthcare is proposed as an innovative approach to address the organisational homeostasis concept in the context of green transformation in healthcare organisations.

Impact of COVID-19 on education in India: stakeholders' voice

Purpose

This exploratory study aims to discover the different forms of challenges encountered by school stakeholders, including students, teachers, parents and management due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative methodology was deployed for the study. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the respondents for a semi-structured interview. Data were examined using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).

Findings

It was found that each stakeholder faced four different challenges: mental distress, physical immobility, financial crunches and technological concerns. Findings suggest that teachers are experiencing higher financial, technological and physical challenges as compared to other stakeholders followed by parents.

Originality/value

This paper discusses the major challenges faced by each stakeholder along with the opportunities. These findings will be useful for educationists, regulatory authorities, policymakers and management of educational institutions in developing countries to revisit their policy frameworks to develop new strategies and processes for the smooth implementation of remote learning during a period of uncertainty.

Optimizing teaching effectiveness in dental education for a new generation of learners

PURPOSE

Today's dental students, Generation Z (Gen Z), are said to learn differently than those of previous generations. As generations of dental students vary, our teaching styles must keep up with unique and changing groups of individuals.

METHODS

This article discusses learner-focused teaching methods including techniques that address the characteristics of Gen Z learners. Blended learning methods that combine online media with traditional face-to-face sessions, team-based learning, and a flipped classroom format have previously been suggested as ways to increase learning effectiveness and student satisfaction.

RESULTS

In this paper, the characteristics and preferences of Gen Z students are described along with the challenges they create with conventional teaching methods. An implementation strategy using principles from organizational agility and Bolman and Deal's Four Frames Model is proposed for dental schools to transition to a more learner-centered teaching approach.

CONCLUSIONS

The suggested strategy can be customized and could be useful to schools that wish to enhance their teaching methods to meet the learning needs of Gen Z dental students and beyond.

A fuzzy QFD approach to prioritize capabilities and enablers of organizational agility based on its drivers: a case study

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a fuzzy Quality Function Deployment (QFD)-based approach for identifying and prioritizing organizational agility (OA) capabilities and enablers based on its drivers.

Design/methodology/approach

First, several models for agility drivers (ADs), agility capabilities (ACs) and agility enablers (AEs) are reviewed and ranked, and the best for each one is selected. Second, ADs’ indexes are weighted by using experts’ comments and fuzzy numbers. Finally, by using a proposed fuzzy QFD approach, ACs and AEs are prioritized. In addition, the proposed approach has been examined within a real case study, Golnoor Company in Esfahan, Iran.

Findings

Results reveal that among ADs’ criteria, “Changes in competition criteria” have the highest weights for the case study. In addition, “Leadership in the use of current technology” and “Knowledge management” have been ranked as the first place among ACs and AEs, respectively.

Originality/value

After conducting a comprehensive literature review, the authors did not find any particular framework, which consider AEs and ACs based on ADs simultaneously. Accordingly, the authors’ main novelty is proposing a fuzzy QFD to prioritize the OA capabilities and enablers based on its drivers.

Achieving an agile organisation in an Indonesian telecommunications company: investigation on leadership impact and mediation variables

Purpose

Agility is an important characteristic that every organisation requires in today’s competitive digital era. Telecommunications companies in Indonesia face various types of competition, both from the same industry and new models. This study aims to identify the agility level of telecommunications companies in Indonesia. It also examines the effect of leadership style directly and indirectly through the mediation of employee readiness, innovation culture, technology capability and organisational structure.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a non-probability sampling technique. The macroprocess was used to identify and measure the direct and indirect effects. The results are based on survey data collected from a telecommunications company in Indonesia with a total of 1,073 employees.

Findings

The results of this study showed that an adaptive leadership style has a direct and significant positive effect on the organisational agility level. Employee readiness, innovation culture, technological capability and organisational structure function as mediators between adaptive leadership style and agility.

Practical implications

This study could contribute to the development of programs to ignite and boost organisational agility. Organisations are recommended to conduct periodic evaluations to measure agility levels and amend their programs accordingly.

Originality/value

Adaptive leadership style was used, which expresses the leader’s deep concern for employee needs and organisational achievement. This leader will most likely positively impact employees and favourably influence the organisation (technology, structure, innovation and agility).

Factors affecting repurposing operations in Micro Small and Medium Enterprises during Covid-19 emergency

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector plays a substantial role in the overall economic development and employment generation of a country. The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted adversely, and it is inevitably necessary to consider the influence of the pandemic on MSME, which will assist the policymakers in helping in the repurposing operations of the sector. Because of its size, scale of operations, and availability of financial resources, the MSMEs sector has been one of the most susceptible sectors post-Covid-19. Many academics have explored the constraints to MSMEs' development in the past, but limited research has been done using Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM) technique for the factors impacting MSMEs' repurposing operations during the Covid-19 emergency. This research seeks to "identify," "analyze," and "categorize" the elements impacting MSMEs' repurposing operations during the Covid-19 pandemic. Literature review and experts’ comment from various MSMEs resulted in identification of 7 enablers. The TISM and MICMAC approach was employed in this study. The findings shows that occupational health and safety, logistics, and government rules and regulations are the key factors affecting repurposing operations in MSMEs during the Covid-19 emergency. This research helps the top-executives of MSME to look into the factors affecting repurposing operations in MSMEs during the Covid-19 emergency. This research examines factors affecting repurposing operations in MSMEs during the Covid-19 emergency. It is the first study to analyze the factors affecting the repurposing operations in MSME during the Covid-19 using TISM technique.

Readiness for lean-sustainability in start-ups during the COVID-19 era

Purpose

This study aims to “identify”, “analyse” and “categorise” the lean-sustainability enablers for start-ups during the COVID-19 epidemic using total interpretive structural modelling (TISM).

Design/methodology/approach

A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data in addition to the scheduled interview. The TISM methodology is used to determine how the variables interact, and the matrice d’Impacts croises-multiplication applique´ a classement (MICMAC) method is used to rank and categorise the lean-sustainability enablers.

Findings

This study identified ten lean-sustainability enablers for start-ups during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study says that the key factors are leadership and managerial commitment, implementation of employee skills and abilities, strategic need, personnel engagement and financial ability.

Research limitations/implications

The study focused primarily on lean-sustainability characteristics for start-ups.

Practical implications

This research will aid key stakeholders and academics in better understanding the factors that contribute to lean-sustainability in start-ups.

Originality/value

This study proposes the TISM technique for start-ups, which is a novel attempt in the subject of lean-sustainability in this industry.

Readiness for sustainable-resilience in healthcare organisations during Covid-19 era

Purpose

Using total interpretive structural modelling (TISM), this paper aims to “identify”, “analyse” and “categorise” the sustainable-resilience readiness factors for healthcare during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

To obtain the data, a closed-ended questionnaire was used in addition to a scheduled interview with each respondent. To identify how the factors interact, the TISM approach was employed and the cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to a classification method was used to rank and categorise the sustainable-resilience readiness factors.

Findings

This study identified ten sustainable-resilience readiness factors for healthcare during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study states that the major factors are environmental scanning, awareness and preparedness, team empowerment and working, transparent communication system, learning culture, ability to respond and monitor, organisational culture, resilience engineering, personal and professional resources and technology capability.

Research limitations/implications

The study focused primarily on sustainable-resilience readiness characteristics for the healthcare sector.

Practical implications

This research will aid key stakeholders and academics in better understanding the factors that contribute to sustainable-resilience in healthcare.

Originality/value

This study proposes the TISM technique for healthcare, which is a novel attempt in the subject of readiness for sustainable-resilience in this sector. The paper proposes a framework including a mixture of factors for sustainability and resilience in the healthcare sector for operations.

Creating Sustainable Organizations through Knowledge Sharing and Organizational Agility: Empirical Evidence from China

This study explores the relationships among knowledge sharing, adaptability, and performance, and furthermore seeks to address a gap in the existing literature on how those relationships may vary between organizational sectors. Economic sustainability for firms of all sizes and sectors is likely to depend to a large extent on the creation of a sustainable organizational culture built on collaboration, innovation, and adaptability. The importance of knowledge management in developing sustainable and higher functioning organizations is well accepted in the literature. Likewise, the ability of organizations to realize competitive advantage by adapting and responding in a timely manner to changes in the landscape is well supported. Building on previous research, this study further examines how organizations in different sectors may experience that interaction differently. Based on data gathered through 720 online surveys and subjected to empirical analysis, the findings suggest that work groups that are more agile can more readily realize the benefits of a knowledge sharing organization culture. Further, in contrast to the main body of existing literature, the findings indicate that there is little difference in these benefits among organizations operating in different sectors, notably, within the context of mainland China. These findings may be of interest to those with an interest in knowledge sharing, organizational agility, organizational behavior, sustainable organizations, collectivistic cultures, to practitioners with an interest in developing higher functioning organizations, and to social scientists in related research areas such as cultural studies and psychology.

Learning analytics dashboard: a tool for providing actionable insights to learners

This study investigates current approaches to learning analytics (LA) dashboarding while highlighting challenges faced by education providers in their operationalization. We analyze recent dashboards for their ability to provide actionable insights which promote informed responses by learners in making adjustments to their learning habits. Our study finds that most LA dashboards merely employ surface-level descriptive analytics, while only few go beyond and use predictive analytics. In response to the identified gaps in recently published dashboards, we propose a state-of-the-art dashboard that not only leverages descriptive analytics components, but also integrates machine learning in a way that enables both predictive and prescriptive analytics. We demonstrate how emerging analytics tools can be used in order to enable learners to adequately interpret the predictive model behavior, and more specifically to understand how a predictive model arrives at a given prediction. We highlight how these capabilities build trust and satisfy emerging regulatory requirements surrounding predictive analytics. Additionally, we show how data-driven prescriptive analytics can be deployed within dashboards in order to provide concrete advice to the learners, and thereby increase the likelihood of triggering behavioral changes. Our proposed dashboard is the first of its kind in terms of breadth of analytics that it integrates, and is currently deployed for trials at a higher education institution.

Modelling the resilience of start-ups during COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose

Resilience, the ability of start-ups to deal with anticipated instabilities and probable disruptions, is becoming an important success element during coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). To survive in this pandemic situation, resilience is an important concept for start-ups. The present paper aims to “identify”, “analyse” and “categorize” the resilience factors for start-ups during the Covid-19 pandemic using total interpretive structural modelling (TISM).

Design/methodology/approach

The resilience elements of start-ups during Covid-19 were identified and shortlisted during the first phase, which included literature analysis and extensive interaction with experts. TISM was used in the second phase to investigate or to determine how the factors interplayed between the resilience factors of start-ups during Covid-19. The Matrice d'impacts Croises Multiplication Appliquee a un Classment (MICMAC) method is used to rank and categorize the factors. Closed-ended questionnaire with the scheduled interview was conducted to collect the data.

Findings

The first part of the study found ten resilience elements in total. The TISM digraph was constructed in the second step to show why one resilience component led to another. The MICMAC analysis divided these factors into four groups: autonomous, linkage, dependent and independent. These groups represented resilience variables based on their driving and dependent power, which assist executives and managers in proactively addressing them while using the TISM digraph as a guide.

Research limitations/implications

During the Covid-19 epidemic, this study focused primarily on resilience characteristics for Indian start-ups.

Practical implications

This study will help key stakeholders and scholars to better understand the elements that contribute to start-up's resilience.

Originality/value

The TISM method for start-up's resilience is suggested in this paper, which is a novel attempt in the field of resilience in this industry.

How to make intelligent automation projects agile? Identification of success factors and an assessment approach

Purpose

Organizations are fast adopting new technologies such as automation, analytics and artificial intelligence, collectively called intelligent automation, to drive digital transformation. When adopting intelligent automation, there is a need to understand the success factors of these new technologies and adapt agile software development (ASD) practices to meet customer expectations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the success factors of intelligent automation and create a framework for managers and practitioners to meet dynamic business demands. Total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) framework is a suitable approach to integrate quantitative measurement with qualitative semi-structured interviews capturing the context of the individual organization environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper identified agility factors and their interrelationships using a TISM framework. TISM results were validated using a one-tailed t-test to confirm the interrelationships between factors. Furthermore, the agility index of a case project organization was assessed using a graph-theoretic approach (GTA) to identify both the triggering factors for agility success and improvement proposals.

Findings

Results showed that leadership vision, organization structure and program methodology were driving factors. The TISM model was validated statistically and the agility index of the intelligent automation case project organization was calculated to be79.5%. Here, a GTA was applied and the triggering factors for improvement of the agility index were identified.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of the study are described along with the opportunities for future research as the field evolves through the rapid innovation of technology and products.

Practical implications

The increasing role of digital transformation in enterprise strategy and operations requires practitioners to understand how ASD practices must be planned, measured and/or improved over time through the implementation of automation, analytics and artificial intelligence programs. The TISM digraph provides a framework of hierarchical structure to organize the influencing factors, which assists in achieving organizational goals. This study highlights the driving factors which contribute to the success of intelligent automation projects and project organizations.

Originality/value

This is a first attempt to analyze the interrelationships among agility factors in intelligent automation projects (IAP) using TISM and the assessment of the agility index of a case IAP organization using a GTA.

A study on the influential factors of the last mile delivery projects during Covid-19 era

The Covid-19 has shifted the face of many markets including e-commerce and online business with many bottlenecks to be cleared. The last-mile delivery project has the greatest effect on all types of e-commerce companies because it has many consumer touchpoints as well as the Covid-19 pain points. Due to these interconnected issues, the delivery projects itself requires modern solutions. The purpose of this paper is to identify, analyse and categorize the major factors that affect the last mile delivery projects in e-commerce, food sector, retail sector and so on using total ınterpretive structural modelling approach during the Covid-19. Ten major factors are identified from literature review, and expert opinions are collected from multiple organizations that are involved in the last mile delivery projects. The results indicate that types of goods, achieving routing efficiency and meeting fulfilment timeline are the key factors for last mile delivery projects during the time of Covid-19. This study helps the managers to identify the key factors and to focus on these factors for the successful implementation of last mile delivery project.

Modeling the enablers of sourcing risks faced by startups in COVID-19 era

Purpose

Startups across all sectors are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and are facing a formidable challenge in terms of marketing and operations. Most of the startups have experienced a downturn in demand and supply due to COVID-19 led disturbances in sourcing networks. This paper aims to identify, analyze and categorize the significant risks influencing sourcing operations in startups during the COVID-19 era in India, using the total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

Eight enablers were identified through literature review and expert opinions from various startups in India. This study adopted the TISM approach to analyze the inter-relationships between the enablers. Multiplication Applied to Classification (MICMAC) analysis was used to rank the sourcing risk enablers and classify them as autonomous, independent, linkage and dependent enablers.

Findings

The results indicate “insufficient fund” as the most critical enabler. Network issues and employee flexibility risk were among the other critical enablers that have a high driving power. Supplier risk, quality risk and demand risk were found to have highly dependent on other enablers for implementation.

Research limitations/implications

This study mainly focuses on the sourcing risks in startup operations in India. This study can be extended to many other countries.

Practical implications

This study will help startup industry managers and practitioners understand the interactions of enablers and identify critical enablers to mitigate risks in startup sourcing operations in the COVID-19 era.

Originality/value

The present study identifies the sourcing risk enablers in the COVID-19 era. It is the first attempt to analyze the interrelationship among sourcing risks in startups using the TISM approach.

Procurement 4.0 to the rescue: catalysing its adoption by modelling the challenges

Purpose

The pandemic crisis has resulted in global chaos that had caused massive disruption to the supply chain. The pharmaceutical industry, in particular, has been working tirelessly to ensure that they can cater to the people who need them. With restrictions being imposed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the movement of raw materials required has been affected, thus creating the need for the procurement function to be innovative. This study proposes the application of Industry 4.0 concepts into the procurement activities of an organization to make it more resilient and efficient.

Design/methodology/approach

To study the intensity of the challenges, Total Interpretive Structural Modelling is used alongside the “Matrice des Impacts Croises Multiplication Appliquee a un Classement” (MICMAC) technique.

Findings

Resilience can be achieved through the collaboration between the organization and its network of suppliers. This is however easier said than done. High and unclear investments have been identified as the challenge that is taking a toll on all technological investments in the pandemic era. The study also shows that organizational inertia which is present in established and structured firms are a deterrent as well.

Originality/value

This study is based on the application of procurement 4.0 to ensure that pharmaceutical supply chains stay least affected since they are essentials. This study using a multi-criteria decision-making approach to prioritize the challenges. This will help practitioners make decisions faster.

Developing a QFD model for prioritizing the CSFs of ERP based on the enablers of organizational agility

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to develop a model for prioritizing the critical success factors (CSF) of enterprise resources planning (ERP) based on the enablers of organizational agility (OA).

Design/methodology/approach

First, the CSFs of ERP and the enablers of OA have been identified and classified using Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), and then a three-phase quality function deployment (QFD) model has been designed to prioritize the influencing and influenced criteria. The proposed approach has been examined in the banking sector.

Findings

Major findings indicated that organizational structure, IT technology infrastructure, and commitment and support by top managers were selected as indicators with top priority.

Research limitations/implications

Research variables were limited to the enablers of OA and the CSFs of ERP; analysis was time-consuming due to the interconnected multiple QFD phases, and findings were limited to the selected branches of a bank. The bank managers were suggested to enhance their commitment and support toward ERP. Also, it was recommended to the managers to evaluate their organizational structure and empower it as much as possible toward the fulfillment of customers' requirements and customers' expected agility.

Originality/value

The development of the QFD matrices and dividing the factors of each research variables into influencing and influenced factors distinguished this study from the literature.

Modelling the enablers of sustainability in higher education institutions

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and encapsulate the enablers that can facilitate education for sustainable development in higher education (HE). The study also aims to understand the interdependence between the enablers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts the total interpretive structural modelling approach to comprehend the interaction and transitivity between the enablers. Cross-impact multiplication matrix analysis was applied to rank the enablers and classify them on the basis of the driving and dependence power into dependent, autonomous, independent and linkage enablers.

Findings

An extensive literature review and expert opinion helped in identifying 10 enablers that can promote sustainability in higher education. The structural model revealed government policies, media, accreditation/sustainability audit, sustainability leadership and institutional commitment as the crucial enablers that can drive sustainability and activate the enablers with high dependence and low driving power.

Practical implications

The results of this study will assist the policymakers and management of universities and colleges in understanding important factors that can facilitate sustainability in higher education. Universities and colleges to incorporate sustainability in their system need to transform not only the core higher education activities of learning and teaching, research and engagement, also the way the colleges operate its culture, governance, structure and how it supports the staff and students.

Originality/value

So far, research on sustainability in higher education has looked into each factor in isolation. This research provides a comprehensive view of the factors and has attempted to establish a multidirectional interplay between factors facilitating sustainability in higher education (SHE).

V, Kottayil SK. Is imperfect evaluation a deterrent to adoption of energy audit recommendations?

Purpose

Energy-efficiency leads to productivity gains as it can lower operating and maintenance costs, increase production yields per unit of manufacturing input and improve staff accountability. Implementation of energy-efficient technologies amongst industries, the factors influencing them and the barriers to their adoption have been the subject of several studies during the past three to four decades. Though energy-use behaviours of individuals or households are sufficiently explored, industrial energy conservation behaviour is scarcely studied. This study identifies the relationship between the different behavioural elements to open up a door for behaviourally informed intervention research.

Design/methodology/approach

Total interpretive structural modelling technique was used to determine the relationship between different elements of the behaviour of energy managers. Expert responses were collected to understand the relationship between the behavioural elements, through telephone interviews.

Findings

The study identified the relationship between the behavioural elements and found imperfect evaluation as the key element with the highest driving power to influence other elements.

Research limitations/implications

The authors postulate that a behaviourally informed intervention strategy that looks into the elements with high driving power such as imperfect evaluation, lack of focus on energy-saving measures and the lack of sharing energy-saving objectives can lead to: an increase in the adoption of energy efficiency measures and thereby a reduction in the energy efficiency gap; greater productivity gains and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; Preparation of M&V protocol that incorporates behavioural, organisational and informational barriers.

Social implications

Various policy level interventions and regulatory measures in the energy field which did not address the behavioural barriers are found unsuccessful in narrowing the energy-efficiency gap, reducing the GHG gas emissions and global warming. Understanding the key driving factor of behaviour can help to design an effective intervention strategy to address the barriers to energy efficiency improvement.

Originality/value

Understanding the key driving factor of behaviour can help to design an effective intervention strategy to address the barriers to energy efficiency improvement. This study argues that through the systematic analysis of the imperfect evaluation of energy audit recommendations, it is possible to increase the adoption of energy efficiency measures that can lead to greater productivity gains and reduced GHG emissions.