https://www.mdu.se/

Both practitioners and researchers are concerned about resource deficiencies on the planet earth and agree that circular business models (CBMs) represent solutions to move towards zero waste, improving environmental impacts and increasing economic profit. Despite all of the benefits of CBMs, the implications are not widely available, and failure rates are high. Thus, there is a need to identify the obstacles that stand in the way of CBM transition. This paper aims to identify the primary challenges of CBMs. Multiple case studies are employed, incorporating six companies and data gleaned from 17 in-depth interviews. Theoretical and managerial implications are described at the end of the study.

The number of senior citizens is growing globally and governments are striving to find innovative solutions to deal with complex care demands of this part of the population. Technology has been an answer to this situation; however, it is very important that the elderly accept and actually use the technology. This paper empirically tests the senior technology acceptance model using the fsQCA method to analyse data with a sample of 811 seniors aged 60 and over living in Sweden. The results revealed that the necessary conditions for high “perceived ease of use” and “perceived usefulness” are gerontechnology self-efficacy, gerontechnology anxiety, and cognitive abilities; however, each of these is not sufficient on its own. Self-reported health conditions and physical function also play a peripheral role in achieving the desired outcome. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed at the end of the paper.

Drawing from fit research in strategic management, this study develops and investigates a model predicting destination attitude and (re)visit intention. The study introduces the concept of destination personality fit on the basis of how well consumer perceptions of a tourist destination's brand personality fits that of what the destination brand manager wishes to convey. A model incorporating destination advertising awareness as an antecedent of destination personality and consumer-manager destination personality fit is tested on international consumers with the destination personality of Switzerland as the study setting. Structural equation modeling results reveal that destination advertising awareness does indeed relate positively to both stronger perceived destination personality and destination personality fit in consumers’ minds. Interestingly, the subsequent destination personality–destination attitude relationship is moderated by consumer–manager destination personality fit in such a way that the link grows stronger in cases where fit is high. The results have important implications for destination brand managers in that they reinforce the importance of strong and distinct destination personalities. The findings also show the importance of actively communicating the destination brand to consumers since the positive outcomes of a strong destination personality increase in magnitude when successfully communicated, and the vision of the destination brand manager has been adopted by the consumer.

Elderly individuals are increasingly using social media sites to access health-related information. Using responses from 610 elderly individuals in Sweden to a large-scale questionnaire survey, this study examines technology acceptance model and sociodemographic factors that positively influence elderly individuals' use of social media for health-related activities. The results show evidence of a positive association between general technology use experience, attitudes toward technology use, age, or gender, and the use of social media for health-related activities. Technology attitudes strengthen the effect on social media use for health-related activities regarding general use of technology, for older individuals, and among females.

As competition in the service sector is continuously intensifying, managers are increasingly realizing how effective use of enterprise systems (ESs) might improve competition capabilities. Building on previous work that explores ESs and supply chain integration, this study investigates antecedents and consequences of ES usage among service firms. Following an empirical study using data from 233 Swedish retail and wholesale service providers, findings indicate that internal reasons such as access to new markets and anticipated performance, rather than external pressure, drive ES adoption. The study further reveals that ES usage relates positively to supply chain integration, which subsequently relates to firm performance via the mediating variable of competition capabilities. This study contributes by synthesizing previously separate constructs into a coherent research model that is both empirically viable and integrative. The study concludes by discussing implications for theory building and management practice.

Purpose – This article aims to explore the impact of supply chain integration on the financial performance of Swedish manufacturing firms.

Design/methodology/approach – The literature review provided the foundation for the development of the survey instrument and hypotheses for the study. In addition, the survey instrument was tested by the experts in the field and modified before it was sent to the managers in the survey group.

Findings – The findings show that supply chain integration at any level is beneficial to the financial well being of the firm. Companies with total supply chain integration reported the highest level of financial performance.

Research limitations/implications – Data were collected from Swedish manufacturing firms without regard to the size of the firm. The results show that supply chain integration is beneficial at any level.

Practical implications – The findings will assist managers with decisions regarding supply chain integration and its role as a critical factor in improving the financial performance of manufacturing companies.

Originality/value – Limited empirical studies have been conducted in this area, especially in Sweden. This study provides insight for manufacturing managers with regard to the importance of supply chain management and the competitive nature of business in the global market.

The growing trend toward enterprise systems (ES) adoption serves to highlight a number of issues that merit careful managerial consideration. We present a conceptual model delineating the antecedents and consequences of ES adoption based on scholarly insights from multiple literature streams. Managers should consider that in order to improve firm performance by ES adoption, they need to embed these systems in supply chain integration and competition capabilities. In this context, we highlight the supply chain integration, competition capabilities, firm performance and other issues.