New Book: Digital Transformation in a post-Covid World

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

SEMINAL PAPER  1:

A circular economy approach to green energy: Wind turbine, waste, and material recovery

Science of the Total Environment, 702, 135054. (2020)

Wind energy has been considered as one of the greenest renewable energy sources over the last two decades. However, attention is turning to reducing the possible environmental impacts from this sector. We argue that wind energy would not be effectively “green” if anthropogenic materials are not given attention in a responsible manner. Using the concept of the circular economy, this paper considers how anthropogenic materials in the form of carbon fibers can reenter the circular economy system at the highest possible quality. This paper first investigates the viability of a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer extraction process using thermal pyrolysis to recalibrate the maximum carbon fiber value by examining the effect of (a) heating rate, (b) temperature, and (c) inert gas flow rate on char yield. With cleaner and higher quality recovered carbon fibers, this paper discusses the economic preconditions for the takeoff and growth of the industry and recommends the reuse of extracted carbon fibers to close the circular economy loop

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

SEMINAL PAPER 3:

Why wouldn't green appeal drive purchase intention? Moderation effects of consumption values in the UK and China

Journal of Business Research, In Press (2020)

Although a positive relationship is expected between consumers’ awareness of green benefits in a green product and their purchase intention, several studies have demonstrated otherwise. Against this back-drop, this article investigates how three personal consumption values—namely, environmental, status, and value-for-money consciousness—moderate the relationship between consumers’ awareness of a product’s green benefits and their purchase intention. From a survey of 956 consumers across the United Kingdom and China, we find a positive and significant relationship between consumers’ awareness of green benefits and their purchase intention. However, these consumption values significantly moderate this relationship. In the United Kingdom, environmental consciousness strengthens the relationship. On the other hand, status consciousness and value-for-money consciousness strengthen the relationship in China. The findings make original contributions to the literature by highlighting how to integrate individual consumption values in differing national cultures to refine green marketing theories.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

SEMINAL PAPER 4:

Green marketing cradle-to-cradle: Remanufactured products in Asian markets

Thunderbird International Business Review, 60:5, 783-795 (2018)

Remanufacturing, a key circular economy practice, is a new way of sustainable thinking without depleting additional economic resources. Because remanufactured goods come from direct reuse of returned or already used goods, the environmental impacts of production are reduced and product longevity is extended; therefore, these products can be considered “green products.” Are they appealing to the green consumers, however? Our questionnaire survey of more than 1,168 consumers from eight Asian countries shows that the “real” green market for remanufactured products is not yet ready. Reactions to green attributes of remanufactured products are disproportionate from Asian consumers with different consumption values. Status- and value-conscious consumers may buy into remanufactured products if they perceive them as greener. However, the findings suggest that environmentally conscious consumers do not show a high appreciation for the green concept of remanufactured products in Asia. The results highlight important takeaways for remanufacturers in the circular economy and those selling remanufactured products: to identify and define the right selling point of “greenness” to align with Asian consumers' inherent values.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

SEMINAL PAPER 5:

Can a Fast-Expanding Market Sustain with Supply-Side Government Aid? An Investigation into the Chinese Solar Photovoltaics Industry

Thunderbird International Business Review, 59:1, 103-114 (2017)

The solar photovoltaics (PV) industry is a policy-driven business, in that political decisions considerably infl uence potential market takeoff or decline. This is particularly true for China. Between 2006 and 2010, the annual growth rate of solar panel output approached or exceeded 100%, with suppliers receiving fi nancial aid from the government. Despite the prevalence of supply-side aid, its actual impact on the development of this fast-expanding market is debatable. We focus on 249 observations of 75 solar PV companies from 2005 to 2012, and investigate how government aid received in the form of bank loans

INTERNATIONAL MGMT 

SEMINAL PAPER 1:

君子 Junzi leadership in Singapore:

Journal of Management Development, In Press (2020)

This paper provides insights as to how a Confucian-inspired Junzi style of leadership translates into initiatives toward human capital development in Singapore. After reviewing tripartite governance in Singapore, we discuss the character of Confucian leadership: how does this value system inform the moral economy of the Singaporean corporatist model and inherently come to impact upon the conception and significance of human capital. The case approach was employed using multiple sources of secondary data, supplemented by interviews with high-profile informants in Singapore. Multiple sources led to data triangulation in presenting a mutually consistent set of evidence. The paper also draws from a longitudinal observation of Singapore's industrial relations and human resource development (HRD) policies over the last 10 years since the Global Financial Crisis. Organized along two thematic areas: governance and human capital development, this paper proposes and finds that governance in Singapore displays an institutionalized form of Junzi leadership that translates into policymaking toward human capital development.This paper brings about an Asian perspective of Junzi leadership toward management and governance. The Confucian value system intrinsic to tripartite governance provides an original heuristic lens that helps shed a light on the significance of human capital development in Singapore.

INTERNATIONAL MGMT 

SEMINAL PAPER 2:

Is cost transparency necessarily good for consumers?

European Journal of Marketing, 49: 11/12, 1980-1986 (2015)

This paper presents a critical viewpoint on the negative aspects of market, price and cost transparencies to consumers in terms of its costs. It adopts an inter-disciplinary approach from the marketing, economics and accounting literature. The paper explores market transparency in the ever-changing world and uses brand names like Starbucks and iPhone to illuminate instances where imperfect markets are supported by consumers. Recognizing the role that the Internet plays in promoting price transparency, the paper espouses how extant information can add costs and risks to the consumer's value judgement. Finally, the paper advocates that arbitrary judgements existing in cost accounting make it difficult to compare unit cost. This could result in consumers paying extra money to benefit from cost transparency. Practical implications-This paper argues that three main issues may arise in providing unit cost to the consumers. First, transparency entails built-in costs, whether they are in taxes or product prices. Second, in accounting, unit cost information is currently not equitable between businesses. Finally, the paper argues that extra time and effort in making sense of unit cost information lead to questions about the viability of transparent costing. The arguments for transparency have been widely discussed, supported and promoted by many. While negative aspects are known to businesses, few consider the consumer's perspective. By amalgamating evidence and arguments from different disciplines, this paper lends value, providing a critical perspective where transparent unit cost revelation can be more costly and less viable than what is assumed.