Mintzberg’s version of emergent strategy is based on the idea that strategies are contingent on circumstances that change from time to time often very rapidly and therefore papers focused on strategy and detailed planning are limited in their practical application. The word strategy as far as Mintzberg is concerned is anathema, therefore, introducing a concept that has a misconception embedded in it. This paper claims that education for sustainable development and higher education institutions’ survival depends on adopting postmodern thinking, in other words, digital transformation. This conceptual paper proposes a blueprint of a process for developing a series of agile potentially short-term conceptual solutions thereby embracing the expectation that the rate of change in societies is accelerating. This paper scrutinizes (a) the applicability of emergent strategy/strategic approach to higher education institutions, (b) how postmodernism influences higher education institutions to become digital hubs of commoditization of knowledge and (c) how the integrated capabilities of digital transformation build sustainability in education delivery. Structural Equation Methodology is proposed to examine the impact of postmodernism on the sustainable delivery of education in higher education institutions, and the need to foster relevant emergent strategies is also justified. The paper also develops new research propositions and managerial implications for driving optimistic digital education. Ultimately, it offers a framework for spear-leading effective and leading post-modernistic digital transformation. Emerging education technology, sustainable digital transformation and advanced use of robotic-human cognitive collaboration are experiencing a significant transformation. Universities play a vital role in enhancing engagement within higher education. One of the managerial implications of the results and discussion is the need for higher education institutions to provide taught leadership and planning in emergent strategy formulation and implementation. The findings confirm the significant importance of linking the Structural Equation Method and the postmodern strategic context in which we argue that higher education institutions require emerging rethinking.

The purpose of this study is to develop a nested theoretical model (LSS-DC) by critically examining two distinct theoretical concepts, including Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and Dynamic Capabilities (DC), for achieving organizational sustainable performance optimizations (PO). The robust integration of this dynamic concept is achieved using a systematic literature review, synthesis, and empirical evidence derived from 2005 to 2022. The vital benefits of LSS-DC are identified. This study utilizes a systematic literature review method adapted. It reveals the cross-sectional literature search strategy deploying selective keywords DCs, LSS, DCs and LSS, DCs and LSS and PO. In this niche domain employing descriptive and thematic analysis, key insights are extracted from the literature, encompassing a total of 21 peer-reviewed journals. The selection criteria revolve around three aspects: ‘Purpose’, ‘Authorship’, and ‘Credibility and Accuracy’. The authors gathered the secondary data from credible databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ERIC, and IEEE using the keyword search. The study reveals the robust integration of theoretical concepts of LSS and DCs and their impact on organisational performance. The findings suggest that integrating the micro-foundations of DCs (sensing, seizing, and transforming) with LSS allows organisations to not only identify improvement opportunities but also efficiently and effectively act upon them, ultimately leading to sustainable performance optimisation across various aspects of the business. The specific type of DC integration with LSS depends on the organisation’s goals and priorities. The findings of this study are subjective to some extent due to the applied research methodology. Further empirical research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. This study considers LSS as DC providing an empirical (LSS-DCs) model for sustainable performance optimisation. This is achieved by robustly integrating two distinct theoretical concepts derived from an extensive literature review and the analysis of the data-driven implementation. Finally, the study offers a deeper understanding in terms of how contextual organisational characteristics enhance the outcome of LSS-DC.

The UK food industry faces significant challenges to remain sustainable. With major challenges, such as Brexit, on the horizon, companies can no longer rely on a low labour cost workforce to maintain low production costs and achieve economic sustainability. Smart Systems (SS) is being seen as an approach towards achieving significant improvements in both economic and environmental sustainability. However, there is little evidence to indicate whether UK food companies are prepared for the implementation of such systems. The purpose of this research is to explore the applicability of Smart Systems in UK food manufacturing companies, and to identify the key priority areas and improvement levers for the implementation of such systems. A triangulated primary research approach is adopted that includes a questionnaire, follow-up interviews, and visits to 32 food manufacturing companies in the UK. The questionnaire and interviews are guided by a unique measuring instrument that the authors developed that focusses upon SS technologies and systems. This paper makes an original contribution in that it is one of the few academic studies to explore the implementation of SS in the industry, and provides a new perspective on the key drivers and inhibitors of its implementation. The findings suggest that the current turbulence in the industry could be bringing food companies closer to the adoption of such systems; hence, it is a good time to define and develop the optimum SS implementation strategy.

As a result of the emerging energy crisis and the requirement for countries to utilize more energy derived from renewable sources, demand for renewable energy technologies is likely to rise. Therefore, it is critical that production of such technologies is ramped up in order to meet this demand. However, evidence suggests that engineering and manufacturing companies in the UK are not entering the renewables market at the desired rate and, hence, renewable supply chains currently lack the ability to respond to increased demand due to the lack of businesses willing to move into supplying the renewables sector. Through a three phased research approach, this paper will identify the barriers and risks that are suggested as reasons why companies do not invest and operate within the renewables sector. Through further analysis obtained from the survey work and focus groups, the paper goes on to identify and categorize these barriers and risks in the form of ‘system constraints’ which are then used to construct a current reality tree (CRT) that connects the constraints into a comprehensive characterization map of the sector which suggests why companies fail to enter the renewables supply chain market. The CRT identifies the complex arrangement of issues which act as risks and barriers. These issues include; poor supply chain readiness leading to a company’s inability to respond quickly and correctly to opportunities, a lack of suitable policies and government investment in the renewables infrastructure (which leads to a lack of opportunities for supply-chain companies) and a lack of knowledge of the sector by companies, meaning that supply-chain companies are resistant to investing in the sector for fear of poor return on investment. This work provides key insights into the UK manufacturing supply chain and its attitudes to entering the renewables sector. Furthermore, the paper also applies and evaluates the use of the CRT technique and ascertains its suitability to effectively characterize sector issues and its current problems.

This conceptual paper examines how Enneagram as a personality typing system could be adopted as a meta-model across multiple domains. The enneagram strategy is a structural typology that many organisations and individuals use to effectively understand their business profiles and interpersonal patterns, despite scholars showing concerns about its robustness and dynamism. This paper extends the argument as to how the mechanics of the Enneagram are intrinsically interrelated with (a) organisational systems and networks, (b) organisational grammar, (c) supply chains, and (d) creativity. It also emphasizes the importance/close association of the Enneagram tool with interdependence, business model, networks, statics, and system dynamics. The paper uses a combination of research methods (theoretical, exploratory, and descriptive) to evaluate the adaptability of the enneagram. The findings demonstrate that enneagram as a strategy could be applied to various business phenomena but requires more cross-domain empirical research. The enneagram can also be used to develop meta-models/toy models that can relate to the organisational outcomes by integrating tangible and intangible process assets. This paper reliably lays a set of principles/foundations to launch the enneagram approach to a complex, broad, systematic, and creative scope.

Marine renewable energy technologies (MRE-T), which capture energy from oceans and seas, represent a pivotal area for sustainable energy development. These technologies, including wave energy converters, tidal energy systems, ocean thermal energy conversion, and salinity gradient power, offer the potential to diversify energy sources, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and mitigate climate change impacts. Despite its vast potential, marine renewable energy currently constitutes only a small fraction of global electricity generation, highlighting the challenges and complexities associated with its development and deployment. This paper builds on original research undertaken in 2019 by the authors exploring the barriers for companies attempting to enter the Marine Renewable Energy-Supply Chain (MRE-SC). The aim of this paper is to adopt the Theory of Constraints (ToC) approach to develop a Future Reality Tree (FRT) which creates a roadmap to enable companies to successfully enter the MRE-SC. This will enable academics and practitioners to visualize the cause-and-effect relationships around market entry into MRE-SCs for companies, whilst outlining the future goals, and the pathways to achieving the desired results within a holistic system. Therefore, the FRT provides a bridge between current and future visions and provides a valuable strategic perspective on the way companies can transition into the MRE-SC, thereby enabling a future state to be described, guiding the identification of changes that are required to establish an effective change management approach.