Programa del congreso

Purpose. This study aims to explore the factors influencing the implementation of circular practices in the upstream supply chain (SC) to enhance comprehension of how firms foster circularity throughout the SC.

Theoretical background. Drawing from the relational view of resource-based theory, this study examines two determinants of circular practice implementation in the upstream SC: internal emphasis on circular economy principles and the purchasing function, and their impact on environmental performance. Additionally, in line with the idea that SC components act as mediators in explaining business outcomes, the mediating role of circular supply relationship management (CSRM) is investigated in the relationship between internal circular economy practices and environmental performance improvement.

Design/methodology/approach. The proposed hypotheses were tested through a PLS-SEM analysis using survey data from 338 Spanish industrial focal firms.

Findings/implications. The results indicate that firm circular practices and strategic purchasing are positively related to the development of CSRM. Moreover, CSRM and firm circular practices generate improvements in focal firm environmental performance. Lastly, CSRM mediates the firm circular practices-environmental performance relationship. Our study confirms that emphasizing internal circular practices and strategic purchasing can trigger the expansion of circularity practices in the upstream SC, which also leads to enhanced environmental performance.

Goals: The article aims to explore how AI technology can address the challenges faced by North African countries in competing globally in business. It identifies seven main challenges, emphasizes the specific factors influencing North Africa, and proposes AI as a solution to unlock the region's potential.

Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework revolves around identifying key challenges in the North African business landscape, such as infrastructure deficits, access to finance, governance issues, and market fragmentation. It proposes AI technology as a transformative tool to mitigate these challenges and foster economic development.

Methodology: The methodology involves analyzing the main challenges facing North Africa's business environment, examining how these challenges impact the region's competitiveness, and proposing AI-based solutions. The article provides detailed insights into each challenge and discusses potential AI applications in various sectors.

Results/ Implications: The results highlight the potential benefits of AI technology in addressing North Africa's challenges, including economic diversification, innovation, and sustainable development. Implications include the need for policy support, investment, and collaboration to effectively implement AI solutions and unlock the region's economic potential in the global business landscape. This study is exploratory with the purpose of establishing the foundations for an in situ project.

Given the prominence of digitalization in our current society, a debate has emerged regarding its effects on employment. This study aims to analyze the impacts of adopting different types of digitalization on the labor market in Small and Medium Enterprises and to make a comparison between the manufacturing and services sectors. Furthermore, this research extends its focus to a comparative analysis between companies with highly skilled workers and those with less skilled personnel to explore the employment polarization suggested in the literature, favoring highly skilled workers. This study employs the Ordered Probit regression methodology and uses data from the European Commission collected through Flash Eurobarometer 486, encompassing countries within the European Union and 12 other external countries. The obtained results indicate differences between both sectors regarding the types of digitalization that positively influence job creation. The most favored companies are those equipped with highly skilled personnel. With this study, we aim to contribute to the literature by providing a more integrated perspective on the impacts of digital technologies on employment across various industries, considering different types of digitalization. Policymakers can leverage findings to design interventions, emphasizing digital skill development, especially for less skilled workers, fostering a more inclusive workforce.