Short answer
Design and business strategies in emerging market manufacturing must proactively address and leverage dynamic economic and political landscapes, alongside fostering innovation in low-carbon products and encouraging sustainable consumer behavior, to achieve meaningful climate change mitigation.
- Field
- Innovation & Markets
- Source
- Business Strategy and the Environment (2023)
- Method
- Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Emerging economy manufacturing firms are driven towards sustainability by a complex interplay of factors, with greenhouse gas performance and the promotion of low-carbon products being highly influenced by other drivers, while economic and political transitions play a pivotal role. This innovation & markets research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Business Strategy and the Environment. Using Interpretive structural modelling (ism) and micmac analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design and business strategies in emerging market manufacturing must proactively address and leverage dynamic economic and political landscapes, alongside fostering innovation in low-carbon products and encouraging sustainable consumer behavior, to achieve meaningful climate change mitigation.
Sustainability Drivers in Emerging Market Manufacturing: A Strategic Imperative
Emerging economy manufacturing firms are driven towards sustainability by a complex interplay of factors, with greenhouse gas performance and the promotion of low-carbon products being highly influenced by other drivers, while economic and political transitions play a pivotal role.
Business Strategy and the Environment · 2023
Key Findings
- 01Nine distinct levels of driver influence were identified.
- 02"Greenhouse gas performance" and "encouraging low carbon products" are significantly influenced by other drivers.
- 03"Dynamic transitions in economic and political situation" acts as a pivotal driver, influencing many others.
- 04Economic dimensions are critical, but sustainable technology and responsible consumption are also vital for long-term competitiveness.
Application
Design takeaway
Design and business strategies in emerging market manufacturing must proactively address and leverage dynamic economic and political landscapes, alongside fostering innovation in low-carbon products and encouraging sustainable consumer behavior, to achieve meaningful climate change mitigation.
How to apply
When designing products or business models for emerging markets, analyze the prevailing economic and political trends, and identify how these trends can be leveraged to drive the adoption of sustainable features and practices.
Project actions
- 01When researching sustainability in a specific industry or region, consider how external factors like government policy and economic stability influence design and production choices.
- 02Use frameworks like ISM or MICMAC (or simplified versions) to map out the relationships between different factors affecting your design project.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Utilizes advanced modeling techniques (m-TISM, MICMAC) to provide a structured understanding of complex driver interdependencies.
- +Focuses on the critical and often under-researched context of emerging economies.
Limitations
The specific drivers and their interrelationships identified in this study might not be directly transferable to all emerging economies or all manufacturing sectors without further investigation.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the findings depends on the rigor of the m-TISM and MICMAC analysis and the subjective interpretations of the drivers. Validity is enhanced by the focus on a specific context and the use of established modeling techniques, but may be limited by the generalizability to other contexts.
Think critically
To what extent can the identified drivers for sustainability in emerging economies be generalized to developed economies, and what modifications would be necessary?
Design Principles
"Sustainability integration in manufacturing requires a multi-dimensional strategic approach that balances operational improvements with adaptive responses to the broader socio-economic and political environment."
Understanding these drivers is crucial for businesses operating in or engaging with emerging markets. It highlights that a holistic approach, considering both internal operational efficiencies and external market dynamics, is necessary for successful sustainability integration.
What This Means for Your Design
For businesses making things in countries that are growing fast, the best way to help the environment is to pay attention to how the economy and politics are changing, and to make products that are better for the planet. If they only focus on making money now, they might struggle later.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the external factors that influence the feasibility and adoption of sustainable design solutions in your design project, particularly in emerging market contexts.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the critical role of dynamic economic and political transitions as key drivers for sustainability adoption within manufacturing firms in emerging economies. The study's findings suggest that while operational improvements like reducing greenhouse gas emissions are important, they are heavily influenced by these broader contextual factors. Therefore, any design project aiming for sustainable impact in such markets must consider and strategically integrate with these macro-level influences to ensure long-term viability and effectiveness.
Source
Business Strategy and the Environment
Drivers to mitigate climate change in context of manufacturing industry: An emerging economy study
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about sustainability drivers in emerging market manufacturing: a strategic imperative?
- Design and business strategies in emerging market manufacturing must proactively address and leverage dynamic economic and political landscapes, alongside fostering innovation in low-carbon products and encouraging sustainable consumer behavior, to achieve meaningful climate change mitigation. Evidence: Business Strategy and the Environment (2023).
- Why does "Sustainability Drivers in Emerging Market Manufacturing: A Strategic Imperative" matter for design?
- Understanding these drivers is crucial for businesses operating in or engaging with emerging markets. It highlights that a holistic approach, considering both internal operational efficiencies and external market dynamics, is necessary for successful sustainability integration.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Design and business strategies in emerging market manufacturing must proactively address and leverage dynamic economic and political landscapes, alongside fostering innovation in low-carbon products and encouraging sustainable consumer behavior, to achieve meaningful climate change mitigation.
- What were the main findings?
- Nine distinct levels of driver influence were identified.. "Greenhouse gas performance" and "encouraging low carbon products" are significantly influenced by other drivers.. "Dynamic transitions in economic and political situation" acts as a pivotal driver, influencing many others.. Economic dimensions are critical, but sustainable technology and responsible consumption are also vital for long-term competitiveness.
- What research method was used?
- Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Business Strategy and the Environment.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing products or business models for emerging markets, analyze the prevailing economic and political trends, and identify how these trends can be leveraged to drive the adoption of sustainable features and practices.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focused on a specific emerging economy (India), and findings may vary in other contexts. The complexity of the interrelationships between drivers might be simplified by the modeling techniques used.