B Corp certification: true commitment or interest?

Purpose This article aims to analyze whether the B Corp certification process is homogeneous for all companies, regardless of their size and sector. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted among B Corps in Spain, and Rasch measurement theory was applied to analyze the data. Findings The results indicate that the motivations and barriers to certification are similar among companies of different sizes and sectors. Also, the spillover effects of certification do not vary significantly across sectors. However, firm size influences one of these effects, with larger firms experiencing a significantly greater positive impact on the working conditions of their employees. Practical implications The findings provide useful insights for policymakers and organizations looking to improve support mechanisms for companies undergoing B Corp certification. Understanding the common challenges and benefits can help in designing tailored sustainability policies. Originality/value This research contributes to the literature on business certifications by providing empirical evidence on how company characteristics influence the B Corp certification process.

The aim of this study is to estimate the optimal forest harvest considering economic and environmental objectives in an uneven-aged forest in the north of Iran. Required data were collected such as stumpage price, harvesting variable costs, growth, volume, basal area, sequestrated carbon, carbon dioxide storage, and price. The required input models for optimization were estimated using the collected data. A stochastic dynamic programming technique was used for optimization. The results indicated that the harvesting volume was higher when only the economic objective was considered instead of considering economic and environmental objectives. The results also indicated that the harvesting volume would occur at a higher level of volume per hectare if we only consider the environmental objective. The results showed that the expected present value was higher when economic and environmental objectives were considered simultaneously. The results indicated when interest rate increased, the harvesting time and the expected present value decreased. The results showed that the expected present value increases with increasing the risk. The results of this study can be a guideline for optimal forest management.

Management of animal fat-based biodiesel supply chain under the paradigm of sustainability

Benefit corporations have emerged as a hybrid corporate form that seeks to reconcile profit-making with legally mandated social and environmental objectives. Unlike traditional corporations that prioritize shareholder value, benefit corporations broaden fiduciary responsibilities to include stakeholders such as employees, communities, and the environment. This paper examines the central question of how benefit corporations balance financial sustainability with their public benefit missions in a market environment where profit is often treated as imperative. Drawing on scholarship in corporate governance, business ethics, and sustainability studies, the analysis identifies four major structural challenges facing benefit corporations: high certification and re-certification costs, investor skepticism and profitability pressures, consumer confusion driven by green-washing, and the absence of standardized ESG metrics. To illustrate how these tensions operate in practice, the paper presents two contrasting case studies. Etsy demonstrates how capital market expectations and public-company constraints can contribute to mission drift and the abandonment of B Corp certification, while Patagonia illustrates how deeply embedded sustainability practices can strengthen brand legitimacy and reinforce long-term profitability. The findings suggest that the benefit corporation model remains viable but highly conditional: success depends on credible measurement systems, supportive legal and policy frameworks, and the ability to translate mission into competitive advantage.

A sustainable multi-objective optimization model for the design of hybrid power supply networks under uncertainty

The purpose of this paper is to identify and describe the key concepts of Rasch measurement theory (Rasch G, Probabilistic models for some intelligence and attainment tests. Danish Institute for Educational Research, Copenhagen. (Expanded edition, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1980), 1960/1980). There have been several taxonomies describing item response theory (Kim S-H et al., A taxonomy of item response models in Psychometrika. In: Wiberg M, Culpepper S, Janssen R, Gonzales J, Molenaar D (eds) Quantitative psychology: 83rd annual meeting of the Psychometric Society. Springer, New York City, pp 13–23, 2019; Thissen D, Steinberg L, Psychometrika 51:567–577, 1986; Wright BD, Masters GN, Rating scale analysis: Rasch measurement. MESA Press, Chicago, 1982), and this paper extends these ideas with a specific focus on Rasch measurement theory. Rasch’s measurement work reflects a key milestone in a paradigmatic shift from classical test theory to item response theory (van der Linden WJ, Handbook of item response theory, volume 1: models. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2016). We include a categorization of measurement models that are commonly viewed as Rasch models (dichotomous, rating scale, partial credit, and many-faceted), as well as extensions of these models (mixed, multilevel, multidimensional, and explanatory models). Georg Rasch proposed a set of principles related to objectivity and invariance that reflect foundational concepts underlying science. Rasch measurement theory is the application of these foundational concepts to measurement. Concept maps provide useful didactic tools for understanding progress in measurement theory in the human sciences, and also for appreciating Rasch’s contributions to current theory and practice in psychometrics.

The growing emphasis on sustainability in Supply Chain Management (SCM) has highlighted reverse logistics (RL) as a critical strategy for achieving both environmental and economic objectives. However, existing studies often overlook the moderating role of Data-Driven Decision-Making (DDDM) in enhancing the relationship between RL and firm performance. This study addresses this gap by proposing a conceptual framework that integrates RL, sustainability, profitability, and DDDM to optimize reverse logistics operations and bolster firm performance. Drawing on a synthesis of existing literature, the study identifies key challenges in RL, including inefficiencies in recovery and recycling processes, and proposes data-centric strategies to address these issues. The conceptual framework illustrates how leveraging DDDM enables firms to analyze large datasets, streamline RL processes, and ensure alignment with sustainability goals. By integrating data-driven insights, organizations can improve operational agility, reduce costs, and achieve compliance with environmental regulations, ultimately enhancing profitability and competitive positioning. The methodology focuses on developing a theoretically grounded framework that lays the foundation for future empirical validation. Key results suggest that firms employing DDDM in RL processes can significantly reduce waste, lower carbon footprints, and create value through efficient resource use. This research provides actionable insights for managers and policymakers, advocating for the integration of DDDM to transform RL into a strategic driver of sustainability and profitability. This article holds significant importance for the scientific community as it addresses the critical intersection of reverse logistics, sustainability, and profitability, a growing area of interest in both academia and industry. By integrating the role of data-driven decision-making, the study provides a novel conceptual framework that can enhance operational efficiency and promote sustainable business practices. This study not only contributes to the theoretical advancement of reverse logistics and sustainability but also offers practical insights for organizations striving to balance economic and environmental objectives. Furthermore, it highlights the transformative potential of data analytics in driving sustainable supply chain strategies, making it a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners alike.

Chapter 7 - Stochastic Design of Biorefinery Supply Chains Considering Economic and Environmental Objectives

Optimizing environmental flow operations based on explicit quantification of IHA parameters

Cooperatives help meet critical livelihood needs worldwide. This article seeks to provide an understanding of the potential of cooperatives to promote economic and social objectives by illuminating the tensions that cooperatives face at the nexus of local and global forces. To achieve this goal, this article draws on data from an 8-month qualitative case study of two coffee cooperatives in southern Costa Rica and focuses on the tensions experienced by the cooperatives in the economic realm. The research suggests that these tensions actually further the cooperatives’ economic objectives and are necessary for the cooperatives’ flourishing and growth.

ObjectivesDisease activity (DA) monitoring is a standard of care in RA. There is demand for achieving this through patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The aim of this study was to determine which items could be used to measure the construct of RA DA, by analysing legacy PROMs, using Rasch measurement theory (RMT) analyses.MethodsQuestionnaires including 10 legacy PROMs were sent to people with RA to create original and validation datasets. Items were grouped according to OMERACT domains and analysed using principal component analysis. Based on separate domain RMT analyses of the original dataset, domain-level testlets were assessed to determine which items measure the construct of RA DA. The result was then replicated in confirmatory factor analyses bifactor models and RMT analyses of the validation dataset. Psychometric properties of legacy PROMs were also assessed in the original dataset.ResultsThe total sample size was 691 (original: 398, validation: 293). The Patient global domain was split into General health and Disease activity domains under RMT. General health and Fatigue domain items measure a separate construct to the construct of RA DA. A set of 12 Pain, Disease activity, Tenderness and swelling, Physical functioning and Stiffness domain items can be used to measure the construct of RA DA. No legacy PROMs fully fit the Rasch measurement model.ConclusionGeneral health and Disease activity domain items are not interchangeable. Twelve items form an item pool that can be used to measure the construct of RA DA. Legacy PROMs should not be recommended for use.

Digital marketing has emerged as a crucial driver for sustainable tourism development, with research highlighting its potential to influence consumer behaviour and promote eco-responsible practices. This study explores how digital marketing tools, including social media and content marketing, can support sustainable tourism goals by aligning with environmental, social and economic objectives. Through a case analysis of Gdańsk, Poland, the research study examines how digital marketing strategies have been tailored to extend tourism beyond peak periods, promote local culture and minimise environmental impacts. Gdańsk’s approach underscores the importance of aligning marketing strategies with the values of residents, local businesses and tourists to create a tourism model that respects the destination’s unique heritage and environment. The study highlights the significance of ongoing stakeholder education, strategic adaptation to evolving digital trends and developing collaborative tourism communities to support these efforts. Additionally, this chapter emphasises the need to incorporate diverse stakeholder perspectives when defining sustainable tourism objectives. A dynamic dialogue and continuous feedback loop enable tourism initiatives to address community interests and business goals, ensuring balanced outcomes. In conclusion, Gdańsk’s initiatives illustrate how digital marketing can actively support sustainable tourism by fostering a responsible and respectful tourism model. The study suggests that, as technology advances, future research should investigate the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing sustainable tourism practices, further contributing to tourism models that prioritise local well-being alongside economic growth.

Aim: The overall aim for this thesis was to explore continuity of care through patients’, family carers’, and health care personnel’s perceptions, and to develop and evaluate a patient-reported experience measure of continuity of care. Method: This thesis consists of four studies; I have a qualitative explorative design and II have a qualitative descriptive design, whereas III and IV are methodological studies. In studies I and II, data were collected from four geographically disparate areas in Sweden; in studies III and IV, data were collected in one of these areas. Data were collected using individual (I, II, III), focus groups, pair interviews (II), and questionnaires (III, IV). Data were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory (I), conventional content analysis (II), and according to classical test theory (III), and Rasch measurement theory (IV). Results: For patients to experience continuity of care, all aspects were interconnected, as access to tailored information was essential for gaining mutual understanding regardless of who was performing a care task. This required clarity in responsibilities and roles, interprofessional collaboration, and a trusting relationship over time and space between each link in the patient’s care trajectory (I). Further, Study II showed that to achieve continuity of care, professional and cross disciplinary cooperation at micro, meso and macro levels were needed. Continuity of care is dependent on long-term and person-centered relationships, dynamic stability in the organizational structure, and shared responsibility for cohesive care enabling uniform solutions for knowledge and information exchange (II). Studies III and IV resulted in the Patient-Experienced Continuity of care Questionnaire (PECQ). The instrument contains 20 items measuring four dimensions of continuity of care: Information (four items), Relation (six item), Management (five item), and Knowledge (five item). Overall, the PECQ showed satisfactory measurement properties according to classical test theory and Rasch measurement theory (III, IV) regarding factor structure, unidimensional, local independence, response category function, differential item functioning for age and sex, and internal consistency reliability. Conclusion: Continuity of care is perceived as multidimensional, containing several important aspects working in synergy and varying over time. To achieve continuity of care, information and knowledge sharing need to cross disciplinary and organizational boundaries. Collaborative responsibility is needed, vertically through all levels of the system, instead of focusing on personal responsibility horizontally. The PECQ can provide information on different dimensions of continuity, useful for driving quality improvements in the primary care context.

Physicians' erroneous assumptions about individuals with intellectual disability (ID) negatively impact the quality of care provided to this population. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Beliefs About Adults with ID (BAID), an instrument we developed for measuring physicians' erroneous assumptions about adults with ID. Two hundred ninety-two American physicians participated. Classical test theory and Rasch measurement theory were used to refine the scale (through item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, infit and outfit mean-squares statistics, and differential item functioning) and investigate its psychometric properties (functioning of the response scale, reliability, and validity). The BAID provided a unidimensional, reliable, valid, and precise measure in assessing high levels of erroneous assumptions. It showed convergent and divergent validity with the different factors of a scale measuring attitudes towards ID. The BAID items were discriminant, non-redundant, unambiguous, and invariant across gender and previous ID training. The BAID response scale was found to be appropriate for measuring physicians' erroneous assumptions about adults with ID. BAID is a brief instrument with good psychometric properties to assess erroneous assumptions about adults with ID in physicians of different genders and who have/have not previously received ID training. Therefore, it might be helpful for research and medical education purposes.

The 5C Positive Youth Development Very Short Form (PYD-VSF) was designed as a user-friendly tool to assess positive youth development. This study examined the dimensionality using Rasch measurement theory on data from 430 upper secondary school pupils in southern Sweden. A Swedish version of the tool was developed through dual-panel translation and cognitive interviews. Findings from psychometric testing indicated multidimensionality, showing support for a post hoc two-dimensional structure with the following components: Self-worth (Competence, Confidence, and Connection) and Pro-social (Character and Caring). These two constructs were distinct yet related, suggesting that Self-worth may be a prerequisite for Pro-social development. Systematic gender variance was also observed, although with a negligible impact on score interpretation. The identified constructs align with ongoing discussion about agency and resilience in relation to young persons' health. Further research is recommended within the PYD framework, with priority given to the use of standardised and validated instruments to clarify how these constructs may both strengthen young persons in the present and buffer against future adverse outcomes.