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This study aims to recognize the significant barriers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bangladesh, hindering the adoption of total quality management (TQM). Additionally, this research intends to explore the interrelations among these barriers to develop essential managerial insights for promoting TQM implementation in SMEs.

The interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach and Matrice d'impacts croisés multiplication appliquée á un classment (MICMAC) a cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification show the relationship among the barriers and classification of the barriers to TQM implementation respectively, and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is applied for ISM model validation.

This study examined previous literature and conducted interviews with professionals to identify 17 barriers. The study then develops and investigates a model that outlines the relationships and priorities among these barriers and categorizes them based on their impact and interdependence. This analysis can assist SMEs in implementing TQM during their operations successfully.

This research emphasizes the crucial obstacles that greatly affect other barriers and require immediate attention. Furthermore, this study provides valuable information for SMEs to effectively prioritize their resources and efforts to overcome these obstacles.

This study delves into the primary obstacles impeding the integration of TQM in SMEs through a novel approach. Additionally, this study constructs a verified contextual framework that depicts the hierarchies and interconnections among these barriers.

The purpose of this paper is to provide managers with suitable strategic KPIs in decision-making processes, which aim to integrate the environmental dimension of sustainability at a business level in manufacturing organisations.

In view of the research proposal addressed, semi-structured interviews were conducted, based on theoretical milestones of the performance management system (PMS), with 48 managers that work in Italian manufacturing firms and specialise in green practices.

The authors developed a novel environmentally performed framework to adequately integrate environmental value drivers at a strategic level.

The resulting issues addressed in this paper, and their integration in the business strategy for managing environmental complexity, allows contributing, firstly, to the existing literature by suggesting the relevant key value drivers that need to be mostly studied from an accounting point of view. In addition, from these results, though their experience managers will have up-to-date key measures that could, in the future, help the integration process between the environmental aspect of the sustainability dimension and the PMS.

The results generate a robust roadmap for future analysis in this research field. Accordingly, the paper engenders a strategic alignment in the green transition process, providing scholars and practitioners with a clear view of the key sustainable drivers, metrics and potential solutions that have not been addressed to date.

The purpose of this paper is to present new empirical data on leases, energy management, and energy meters in the UK, with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other “minor” players. The paper develops a new segmentation model that identifies six different combinations of energy and organizational conditions.

The authors surveyed participants in an online energy management and data analytics service. A 30-question online survey gathered data from 31 respondents on three kinds of infrastructure – legal, organizational, and technical.

SMEs and other minor players are generally “data poor,” lack energy managers, and have legacy meters that are read only annually or quarterly; some rent via leases that inhibit permanent alterations to the premises, including the meter.

The research is exploratory and subject to self-selection bias. Further research is needed into: lease language, governance structures, social practices to facilitate cooperation between tenants and landlords; the scope for energy management positions in small organizations; low-cost “smart-er” meters that can be reversibly retrofitted onto existing energy meters; and the combination of these areas.

Organizations may need to augment a combination of legal, organizational, and technical infrastructures to enable better energy management.

SMEs and other “minor” energy users are important to society and the economy, yet they are often overlooked by government programs. This developing data set can help policymakers include these groups in their programs.

This paper presents a new conceptual framework for future research and new empirical data on understudied groups.

The purpose of the paper is to examine the monitoring of electrical energy consumption, measures adopted for reducing energy consumption, barriers to energy efficiency improvement and driving forces for energy efficiency improvement in three industrial clusters. It is intends to capture the managerial perspectives on energy saving practices and to identify the possible energy saving opportunities in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Three industrial clusters were identified for the study. Research instrument based in-person survey was conducted in which the authors directly administered the questionnaire to all the 181 organisations. This was thought of to facilitate not so well-educated respondents. The survey took about six months in which 110 units responded. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and path analysis were used to draw inferences.

There is ample scope for energy savings in the studied clusters. Energy efficiency in many organisations has deteriorated. Their attitude to embrace new or modern technology is shunning. Management’s belief that prevailing technology is efficient, lack of skilled labour, lack of accessibility to updated or modern technology, and lack of compatibility of new technology are found to be the barriers to energy efficiency improvement. Benchmarking by appropriate governments and publicly financed energy auditing act as the driving forces.

The SMEs must use simple yet powerful energy auditing practices on regular basis to reduce energy consumption. This will not only result in lesser energy costs but also lessen the burden on environment. As these are predominantly small enterprises, appropriate governments interventions are essential to bring the desired change.

Knowledge and application of energy management during the life cycle of construction projects are lacking. The purpose of this paper is to identify and investigate the key barriers that are faced by contracting firms in the implementation of energy management during building construction projects focussing on construction plants, as they are considered as the major energy users on site.

A questionnaire survey was employed and distributed using stratified random sampling to 100 contracting companies operating in the Gaza Strip. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Programme for the Social Sciences (SPSS; Version 22) to identify the number of components that could represent the 31 identified barriers.

From the factor analysis, the barriers were clustered into four factors: economic and financial (which accounted for the largest percentage of variance), knowledge and information, legal and contractual, and organisational and management. This indicates that economic and financial aspects are the most important barrier impeding the implementation of energy management; local contractors should seriously consider this issue when making decisions about energy management during project construction. In addition, the lack of energy-management codes and lack of governmental support are significant obstacles to the implementation of energy management on construction sites.

Although the objective of this study was achieved, there were some study limitations. This study is limited to the perceptions and geographical boundaries (i.e. the self-governing territory of Gaza Strip in Palestine as a developing country), therefore, it cannot be generalised. However, it could form the basis for useful comparison in the future. A future study may be carried out with a much larger sample size to validate the conclusions of this study. Triangulation research methods could also be employed in future research in order minimise the bias and validate the conclusion. Further study regarding energy management throughout the whole life cycle of the development is recommended.

This paper has highlighted a number of barriers to efficient energy management during the project construction phase. It is critical for local regulators to take note of the economic and financial barriers to facilitate a more energy-conscious society where incentives (could be via tendering preferences) can encourage both clients and contractors to proactively conserve energy during construction. As for the contractual barriers, the local government should lead by example in including “energy consumption” as a leading indicator for evaluating project performance.

This study also provides practical knowledge for stakeholders so that they can develop effective methods to overcome the identified barriers to attain higher levels of sustainable energy management. This study can contribute to knowledge in the developing countries context concerning energy management and conservation in construction projects.