International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=33&year=2011&vol=5&issue=4 Inderscience Publishers Ltd en-uk International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development 1740-8822 1740-8830 © 2011 Inderscience Publishers Ltd editor@inderscience.com https://www.inderscience.com/images/files/coverImgs/ijisd_scoverijisd.jpg http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=33&year=2011&vol=5&issue=4 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43322 Universities are key actors in sustainable development by generating new knowledge as well as contributing to the development of appropriate competencies and raising sustainability awareness. Within a project called ‘Sustainable University’ at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg (Germany), a scenario analysis was carried out in order to think structurally about both the challenges that universities could face in the long run and to establish what chances and problems might arise in future from implementing an orientation towards sustainable development. This analysis results in the characterisation of a ‘Higher Education Landscape 2035’ consisting of eight clusters of possible future developments. This paper describes the process of inter- and trans-disciplinary scenario development, gives an overview of the scenarios identified, and finally discusses the adaptability of the Lüneburg idea of a sustainable university to the future system of higher education. Towards a ‘Sustainable University’: scenarios for sustainable university development
Matthias Barth; Maik Adomßent; Patrick Albrecht; Simon Burandt; Jasmin Godemann; Angela Franz-Balsen; Marco Rieckmann
International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2011) pp. 313 - 332
Universities are key actors in sustainable development by generating new knowledge as well as contributing to the development of appropriate competencies and raising sustainability awareness. Within a project called ‘Sustainable University’ at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg (Germany), a scenario analysis was carried out in order to think structurally about both the challenges that universities could face in the long run and to establish what chances and problems might arise in future from implementing an orientation towards sustainable development. This analysis results in the characterisation of a ‘Higher Education Landscape 2035’ consisting of eight clusters of possible future developments. This paper describes the process of inter- and trans-disciplinary scenario development, gives an overview of the scenarios identified, and finally discusses the adaptability of the Lüneburg idea of a sustainable university to the future system of higher education.

]]> 10.1504/IJISD.2011.043322 International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2011) pp. 313 - 332 Matthias Barth; Maik Adomßent; Patrick Albrecht; Simon Burandt; Jasmin Godemann; Angela Franz-Balsen; Marco Rieckmann School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. ' Institute for Environmental and Sustainability Communication, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Scharnhorststraße 1, Lüneburg, Germany. ' Institute for Environmental and Sustainability Communication, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Scharnhorststraße 1, Lüneburg, Germany. ' Institute for Environmental and Sustainability Communication, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Scharnhorststraße 1, Lüneburg, Germany. ' International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (ICCSR), Nottingham University Business School, Nottingham, NG8 1BB, UK. ' Institute for Environmental and Sustainability Communication, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Scharnhorststraße 1, Lüneburg, Germany. ' Institute for Environmental and Sustainability Communication, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Scharnhorststraße 1, Lüneburg, Germany sustainable universities sustainable development Higher Education Landscape 2035 scenario analysis sustainability science trans-disciplinarity transformative case study higher education future projections. 2011-10-25T23:20:50-05:00 5 4 313 332 2011-10-25T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43355 A high increase of resource productivity can be gradually achieved if enterprises will be able to consider the resources limitedness as an opportunity of advantageous change, so as to primarily improve their competitiveness in the market. This result could be pursued by continuously developing and implementing innovative solutions, at all stages of the production cycle, generating revenue, on the one side, and meeting societies’ needs, in a sustainable perspective, on the other. These goals could be achieved if products and processes will be devised and realised by integrating all elements contributing to the global effectiveness/performance, in order to maximise the results related to the main factors influencing on competitiveness: resources-environment, quality-productivity, variety-scale and risk-safety. The ways to select and develop a resource productivity-oriented innovative solution are here identified, and some suited indicators are proposed, able to measure the results at company, local and socio-economic levels. Resource productivity-oriented innovative solutions: selection/development ways, and indicators to measure and assess their global advantage
Giancarlo Barbiroli
International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2011) pp. 333 - 357
A high increase of resource productivity can be gradually achieved if enterprises will be able to consider the resources limitedness as an opportunity of advantageous change, so as to primarily improve their competitiveness in the market. This result could be pursued by continuously developing and implementing innovative solutions, at all stages of the production cycle, generating revenue, on the one side, and meeting societies’ needs, in a sustainable perspective, on the other. These goals could be achieved if products and processes will be devised and realised by integrating all elements contributing to the global effectiveness/performance, in order to maximise the results related to the main factors influencing on competitiveness: resources-environment, quality-productivity, variety-scale and risk-safety. The ways to select and develop a resource productivity-oriented innovative solution are here identified, and some suited indicators are proposed, able to measure the results at company, local and socio-economic levels.

]]> 10.1504/IJISD.2011.043355 International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2011) pp. 333 - 357 Giancarlo Barbiroli Department of Business Science, University of Bologna, Area Technology and Resource Valorization, Piazza Scaravilli 2, Bologna, 40126, Italy resource productivity innovative solutions enterprises results advantage competitiveness indicators. 2011-10-25T23:20:50-05:00 5 4 333 357 2011-10-25T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43323 This paper deals with the implications of widespread item-level RFID tagging for the recycling of packaging waste. We first summarise possible positive and negative effects discussed in the relevant literature. We then present the results of an empirical study among organisations dealing with packaging production and packaging recycling in Germany. The results show that both packaging producers and recyclers acknowledge that widespread item-level RFID would have severe consequences for packaging recycling systems. Even though the respondents partly share the concerns raised in the scientific literature, they also appreciate the potential of RFID-based data for recycling processes. There was a remarkable similarity between these results for the two groups of respondents. However, there is no consensus regarding the overall consequences. Strong impacts are expected, but it is largely unclear whether these will overall be more positive or more negative. This demonstrates the need for future research in this evolving field. Impacts of item-level RFID on packaging waste recycling: exploratory study of the industry’s expectations in Germany
Lars Thoroe; Brüdger Knothe; Kirsten Raabe; Matthias Schumann
International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2011) pp. 358 - 370
This paper deals with the implications of widespread item-level RFID tagging for the recycling of packaging waste. We first summarise possible positive and negative effects discussed in the relevant literature. We then present the results of an empirical study among organisations dealing with packaging production and packaging recycling in Germany. The results show that both packaging producers and recyclers acknowledge that widespread item-level RFID would have severe consequences for packaging recycling systems. Even though the respondents partly share the concerns raised in the scientific literature, they also appreciate the potential of RFID-based data for recycling processes. There was a remarkable similarity between these results for the two groups of respondents. However, there is no consensus regarding the overall consequences. Strong impacts are expected, but it is largely unclear whether these will overall be more positive or more negative. This demonstrates the need for future research in this evolving field.

]]> 10.1504/IJISD.2011.043323 International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2011) pp. 358 - 370 Lars Thoroe; Brüdger Knothe; Kirsten Raabe; Matthias Schumann Chair of Information Systems and E-Business, University of Göttingen, Göttingen 37073, Germany. ' Chair of Information Systems and E-Business, University of Göttingen, Göttingen 37073, Germany. ' Chair of Information Systems and E-Business, University of Göttingen, Göttingen 37073, Germany. ' Chair of Information Systems and E-Business, University of Göttingen, Göttingen 37073, Germany RFID tagging radio frequency identification packaging waste recycling waste management ubiquitous computing green IT Germany. 2011-10-25T23:20:50-05:00 5 4 358 370 2011-10-25T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43330 The purpose of this paper is to study empirically based on qualitative in-depth case studies as well as a quantitative survey the role of competitiveness-enhancing regulation and open innovation activities (especially the involvement of fringe stakeholder groups) for sustainability-related innovation and competitiveness. Using qualitative and quantitative content analysis as well as multivariate regression techniques, the paper finds that openness does not associate with innovation, but the involvement of fringe stakeholders does. Furthermore, as concerns competitiveness, innovation is generally significantly and positively associated, but specific associations of types and levels of innovation with different competitiveness dimensions vary. Jointly, the qualitative and quantitative analyses confirm the important role of fringe stakeholder cooperation and related capabilities for sustainability-related innovation and competitiveness, but they also point to important structural factors such as firm size that matter for innovation and competitiveness. Sustainability-related innovation and competitiveness-enhancing regulation: a qualitative and quantitative analysis in the context of open innovation
Marcus Wagner
International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2011) pp. 371 - 388
The purpose of this paper is to study empirically based on qualitative in-depth case studies as well as a quantitative survey the role of competitiveness-enhancing regulation and open innovation activities (especially the involvement of fringe stakeholder groups) for sustainability-related innovation and competitiveness. Using qualitative and quantitative content analysis as well as multivariate regression techniques, the paper finds that openness does not associate with innovation, but the involvement of fringe stakeholders does. Furthermore, as concerns competitiveness, innovation is generally significantly and positively associated, but specific associations of types and levels of innovation with different competitiveness dimensions vary. Jointly, the qualitative and quantitative analyses confirm the important role of fringe stakeholder cooperation and related capabilities for sustainability-related innovation and competitiveness, but they also point to important structural factors such as firm size that matter for innovation and competitiveness.

]]> 10.1504/IJISD.2011.043330 International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2011) pp. 371 - 388 Marcus Wagner Chair in Entrepreneurship and Management, Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Wüerzburg, Germany; Bureau d’Economie Théorique et Appliquée, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg cedex, France open innovation competitiveness sustainability fringe stakeholder groups user involvement empirical sustainable development regulation firm size. 2011-10-25T23:20:50-05:00 5 4 371 388 2011-10-25T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43337 New conceptualisations of peri-urban zones are needed to trigger a deeper understanding within professionals and practitioners of appropriate intervention strategies that build the resilience of sustainable agriculture and food production within peri-urban communities. This paper posits a theoretical construction of the peri-urban zone, derived from applying a biomimicry framework. Biomimicry is the analysis of processes in natural systems to derive design principles for human systems. Insights are derived from mimicking two natural ecosystem types on Australia’s Sunshine Coast using the theoretical constructs of Chaos theory and patch dynamics to characterise peri-urban zones. This mimicry of dynamic complex ecosystems suggests the peri-urban zone be characterised as a spatially and temporally patchy community which is ‘disturbance dominated’. The framework suggests the challenge for designing successional pathways for agriculture in peri-urban zones requires interventions based on five dynamic principles which explain not just natural system behaviour, but also characterise socio-economic processes. Understanding the role of disturbance in peri-urban agricultural systems and communities: new concepts and principles to guide strategic intervention
Brian R. Stockwell
International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2011) pp. 389 - 402
New conceptualisations of peri-urban zones are needed to trigger a deeper understanding within professionals and practitioners of appropriate intervention strategies that build the resilience of sustainable agriculture and food production within peri-urban communities. This paper posits a theoretical construction of the peri-urban zone, derived from applying a biomimicry framework. Biomimicry is the analysis of processes in natural systems to derive design principles for human systems. Insights are derived from mimicking two natural ecosystem types on Australia’s Sunshine Coast using the theoretical constructs of Chaos theory and patch dynamics to characterise peri-urban zones. This mimicry of dynamic complex ecosystems suggests the peri-urban zone be characterised as a spatially and temporally patchy community which is ‘disturbance dominated’. The framework suggests the challenge for designing successional pathways for agriculture in peri-urban zones requires interventions based on five dynamic principles which explain not just natural system behaviour, but also characterise socio-economic processes.

]]> 10.1504/IJISD.2011.043337 International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2011) pp. 389 - 402 Brian R. Stockwell University of Sunshine Coast, P.O. Box 916, Tewantin, Queensland 4565, Australia peri-urban communities biomimicry policy extension sustainability complex systems chaos theory patch dynamics sustainable development intervention strategies sustainable agriculture food production Australia disturbance natural systems socio-economic processes. 2011-10-25T23:20:50-05:00 5 4 389 402 2011-10-25T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43331 The manner in which the sustainable performance of a complex system can be assessed continues to be the focus of many discussions. This paper builds on efforts to use multimodal system analysis for describing sustainable functioning. Initial research was conducted in the contexts of system sciences and urban planning, but the resulting method is estimated to have a wider potential for application. The Dutch philosopher Herman Dooyeweerd’s original theory of modal law-spheres, which forms the basis for multimodal system analysis, is reconsidered. His theory facilitates a deepened insight into the difference between expressed sustainability definitions. In addition to an analysis in terms of modal aspects of sustainable functioning, the value-driven trade-offs that occur within modal spheres need addressing. The multimodal method is therefore confronted with the analytical categories of the Cultural Theory. Combining both efforts thus results in a two-dimensional analytical grid that accounts for intermodal connectivity and intra-modal oppositions. How to cut across the catch-all? A philosophical-cultural framework for assessing sustainability
Han Vandevyvere
International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2011) pp. 403 - 424
The manner in which the sustainable performance of a complex system can be assessed continues to be the focus of many discussions. This paper builds on efforts to use multimodal system analysis for describing sustainable functioning. Initial research was conducted in the contexts of system sciences and urban planning, but the resulting method is estimated to have a wider potential for application. The Dutch philosopher Herman Dooyeweerd’s original theory of modal law-spheres, which forms the basis for multimodal system analysis, is reconsidered. His theory facilitates a deepened insight into the difference between expressed sustainability definitions. In addition to an analysis in terms of modal aspects of sustainable functioning, the value-driven trade-offs that occur within modal spheres need addressing. The multimodal method is therefore confronted with the analytical categories of the Cultural Theory. Combining both efforts thus results in a two-dimensional analytical grid that accounts for intermodal connectivity and intra-modal oppositions.

]]> 10.1504/IJISD.2011.043331 International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2011) pp. 403 - 424 Han Vandevyvere Research Group Design & Building Methodology, Department of Architecture, Urbanism and Planning, K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 1, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium integrated sustainability assessment philosophical-cultural framework sustainable development multimodal system analysis Herman Dooyeweerd cultural theory environmental ethics holistic thinking. 2011-10-25T23:20:50-05:00 5 4 403 424 2011-10-25T23:20:50-05:00