In this Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), sustainable development for business firms depends on maintaining sustained performance and environmental sustainability to a great extent. The current study discovers the impact of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices on business performance and the environmental sustainability of a developing country, Bangladesh. Cost and profit are the two important indicators of business performance. On the other hand, environmental sustainability is expressed by waste disposal, resource consumption, and greenhouse gas emission. Primary data were collected through the distribution of web links and direct interaction with the participants of different firms practicing GSCM practices in Bangladesh. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Hypotheses were formulated and evaluated accordingly. This study found that the impact of implementation of GSCM practices differs with respect to cost, profit, waste disposal, resource consumption, and greenhouse gas emission. GSCM practices have a statistically significant impact on cost, waste disposal, resource consumption, and greenhouse gas emission. The impact of GSCM practices on profit was statistically insignificant. It was found that lack of IT implementation, high cost of waste disposal, uncertainty and competition in the market, resistance to change, and lack of top management support are the major barriers to implement GSCM practices in Bangladesh.
The impact of global COVID-19 pandemic, both in health and economic terms is becoming clearer. This article critically explores the challenges in implementing remote working practices in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Bangladesh. Based on the qualitative approach, interviewing 14 participants from SME owners, consultants, government officials and professors, we found several challenges such as financial constraints, bureaucracy, lack of knowledge and interest, communication problem, high employee turnover and difficulty to find trustworthy employee implementing remote working practices. The study also advanced some solutions such as convincing the benefits of remote working practices, government rules, financial incentives, training and IT courses and remote (online) classes in universities in implementing remote working practices in the SMEs not only during COVID-19 pandemic but also for the long-term. These have several implications regarding SMEs performances and workers benefits.
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