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This paper discusses some exploratory evidence from operations management literature and several analytic models currently evaluated in environmentally conscious business practices. We propose that the process of environmentally conscious business practice should be studied as a multi‐dimensional issue, recognizing an analytical dimension of strategy and decision procedure, but also a behavioral dimension addressing corporate culture, perceptions and motivation, and an organizational dimension concerned with regulatory environment and supply chain management. The focus of attention in dynamic view of assessment of environmentally conscious business practices moves from structures to processes. These exploratory discussions suggested a number of areas for further investigation, linked by a focus on the process of environmentally conscious business practices and its use of management, rather than on purely technical issues of management and data analysis.

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -This paper seeks to investigate and provide empirical evidence of the interrelationships among network externalities, e-business adoption and information asymmetry. Design/methodology/approach -A conceptual model was proposed and tested using 307 completed interview cases selected from a database of 2,075 Chinese international trading companies published by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce for this study. Findings -The results indicated that network externalities significantly influenced e-business adoption and information asymmetry, and e-business adoption influenced information asymmetry through information sharing and collection. A split sample analysis showed that cultural contexts significantly moderated the interrelationships among network externalities, e-business adoption, and information asymmetry. Research limitations/implications -Data for this study were collected only from mainland China, therefore, non-Chinese companies (foreign-owned) operating in China may have been influenced by Chinese cultures and some of them have been localizing their operations in China. The influences of network externalities on business performance and decision making remain unclear. In addition, data were collected from self-reported questionnaires, and thus may be subject to self-reporting bias. Future studies should use more objective measurements to reduce the potential for self-reporting bias. Practical implications -This study contributes significantly to the literature by providing empirical evidence on interrelationships among network externalities, e-business adoption, and information asymmetry. The findings in this study also provide valuable insights for managers to better understand the influence of network externalities on e-business adoption. Originality/value -This study contributes significantly to the literature by providing empirical evidence of the interrelationships among network externalities, e-business adoption, and information asymmetry. The findings also provide managers with valuable insight into better understanding of the nature of these interrelationships.

Abstract. A model is developed to explore the relationships between interregional migration and regional variations of quality of life. The model incorporates the impact of the interregional variations of the various aspects of quality of life including economic, political, environmental, social, health and education. The long‐run and short‐run migration data for 65 major U.S. standard metropolitan statistical areas are used to test the model. The results suggest that unlike the conventional conclusions, economic factors are not so important in motivating interregional migration. Rather, it is shown that in the long‐run the pursuance of better quality ot social life turns out to be the most important factor. In the short‐run, the results suggest that the pursuance of better environmental quality is the dominant factor in explaining the interregional migration.

PurposeTo define the term “information orientation” and to propose a model to investigate how information orientation influences information asymmetry and e‐business adoption.Design/methodology/approachThe model was tested using survey data from 307 international trading companies in Mainland China. Partial least squares was chosen to conduct data analysis in this study.FindingsResults suggested that information orientation could significantly reduce information asymmetry. This influence may be mediated by information sharing and information collection. It has been found that information orientation could also significantly influence e‐business adoption.Research limitations/implicationsFurther studies are needed regarding how information orientation and such other strategic orientations as marketing and learning orientations may interact to influence business performance and organizational innovation.Practical implicationsCompanies with stronger information orientation may have less information asymmetry problems and would be more capable to make appropriate decisions based on information. The information orientation also motivates the e‐business adoption, which in turns would help the company to share information among supply chain members and among internal employees.Originality/valueThis study provides valuable insights for managers that building a stronger information orientation may help companies motivate e‐business adoption and alleviate information asymmetry, thus improve decision‐making processes.

The implementation of an online procurement system has never been easy due to the barriers created by the different hardware/software, diverse corporate culture and varying users’ skills of interacting with IS/IT. Recent development in knowledge management technology may help alleviate the problems associated with the implementation of an online procurement system. This paper explores how knowledge management technology may be incorporated into the framework of an online procurement system to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency.