Heba F. Zaher
58538164000
Publications - 8
Power in the supply chain: a state-of-the-art literature review and propositions from the perspective of gender differences
Publication Name: Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing
Publication Date: 2024-05-30
Volume: 39
Issue: 6
Page Range: 1282-1310
Description:
Purpose: This paper aims to examine the existing literature on firms’ power through the lens of the supply chain and highlights some gaps that could be covered by future research. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses a systematic framework-based review combining the insights of the antecedents, decisions and outcomes (ADO) and theories, contexts and methods (TCM) frameworks. The review was carried out using a sample of 108 articles published between 1984 and 2022 in 25 prestigious journals. Findings: The ADO framework maps out the state of the art of the antecedents of power (i.e. sources and types of firm power), the decision to use power and the effect that exercising power over other firms may have on firm performance and the quality of inter-firm relationships. In addition, this framework highlights factors that mediate or moderate the decision to exercise power and the factors that mediate or moderate the outcomes of exercising power or power asymmetry. The TCM framework provides insights into the theories, contexts (i.e. countries, industries, level of analysis and sources of data) and methods used by the existing literature. The content analysis using the aforementioned frameworks provides the basis to elaborate propositions for future research on power in the supply chain from the perspective of gender differences. Research limitations/implications: This systematic literature review offers a comprehensive guide for researchers to understand the antecedents, decisions and outcomes of firm power in the supply chain, as well as the TCM used in the literature. The content analysis using frameworks provides a road map to investigate the proposed factors that might moderate the decision to exercise power and the outcome of exercising power or power asymmetry from the perspective of gender differences. In addition, based on content analysis, the authors make propositions about TCM that could be applied in future research. Practical implications: From a practical perspective, this systematic literature review may help managers to better understand the sources and consequences of their firm’s power. This would allow managers to make better decisions when negotiating with their supply chain parties, which could potentially lead to better performance for their firms and the whole supply chain. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to conduct a comprehensive systematic literature review of the different dimensions of firms’ power in the supply chain.
Open Access: Yes
CEO narcissism and firm's cash conversion cycle: The moderating role of CEO's gender
Publication Name: Accounting and Finance
Publication Date: 2024-03-01
Volume: 64
Issue: 1
Page Range: 783-810
Description:
This study investigates the effect of CEO narcissism on firm's cash conversion cycle (CCC), and how this influence is moderated by CEO gender. Based on a sample of 354 CEOs in 229 S&P 500 firms, our results indicate that firms led by more narcissistic CEOs tend to have a shorter CCC and this effect is weaker in companies led by a female CEO. Our additional analyses show that the effect of CEO narcissism on the CCC may improve or damage firm performance depending on the firm's CCC level.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1111/acfi.13161
ISO 14000 as a driver of sustainability: Exploring its alternative drivers beyond ISO 9000 standards
Publication Name: Journal of Infrastructure Policy and Development
Publication Date: 2024-01-01
Volume: 8
Issue: 12
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This study replicates and extends Corbett and Kirsch (2001) and Vastag (2004) using a new data set to investigate the drivers of ISO 14000 certification diffusions using decision tree analysis. The findings indicate that at the national level, ISO 14000 certification diffusions are influenced by factors other than ISO 9000 certification diffusions, such as the number of environmental treaties signed and ratified, industrial activities as a percentage of GDP, and GDP per capita, thus provides a range of managerial insights and enhances scholarly understanding of sustainability beyond the influence of ISO 9000. Future studies might extend the countries included in this study to see if the results are the same. Future research may include other factors like a country’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) indicators to better understand its commitment to sustainability, including environmental sustainability. The country’s culture may influence customers, investors, and other stakeholders’ knowledge and desire for sustainable practices and inspire firms to obtain ISO 14000 certifications. Since larger firms may seek ISO 14000 certification, future studies may evaluate the influence of the number of large firms in various countries as drivers of ISO certification diffusions.
Open Access: Yes
Cultural Impact on Environmental Sustainability Practices: a Comparative Study using Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions
Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions
Publication Date: 2023-01-01
Volume: 107
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 157-162
Description:
As the importance of environmental sustainability grows on a global scale, it is crucial to understand the factors that impact a country’s adoption and implementation of sustainable practices. This study aims to investigate the relationship between cultural factors outlined by Hofstede’s framework and the adoption and implementation of environmental sustainability practices across countries. Using data about 87 countries from the World Bank database during the period 2015-2019 regarding environment indicators and the Hofstede Insights website regarding cultural dimensions of the countries, this study finds that out of the six cultural dimensions proposed by Hofstede, the power distance and indulgence dimensions have an effect on environmental sustainability practices of countries. Specifically, low power distance and high indulgence lead to more robust environmental sustainability practices. On the other hand, individualism, masculinity-femininity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation dimensions have no significant impact on the environmental sustainability practices of countries.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3303/CET23107027
Blockchain and Smart Cities: Co-Word Analysis and BERTopic Modeling
Publication Name: Smart Cities
Publication Date: 2025-08-01
Volume: 8
Issue: 4
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Highlights: What are the main findings? Blockchain plays a foundational role in supporting secure, interoperable infrastructure for key urban services, particularly through integration with IoT, edge computing, and smart contracts. Research has shifted from general blockchain exploration to sector-specific applications, including decentralized healthcare, energy trading, smart mobility, and drone coordination. What is the implication of the main finding? Blockchain enables cross-sectoral innovation in smart cities by enhancing transparency, data integrity, and trust across complex urban systems. As both a technological and ethical infrastructure, blockchain supports the development of secure, resilient, and sustainable smart city ecosystems aligned with Industry 5.0 values. This paper explores the intersection of blockchain technology and smart cities to support the transition toward decentralized, secure, and sustainable urban systems. Drawing on co-word analysis and BERTopic modeling applied to the literature published between 2016 and 2025, this study maps the thematic and technological evolution of blockchain in urban environments. The co-word analysis reveals blockchain’s foundational role in enabling secure and interoperable infrastructures, particularly through its integration with IoT, edge computing, and smart contracts. These systems underpin critical urban services such as transportation, healthcare, energy trading, and waste management by enhancing data privacy, authentication, and system resilience. The application of BERTopic modeling further uncovers a shift from general technological exploration to more specialized and sector-specific applications. These include real-time mobility systems, decentralized healthcare platforms, peer-to-peer energy exchanges, and blockchain-enabled drone coordination. The results demonstrate that blockchain increasingly supports cross-sectoral innovation, enabling transparency, trust, and circular flows in urban systems. Overall, the current study identifies blockchain as both a technological backbone and an ethical infrastructure for smart cities that supports secure, adaptive, and sustainable urban development.
Open Access: Yes
Blockchain and sustainable finance as enablers of regenerative finance: a bibliometric and thematic review
Publication Name: Discover Sustainability
Publication Date: 2025-12-01
Volume: 6
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Blockchain technology, sustainable finance, and regenerative finance are increasingly intersecting as vital research frontiers in addressing global environmental and social challenges. This study offers a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic analysis of the scholarly landscape at this intersection, aiming to illuminate how these domains are evolving and converging. Drawing on a curated dataset of 78 peer-reviewed articles sourced from Scopus and Web of Science, the research integrates quantitative bibliometric mapping with qualitative thematic insights to capture both the structural and conceptual dimensions of the field. The analysis employs co-word mapping to explore patterns of keyword co-occurrence and identify key intellectual linkages, thematic evolution analysis to track the development of major research themes over time, and factorial correspondence analysis to visualize the relationships among concepts within a multidimensional space. Findings reveal a rapidly growing and increasingly interdisciplinary body of work, with blockchain and sustainable finance serving as central pillars, while regenerative finance, though still emerging, shows strong conceptual potential. Notably, the appearance of AI-related themes suggests a nascent yet promising integration of intelligent systems with sustainability-focused finance. Together, these insights offer a nuanced understanding of the field’s current dynamics and lay the groundwork for future research on regenerative, technology-enabled financial systems.
Open Access: Yes
Decentralized finance and sustainability analysis of global research patterns and emerging themes
Publication Name: Discover Sustainability
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is rapidly transforming financial systems, yet its environmental, social, and economic sustainability implications remain underexplored. To address this gap, we conducted a structured review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2022 and 2025, drawing on 239 records retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science and screened through the PRISMA 2020 protocol in Covidence. The review combined bibliometric analysis, thematic mapping, and a systematic review to synthesize patterns, clusters, and critical insights. Bibliometric results show a sharp post-2023 rise in outputs, with China leading in publication volume and Switzerland achieving the highest citation impact, although collaboration networks remain fragmented and weakly connected. Thematic analysis reveals three dominant clusters: blockchain-driven financial innovation, AI and fintech applications for sustainability, and green economy transitions, highlighting DeFi’s dual role as a driver of transparency and inclusion but also a source of energy inefficiency and systemic risk. The systematic review further identifies regulatory gaps, particularly around Maximal Extractable Value (MEV), and emphasizes the need for energy-efficient consensus mechanisms, standardized ESG metrics for tokenized assets, and inclusive platform designs to bridge digital divides. By aligning DeFi’s disruptive potential with sustainability objectives, the study proposes hybrid governance models and interdisciplinary collaboration to foster a resilient, equitable, and low-carbon financial ecosystem, underscoring the urgency of balancing technological innovation with planetary boundaries to realize DeFi’s promise as a catalyst for sustainable development.
Open Access: Yes
Exploring the nexus of blockchain and food supply chain traceability: A bibliometric analysis
Publication Name: Food and Humanity
Publication Date: 2026-05-01
Volume: 6
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This research examines the development of academic studies on the use of blockchain for food supply chain traceability through an extensive bibliometric investigation of publications from 2018 to 2025. The review highlights the most active scholars, institutions, journals, and countries contributing to this area, offering a clear picture of the leading actors in the field. By applying keyword co-occurrence analysis and network mapping, the study uncovers patterns in citations, collaboration structures, and thematic clusters. Results indicate a strong upward trajectory in publications, with an annual growth rate of more than 60%, signaling accelerating attention to blockchain-enabled traceability solutions. Collaboration patterns point to a concentration of activity in technologically advanced regions, where cross-border partnerships are stronger, while emerging economies show more limited international engagement. The analysis also reveals that partnerships often form around shared areas of interest and reflects a clustering effect. A small set of authors and institutions dominates knowledge production, which is consistent with the Matthew effect. Overall, these dynamics suggest that while the field is rapidly expanding, it remains unevenly distributed. The study offers both an overview of the intellectual landscape and practical guidance for future research aimed at broadening participation, enhancing collaboration, and more closely linking blockchain with sustainability and food system innovation.
Open Access: Yes
