Abstract The use of wood is often indicated as a decarbonization strategy for the construction sector. However, the CO 2 footprint of native wood, that is, the emissions during wood harvesting, transportation, and processing, depends on the type of forest management practiced. This study quantifies the CO 2 footprint of native rough sawn lumber from forests with three types of harvesting: sustainable management, conventional management, and conventional selective extraction (deforestation). CO 2 emissions were analyzed from harvesting to the end of wood processing based on data from the literature and the Construction Environmental Performance Information System. The CO 2 footprint of rough sawn lumber varies between 25 and 19,860 kCO 2 /m 3 , with the lowest values for wood from sustainable management and the highest for conventional selective extraction. In addition, managed wood stores temporarily in its cell structure ~353kgC/m 3 . Native wood from sustainable harvesting can contribute to decarbonizing buildings, whereas wood from conventional harvesting and deforestation are relevant sources of CO 2 emissions, considering the wood life cycle.

Resmo O uso da madeira é frequentemente apontado como uma estratégia de descarbonização para a construção. Entretanto, a pegada de CO2 da madeira nativa, ou seja, que são as emissões decorrentes da sua exploração florestal, transporte e beneficiamento, depende do tipo de manejo florestal. Este estudo quantifica a pegada de CO2 da madeira nativa serrada bruta, proveniente de três tipos de exploração florestal: manejo sustentável, manejo convencional e extração seletiva convencional (desmatamento). Analisaram-se as emissões de CO2 da exploração florestal até o término do beneficiamento da madeira, com dados da literatura e do Sistema de Informação do Desempenho Ambiental da Construção. A pegada de CO2 da madeira serrada bruta varia entre 25 e 19.860 kgCO2/m3, com os menores valores para a madeira de manejo sustentável e os maiores para a madeira de extração seletiva convencional. Além disso, a madeira manejada estoca temporariamente, em sua estrutura celular, ~353 kgC/m3. Madeiras nativas de manejo florestal sustentável podem contribuir com a descarbonização dos edifícios, enquanto as madeiras de manejo convencional e, sobretudo, de desmatamentosão fontes expressivas de CO2 dentro do seu ciclo de vida.

Abstract The State has significant purchasing power. Public procurement is a great potential to promote and apply public policies that have social, environmental, labor and economic objectives. The sustainability referred to these contracts constitutes a government management strategy that is framed in constitutional principles, insofar as it constitutes an effective tool in the satisfaction of social needs. Therefore, sustainable public procurement should be aimed at acquiring goods of sustainable design, innovative, that are friendly to the environment and that conform to criteria of inclusion, equality and social equity.

Resumen El Estado tiene un importante poder de compra. Las contrataciones públicas son un gran potencial para promover y aplicar políticas públicas con objetivos sociales, ambientales, laborales y económicos. La sustentabilidad referida a esos contratos constituye una estrategia de gestión gubernamental que se enmarca en los principios constitucionales, en la medida que aquel constituye una herramienta efectiva para la satisfacción de las necesidades sociales. Por lo tanto, las contrataciones públicas sustentables deber estar dirigidas a adquirir bienes de diseño sustentable, innovadores, que sean amigables con el medio ambiente y que se ajusten a criterios de inclusión, de igualdad y de equidad social.

Resumo O Estado tem um poder de compra significativo. A contratação pública é um grande potencial para promover e aplicar políticas públicas que tenham objetivos sociais, ambientais, trabalhistas e econômicos. A sustentabilidade referida a estes contratos constitui uma estratégia de gestão governamental que se enquadra em princípios constitucionais, na medida em que constitui um instrumento eficaz na satisfação das necessidades sociais. Portanto, as compras públicas sustentáveis devem visar a aquisição de bens de design sustentável, inovadores, amigáveis ao meio ambiente e que atendam a critérios de inclusão, igualdade e equidade social.

ABSTRACT The symbiosis of common beans with nitrogen-fixing bacteria provides an efficient approach to sustainable and economical food production. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the application of cost-effective nitrogen management strategies in organic common bean cultivation, including the application of poultry manure and organic liquid fertilizer, seed and co-inoculation with diazotrophic bacteria (Azospirillum brasilense and/or Rhizobium tropici), and supplementary Rhizobium tropici inoculation. The study spanned three years in a well-established organic cultivation field (2018) and an initial organic cultivation area (2019 and 2020) in Brazil. It was arranged in a randomized blocks design in a 2 × 5 (2018) and 2 × 6 (2019 and 2020) factorial scheme, with four replicates. The most profitable strategy involves seed inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and additional inoculation with Rhizobium tropici at stage V4-5 (fifth trifoliate leaf fully expanded), while the most costly strategy was the application of poultry manure at the V3 stage (first trifoliate leaf fully expanded). Thus, the use of diazotrophic bacteria for seed inoculation and co-inoculation (Azospirillum brasilense and/or Rhizobium tropici) ensured financial returns and system profitability in common bean cultivation.

RESUMO A simbiose do feijão comum com bactérias fixadoras de nitrogênio proporciona uma abordagem eficiente para a produção de alimentos sustentável e econômica. Portanto, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a aplicação de estratégias custo-efetivas de manejo de nitrogênio no cultivo orgânico do feijão comum, incluindo a aplicação de esterco de aves e fertilizante orgânico líquido, inoculação de sementes e coinoculação com bactérias diazotróficas (Azospirillum brasilense e/ou Rhizobium tropici), e inoculação suplementar com Rhizobium tropici. O estudo durou três anos em um campo de cultivo orgânico bem estabelecido (2018) e uma área inicial de cultivo orgânico (2019 e 2020) no Brasil. O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 2 × 5 (2018) e 2 × 6 (2019 e 2020), com quatro repetições. A estratégia mais lucrativa envolve a inoculação de sementes com Azospirillum brasilense e inoculação adicional com Rhizobium tropici no estádio V4-5 (quinta folha trifoliada totalmente expandida), enquanto a estratégia mais cara foi a aplicação de esterco de aves no estádio V3 (primeira folha trifoliada totalmente expandida). Assim, o uso de bactérias diazotróficas para inoculação e coinoculação de sementes (Azospirillum brasilense e/ou Rhizobium tropici) garantiu retorno financeiro e rentabilidade do sistema no cultivo do feijão comum.

ABSTRACT: Feathers are by-products that are generated in significant quantities by the poultry industry. Microbial bioconversion has been investigated as a promising strategy for the processing of feathers, since, along with the degradation of these keratinous materials, bioprocessing can result in value-added products. Thus, from the perspective of industrial microbiology, chicken feathers can be considered a raw material for obtaining microbial proteases. Within this context, this research investigated and characterized the production of extracellular proteases by Aspergillus sp., isolated from soil of the Amazon Rainforest. The enzymatic production was evaluated using several growth substrates (whole feathers, feather meal, human hair, casein, gelatin, peptone and chicken beaks). With highest enzyme production was obtained the feather meal (FM) and peptone. After 48 h of fermentation, FM degradation was 15.82%. The crude protease showed optimal activity at pH 5.0 and 37 °C and enzymatic activity was enhanced with the addition of 1 and 5 mM of CaCl2, MnSO4, KCl, MgSO4 and CuSO4. The detergents Tween 20 and Triton x-100, at concentrations 0.5 and 1% (v/v), tended to stimulate activity. The presence of 0.5 and 1% (v/v) of organic solvents (methanol, acetone, butanol, acetonitrile, isopropanol and DMSO), maintained the enzymatic activity. β-mercaptoethanolstimulated proteolytic activity in the enzymatic assays. This study suggested new direction for waste management with industrial applications giving rise to green technology for sustainable development.

RESUMO: As penas são subprodutos que são gerados em quantidades significativas pela indústria avícola. A bioconversão microbiana tem sido investigada como uma estratégia promissora para o processamento de penas, uma vez que, juntamente com a degradação desses materiais queratinosos, o bioprocessamento pode resultar em produtos de valor agregado. Assim, do ponto de vista da microbiologia industrial, as penas de frango podem ser consideradas matéria-prima para a obtenção de proteases microbianas. Dentro deste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar e caracterizar a produção de proteases extracelulares por Aspergillus sp., isolados de solo da floresta Amazônica. A produção enzimática foi avaliada utilizando diversos substratos de crescimento (penas inteiras, farinha de penas, cabelo humano, caseína, gelatina, peptona e bicos de frango). Com maior produção de enzima foi obtida a farinha de penas (FP) e peptona. Após 48 h de fermentação, a degradação da FP foi de 15.82%. A protease bruta mostrou atividade ótima em pH 5.0 e 37 0C e a atividade enzimática foi aumentada com a adição de 1 e 5 mM de CaCl2, MnSO4, KCl, MgSO4 e CuSO4. Os detergentes Tween 20 e Triton x-100, nas concentrações 0.5 e 1% (v/v), tenderam a estimular a atividade. A presença de 0.5 e 1% (v/v) dos solventes orgânicos (metanol, acetona, butanol, acetonitrila, isopropanol e DMSO), mantiveram a atividade enzimática. O β-mercaptoetanol estimulou a atividade proteolítica nos ensaios enzimáticos. Este estudo sugere uma nova direção para a gestão de resíduos com aplicações industriais dando origem à tecnologia verde para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

BACKGROUND: Entrepreneurship is an important driving force for economic development in emerging economies, traditionally driven by ineffective top-down approaches. A recent bottom-up approach incorporating personal initiative (PI) into action-based interventions offered a more sustainable way to stimulate African entrepreneurial growth. AIM: The study is interested in how these interventions work during training, for whom and in what way. Therefore, a deduced programme theory was constructed from literature and was empirically evaluated. SETTING: The investigation focussed on rural communities in the Mopani region of South Africa near Polokwane and Tzaneen in Limpopo province. Two large central hubs characterise these areas, with several rural villages scattered around them. METHODS: A multiple case study strategy cast in a realist evaluation design was used to investigate two interventions consisting of female entrepreneurs to produce qualitative data that were analysed inductively to make sense of change and the learning in these interventions. Entrepreneurs were selected through case selection, and trustworthiness in the data was established by focussing on post hoc and verification strategies during and after the research process. RESULTS: The findings produced valuable insights visually presented in analytical frameworks that show adjustments to the PI deduced programme theory. CONCLUSION: On an individual level, it showed how unique attitudes guide action-formation, situational and transformational mechanisms that support outcome patterns in the context of these interventions. CONTRIBUTION: Three propositions were developed to be tested in future studies to continue discussing entrepreneurs and their learning behaviours to increase entrepreneurial action and nurture the entrepreneurial mindset.

Governments cannot effectively manage and handle disasters, particularly at the local community level, without actively engaging vulnerable people. The key to achieving sustainability in disaster recovery is community participation and information dissemination. The informal settlements' lack of access to information and public engagement hampered their ability to recovery, thus prompting this study. Therefore, many cities and intervention partnerships faced information and participation gaps in disaster risk reduction (DRR). The study's rationale was to determine the participation and communication of Khayalitjha household heads, regarding DRR information dissemination for sustainable human settlement, using a cross-sectional household survey of 295 household heads from Khayalitjha in situ informal settlement in the Free State provinces of South Africa. The security of dwelling unit tenure concept was an indirect indicator used to measure social resilience. The key findings revealed that community volunteers, ward committee members and most of the respondents, were responsible for initiating the DRR and disaster preparedness planning process. This indicated that local government needs to strengthen the human resource capacity building for DRR management information dissemination at a local level. The church, school, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were the preferred modes of communication for early warnings of disaster information. CONTRIBUTION: Despite advocating for a multidisciplinary stakeholder approach, urban DRR studies tend to ignore communities in high disaster-risk areas. Employing social resilience, it aims to extend the DRR information dissemination strategy to in situ informal settlements beyond the communication and public participation advocacy strategies of local municipal urban cities.

BACKGROUND: The problem addressed in the study reported on in this article is the decline of South Africa's foundry industry. This industry is valuable in terms of job creation and a sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) strategy is required to sustain the industry in South Africa. AIM: With the dearth of research on sustainability of the foundry industry, the research comprised three objectives; namely, to identify from literature the macroeconomic drivers, to empirically identify critical macroeconomic drivers, and to make recommendations on strategies for enhancing SCA for foundries in South Africa. SETTING: The study was conducted during 2022 within the foundry industry in South Africa. Foundry representatives from foundries located in all nine provinces of South Africa were invited to participate in the study. METHOD: The study adopted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods methodology, initially employing a quantitative approach, and subsequently applying a qualitative approach to ascertain the most influential macroeconomic drivers. Quantitative data analysis entailed descriptive methods, while the qualitative phase involved thematic analysis. CONCLUSION: The study contributes by identifying the macroeconomic drivers that can be used by industry leaders in the formulation of strategies for SCA within the African context. CONTRIBUTION: The study contributes by identifying the macroeconomic drivers that can be used by industry leaders in the formulation of strategies for SCA.

ORIENTATION: South African higher education institutions (HEIs) face significant challenges in attracting and retaining younger-generation academics. This results in a critical shortage of a talented pool of scholars required for succession and the sustainability of HEIs over the longer term. RESEARCH PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the factors affecting the retention of millennial academics in South Africa. MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY: The retention of millennial academics is essential to the success of HEIs. Research on the factors affecting the retention of this cohort of academics is scarce despite their growing importance in sustainable HEI practice. RESEARCH APPROACH/DESIGN AND METHOD: The study adopted a cross-sectional qualitative research approach using semi-structured interviews to collect the data. The sample included 14 millennial academics representing various public HEIs in South Africa. Thematic analyses were applied to analyse the data. MAIN FINDINGS: The findings showed that five factors should be considered to retain millennial academics: career and growth opportunities, work environment, rewards, leadership and work-life balance. PRACTICAL/MANAGERIAL IMPLICATIONS: The study concluded that an integrated talent retention strategy should be developed that, at a minimum include opportunities for career development, employee growth, healthy employee-employer relationships, employee support and market-related compensation to retain millennial academics. CONTRIBUTION/VALUE-ADD: This research contributes to the limited knowledge of the factors affecting the retention of millennial academics.

PURPOSE: This article explores three components that need to be addressed as part of an integrated thinking strategy and provides evidence on the state of integrated thinking application in a developing economy DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The levels of integrated thinking among South African listed companies are obtained using an integrated thinking tool developed and tested by prior literature. The data are then summarised and aggregated into different components using a principal component analysis (PCA). The components are used to develop the core strategies organisations employ to adopt an integrated thinking logic. FINDINGS/RESULTS: Three components account for the highest percentage of the variance in integrated thinking levels and can be used as a reference point to institutionalise an integrated thinking logic in an organisation. Organisations need to focus on: (1) a holistic business awareness and managing of, and reporting on, value creation; (2) stakeholder awareness, communication and corporate accountability; and (3) governance, accountability for sustainability and assurance. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The components offer organisations a practical means to assess and develop their integrated thinking strategies and highlight important sustainability-related implications in a developing economy ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This article refines the indicators of integrated thinking used in prior literature to identify the dominant components that account for the variance in integrated thinking levels among organisations. An organisation can use these components to identify which stage of an integrated thinking logic the organisation is in and how the components can be used as a roadmap to a sustainable outlook and enhanced legitimacy.

Die heersende globale mededingende omgewing vereis deurlopende verbeteringsbenaderings wat die hele organisasie integreer, van strategiese bestuur tot operasionele prestasie. Wêreldklasvervaardiging (WCM) is 'n deurlopende verbeteringstrategie wat die logika, strengheid en detail definieer van hoe organisasies volhoubare operasionele prestasie en verbeterings in klanttevredenheid kan bereik. Die artikel ondersoek die faktore wat die suksesvolle implementering en handhawing van WCM in die Suid-Afrikaanse vervaardigingsbedryf beïnvloed. 'n Kwalitatiewe beskrywende benadering word gebruik om die sienings en menings van WCM-praktisyns in 'n wêreldwye vervaardigingsmaatskappy met 'n voetspoor in Suid-Afrika en in ander Afrikalande te ondersoek, wat deur middel van doelgerigte steekproefneming ingesluit is. Die bevindinge het aan die lig gebring dat bestuurstoewyding die bereiking van 'n suksesvolle WCM-stelsel aansienlik beïnvloed. Verder kan die gebruik van WCM as 'n stelsel die merkbare hindernisse wat in hierdie studie geïdentifiseer is, versag. Die studie behoort bedryfsingenieurspraktyk aansienlik te verbeter deur aspekte te openbaar wat oorweeg moet word wanneer 'n WCM-stelsel geïmplementeer en bestuur word.

The prevailing global competitive environment requires continuous improvement approaches that integrate the entire organisation, from strategic management to operational performance. World class manufacturing (WCM) is a continuous improvement strategy that defines the logic, rigour, and detail of how organisations can achieve sustainable operational performance and customer satisfaction improvements. The paper investigates the factors influencing the successful implementation and sustaining of WCM in the South African manufacturing industry. A qualitative descriptive approach is employed to probe the views and opinions of WCM practitioners in a global manufacturing company with a footprint in South Africa and in other African countries, who were enrolled via purposeful sampling. The findings revealed that management commitment significantly influences achieving a successful WCM system. Furthermore, running WCM as a system could mitigate noticeable barriers identified in this study. The study could substantially enhance industrial engineering practice by revealing aspects to consider when implementing and running a WCM system.

Resumen La educación continua debe visualizarse bajo un modelo de gestión flexible, dinámico y adaptable a las necesidades de la población donde esta considere operar. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar cómo diseñar y plantear una estrategia de operación cuántica que potencie proyectos de educación continua, y que estos, a su vez, eliminen la brecha educativa generada por la pandemia del COVID-19. Metodología: enmarcado en el paradigma cualitativo, se realizó un estudio de casos múltiple al seleccionar dos proyectos de educación continua de la Universidad de Costa Rica y se usó la triangulación de la información por un proceso metodológico, para esto se elaboró una matriz de variables donde se comparó la gestión de ambos programas bajo escala de Likert y así obtener los insumos para generar un modelo de gestión cuántico. Resultados: se analizó el proceso de gestión y tipo de liderazgo realizado por más de diez años y se elaboró un flujo de procesos de diez etapas requeridas para implementar proyectos de educación continua sostenibles desde una base de cero experiencias. Conclusiones y recomendaciones: la implementación de este flujo de procesos en educación continua puede hacer llegar conocimiento por vías alternas a la formal o académica a las poblaciones afectadas en su calidad educativa por la pandemia generada por el COVID-19. Se recomienda implementar estos proyectos de forma dinámica a nivel nacional por vías presenciales y virtuales, al usar procesos que potencien el empoderamiento de las partes involucradas, tanto de estudiantes como de docentes.

Abstract Continuing education must be visualized as a flexible model, as well as dynamic and adaptable to the population requirements where it is considered necessary to operate. As the main objective, this paper seeks to present how to design and propose a quantum operation strategy that enhances continuing education projects that help to eliminate the educational gap generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding the methodology, framed in the qualitative paradigm, the researcher carried out a multiple case study by selecting two continuing education projects from the University of Costa Rica. In addition, the investigator used the triangulation of information through a methodological process. For the above, a matrix of variables was created where the management of both programs was compared under a Likert scale and thus obtain the inputs to generate a quantum management model. Hence, the researcher analyzed the performance and type of leadership carried out for more than ten years; likewise, a process flow of ten stages required to implement sustainable continuing education projects from a base of zero experiences was elaborated. In conclusion, the implementation of this flow of processes to improve continued education projects can bring knowledge, through alternative channels to the formal or academic, to the populations affected at an educational level by the pandemic. Finally, it is recommended to dynamically implement these projects at a national scale through the creation of virtual and presence courses that improve the empowerment of the actors, both professors and students.

BACKGROUND: The foundry industry plays an important economic role in South Africa and all efforts should be made to sustain the industry. However, the problem is that many foundries are closing down due to economic factors. AIM: The primary research objective was to identify from literature the micro-economic drivers applicable to the sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) of foundries in South Africa. The secondary objectives were to benchmark the perceptions of stakeholders in the most prominent micro-economic drivers identified from literature. SETTING: With micro-economic drivers identified, management can then compile a SCA strategy to retain the industry. Foundry representatives from foundries located in all nine provinces of South Africa were invited to participate in the study. METHOD: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach was followed by first employing a quantitative approach, followed by a qualitative approach to identify the most prominent micro-economic drivers. Descriptive data analysis was utilised for the quantitative data and thematic analysis was utilised for the qualitative phase. RESULTS: It was found that the most prominent micro-economic drivers are product quality, the ability to innovate, employees' skills development, and investment in plant infrastructure. CONCLUSION AND CONTRIBUTION: The article contributes towards the deficiency in literature by presenting the most prominent micro-economic drivers for the South African foundry industry. The article also makes recommendations on SCA strategies for foundries in South Africa based on the four micro-economic drivers.

BACKGROUND: Effective strategic decision-making (SDM) is a key element to ensure the sustainability and continuous business performance in any business. This is especially true in large organisations. Limited research has been conducted to understand SDM processes in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. AIM: To determine whether SMEs apply SDM in their businesses and if benchmark methodologies and process can be defined for SMEs in a South African context. SETTING: Participants in this research study were managers and/or owners of South African SMEs. METHODS: This study employed a qualitative approach, implementing the Delphi technique. Open-ended questions were used in round one and thematic analyses assisted to identify themes. In round two, rating scales were used with the aim to reach consensus. Consensus was reached after the second round. A total of 20 SME owners and/or managers participated in round one and 10 in round two (50% drop-out rate). RESULTS: The study reveals a benchmark SDM process, highlighting and/or validating unique activities, such as internal reasons for SDM, analysing financial information, developing alternatives, choosing an alternative that preserves the entity in terms of cost, gathering non-financial information, communication and lastly, reviewing the effectiveness of the strategic decision. CONCLUSION: The findings will allow SME managers and/or owners to gain insight into SDM. Such knowledge can lead to comprehensiveness in SDM, consistency in SDM activities and, ultimately, improved SDM. CONTRIBUTION: The theoretical contribution includes a benchmark process for SDM in SMEs, adding to the SMEs' SDM body of knowledge.

ORIENTATION: The study investigated the organisational level factors that impact the sustainable operationalisation of talent management. RESEARCH PURPOSE: The study explored the impact and interplay of internal realities and talent choices in determining a fit-for-purpose talent management approach. MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY: The changes that organisations face have given rise to the need to re-evaluate talent management practices, which remain largely devoid of the potential impact of contextual factors and realities. RESEARCH APPROACH/DESIGN AND METHOD: The qualitative study was conducted in two phases. During the first phase, data were collected from 13 talent management professionals using purposeful sampling and semi-structured interviews. During phase two, the Delphi method was used to validate the findings with an expert panel (n = 8). MAIN FINDINGS: The four broad themes identified through the research relate to: (1) the interplay between organisational factors and internal realities, (2) congruence between the organisational context and talent philosophy in talent management execution, (3) clarity on defining talent and (4) challenges in translating talent philosophies into practices PRACTICAL/MANAGERIAL IMPLICATIONS: Organisational factors and internal realities impact the talent choices that the organisation must make and is reflected in who is defined as talent and how talent is believed to add value. These factors must be considered in talent management execution, by using this as input into the talent management strategy and the basis for prioritising talent management practices. CONTRIBUTION/VALUE-ADD: The study makes a contribution to talent management theory and practice by focusing on organisational factors that impact the successful execution of talent management.

ORIENTATION: Globalisation necessitated the physical movement of talented employees, leading to expatriate assignments to foreign countries. Investigative studies and strategy development were needed to moderate the high failure rate of such assignments. RESEARCH PURPOSE: To explore the constraining and contributing factors of an expatriate assignment lifecycle. MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY: With only 40% of assignments being successful, there is an urgent need to find and rectify the reasons for the failure in order to mitigate the associated financial losses and threatened sustainability of businesses. RESEARCH APPROACH, DESIGN AND METHOD: A qualitative research methodology within an exploratory research design was used. The opinions of the expatriates were compared using subjective, interpretivist and phenomenological dimensions. MAIN FINDINGS: Based on the lived experience of the expatriates, the constraining factors were a lack of training and mentoring, inadequate cultural acclimatisation, ambiguous policies, unsupportive host organisation, low-quality logistics support and ineffective re-induction of the expatriates into the home country. The expatriates strongly consider career path planning, effective ongoing training and mentoring, a caring organisational culture, clear assignment policies and social relations to be decisive contributing factors PRACTICAL AND MANAGERIAL IMPLICATIONS: The international human resource management process can use the findings to reduce the global assignment failure rates. It provides clear directions for driving relevant strategies and processes for successful expatriation operations. CONTRIBUTION: The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on the constraining and contributing factors of the expatriate assignment. It sets a course to initiate further studies to evolve a sustainable framework for an efficient global mobility programme.