A case-based model facilitating retailing operations going “green”: A proposed research agenda with a consideration of recession

This paper presents a research agenda to firstly investigate the awareness and strategies of green operations and logistics in retail sector, and then develop a knowledge management (KM) model. Within the research, besides the understanding obtained on the drivers and barriers for retailers leading the supply chain “greening” journey, the KM model will also be developed through the application of case-based reasoning (CBR) technology, to facilitate the retailers assuming a leading role within a supply chain in their “green” initiatives and approaches, with the anticipated consequence of a greener supply chain realized by the environmental protection activities; a particular focus will also be devoted to the current economic downturn and its influence to retailers' green initiatives. The primary evaluation of the intended model' usefulness is presented in this paper as well.