Browsing by Author "Abushaikha, Ismail"

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    A sustainable supply chain finance ecosystem: a review and conceptual framework
    (Elsevier, 2025-08) Liao, Ziling; Prataviera, Lorenzo Bruno; Ghadge, Abhijeet; Abushaikha, Ismail
    Supply chain finance (SCF) is a set of instruments for optimizing working capital and improving supply chain efficiency. The evolving field of sustainable supply chain finance (SSCF) extends SCF with a growing focus on sustainability. While existing research has primarily focused on the economic benefits of SCF, its potential to generate broader sustainability benefits across environmental, social, and governance dimensions has received limited attention. Moreover, discussions on SSCF solutions and stakeholder interactions remain insufficient, necessitating further exploration to consolidate current research. This study seeks to explore the role of sustainability in SCF and proposes an SSCF ecosystem. A systematic literature review (SLR) of SCF and sustainability resulted in the analysis of 70 interdisciplinary journal papers published between 2008 and 2023. The SSCF ecosystem is defined as a collaborative network of stakeholders leveraging financial tools and sustainability metrics to create shared value and sustainability goals across the supply chain. By applying stakeholder theory and CIMO logic, the study develops a conceptual framework to explain how SSCF mechanisms and interventions produce desirable outcomes for stakeholders. Key influencing factors were identified across four sustainability dimensions—economic, environmental, social, and governance—along with core stakeholders, including buyers, financial institutions, and suppliers, supported by technology/logistics providers and ESG information providers. The study contributes by linking stakeholders to two distinct categories of SSCF solutions: buyer-centric accounts payable financing and supplier-centric accounts receivable financing. Lastly, it proposes future research directions by examining SSCF as an independent subject and capturing its links to traditional SCF.
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    Exploring the role of additive manufacturing in the prosthetic supply chain: qualitative evidence
    (Emerald, 2024) Al-Masa’fah, Wasan; Abushaikha, Ismail; Bwaliez, Omar M.
    Purpose This study aims to evaluate the enhancement in prosthetic supply chain capabilities resulting from the implementation of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. The study presents an emerging model outlining the key areas that undergo changes when integrating 3D printing technologies into the prosthetic supply chain. Design/methodology/approach Employing a qualitative approach, data were collected through field observations and 31 in-depth interviews conducted within various Jordanian organizations associated with the prosthetic industry and 3D printing technologies. Findings The findings suggest that the adoption of 3D printing technologies improves the prosthetic supply chain’s capabilities in terms of customization, responsiveness, innovation, environmental sustainability, cost minimization and patient empowerment. The study sheds light on the specific areas affected in the prosthetic supply chain following the adoption of 3D printing technologies, emphasizing the overall improvement in supply chain capabilities within the prosthetic industry. Practical implications This study provides recommendations for governmental bodies and prosthetic organizations to maximize the benefits derived from the use of 3D printing technologies. Originality/value This study contributes as the first of its kind in exploring the impact of 3D printing technology adoption in the Jordanian prosthetic industry, elucidating the effects on the supply chain and identifying challenges for decision-makers in an emerging market context.
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    Leadership behaviours for Lean Six Sigma: Jordan as a case study
    (Emerald, 2024-05-21) Alnadi, Mohammad; McLaughlin, Patrick; Abushaikha, Ismail
    Purpose This paper aims to identify leadership behaviours in the manufacturing sector in Jordan that enable successful Lean Six Sigma implementation. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data were collected through 27 interviews to identify the leadership behaviours that facilitate Lean Six Sigma and a focus group to categorise the aspects by grouping them into themes. A grounded theory approach was used in the field study. The processes of constant comparisons helped in identifying the relevant aspects of leadership behaviours and integrating specific aspects into themes; these processes were iteratives. Therefore, this research project relies on the grounded theory methodology to collect and analyse the data. The authors also used a focus group to categorise the aspects by grouping them into themes. In that, the aspects were grouped around core categories. Findings After analysing the data, 36 aspects have emerged. The data analysis processes helped in discovering the aspects of leadership that support the use of Lean Six Sigma in the manufacturing sector in Jordan. The aspects were developed through an iterative process of analysis until the saturation level was reached. Eight themes that influence the successful use of Lean Six Sigma emerged: Training and development; Continuous improvement and development; Communication; Empowering employees; Motivating employees; Managing qualities and operations; Employees engagement and involvement; and Supporting culture Research limitations/implications There are some research limitations to this study, which opens avenues for future research. First, the data was collected through qualitative methods, which limits the generalizability of the results. Future studies are needed to generalize the results to the wider business community. Second, the data was collected only from manufacturing organizations and did not consider other sectors. Future researchers are urged to replicate the study in other sectors. Third, this study considered only Jordanian firms; therefore, the authors call upon further research to investigate other national settings that may have a different business culture. Practical implications This study encourages businesses to follow and adopt these behaviours in organisations, which can help in developing desirable behaviours among leaders to reach advanced levels in using Lean Six Sigma. Moreover, practitioners can develop training programmes for developing leaders. Thus, the Lean Six Sigma journey can become smoother by addressing the issues that face practitioners during the different phases of implementing Lean Six Sigma. In that respect, the practical implication of this research is to describe the practices that the leadership of organisations must develop to maintain high levels of Lean Six Sigma deployment. Originality/value Scholarly studies in this field are scarce, especially in developing countries, so identifying the leadership behaviours can help researchers create a theory of leadership behaviours for Lean Six Sigma. Furthermore, practitioners of Lean Six Sigma can take into account these behaviours as crucial to the effective use of Lean Six Sigma. They can encourage leaders to follow and adopt these behaviours in organisations which can help in developing desirable behaviours among leaders to reach advanced levels in using Lean Six Sigma. Thus, the Lean Six Sigma journey can become smoother by addressing the issues that practitioners face during the different phases of implementing Lean Six Sigma.
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    Leveraging animal feed supply chain capabilities through big data analytics: a qualitative study
    (Emerald, 2025) Abushaikha, Ismail; Bwaliez, Omar M.; Yaseen, Marwa; Hamadneh, Samer; Darwish, Tamer K.
    Purpose Although big data analytics (BDA) has gained widespread interest in supply chain management (SCM) literature in recent years, our understanding of how it contributes to improved animal feed supply chains (SCs) is still underexplored. This study provides a greater understanding of the role of BDA in improving animal feed SC capabilities. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was used in this study. Data were collected through 32 semistructured interviews from several actors involved in the production and supply of animal feed concentrates. Findings This study provides rich in-description evidence of how BDA enhances performance in the animal feed supply chain through improved logistics capabilities, quality control and information visibility. Our findings also suggest that organizational culture contributes to leveraging BDA capabilities in the feed-processing SCs. Practical implications The research provides an in-depth qualitative investigation of implementing big data in the feed processing SCs. The study provides practical implications for SC managers in the agri-food sector. Originality/value The study contributes to the growing body of knowledge by providing field evidence of the relevance of BDA to animal feed SCs. Moreover, this study adds to the existing literature by providing an understanding of the role of the internal culture of the organization in leveraging BDA capabilities in the SC.
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    Managing upward and downward through informal networks in Jordan: the contested terrain of performance management
    (Wiley, 2024-04-18) Melhem, Muntaser J.; Darwish, Tamer K.; Wood, Geoffrey; Abushaikha, Ismail
    This study explores how local managers, in practicing Human Resource management (HRM), may pursue their own interests that are out of line with the agendas of headquarters in multinational companies (MNCs). It is widely acknowledged that informal networks have an impact on HRM practices in emerging markets. While these networks are often regarded as beneficial for organizations in compensating for institutional shortfalls, they may also lead to corruption, nepotism, or other ethical transgressions. Indigenous scholarship on informal networks in emerging markets has highlighted how their impact occurs through a dynamic process; powerful placeholders deploy informal networks to entrench existing power and authority relations when managing people. Qualitative data were gathered through 43 in-depth interviews and documentary evidence from MNCs operating in Jordan. MNCs are subject to both home and host country effects; we highlight how, in practicing HRM, country of domicile managers deploy the cultural scripts of wasta informal network to secure and enhance their own relative authority. HRM practices are repurposed by actors who secure and consolidate their power through wasta. They dispense patronage to insiders and marginalize outsiders; the latter includes not only more vulnerable local employees but also expatriates. This phenomenon becomes particularly evident during the performance appraisal process, which may serve as a basis for the differential treatment and rewards of employees. Consequently, this further dilutes the capacity of MNCs to implement—as adverse to espousing—centrally decided approaches to HRM.
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    Navigating talent scarcity: talent attraction and selection practices among domestic firms and multinational corporations in Saudi Arabia
    (Emerald, 2025-12-31) Alhaider, Masoud; Ali, Sa’ad; Abushaikha, Ismail
    Purpose The study aimed to identify factors affecting talent attraction and selection in Saudi Arabia’s private sector and to compare the practices of domestic firms (DFs) and multinational corporations (MNCs). Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews and archival evidence from three DFs and 3 MNCs in Saudi Arabia. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings Integrating institutional logics and dynamic capabilities theory, this study develops a novel framework explaining how firms manage a talent-starved environment. Unlike traditional models that emphasize targeting “ready-to-go” talent, our findings reveal that firms increasingly seek individuals with potential, balancing institutional pressures and business needs. MNCs and DFs alike must exercise strategic dexterity – sensing environmental shifts, seizing emerging opportunities, and reconfiguring selection criteria – by either merging existing logics or adopting new ones. Practical implications Although MNCs have been practicing formalized talent attraction and selection for longer than DFs and have more sophisticated processes, both organizational types have scope for improving their practices in the context of institutional logics at play in Saudi Arabia. Originality/value This study advances the understanding of talent attraction and selection in the Middle East by empirically demonstrating how institutional logics shape human resource practices in Saudi Arabia. It also applies a dynamic capabilities perspective to explain differences between DFs and MNCs, highlighting how firms strategically adapt talent management practices to labor market constraints.
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    Navigating the intersection between postponement strategies and additive manufacturing: insights and research agenda
    (Taylor and Francis, 2024) Prataviera, Lorenzo Bruno; Jazairy, Amer; Abushaikha, Ismail
    Postponement is a popular principle used to improve supply chain responsiveness and increase customisation by delaying manufacturing and logistics operations until more accurate market demand information is available. In business environments where responsiveness and customisation are increasingly important, additive manufacturing (AM) has recently emerged as a high-potential manufacturing technology. Due to changes in customer behaviours that affect product life cycles and variety, AM could disrupt traditional manufacturing and greatly impact postponement decisions. However, the intersection between postponement and AM is largely underexplored. This study aims to investigate the intersection between postponement and AM to meet the escalating demand for customised products. We conceptualise opportunities and challenges related to when customisation is introduced, concerning the positioning of the customer order decoupling point and to where customisation takes place, as operations could shift across supply chain tiers or even jurisdictions. By shedding light on the intersection of postponement and AM and its implications for customisation, this study formulates a research agenda focusing on five main postponement improvement dimensions: uncertainty, volume, lead time, supply chain design, and environmental sustainability. Moreover, it formalises a set of managerial implications to pragmatically foster the strategic implementation of AM across different postponement scenarios.
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    The strategic fit between strategic purchasing and purchasing involvement: the moderating role of leadership styles
    (Emerald, 2023-07-14) Salhieh, Loay; Mehiar, Ala'a; Abushaikha, Ismail; Reefke, Hendrik; Bani-Ismail, Loay
    Purpose – The aim of this study is to investigate and examine the impact of strategic purchasing practices on strategic fit by analysing the influence of strategic purchasing practices on purchasing involvement in business strategy formulation with path-goal theory leadership styles as moderators. Design/methodology/approach – Using survey data from 320 respondents representing 64 manufacturing firms in the Middle East, we measure strategic purchasing practices, purchasing involvement, leadership styles, and strategic fit of the purchasing function with business strategy. Findings – Building on the path-goal approach to leadership, results suggest that participative, supportive, and achievement-oriented leadership styles are pure moderators, while directive leadership style is a quasi-moderator in boosting the relationship between strategic purchasing practices and strategic purchasing involvement. Research limitations/implications – Limitations of the sampling methodology and sample size restricts the scope for generalising the hypotheses. Further, data were collected only from manufacturing companies. The paper provides managerial implications on purchasing involvement in business strategy formulation and the different roles of leadership styles. Originality/value – This is the first scholarly work to examine the different leadership styles as a moderator that affects the strategic involvement and status of strategic purchasing.
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    Toward a model to enhance the applicability of blockchain in maritime shipping: a qualitative study from the Middle East
    (Emerald, 2023-11-27) Abushaikha, Ismail; Albahsh, Rana; Alsayes, Mustafa; Al-Anaswah, Mohammad
    Purpose: Existing literature is still lacking field works that reflect the implications and applications of blockchain in supply chain management. This paper aims to explore the role of blockchain technology in improving the performance of maritime shipping and develop a model to enhance blockchain applicability. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative data were collected through 28 semi-structured interviews from several supply chain actors in the Middle East and were analyzed based on a thematic analysis approach using NVivo software. Findings: An emerging model for improving the performance of the maritime shipping industry through blockchain technology has been developed. The findings suggest that there are transparency and process efficiency–related improvements as an outcome of Blockchain implementation in the maritime shipping industry. Practical implications: As shipping industry is largely fragmented, small players find it difficult to achieve great benefits such as those achieved by larger players in the sector. The authors’ model provides guidance for the implementation of Blockchain. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first scholarly works to investigate Blockchain applicability in shipping industry in the Middle East. The lack of a universal standard is a considerable challenge which is still hindering the development of blockchain applications that integrate the different actors.
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    Understanding retail supply chain during COVID-19: a systematic review
    (Emerald, 2023-10-31) Jum'a, Luay; Abushaikha, Ismail; Towers, Neil; Al-Masa’fah, Wasan
    Purpose– The aim of this paper is to identify the themes that emerged from retail supply chain (RSC) literature during the COVID-19 pandemic that inform future mitigation and recovery strategies. Design/methodology/approach– This study analyses contributions in the RSC literature using four databases: Emerald, Elsevier (Science Direct), Wiley, and Taylor & Francis. The systematic review approach resulted in identifying 74 articles covering 2020 to 2022. Findings– Four themes emerged from RSC literature on COVID-19. The first theme highlighted factors that exacerbated the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the RSC. The second theme focused on the types of disruptions that occurred in the RSC during the pandemic. The third theme demonstrated the recovery strategies used to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on the RSC. The fourth theme identified proposed mitigation strategies for the RSC post COVID-19 outbreak. Practical implications–The study provides a deeper understanding of how retail supply chain managers could successfully reduce the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by dealing with interruptions. Based on the reviewed studies and the four themes that evolved from RSC literature on COVID-19 throughout 2020-2022, eleven key RSC strategies and lessons have been recommended to decision makers in the retail industry. Originality/value– This is the first study to identify the themes that emerged from RSC literature during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform future mitigation and recovery strategies. The resulting themes add to the existing body of knowledge and established the need for further research into other sectors that might be affected by future pandemics.