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Item Open Access A lifecycle analysis of complex public procurement: an agency-institutional theory perspective(Emerald, 2025-01-02) Forster, Rick; Lyons, Andrew; Caldwell, Nigel; Davies, Jennifer; Sharifi, HosseinPurpose The study sets out to demonstrate how a lifecycle perspective on complex, public-sector procurement projects can be used for making qualitative assessments of procurement policy and practice and reveal those procurement capabilities that are most impactful for operating effectively. Design/methodology/approach Agency theory, institutional theory and the lifecycle analysis technique are combined to abductively develop a framework to identify, analyse and compare complex procurement policies and practices in public sector organisations. Defence is the focal case and is compared with cases in the Nuclear, Local Government and Health sectors. Findings The study provides a framework for undertaking a lifecycle analysis to understand the challenges and capabilities of complex, public-sector buyers. Eighteen hierarchically-arranged themes are identified and used in conjunction with agency theory and institutional theory to explain complex procurement policy and practice variation in some of the UK’s highest-profile public buyers. The study findings provide a classification of complex buyers and offer valuable guidance for practitioners and researchers navigating complex procurement contexts. Originality/value The lifecycle approach proposed is a new research tool providing a bespoke application of theory by considering each lifecycle phase as an individual but related element that is governed by unique institutional pressures and principal-agent relationships.Item Embargo Breaking barriers with disability inclusion: brand activism as a catalyst for social sustainability in fashion(Springer Nature, 2024-12-29) Lee, Zoe; Alwi, Sharifah Faridah Syed; Gambetti, Rossella; Henninger, Claudia E; Alevizou, Panayiota; Ryding, Daniella; Goworek, HelenBrand activism is an emerging strategy aimed at fostering social sustainability in fashion. Despite efforts in inclusivity concerning diverse races, colours, and body shapes in model representation, fashion’s approach to authentic disability inclusion remains lacking. Often, portrayals of disabled models evoke sympathy, deviating from fashion’s aspirational ideals. This chapter seeks to delve into successful fashion marketing strategies that genuinely incorporate disabilities. By examining the convergence of brand activism and authentic disability inclusion, it aspires to dismantle barriers and cultivate an inclusive culture, thereby elevating social sustainability.Item Embargo Can we increase the granularity in understanding global value chains? an integration of academic and practice perspectives to enhance future developments(Inderscience , 2024) Prataviera, Lorenzo Bruno; Bosio, Davide; Koliousis, IoannisValue chains are increasingly fragmented globally, and companies and governments struggle with understanding where value is added. Both scholars and practitioners developed models, but recent challenges are calling for original approaches to develop instruments to map and evaluate global value chains (GVCs) footprint. We carried out a structured literature review (SLR) to summarise the existing academic knowledge about GVCs mapping and also examined the related practitioners’ materials. We then investigated what data sources are currently available to collect data about global trade flows, and involved practitioners in the discussion to collect insights that could improve the current understanding. We aim at offering guidance in this process, highlighting what future directions should be pursued to increase the models’ descriptive and explanatory power. For example, customs data is largely available. Original models could be developed, and GVCs could be studied leveraging rich and granular customs data rather than traditional macro-economic data.Item Open Access Categorizing errors in high‐reliability organizations: adaptive range and adaptive capacity in incident response(Wiley, 2025) Kutsch, Elmar; Siala, Haytham; Cantarelli, Chantal; Djabbarov, IbratThis study examines how actors in a high‐reliability organization categorize errors as near‐misses or accidents through the lens of adaptive capacity and adaptive range. We studied a large defense entity with operations critical to national security to understand how organization members categorized errors during incidents. Using the repertory grid method to interview informants, we identify key dualities that actors navigate between anticipatory and retrospective responses to errors. These dualities collectively reflect the organization's adaptive capacity and adaptive range when balancing anticipatory and retrospective responses. Our analysis of error categorization through this lens provides new insights into how high‐reliability organizations manage incidents to maintain reliability and offers practical implications for enhancing organizational resilience in high‐risk settings.Item Open Access Common institutional ownership and corporate carbon emissions(Wiley, 2025-04) Qiang, Ji; Lei, Lei; Wood, Geoffrey; Zhang, DayongThere has been a growing interest in comparative work exploring when and why firms embark on green paths. It has been concluded that in national contexts where inter‐firm ties are stronger, progress has been stronger. In turn, this raises questions about the impact of inter‐firm ties within, rather than between, national contexts, and in settings where progress towards renewables has been uneven and contested. Accordingly, we explore how common institutional ownership may foster collaboration among firms within the same industry against climate change. Using a sample of US‐listed firms from 2006 to 2019, we obtain robust evidence that firms with industrial peers that are owned by the same institutional investors have lower carbon emissions. In addition, we find that a threshold exists for which the impact on carbon emissions holds only when firms are commonly connected with a substantial number of peers. The existence of this threshold suggests potential free‐riding issues and highlights the beneficial role of investors in promoting cross‐industry collaboration. Overall, our results highlight the role played by institutional investors in tackling climate issues, with important implications for both climate‐ and antitrust‐related regulations.Item Open Access Corruption and default risk: global evidence(Wiley, 2025-12-31) Nadarajah, Sivathaasan; Atif, Muhammad; Tawiah, Vincent; Liu, Jia; Wood, GeoffreyThe extant literature explores the consequences of corruption on firms’ growth and survival. However, its impact on default risk remains unexplored. On the basis of a sample of 189,109 firm‐years from 2004 to 2021 across 47 countries, our study reveals that a one standard deviation increase in corruption is associated with an 11.3% increase in default risk. Our channel analysis identifies information asymmetry and managerial risk‐taking as key mechanisms through which corruption influences default risk. This adverse effect is particularly pronounced in countries with opaque information environments, weak governance frameworks and inadequate external monitoring of firms. We further highlight the detrimental impact of corruption on firms’ borrowing costs and banks’ loan performance. Our study emphasizes the importance of enhancing information transparency and implementing stringent control mechanisms as a basis of mitigating corruption's detrimental effects across a range of different socio‐political contexts.Item Open Access Dark and bright repercussions of COVID-19 pandemic on international business: a systematic literature review and future research agenda(Emerald, 2025-12-31) Khan, Huda; Khan, Zaheer; Wood, GeoffreyPurpose As a global pandemic of historically significant scale, COVID-19 and its impact on global business activities have gained significant scholarly attention in the international business (IB) domain. This study aims to review and consolidate the IB research findings on the COVID-19 crisis, considering both the literature on the dark and bright repercussions for firms. Design/methodology/approach The authors systematically reviewed and synthesized a sample of 87 scholarly articles published in major IB journals from 2019 to 2022. Findings This review paper highlights the important domains – including global value chains, digitalization and varieties of functional areas – that have been substantially affected due to the widespread disruptions caused by the pandemic. This study also discusses future avenues for extending the work on the dark and bright sides of crisis management. Originality/value Applying the overarching concept of the bright and dark sides of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors developed a framework that highlights the important knowledge gaps and points to future research directions. This review also suggests the salient methodological and contextual avenues potentially suited for future IB research on the pandemic and similar crises.Item Open Access Digital transformation and profit growth: a configurational analysis of regional dynamics(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2025) Sawang, Sukanlaya; Zhao, Jian; Xu, ZimuThis study adopts Configuration Theory to explore how diverse combinations of regional factors contribute to profitability, emphasizing the principle of equifinality, which posits that multiple, equally effective configurations can lead to similar outcomes. This study examines the interplay of multiple factors—enterprise informatization, digital infrastructure, e-commerce, technological investment, innovation, hardware, and software—across four key themes: Digital Readiness and Technological Integration, Market and Economic Enablers, Innovation Capacity and Activity, and Foundational Artifacts and Resources. Using data from 31 provinces in China from 2015 to 2022, this study employs fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to uncover pathways to regional profit growth. The study identifies five distinct configurations contributing to profit growth across China's provinces. In most configurations, e-commerce and technological investment emerge as central drivers. However, in less developed regions, profit growth relies more on improvements in digital infrastructure and hardware, with innovation and enterprise informatization playing a less significant role. The findings also reveal that profit growth requires addressing the weakest elements in the ecosystem—whether digital infrastructure, technological capabilities, or other factors. Strategies tailored to regional conditions must prioritize improving these weaker components to achieve sustained growth, as ignoring them can limit overall success.Item Open Access Empowering knowledge dynamics: a process ontology perspective on collaborative leadership in international assignments(Emerald, 2025) Haist, Joshua; Renshaw, Philip St John; Robinson, JenniferPurpose This paper conceptualizes a framework for the role of collaborative leadership in the generation and distribution of knowledge by globally mobile personnel. This framework addresses limitations in existing models that often ignore the iterative and relational processes in knowledge dynamics by emphasizing collaborative leadership’s crucial role in continuously shaping these dynamic processes. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a theoretical approach, this study applies a process ontology to demonstrate how these knowledge dynamics interact at different levels of analysis through a continuous process of becoming. It critically reviews existing literature on knowledge transfer in international assignments (IAs), highlighting the limitations of traditional paradigms. The paper also draws on the concept of leadership-as-practice to emphasize the importance of collaborative leadership to explore these complex interactions and their implications for knowledge movement. Findings By applying this lens, we identify novel phenomena, including the occurrence of knowledge dynamics not only during IAs but also in anticipation of them. We uncover asymmetries of knowledge that emerge at various stages of IAs and reveal that knowledge movement in IAs is multidirectional and processual, challenging the traditional view of linear knowledge dynamics. Originality/value This paper introduces a novel framework combining process ontology and collaborative leadership to examine knowledge dynamics in IAs. It offers a novel perspective by moving beyond the traditional, linear understanding of knowledge transfer, emphasizing the multidirectional and dynamic nature of knowledge creation and movement. By introducing process ontology and collaborative leadership, the study challenges existing paradigms and develops theoretical propositions opening new avenues for research and theory-building in the knowledge management and global mobility literature.Item Open Access Exploring the organizational value of international assignments: home versus host(Informa UK Limited, 2024) Renshaw, Phil St John; Parry, Emma; Dickmann, MichaelInternational assignments (IAs) are a common feature of international business and human resource management, yet evidence of their organizational value is mixed and contradictory. We argue, contrary to extant IA literature, that this is due to the need to investigate the value to each of the home and the host organizations separately. We apply such an approach in a public sector case study using a dynamic capabilities lens, relevant given its theoretical underpinnings in value creation. Extending the IA value literature, we find that the value to the home and host differs both in type and timing, that the value to one may be detrimental to the other, and that the funding of the underlying costs of an IA is a critical feature. Understanding and assessing these factors separately is key to managing the overall combined organizational value of IAs.Item Open Access 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.Item Open Access ‘E’ of ESG and firm performance: evidence from China(Elsevier, 2024-11) Qian, Binsheng; Poshakwale, Sunil; Tan, YusenFollowing the ESG rating divergence reported in the previous research studies, we develop a novel firm-level Green Commitment (GC) index by incorporating new dimensions of environmental management and governance. We construct GC scores for all A-share listed companies in China from 2015 to 2021 and analyze whether firms with greater environmental commitment exhibit improvements in their future performance. Our results show that firms with high GC scores achieve higher stock returns without incurring extra risk. Additionally, a strong environmental commitment can enhance operating performance by mitigating financial constraints. The evidence supports the view that environmental investing contributes to the creation of positive shareholder value. Our GC index can be applied more widely to resolve the mixed evidence on the value implications of corporate environmental commitments.Item Open Access Followers beat content: social media and the managers in initial coin offerings (ICOs)(Springer , 2025-04) Gartner, Johannes; Moro, AndreaOur research investigates the role of social media communication in amplifying high-quality information and its impact on the success of ICOs in achieving their soft cap. We analyzed data from 3,644 ICOs and the demographics of 1,987 CEOs, CFOs, and CTOs to compare their quality attributes against their number of social media followers. Our findings reveal that the most significant factors for reaching the soft cap are the number of followers and team size, while the competencies (education and skills) of the management team have a very marginal effect, even when enhanced through social media. This indicates that widespread social media signals can positively influence investor behavior without necessarily reducing information asymmetries regarding the quality of the team. We propose that this effect arises from the combination of minimal investment amounts and stimulated herding behavior among investors.Item Open Access Geopolitical disruptions and supply chain structural ambidexterity(Emerald, 2025-03) Moradlou, Hamid; Skipworth, Heather; Bals, Lydia; Aktas, Emel; Roscoe, SamuelPurpose This paper seeks insights into how multinational enterprises restructure their global supply chains to manage the uncertainty caused by geopolitical disruptions. To answer this question, we investigate three significant geopolitical disruptions: Brexit, the US-China trade war and the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Design/methodology/approach The study uses an inductive theory-elaboration approach to build on Organisational Learning Theory and Dunning’s eclectic paradigm of international production. Twenty-nine expert interviews were conducted with senior supply chain executives across 14 multinational manufacturing firms. The analysis is validated by triangulating secondary data sources, including standard operating procedures, annual reports and organisational protocols. Findings We find that, when faced with significant geopolitical disruptions, companies develop and deploy supply chain structural ambidexterity in different ways. Specifically, during Covid-19, the US-China trade war and Brexit, companies developed and deployed three distinct types of supply chain structural ambidexterity through (1) partitioning internal subunits, (2) reconfiguring supplier networks and (3) creating parallel supply chains. Originality/value The findings contribute to Dunning’s eclectic paradigm by explaining how organisational ambidexterity is extended beyond firm boundaries and embedded in supply chains to mitigate uncertainty and gain exploration and exploitation benefits. During significant geopolitical disruptions, we find that managers make decisions in tight timeframes. Therefore, based on the transition time available, we propose three types of supply chain structural ambidexterity. We conclude with a managerial framework to assist firms in developing supply chain structural ambidexterity in response to geopolitical disruptions.Item Open Access Leveraging machine learning and optimization models for enhanced seaport efficiency(Springer, 2025-12-31) Jahangard, Mahdi; Xie, Ying; Feng, YuanjunThis study provides an overview of the application of predictive and prescriptive analytics in seaport operations and explore the potential of integrating predictive outputs into prescriptive analytics to advance research in this field. A systematic review of 124 papers was performed to identify and classify key topics based on application areas, types of applications, and employed techniques. Our findings show a growing interest in developing either predictive or prescriptive analytics models to improve seaport operational efficiency. However, there is limited research combining predictive outputs with prescriptive analytics for data-driven decision-making. Additionally, the hybridization of machine learning and operations research techniques remains underexplored. One promising area is applying machine learning models, such as reinforcement learning, to solve optimization problems. Predictive maintenance and data-enabled operational control measures for port equipment and facilities are also highlighted as interesting future research areas.Item Embargo Managing sudden unexpected disruptions in complex projects: the antifragility hierarchy(Taylor and Francis, 2024-12-31) Usher, Greg; Cantarelli, Chantal C; Davis, Kate; Pinto, Jeffrey K; Turner, NeilProjects are prone to a variety of sudden unexpected disruptions across their development cycle, requiring that effective organizations develop strategies for proactively recognizing disruption likelihood and swiftly responding to these events. This paper explores a hierarchy of responses to disruption, based on Taleb’s theory of antifragile system behavior. Following this reasoning, we suggest that when faced with project disruptions, organizations need to investigate the means to trigger a ‘convex’ response that increases value through antifragile thinking. We propose an ‘antifragility hierarchy’ in which three key responses to project disruption are demonstrated, with a range of strategies available for addressing these disruptions. This hierarchy offers a novel conceptualization of responses to project disruption events, suggesting that the options available to organizations range from robust (the least effective) to antifragile (the most constructive). Finally, we offer a set of strategies for effectively responding to disruptions to promote antifragility in projects.Item Open Access Muslim employees’ religious and intersectional identities as sources of discrimination: how deeper understanding can improve managerial practice(Emerald, 2025-01-09) Gottardello, Debora; Cascón-Pereira, Rosalía; Anderson, DeirdrePurpose: This study aims to explore how intersecting identities shape experiences of workplace discrimination faced by Muslim employees in Catalonia, Spain. We seek to understand the interplay of religion, ethnicity, gender and age in their employment experiences in order to improve managerial practices. Design/methodology/approach: The research employs a qualitative approach, conducting in-depth interviews with 39 diverse Muslim employees in Catalonia through convenience and snowball sampling to support an intersectional analysis. Findings: Findings reveal that Muslim employees navigate a workplace environment where their experiences of discrimination are shaped by intersecting identities including religion, age, gender and ethnicity which become salient at various stages of their careers, prompted by HRM practices such as recruitment, selection and promotion. Their experiences as recipients of these practices illuminate the complex ways in which intersecting identities shape the experiences of discrimination. The study reveals the hiding of their religious identity, giving up on traditional career paths, seeking social support from other Muslims and emphasizing privileged identities, to deal with discrimination. Originality/value: This study deepens understanding of the complexity of religious identity in minorities and explores its role in workplace discrimination. In particular, the research sheds light on the psychological impact in the form of feelings of guilt and shame which arise from coping strategies such as concealing religious markers which are adopted by these employees in response to organizational and managerial practices. Lastly, the paper stresses the need for intersectional approaches in order to improve effectiveness of HR policies and managerial practices.Item Open Access Probing into hinterland connectivity with a web of transport modes and logistics nodes: a case of Indian container ports(Elsevier, 2024-11-01) Deshmukh, Ajay; Song, Dong-WookThis article investigates the conceptual and empirical aspects of hinterland connectivity, focusing on container ports in India as a case study. It aims to clarify the complex and multidimensional nature of hinterland connectivity within the context of container ports by addressing a key conceptual issue. The study proposes that port-hinterland connectivity goes beyond direct links and emphasises the strategic relationships with key logistics centres in the hinterland. By employing centrality measures from social network analysis, the study evaluates the overall connectivity of Indian container ports, considering both direct and indirect connections from 2009 to 2021, to identify which ports have robust connections to key logistics centres. The results obtain by using eigenvector centrality reveal that an extensive hinterland network does not necessarily guarantee better hinterland connectivity for container ports. Additionally, the quality of connections, particularly to hubs with high betweenness centrality, is crucial for achieving a high degree of hinterland connectivity. These findings provide valuable policy insights, highlighting the importance of ports fostering closer relationships with key logistics hubs to effectively enhance their connectivity. Based on these findings, the paper offers policy recommendations for India aimed at improving connectivity in alignment with corresponding market shares. This research will serve as a foundation for further exploration of the interplay between port-hinterland connectivity and port market shares from a hinterland perspective, especially in a country like India, where hinterlands significantly overlap.Item Open Access Re‐orienting leadership coaching for sustainable effectiveness(Wiley, 2024-09-09) Renshaw, Phil; Robinson, JennyThe authors note that their “personal experience, client conversations, and research has led us to identify and highlight two critical issues where we see organizations consistently making serious errors that hold back the development of their leaders, waste money, and restrict the potential for longer term and sustainable effectiveness.” They note that organizations spend a considerable amount of money on outside coaching, yet this may not always be beneficial or cost‐effective for those organizations: “The first step,” they write, “is to understand when “a coach” can and can’t help. The second is to understand the difference between “a coach” (in other words a professional coach, or someone following such an approach) and leaders‐who‐coach. As a result, organizations can make the most of their coaching dollars, and their people.” They further clarify that “to determine when to use a professional coach, we use a simple question to address whether such coaching is a worthwhile endeavor: Does the executive need to develop and challenge themselves or do they need tools to function within their organization?” They conclude that solutions involve “creating leaders‐who‐coach who, as a result, will gradually enable a change in the underlying systemic issues.”Item Embargo Supply Chain Disruptions and Stock Prices: Chapter 6 - Conclusions(Springer , 2024) Schelp, Priscilla; Skipworth, Heather; Aktas, Emel; Vieth, BeateThis chapter concludes the book, summarising key takeaways for both practitioners and academics on managing Hurricane-Related Risks based on our research findings. The summary encapsulates the critical outcomes of our research, shedding light on the intricate relationship between hurricanes, supply chain disruptions, and firm performance. Our study draws from a diverse range of academic sources, offering profound insights into the imperative of proactive management and transparent communication during hurricane-induced supply chain disruptions.