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Browsing School of Management (SoM) by Subject "3509 Transportation, logistics and supply chains"
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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 Open Access Geopolitical disruptions and supply chain structural ambidexterity(Emerald, 2024) 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 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.