Browsing by Author "Forster, Rick"

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    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, Hossein
    Purpose 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.
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    Artificial Intelligence in education: let’s ChatGPT about it
    (Liverpool University Press, 2024-05-29) Davies, Jennifer; Forster, Rick; Menzies, Laura; Tickle, Matthew; Misopoulos, Fotios
    Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically the rapid rise of Natural Language Processing (NLP) platforms such as Open AI’s Chat GPT3.5, are already having a major impact on higher education institutions. There are significant concerns within academic communities about the threats such platforms pose to academic integrity. Many HE institutions have reacted quickly, announcing policies banning the use of AI software in the creation of assignment responses. Some are planning to return to strictly exam-based modes of assessment. In this article we reflect upon these recent events and how it has impacted our own teaching practice in the field of business management. We propose some alternative ways of thinking about these recent developments and focus on the opportunities that these AI platforms have to offer rather than the threats they pose.
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    An empirical study of assurance in the UK government major projects portfolio: from data to recommendations, to action or inaction
    (Emerald, 2024-01-01) Vo, Hang; Kirkham, Richard John; Williams, Terry Mervyn; Howells, Amanda; Forster, Rick; Cooke-Davies, Terry
    Purpose: Effective and robust governance of major projects and programmes in the public sector is crucial to the accountability of the state and the transparency of state spending. The theoretical discourse on governance, in the context of projects and programmes, is not fully mature, although is now sufficiently well developed to warrant an increased scholarly focus on practice. This paper aims to contribute to the empirical literature through a study of assurance routines in the UK Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP). Design/methodology/approach: A framework analysis approach to the evaluation of a subset of GMPP database generates original insights into (1) the framing of assurance review recommendations, (2) the treatment of assurance review data and (3) the subsequent tracking of the implementation of actions arising from the assurance review process. Findings: The analysis reveals that the “delivery confidence” of the major projects and programmes included in this study improves during the time that they are assured on the GMPP. This would suggest that “enhanced” governance routines are desirable in programmes and projects that exhibit high degrees of complexity and scale. Originality/value: The research findings contribute to the wider conversations in this journal and elsewhere on project governance routines and governance-as-practice in the context of government and public services.
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    Non-fungible tokens: the missing ingredient for sustainable supply chains in the metaverse age?
    (Elsevier, 2024-01-16) Davies, Jennifer; Sharifi, Hossein; Lynos, Andrew; Forster, Rick; Elsayed, Omar Khaled Shokry Mohamed
    Non-fungible tokens (NFTs), unique digital assets on a blockchain that can represent ownership of digital or physical items, are potentially ground-breaking in their capacity for transforming the sustainability of supply chains. This paper explores and discusses how NFTs, analysed through the lens of the Technology Organisation Environment (TOE) framework, can drive supply chain sustainability and overcome the barriers to Blockchain Technology (BCT) adoption. We elucidate the unique value proposition of NFTs and explore the potential of ‘phygital products’ for linking digital NFTs to physical goods. Based on the existing literature and a review of real-world case studies, we propose that NFTs can (1) incentivise supply chain stakeholders to engage in more sustainable practices; (2) enhance customer willingness to pay for sustainable products; (3) provide anti-counterfeit measures; (4) support circular business model growth. A sustainable 'Mint-to-Order' production strategy starting with the creation (minting) of an NFT is proposed based on a synthesis of the findings. The use of NFTs has significant implications for both digital and physical product offerings and sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practice making a compelling case for adoption. This paper is one of the first to explore the potential of using NFTs to drive sustainability in supply chains forming an essential component of a metaverse nexus and delineating a future research agenda.
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    Performance measurement in project management
    (Elsevier, 2023-09-14) Bosch-Rekveldt, Marian; Bourne, Mike; Forster, Rick; Kirkham, Richard; Pesämaa, Ossi
    This special collection of papers on performance measurement reports a diverse and broad spectrum of research that challenges conventional views on the ‘age-old’ problem of reconciling tensions between ‘project success’ and ‘project management performance’. A project is often seen as an agent transforming something from a problem to a solution (Locatelli et al., 2023), but the problem of understanding performance remains. Problematisation typically begins with a process to integrate disintegrated areas, value different perspectives that may seem puzzling; present concepts that may seem at odds; introduce coping strategies and increase awareness of biases.