PhD, DBA, and MSc by research theses (SoM)

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Open Access
The role of numbers, power and status of female corporate directors on gender diversity below the board
(Cranfield University, 2022-09) Tessaro, Michelle; Vinnicombe, Sue; Turnbull James, Kim
This thesis explores the relationship between women on corporate boards and the representation of women in the two senior levels below the board. During the past twenty years there has been considerable efforts to improve the numbers of women in leadership roles. While there has been significant progress in developing a critical mass of WoB, it has not had the anticipated effect of improved gender diversity below the board, where progress has been slow and has yielded inconsistent results. Drawing on data from UK FTSE100 companies, this research moves beyond the trickle-down effect related to critical mass theory and incorporates the constructs of power and status to examine the relationship of women on boards and women in the executive levels. The findings suggest that it is the confluence of women on boards in their numbers, and in positions of power and status that drives gender diversity below the board. This thesis makes a number of contributions to knowledge. Taking a configurational approach using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), was a departure from previous research which has mostly relied on the use of traditional regression analysis. Instead, a QCA embraces casual complexity using a comparative case-based method to systematically analyze configurations of conditions and outcomes. The use of this methodology was important in developing two theoretical contributions. First, it allowed for a more complex analysis, incorporating the theoretical lens of power and status and women’s numerical representation to examine the impact of the gender composition of corporate boards on gender diversity below the board. The findings provide empirical evidence that a critical mass of women is not enough on its own to activate trickle-down mechanism as it is neither necessary nor sufficient in its association with improved gender diversity in the executive levels. Instead, a multi theoretic approach results in strong empirical evidence that female directors on corporate boards, when represented in their numbers, power and status, indicate gender integrated boards and gender integrated boards are key to consistently activating the trickle-down effect. This research also facilitated the development of a board evolution model. Although speculative, it provides a preliminary hypothesis describing how boards have evolved from male dominated ones to ones that are not only gender balanced but gender integrated, where women directors are present in positions of power and influence.
Open Access
“Do i have the right to lead?“ identity work of emerging Russian business leaders in a leadership development programme
(Cranfield University, 2022-03) Shapenko, Andrey; Dickmann, Michael; Horwitz, Frank
Through a qualitative study of 30 Russian managers and entrepreneurs who graduated from an 18-month Master of Business Administration Programme (MBA) in Moscow, Russia, the research answers two questions: (1) what does leadership mean in the Russian context as described by emerging Russian business leaders? and (2) how do these leaders develop their leadership identity within a leadership development programme? Key research findings reveal that perceptions about effective leadership in Russia are changing, presumably due to a generational shift, and that the leadership identity work in a leadership development programme is fuelled by participants' efforts to promote their leader efficacy. The thesis contributes to social identity theory, implicit leadership theory, and identity theory. Social identity theory is enriched by proposing specific characteristics of Russian leadership identity and describing the challenges emerging Russian leaders face because of conflicting leadership prototypes for self-to-leader comparison. Implicit leadership theory benefits from the evidence that perceptions about Russian leadership characteristics are changing; emerging business leaders prefer a more participative, humane oriented, transformational approach over a transactional, directive and authoritarian one. Finally, identity theory is strengthened by establishing a link between leader efficacy and leadership identity work and by proposing a process model of leader efficacy development and leadership identity work within an educational programme. The study also indicates avenues for further research.
Open Access
Wind energy diffusion in developing countries
(Cranfield University, 2022-04) Zwarteveen, Jan Willem; Angus, Andrew; Zawwar, Imran
Wind energy is valuable, but many developing and emerging economies (DEEs) do not utilize their substantial wind potential. The objective of this research is to understand wind energy diffusion with the aim to promote wind energy in underdeveloped areas for sustainable benefits of both country and wind industry. The literature review and meta-analysis identified 259 factors that influenced wind energy diffusion. A novel conceptual framework that describes wind energy diffusion was developed, dissecting factors that influence wind diffusion into factors related to the desire for wind energy, factors related to the mechanism of change and disturbing factors. Regarding DEEs, the meta-analysis showed indications of the importance of economic factors and, opposing expectations, environmental factors appear not to drive wind energy growth. Based on path creation theories but using binary logistic regression as a novel quantitative approach, the empirical study explored the factors influencing early wind energy diffusion. Key indicated drivers appeared to be climate adaptation, vested interests (fossil fuels and hydropower), and the business case potential. Regarding DEEs, a negative business case potential formed a key barrier. Novel market entry strategies for the wind power Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) are to collaborate with vested power producers rather than compete and promote wind for climate adaptation instead of climate change mitigation. Most high wind potential countries have installed less than 500 MW of wind power capacity (commercialization threshold). The remaining countries have on average 20596 MW of wind capacity installed per country. The lagging wind adopting countries were assessed on their probability to adopt commercial wind in the near future, by using a novel quantitative path creation forecasting method. Passive entry, passive waiting, active entry and active waiting were defined as suggested market entry and development strategies for the wind OEM.
Open Access
Constructive deviance in the defence context
(Cranfield University, 2022-05) Taylor, Chris; Parry, Emma; Denyer, David
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. (Romans 12:2) This study addresses the question: what motivates and influences constructively deviant behaviour in the UK Defence context? It answers this question by asking interviewees, in semi-structured interviews, to reflect on two occasions when they had the opportunity to constructively deviate. By comparing the enablers and barriers from an episode in which they destructively conformed with those from one in which they constructively deviated, the research focuses on the organisational and contextual factors that affect people’s decisions to constructively deviate or destructively conform. The research suggests that individuals in the Defence context are motivated to constructively deviate to improve their immediate environment or increase operational effectiveness or efficiency. It finds that there are factors in the Defence context which influence constructive deviance that are common to those in less normative environments such as supportive leadership, felt empowerment and a sense of responsibility. It also finds that there are Defence-specific factors that influence constructive deviance such as the relative importance of leaders compared to peers, leader rhetoric, the performance appraisal system and Defence bureaucracy. The research adds to the body of knowledge through its exploration of enablers and barriers to constructive deviance and a deeper understanding of the UK Defence context.
Open Access
Are fund managers skilled or lucky? Practitioners’ perspective
(Cranfield University, 2021-06) Monin, Benjamin; Agarwal, Vineet; Poshakwale, Sunil
The market share of the passive fund management industry has increased from 3% in 1995 to 41% in 2020 (Anadu et al., 2020). This study investigates whether fund managers are skilled, and if they are, can investors distinguish between skilled and lucky managers? The empirical research relies on the interviews of 20 fund managers. This sample covers various countries and different strategies and styles. I find that fund managers firmly believe they can beat their benchmark. They have clear rationales behind their investment decisions and believe the ability to go beyond conventional wisdom and to differentiate between short-term noise and long-term trends is the key skill. Hence, they believe they should be assessed over at least a 3-year horizon. My results contrast with the popular belief that the market has a short-term view. The fund managers also argue that the popular measure of their performance, the net alpha, is a poor proxy for measuring their skill for several reasons, the most important being that the management fee is not under their control. Further, skill can only be assessed through an intimate knowledge of their every trade, the degree of conviction, and the investment process. Hence, it is not possible to assess their skill using secondary data. I also show the investors value more than just the financial return from their investment, and fund managers try to build trust with the investors. Finally, I demonstrate that the fund managers are aware of the biases and have developed elaborate systems to reduce their impact and to handle the inherent randomness of their environment. These findings provide academics and practitioners with a framework to understand the complexities and challenges of the fund management industry, and why the performance is much more than simply net alpha. This research explores new topics which are fundamental to align investor and fund manager interest (e.g., relationship to information, portfolio management, etc.).
Open Access
The governance of interorganizational relations: case study investigation in triads and tetrads Addendum: The response of governance structure to project-critical incidents: case study investigation in triads and tetrads
(Cranfield University, 2019-09) Fausten, Thierry; Pilbeam, Colin; Alinaghian, Leila
BSTRACT The management of supplier relationships is asserted to be a key contributor to the performance of firms and organizations, notably as the globalization of the economy and the pace of change have significantly increased the competitive pressure. The interdependence of organizations, reflected in supplier portfolios, demands a finer understanding of the interplay of relationships across multiple tiers. After a thorough literature review on the governance of triads, an empirical investigation was conducted in the energy sector in Switzerland. Four cases studies were executed to investigate how does the governance of buyer-supplier relationships influence the other relationships within a buyer-supplier-supplier triad. Data was collected during semi-structured interviews and complemented with documentary evidence, on four concomitant projects involving the same organizations. The findings revealed the interplay of external and internal factors in the choice of governance arrangements and were summarized in a causal network. As well, the evolution of governance in response to threats to the attainment of goals exposed the primacy of functional-level logics in the prioritization of problem resolution. This also allowed to highlight how the governance of one link can affect another link, by changing the structure of the project-level triad, and/or the instruments enacted in the links. Managerial implications were materialized in a practical model displaying the interactions of internal and external influences to be accounted for in the continuous adaptation of supplier relationship and portfolio management practice. A limitation is that full reciprocal recounting of events was not achieved due to access restrictions even when data was collected from all parties in the triads. The value of this research lies in the demonstration of governance evolution across multiple tiers, how it affected both the structure of the triads and the choice of instruments, and the importance of intrinsic values in decision making. The contribution to managerial practice provides insights to improve readiness and flexibility in the management of intra and inter organizational relationships.
Open Access
Exploration of organizational practices that foster experiences of inclusion
(Cranfield University, 2023-09) De Largy; Vinnicombe, Sue; Anderson, Deidre
The literature on inclusion is growing, yet there remains a lack of clarity about how to foster an inclusive organization, with little attention paid to organizational inclusion practices or how inclusion is experienced. This thesis addresses these shortcomings through three studies. First, a systematic literature review reveals the inclusive organization tends to be studied through leadership, climate, workgroups, perceptions and practices; these elements may act generatively and interact to foster inclusion. Inclusion, conceptualised as treatment that satisfies needs for belongingness and uniqueness, but with less exploration of individual experiences of inclusion. Also, inclusion practices, although recognised as important in fostering an inclusive organization, lack empirical exploration. The second paper addresses this shortcoming; an empirical study with 15 Diversity and Inclusion Directors/Leads, using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Findings indicate that practices may facilitate belonging and value uniqueness but organizations tend to prioritise practices which promote belonging. Practices that promote well-being and career development foster inclusion but are dependent upon the leaders involved. The third study is an empirical investigation of individual experiences of inclusion, with semi-structured interviews with 36 junior women. The study finds that employees prioritise being valued for their professional expertise and when treated as an individual, through well-being and career development practices. Interactions with line managers are the primary context for inclusion, although experiences of inclusion are complex and changeable. Overall theoretical contributions are that inclusion practices are inexact, practices may promote either belonging, or being valued, or both. Well- being and career development practices are re-positioned in the inclusive workplace model as inputs of inclusion. The study provides empirical evidence that employees prioritise task-related inclusion, with line managers as the primary context for inclusion, within day-to-day interactions.
Open Access
Drifting away of actions from prescribed procedures
(Cranfield University, 2023-10) Tewari, Neha; Denyer, David; Pilbeam, Colin
This research examines a particular kind of routine change where a decoupling of actions from the prescribed procedures is consciously and mindfully introduced to benefit the organisation and to make work easier, locally efficient, and more effective. I draw on Snook’s (2002) conceptualisation of practical drift to define my phenomenon. When procedural demands do not fit the practical or situational demands, people adjust or alter the recommended procedures, routines, and workflows to better fit the local needs. This research uses a case-based inquiry to examine 197 cases of drift happening within large multinational organisations from the Oil and Gas, Manufacturing, and Aerospace sectors to theories of why ‘Practical drift’ happens and what the impact of this on safety. Using a mixed-method data collection technique of Repertory Grids (RepGrid), 31 middle and senior managers were interviewed. It resulted in 262 RepGrid ‘Constructs’ related to the events of drift. The data was firstly analysed qualitatively using a bootstrapping generic content analysis technique that pools construct into meaningful higher-order categories. Two quantitative analyses followed this: a RepGrid-specific statistical analysis, called the Average Normalised Variance (ANV), to identify key constructs and a Boolean minimisation-based Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to identify factor combinations associated with safety negative outcomes. This research finds that drifted actions happen because actors have an operational objective or ‘Purpose’ that triggers drift. Secondly, there exist some contextual conditions that facilitate replacing a recommended procedure with an alternate action. Safety findings reveal that some factors like ‘Risk awareness’ and ‘Local decision flexibility’ are more likely to deliver safety negative outcomes. In contrast, the factor ‘save time’ was found to be correlated to safety positive outcomes. Building on these findings, I propose three theoretical models. First is a factor model that identifies a set of factors causing drift. These factors are ordered by their relative influence, extending our understanding of the purpose and contextual conditions associated with drift. The second and third models link factors from the first model to different safety outcomes. These models add to the extant literature on practical drift and routine change by identifying (i) factors that link to safety positive, neutral and negative outcomes and (ii) the combination of key factors having more potency to deliver safety negative outcomes. The relevance of these findings for practice is that the research raises the issue of drift being an operational reality and motivates the organisations to address the drift causing factors. Furthermore, this study paves the pathway for future studies to establish causal relationships among the configuration of constructs discovered in this research.
Open Access
Customer insights generation at the front end of innovation: an exploration within a medical device company
(Cranfield University, 2023-06) Grant, Stuart Russell; Goffin, Keith; Adams, Richard
It is generally agreed that product innovation happens when innovation teams conduct market research to uncover customer needs. It has also been reported that customer needs and customer insights are essential for radical innovation. Over the last 40 years, research into customer needs has defined needs as either articulated or unarticulated, with associated market research methods to uncover needs and insights, such as surveys, questionnaires, observation, interviews, and a repertory grid. Though customer needs are well-defined, customer insights need an adequate definition. Although definitions exist in the marketing and psychology literature, they are unclear or often conflicting within the product innovation field. For example, customer insights are either a separate concept from a need or a component of needs. As such, how both these concepts relate to radical innovation remains unclear. Furthermore, the process of uncovering customer needs has been well defined; conversely, the process that links the uncovering of customer needs and discovering customer insights requires an improved framework. Nevertheless, does understanding the relationship and process between needs and insights matter and warrant being studied? If, as suggested, finding customer needs leads to incremental innovation and customer insights lead to radical innovation, then understanding this is worthwhile. This is because, firstly, for academics, investigating what innovation teams are doing during the front end of innovation (FEI) will allow them to analyse the data from case studies research more effectively. Secondly, practitioners will better appreciate the FEI process and be able to categorise their findings from market research into needs and insights, which will assist with considering the type of innovation being pursued. Therefore, understanding the relationship between a need and an insight is required. A fuller understanding of the process of discovering insights in the FEI is needed. Through a systematic literature review (SLR) and an exploratory case study, the research attempts to investigate this conceptualisation of customer insight in product innovation and understand the relationship between needs and insights. The SLR reviewed the extant literature on the definitions of, the methods used for finding, and the relationship between needs and insights. The exploratory case study investigated the process of discovering customer insight with innovation teams in a global medical technology company. The research had two strands – retrospective and longitudinal. Five retrospective cases were conducted immediately after the FEI had finished: four interviews per case, totalling 20 interviews. Four longitudinal cases followed the FEI for ten months; an interview was conducted with the participants at 1-, 4-, and 10-month intervals throughout the front end process; this totalled 45 interviews with 15 participants from the four cases. In addition to the interview data, documentation was also collected from all nine cases. The data was collected and analysed based on coding from the literature. The research extends the body of literature on customer needs and insights. From a theoretical perspective, the study provides a clearer understanding of the definition of customer needs and insights. It also suggests the relationship between the concepts of need and insight. The framework proposed that discovering insights produces a better understanding of the front end process. This process is iterative, whereby finer needs are uncovered, and deeper insights are discovered as the team further understands the customer and the market research. From a practice perspective, the study assists innovation in better appreciating the interaction of needs and insights. The research also helps product innovation teams better categorise their market research findings into needs and insights that may drive more radical innovations.
Open Access
Quality-at-reasonable-price: developing a UK equity portfolio
(Cranfield University, 2019-03) Bissat, Mohamad Ali; Agarwal, Vineet
Equity investing has evolved significantly since its formalisation during the early twentieth century. Two major recent evolutions are Quality investing and Value investing. Asness et al. (2019) demonstrate fundamentally strong stocks have higher expected returns. Solt and Statman (1989) show that strong companies can be bad investments. Therefore, it is important that investors do not overpay for quality. In this research, I demonstrate that a quality-at-reasonableprice equity portfolio outperforms on an absolute and risk-adjusted basis. Using the non-financial FTSE 350 constituents at the end of December of each year from 2000 to 2016, I develop a multidimensional approach using Quality and Value variables that generate a significant outperformance. Before risk adjustment, the portfolio produces an average monthly return of 0.99% with an annualised Sharpe ratio of 0.73. This compares with an average monthly return of 0.46% and an annualised Sharpe ratio of 0.30 for the remaining stocks in the benchmark. Regression analysis demonstrates that the investment approach produces statistically significant Alpha. Adjusting for risk using the Fama and French (1993) and Carhart (1997) four-factor model, the portfolio earns a statistically highly significant (t = 4.4) abnormal return of 0.56% per month. This compares with a weakly significant (t = 1.5) abnormal return of 0.16% per month for the remaining stocks in the benchmark. In this project, I propose an optimised approach to equity investing relative to passive indexing and traditional active stock selection. Unlike most academic research which works with all stocks including small and micro stocks (e.g. Fama and French (1992, 1993, 1996), Piotroski (2000) and Bartram and Grinblatt (2018)), I consider only the larger stocks in the UK by restricting my sample to the non-financial members of the FTSE 350 index. Since I use only large and more liquid stocks, my strategy can be easily implemented by investors.
Open Access
What middle managers do to manage performance in the public sector
(Cranfield University, 2019-09) Higson, Paula; Kelliher, Clare
Performance management continues to be an important area of research in the public sector, especially with reducing budgets and the recognition of operational delivery as a core discipline in the UK civil service. The performance management literature, in all sectors, treats operational and people performance as separate topics. Middle managers were historically seen as an expensive overhead and, even now, little is known about what they do to manage performance. Equally, the research has focussed on the relationship between a manager and their direct report and not about their wider role in motivating their work-unit. This study of 20 in-depth, qualitative interviews in a large, operational, UK government department asked middle managers what they did to manage performance. The study found four groups of activities. Middle managers monitor and oversee the performance of their work-unit, identify causes of performance gaps and supervise mitigating actions. They manage, coach and develop their frontline managers. They engage directly with the frontline staff of their work-unit: regularly investing time in this, despite being busy. They manage their own change projects and play a key role in supporting staff in coping with corporate- level change. A further, unexpected, finding was that different sub-groups of middle managers, with different demographic profiles, had differences in their attitudes and approaches to performance management. The contributions of this study are: (i) an integration of the performance management literature: with a proposed integrated model of performance management; (ii) further development of the concept of the performance gap; (iii) demonstration that the relationship between the middle manager and frontline staff is a critical part of performance management. The implications of these findings, for middle managers and their organisations, are discussed. Further research is recommended.
Open Access
The integration of exploration and exploitation in the context of innovation teams: fostering and leveraging paradoxical tensions
(Cranfield University, 2018-09) Delley Frederic; Reinmoeller, Patrick
This doctoral research was conducted in the context of Cranfield’s Executive DBA program. The central theme running through each of the three papers that constitute the core of this thesis is the integration of exploration and exploitation in the context of innovation teams. The first paper is a systematic literature review of the mechanisms used to integrate exploration and exploitation at multiple levels of the organization. Based on the findings from this review, the concept of “integrative capacity” is introduced and related propositions are developed. The second and third papers are empirical studies that examine different parts of Smith and Lewis’s (2011) dynamic equilibrium model of tension management. The first is a quantitative study of 42 innovation teams. Its primary objective is to develop and validate hypotheses about optimal team configurations. Specifically, the study looks at the distribution of paradox mindsets within teams and its impact on the innovativeness of project outputs. The second is an exploratory, qualitative study of 16 senior innovation leaders working in large multinational organizations across different industries. It identifies the types of tensions that surface in the process of developing new products or services, describes the resolution strategies used to deal with these tensions, and infers causal relationships between the use of particular resolution strategies and their propensity to embed tensions in the context of new product development projects. Together, these papers contribute primarily to paradox theory and, more specifically, to our understanding of how exploration and exploitation can be brought together in valuable ways in the context of innovation teams. Importantly, despite their unique perspectives and different methodologies, all three papers suggest that the synergistic integration of exploration and exploitation rests on two distinct and complementary sets of factors: those that foster and those that leverage paradoxical tensions
Open Access
Barriers and enablers for the adoption of professional management
(Cranfield University, 2018-09) El Gallad, Ahmed; Hussels, Stephanie
The inability to survive across generations is the main challenge facing all family businesses with only 30% of family firms managing to survive to the second generation, and less than 15% last to the third generation. The generational succession process, primarily from the founder to the second generation accentuates managerial transition, making the founder's style of management potentially no longer the ideal way to run the family firm. It has been argued that the inability of family businesses to adapt to the managerial changes after the founder's era is one of the reasons behind the low survival rate. Professional management is the style of management that follows the founder era and is sought to be applied by the subsequent generations. Therefore, this research investigates the barriers and enablers that family- controlled firms face when they attempt to adopt professional management. Based on the systematic literature review and the empirical study using semi- structured interviews in the Egyptian family business context, the research developed a model that clarifies the three processes involved to adopt professional management during generational transition. The first part of the model provides a deeper understanding of family businesses management through providing clearer demarcations between the family, entrepreneurial and founder management. This helps in clarifying some vagueness and confusion existing in literature between these styles of management. The second part of the model deals with the components of the professional management which are divided between practices and norms. The third part, based on the empirical project, is concerned with the barriers and enablers of professional management where obedience vs. disobedience to the father is considered an enabler or a barrier to professional management. This is the first research that highlights the importance of the relationship between professional management and the father and son relationship in certain Middle Eastern context, which the Egyptian family business context.
Open Access
From HR model to contextual system: An exploration of how the HR function is organised and the factors that influence the organising of HR
(Cranfield University, 2024-02) Cooper, Jessica; Parry, Emma
This research examines the organisation of the Human Resources (HR) function. The narrative from the profession has been dominated by a single model, the ‘Ulrich model’ (Ulrich et al., 2008) that has influenced the way that HR functions organise; however, there is limited empirical research which has examined the organisation of HR in practice. Research in this area of HR has focused upon examining individual elements such as shared services, outsourcing etc. and there has been a lack of holistic examination. For this reason, little is understood about what influences the organisation of HR and there is an absence of theoretical explanation. At a time when the HR function has increased its standing in the organisation following COVID-19 and the aftermath, and as organisations go through a period of rapid change requiring the support of HR, it is important that HR is capable of continuing to be an integral part and meet the needs of the organisation.
Open Access
The relationship between decision-making uncertainty and information integration in FMCG supply chains.
(Cranfield University, 2023-02) Xue, Yufei; Yates, Nicky; Ghadge, Abhijeet
The relationship between decision-making uncertainty and information integration is important for supply chain stakeholders. However, the detailed interactions in this relationship have received limited explanation. This study empirically identifies the key factors in the relationship and investigates their interactions. Based on three papers, the thesis captures the relationships and interactions between decision-making uncertainty and information integration, offering empirical evidence on the nature of these relationships. The first paper develops a theory-based relational framework for the relationship between decision-making uncertainty and information integration. A systematic literature review (SLR) approach is conducted, and 86 articles published between 2001–2022 are reviewed. The findings support the concept of fit in information processing theory (IPT), demonstrating that information processing needs and capabilities must match to positively impact supply chain performance. The paper also indicates that the high level of environmental and industry uncertainty in decision-making uncertainty increases supply chain stakeholders’ willingness to implement information integration. Simultaneously, supply chain stakeholders implement Industry 4.0 information and communication technologies (ICTs) to support technology-based information integration and to reduce the impact of decision-making uncertainty in the supply chain. The relationship between decision-making uncertainty and information integration has also been shown to impact supply chain performance. The second paper uses the Internet of Things (IoT) to represent ICTs in Industry 4.0. The study conducted a multiple-case study in the fast fashion industry in China to investigate the relationship between decision-making uncertainty and information integration affected by the implementation of the IoT. Consequently, environmental complexity, richness, and the bullwhip effect are identified as the key factors in decision-making uncertainty; information accuracy, quality, efficiency, and security are identified as the key factors in information integration; and management cost and asset utilisation in supply chain costs, alongside response speed, product flexibility, and efficiency in production operations, are identified as supply chain performance. Moreover, the findings highlight that the alignment between decision-making uncertainty and information integration is important and consists of several interactions among environmental complexity, environmental richness, the bullwhip effect, and information accuracy, quality, and efficiency. This research elaborates on the theory-based relational framework developed in Paper 1 and it provides empirical support to several conceptual studies on implementing IoT applications. The third paper assesses the interactions identified in Paper 2 and their impact on supply chain performance. After analysing the data collected from the supply chain stakeholders of the fast fashion industry in China through structural equation modelling (SEM), the analysis results confirm the importance of key factors in decision-making uncertainty (environmental complexity, environmental richness, and bullwhip effect) and IoT-based information integration (information quality, information accuracy, and information efficiency). The interactions between information accuracy and environmental complexity, information accuracy and environmental richness, information quality and the bullwhip effect, and information efficiency and the bullwhip effect are identified as the key interactions in the alignment between decision-making uncertainty and information integration. The study also emphasises decision-making uncertainty’s direct impact on supply chain performance. It concludes that the interactions between decision-making uncertainty and IoT-based information integration partially mediate the relationship. This paper is the first empirical study to explain the detailed interactions between information integration and decision- making uncertainty, and it provides empirical evidence for theoretical associations.
Open Access
Re-examining dynamic capabilities in the context of digital transformation.
(Cranfield University, 2023-10) Gao, Yanjun; Theoharakis, Vasilis; Maklan, Stan
While digital transformation is often a necessity to allow incumbent firms to remain competitive in a fast-changing world, it suffers from high failure rates in practice. The dynamic capability perspective was developed to address rapidly changing environments, so it can be utilised as a theoretical foundation to improve our understanding of digital transformation. With dynamic capabilities often disaggregated into three capability clusters: sensing, seizing, and transforming, these clusters are mostly presented in a static sequence and evolve independently, which is a practice challenged by this thesis. To explore the possible reasons hindering digital transformation, a longitudinal case study is conducted, exploring the evolution of dynamic capability clusters over time. It is observed that sensing, seizing, and transforming, rather than being sequential, coexist and coevolve during digital transformation. When they evolve at different speeds, mismatches can occur, which can act as bottlenecks slowing down the transformation but at the same time can act as catalysts improving underdeveloped capabilities. This finding contributes to the theory by demonstrating how mismatches arise during the coevolution of dynamic capability clusters and discussing their consequences for digital transformation. This finding also contributes to practice by arguing that the way in which firms orchestrate the coevolution of these dynamic capabilities over time holds a key to successful digital transformation, providing a more dynamic approach for emergent strategy development. It is therefore suggested that managers embrace the tensions caused by these mismatches and adopt a mindset that allows them to concurrently improve different dynamic capability clusters supporting digital transformation. While dynamic capabilities were introduced to address the static nature of the resource-based view (RBV), as previously described, the sensing, seizing, and transforming clusters are often applied in a sequential fashion, ignoring their possible interdependencies and evolutionary paths, and thus failing to capture the essential dynamism of the underlying phenomenon, which is particularly important in a high-velocity digital context. Therefore, this study further developed the conceptualisation of dynamic capability from an evolutionary perspective, better serving the current digital environment, which is changing faster than ever. As regards future research, firstly, since this thesis advances the conceptualisation of sensing, seizing, and transforming capabilities from an evolutionary perspective, it needs to be validated by more empirical studies. Secondly, the context is a limitation of this thesis. While this thesis provides deep insights through a single longitudinal case study in the retail sector, more studies are called for in diverse industries and national contexts to examine the coevolution of dynamic capabilities over time. Thirdly, while this thesis observes the mismatches during the coevolution of dynamic capabilities, further research is needed to explore the fundamental reasons behind this observation. The potential reasoning assumptions proposed by this thesis in attempting to explain the fundamental mechanism of dynamic capability mismatches require further examination via empirical research. Fourthly, an evolutionary underpinning indicates the methodological implications, calling for a longitudinal research design that moves away from a serial view in order to further advance and validate the framework of sensing, seizing, and transforming.
Open Access
Sustainable customer solutions: an institutional theory approach to link resource integration and value creation.
(Cranfield University, 2023-02) Widmer, Tobias; Bourlakis, Michael; Prior, Daniel; Aktas, Emel
Alternatives to current resource intensive ways of production and consumption are required to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Transitioning from product sales to providing customer solutions (CS) has the potential to enhance sustainability. This transition, however, leads to managerial complexity, which increases further when trying to simultaneously become more sustainable. To succeed, manufacturers must ensure that their customers create economic, social, and environmental value with the CS. However, pursuing multiple goals may lead to tensions or require trade-offs. Informed by literature from Institutional Theory, industrial marketing, and sustainability, two studies were conducted. First, a multiple-case study investigated under which conditions resource integration (RI) is sustainable. By using ideal type logics, the study identified practices, values, and beliefs of business logics, as well as occurrences of conflicting, competing, and compatible logics which must be navigated collaboratively with customers to overcome barriers. Second, a single-case study investigated how RI translates into customers achieving their economic, social, and environmental goals. The study identified resources, value proposition components, and value-in-use constructs which were used in a means-end chain analysis, identifying multiple internal and external enablers and catalysts to stewardship practice in CS. The study found that CS can enhance sustainability compared to product sales, though it is not inherently guaranteed. The development of value propositions (VP) in CS is triggered internally or through the customers. Customers’ goals and the assessment thereof are continuously changing, requiring the VP to be dynamic and adapting by introducing and removing resources. A proposed framework of a value creation cycle establishes stewardship practice as a means to empirically explore and theoretically explain value creation in sustainable CS with institutional arrangements that manifest at multiple levels of a service-ecosystem. Along the value creation cycle, novel operational and cultural enablers and catalysts as well as challenges were identified, and are added to the body of knowledge which helps managers understand the requirements for successfully developing and implementing sustainable CS.
Open Access
Exploring the potential of impact investing to catalyse transitioning to a circular economy.
(Cranfield University, 2023-03) Bilewu, Omotayo; Nellis, Joe; Angus, Andrew
There is an overwhelming need to address global social and environmental challenges, alongside an increasing recognition that ‘good business’ is intertwined with ‘doing good’. The emergence of impact investing as an investment vehicle to ‘intentionally’ tackle societal challenges, such as those captured within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, alongside generating financial returns is proving attractive to investors and asset managers. This doctoral thesis seeks to provide insights in response to calls for rigorous academic studies towards building institutional legitimacy that should increase market confidence and capital allocation. It starts by investigating the connections between impact investing and the circular economy - two concepts that have generated increased interest in parallel over the last decade. The review reveals that the attributes of impact investing suggest it could play a pivotal role in accelerating the transition to a circular economy. Using a social exchange theory lens, the evolving exchange modalities between investors, intermediaries, and investee companies in the impact investing ecosystem is examined. The results show that a nexus of activities influenced by formal and informal norms govern behaviours and expectations. These norms are crucial in the relational exchange between impact investors, intermediaries and investee companies. A conceptual framework emerges from the study to guide impact investing practice. Furthermore, a single embedded case study is conducted to explore how the exchange partners engage with behaviour change interventions that substitute trust with a mutual opportunity to incorporate sustainable development initiatives in the delivery of an affordable housing development. The findings indicate that mutual goals increase collaboration and cooperation, but are curtailed by the outcome of cost benefit analysis which impinges on trust. Nevertheless, there is scope for impact investors to encourage the uptake of circular economy principles through education and awareness with learning reinforced in project specific facilitated workshop settings.
Open Access
Blockchain technology for food supply chain: an investigation of the implementation process and impact on supply chain performance.
(Cranfield University, 2023-03) Vu, Nam; Ghadge, Abhijeet; Bourlakis, Michael
The food supply chain (FSC) plays a vital role in sustaining human life and achieving economic growth. Food and agricultural products are inherently perishable, sensitive to temperature, dependent on nature for production, and seasonal. As the result, businesses have to face specific and persistent challenges in monitoring food quality and safety, and reducing waste. Moreover, the globalization and complexity of the modern FSC can lead to pressing issues such as information asymmetry, low transparency, and food adulteration. Businesses and academics have explored Blockchain technology as a potential remedy for the hurdles of managing the FSC. While the technology has grown at an impressive pace, the knowledge regarding Blockchain adoption and its impact is yet fully explored. Therefore, there is a compelling need for researching the Blockchain phenomenon in the FSC setting, contributing to both literature and practice, and ultimately to better management of food products. To close the gap, this thesis particularly aims to investigate the adoption process of Blockchain and its impact on operational performance. Through a series of three studies, this thesis provided a literature review of the subject, developed an evidence-driven model for Blockchain integration, evaluated the relationships between important determinants to the Blockchain implementation stages, and specified the effects of adopting Blockchain on key performance metrics of the FSC. The key findings of this thesis are three-fold. First, the thesis provided an extensive and scientific systematic literature review about the current state of Blockchain adoption research in the area of food supply chain management. Specifically, the literature review synthesized four main themes from relevant literature, including the Blockchain adoption process, drivers and barriers to the adoption, and applications of Blockchain in food management. Second, the thesis constituted a holistic model of Blockchain implementation in the specific context of the FSC. Started with combining insights from the literature review and Innovation Adoption theoretical lenses to develop a conceptual model for iii Blockchain implementation in the FSC, the thesis then employed a mixed- methods approach to develop the conceptual model further. First, interviews were conducted to explore the process of adopting Blockchain in the FSC. Then, quantitative data was gathered by a survey to statistically assess the key relationships in the implementation model. The result is an evidence-based and feasible model of Blockchain adoption for organizations in the FSC. This model details Blockchain implementation activities and critical determinants of the process (implications from interviews findings), as well as analyses the most important determinants of each adoption stage (implications from the survey findings), all in the FSC setting. Third, this thesis evaluates the impact of a successful Blockchain adoption on the operational performances of an FSC. Using the System Dynamics modelling approach and simulations, the thesis illustrates holistically how Blockchain technology can affect key performance metrics, including inventory level, service level, lead time, and cost, at a supply chain level. Findings in this thesis subsequently make several key contributions to literature, practice, and policy. The thesis extended the current knowledge of the Blockchain phenomenon in the context of FSC, especially how to implement the technology and what impacts it can have on supply chain performance. Moreover, the thesis provided valid attempts at elaborating Innovation Adoption theories and models to better explain the particular context of Blockchain in the FSC and bringing System thinking and System Dynamics approach to examine supply chain phenomenon. The results of this thesis inform managers in the field about the approach to implementing Blockchain technologies, and what factors they need to understand for successful adoption. The System Dynamics models in this thesis further provide a useful tool for businesses to experiment and explore the impacts of the technology on their operations. Moreover, the findings in this thesis suggest several important implications for policymakers. Particularly, they highlight the important role of regulators in advocating for the industry-wide adoption of Blockchain, provide an in-depth understanding of Blockchain roadmap and impacts for promoting the technology among businesses, and suggest regulatory bodies direct more efforts into onboarding the lesser iv technologically capable entities in the FSC (farmers, SMEs, etc) to a Blockchain network.
Open Access
Project-to-project learning in global new product development.
(Cranfield University, 2023-06) Cecchi, Michele Angelo; Goffin, Keith; Turner, Neil
This thesis deals with project-to-project learning in global new product development (NPD). Based on a Systematic Literature Review on knowledge management and NPD management, it shows that limited empirical research exists to explain the factors that influence project-to-project learning and that limited guidance is provided to NPD practitioners wanting to implement knowledge management initiatives in global NPD. An in-depth case study is presented of three global NPD project teams in a large multinational organization active in the design and manufacture of complex systems for the automotive sector. Three research questions and five research propositions are built to guide empirical research on project-to-project learning. Case study methodology using data from observations, surveys, interviews and reviews of documents are used to uncover the project-to-project learning behaviour of global NDP teams. A three-step approach to data analysis is used to review the case study with the help of knowledge flow mapping, thematic coding and survey data analysis. The research shows that radical, global NPD project teams need high volumes of both internal and external knowledge to be successful and that an intrinsic bias exists at different seniority levels, impacting on knowledge management. The research also shows that both social and structured knowledge management initiatives are effective and are used for project-to-project learning in global NPD. Finally, the implications of research findings for NPD practitioners and researchers are discussed.