Thanos Papadopoulos

University of Kent | KENT · Kent Business School

This paper investigates the role of resource allocation in alleviating the impact on from disruptions in healthcare operations. We draw on resource orchestration theory and analyse data stemming from US healthcare to discuss how the US healthcare system structured, bundled and reconfigured resources (i.e. number of hospital beds, and vaccines) duri...

The study explores data-driven Digital Transformation (DT) for emergency situations. By adopting a dynamic capability view, we draw on the predictive practices and Big Data (BD) capabilities applied in the UK retail sector and how such capabilities support and align the supply chain resilience in emergency situations. We explore the views of major...

A considerable number of contributions at the intersection of social media platforms and social entrepreneurship has been witnessed over the past decade. The multi-disciplinary nature of current literature necessitates integrative insights on the topic. We thus undertake a two-pronged approach – bibliometric analysis followed by systematic review –...

Artificial intelligence by principle is developed to assist but also support decision making processes. In our study, we explore how information retrieved from social media can assist decision-making processes for new product development (NPD). We focus on consumers’ emotions that are expressed through social media and analyse the variations of the...

Scholars and practitioners have long acknowledged the impact of climate change on businesses, operations, and supply chains. Nevertheless, there is still scant research on the role of Big Data and Analytics (BDA) in addressing these challenges but also opportunities created by Climate Change for operations and supply chains as they strive to become...

Social responsibility in labour-intensive industries of developing countries is always a controversial issue among academics and practitioners. Although several studies have conceptualised or empirically examined social responsibility in developing countries, there is limited research that investigates social responsibility issues spanning the enti...

This paper discusses how digitalization of healthcare empowers stakeholders to interact and co-create value. The literature so far has focused on the benefits of healthcare value co-creation through digital technologies (DTs) from the patients and providers’ perspective. It has viewed patients and providers in isolation focusing on the benefits acc...

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether agricultural supply chains (ASC) can be simultaneously sustainable and resilient to ecological disruptions, using the Planetary Boundaries theory. The nine different Planetary Boundaries i.e. climatic change, biodiversity loss, biogeochemical, ocean acidification, land use, freshwater availability, st...

The popularity and potential of FinTech for generating business value has been highlighted in an evolving number of studies. Nevertheless, there is still ambiguity on the success of such disruptive technologies. To address this gap, this paper draws on a case study of an IT vendor in Japan. We interview key stakeholders involved in the case project...

Scholars have long acknowledged the importance of unveiling the black box of Operational Research (OR) practice. However, despite the emerging empirical studies in the area known as “Behavioural OR”, there is still a dearth of research into how artefacts are used at the micro-level of OR practice. This article addresses this gap by using adaptive s...

This study contributes to the literature on Information Systems (IS) implementation and provides insights into how IS implementation emerges as an assemblage constituted by diverse sociomaterial practices –that is, the intertwining of humans and technology in practice– during the implementation of Greece’s Yearly Property Tax policy and information...

As information technology (IT) success is both essential and elusive, researchers and practitioners are faced with an ongoing challenge to determine what IT capabilities should be developed to ensure IT success. Drawing on the paradox and ambidexterity theory, we highlight paradoxes in IT success and propose that firms manage these paradoxes by dev...

Understanding supply chain sustainability performance is increasingly important for supply chain researchers and managers. Literature has considered supply chain sustainability and the antecedents of performance from a triple bottom line (economic, social, and environmental) perspective. However, the role of supply chain visibility and product comp...

Scholars have highlighted the role of Digital Technologies (DT) in enhancing productivity and performance in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). However, there is limited evidence on the use of DT for dealing with the consequences of extreme events, such as COVID-19. We discuss this gap by (i) outlining potential research avenues and (ii) reflecti...

Sustainable operations of energy production systems have become an increasingly important policy agenda globally because of the massive pressure placed on energy resources needed to support economic development and population growth. Due to the increasing research interest in examining the operational impacts of energy production systems on the soc...

There has been tremendous interest in blockchain technology (BT) (also known as distributed ledger technology) around the globe and across sectors. Following significant success in the financial sector, other sectors, such as humanitarian sector, have started deploying BT at various levels. Although the use of BT in the humanitarian sector is in it...

In this paper, we study the role of temporal coordination in managing the early stages of innovation (aka fuzzy front-end) in the context of virtual teams. Following a comparative case study approach, we detail the role of temporal coordination through the study of two contrasting virtual teams—one with a 24-hour lifespan, and one with a five-month...

This paper examines the role of adverse economic conditions and human capital on different types of collaboration within agri-food supply chains. Data was collected from the Greek agricultural sector, covering periods of economic hardship. The results reveal that the impact of adverse economic conditions on the collaborative constructs of goal cong...

The aim of the preface is to introduce the scope of this special issue (SI). We explain our editorial approach and summarise our findings based on articles included in this SI. Finally, we outline future research questions which stemmed out of the discussions of this SI.

The scarcity of IT resources and technological advancements in high-tech small and medium enterprises (SMEs) require leaders to embed IT ambidexterity-simultaneous pursuit of IT exploitation and IT exploration activities-into their organization's strategy, which could be challenging. To better understand how leaders enable IT ambidexterity, this st...

While the use of big data tends to add value for business throughout the entire value chain, the integration of big data analytics (BDA) to the decision-making process remains a challenge. This study, based on a systematic literature review, thematic analysis and qualitative interview findings, proposes a set of six-steps to establish both rigor an...

In recent years, to stimulate the development of Lean Supply Chain Management (SCM) in SMEs, the UK aerospace industry has developed a change programme named ‘Supply Chains for the twenty-first century’ (SC21). This programme promotes the use of a simple standard improvement framework, which defines performance goals and standardises the approaches...

New product development (NPD) speed is becoming an important weapon by which firms can gain market share in today's competitive and complex market environments, where consumer preferences change rapidly. Drawing on the information technology (IT)‐enabled organizational capabilities perspective, this study proposes that IT ambidexterity—the simultan...

Abstract The importance of big data and predictive analytics has been at the forefront of research for operations and manufacturing management. Literature has reported the influence of big data and predictive analytics for improved supply chain and operational performance, but there has been a paucity of literature regarding the role of external in...

The aim of the editorial note is to introduce the scope of this special issue (SI). We explain our editorial approach and provide a brief summary of eight articles included in the SI following multiple rounds of reviews. Finally, we outline future research questions which stemmed out of the discussions of this SI.

Abstract The need for theory building in environmental supply chains has been at the centre of many discussions in recent years. Existing research, however, does not typically consider methods that aim at theory generation. Current methods such as econometric modelling or structural equation modelling face challenges related to how causality is est...

As Big Data has undergone a transition from being an emerging topic to a growing research area, it has become necessary to classify the different types of research and examine the general trends of this research area. This should allow the potential research areas that for future investigation to be identified. This paper reviews the literature on...

Purpose The main purpose of this research is to develop a performance measurement model for the entire supply chain that includes balanced set of performance measures. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual model was validated empirically in case companies through semi-structured interviews and content analysis of documents. Findings Perfo...

Academics and practitioners have long acknowledged the importance of agile manufacturing and related supply chains in achieving firm sustainable competitiveness. However, limited, if any, research has focused on the evolution of practices within agile manufacturing supply chains and how these are related to competitive performance objectives. To ad...

In this study, we attempt to establish the missing links between supply chain sustainability and frugal innovation. Our study motivations stem from two facets of the emerging markets: first, the institutional barriers and, second, the resource constraints. We argue that there is a synergy in the concepts of frugal innovation and sustainability in s...

Purpose With considerable international awareness of circular economy (CE), the purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical framework, informed by institutional theory and upper echelon theory (UET), to explain how top management commitment (TMC) mediates the relationship between external pressures and supplier relationship management (SRM)...

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model to explain the impact of big data and predictive analytics (BDPA) on sustainable business development goal of the organization. Design/methodology/approach The authors have developed the theoretical model using resource-based view logic and contingency theory. The model was furt...

We explore how professional legal services and their supply chains can be modularised. Based on a review of the service modularity, supply chain modularity and supply chain strategy literature, we posit that the scope of service modularisation should be determined by, and aligned with, the supply chain strategy of a firm. We develop a conceptual fr...

Purpose The purpose of this study is to review the existing literature on supply chain performance measures and metrics (PMMs). It provides a critical evaluation of 234 articles published in past 24 years. Design/methodology/approach The paper examines the studies published from 1991 to 2014 by adopting the bibliometric technique of citation and...

The inter-rater/test–retest reliability and construct validity of a palliative care needs assessment tool in interstitial lung disease (NAT:PD-ILD) were tested using NAT:PD-ILD-guided video-recorded consultations, and NAT:PD-ILD-guided consultations, and patient and carer-report outcomes (St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)-ILD, Carer Stra...

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of big data and business analytics (BDBA) in agile manufacturing practices. Literature has discussed the benefits and challenges related to the deployment of big data within operations and supply chains, but there has not been a study of the facilitating roles of BDBA in achieving an enhanced level...

ANTECEDENTS OF LOW CARBON EMISSIONS SUPPLY CHAINS ABSTRACT Purpose – The low carbon economy is the pressing need of the time. Despite efforts taken by governments and large corporations, there is still research to be conducted exploring the role of top management commitment in translating external pressures into responses that help to build low c...

Understanding sustainable production is becoming increasingly important for production and operations managers, mainly due to a shortage in natural resources. Sustainability requires many changes in behaviour at all levels. Few studies within the sustainable production literature have empirically disentangled the underlying behavioural concepts of...

Total Quality Management (TQM) is an enduring approach for enhancing firm competitiveness. Still, there is dearth of research regarding organisational diffusion (post-adoption) of TQM. To address this gap, this research proposes a theoretical model rooted in institutional and upper echelon theories that explains TQM diffusion via top management com...

Manufacturing flexibility has been the subject of scholarly debate for decades. The literature investigated the relationship between manufacturing flexibility (MF) and business strategy realisation. However, scholars are yet to establish the relationship between these two constructs as mediated by the position of decoupling point (DP), which plays...

This paper explores how theory and methodology from Community Operational Research (Community OR) can enhance Lean initiatives. We are driven by the paucity of the literature discussing the involvement of non-obvious stakeholders, particularly local communities, in the adoption of Lean. We present a project undertaken with a food production company...

: In recent years, there has been a proliferation of interest in resilience in the supply chain field. Even though literature has acknowledged the antecedents of resilient supply chains, such as supply chain visibility, cooperation, and information sharing, their confluence in creating resilient supply chains where other behavioural issues are prev...

Although literature indicates that big data and predictive analytics (BDPA) convey a distinct organisational capability, little is known about their performance effects in particular contextual conditions (inter alia, national context and culture, and firm size). Grounding our investigation in the dynamic capability views and organisational culture...

This paper focusses on the openness in the front-end phase of service innovation and its impact on innovation success. The early stages of innovation are fuzzy and unstructured, thus often being called "fuzzy front-end" (FFE) by scholars. The FFE begins when an opportunity is considered worthy of further ideation, exploration, and assessment and en...

Purpose The purpose of paper is twofold. First, it provides a consolidated overview of the existing literature on “big data” and second, it presents the current trends and opens up various future directions for researchers who wish to explore and contribute in this rapidly evolving field. Design/methodology/approach To achieve the objective of thi...

Facility layout design, a NP Hard problem, is associated with the arrangement of facilities in a manufacturing shop floor, which impacts the performance, and cost of system. Efficient design of facility layout is a key to the sustainable operations in a manufacturing shop floor. An efficient layout design not only optimizes the cost and energy due...

Sustainability benchmarking is gaining importance in industry. Despite its increasing popularity, the existing research utilizing theory to explain the organizations intention to shape performance measurement systems (PMS) for sustainability benchmarking is limited. Drawing upon institutional theory and organizational culture, this study investigat...

Working collaboratively with internal and external partners (suppliers, customers and internal stakeholders) has been at the epicentre of product design. Knowledge sharing has been well recognised in this context. However, there is limited research that has addressed the role of social media/Web 2.0 in facilitating knowledge sharing for sense- and...

Purpose: A shortage of skills is recognized as a major source of risk in supply chain networks. This study uses two independent organizational theories to explain how to build applicable skills for continuous availability of appropriate supply chain talents. The paper proposes an integrated framework that links human agency theory, social capital t...

Abstract Purpose – To examine when and how organizations create agility, adaptability, and alignment as distinct supply chain properties to gain sustainable competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach – The current study utilizes the resource-based view (RBV) under the moderating effect of top management commitment. To test our research hypo...

Purpose Green or sustainable supply chain management (GSCM/SSCM) has in recent years attracted much attention from academia and practitioners in all part of the world. In recent years, all humanity has experienced severe climate change which is widely attributed to human activity. Harmful emissions have made a major contribution to recent climate c...

The concept of green supply chain management is evolving rapidly and gaining popularity in the research community. This research reviews the literature on green supply chain performance measures for the purpose of providing thorough insight into the field. Using bibliometric and network analysis, the research critically evaluates 653 articles publi...

Big Data refers to complex and unstructured data that is difficult to analyse and utilize with traditional applications and analyses. Big Data comes from a variety of sources, including tracking and sensor devices which are widely used in logistics and supply chain management, and relate to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Thus, th...

Literature on innovation suggests that innovative business units seem to be information intensive and ambidextrous in nature. Some business units carry out exploratory and exploitative processes under different roof (UDR) and others under same roof (USR). To establish the balance between exploration and exploitation in innovators, information syste...

Big Data refers to complex and unstructured data that is difficult to analyse and utilize with traditional applications and analyses. Big Data comes from a variety of sources, including tracking and sensor devices which are widely used in logistics and supply chain management, and relate to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Thus, th...

This paper offers a systematic review of the literature on the use of information technology (IT) in logistics and supply chain management to achieve competitive advantage. While IT has revolutionized traditional logistics and supply chains to achieve numerous benefits such as increased efficiency and responsiveness, it is not still clear to what e...

This study, drawing on natural resource-based view (NRBV), identifies drivers, barriers and the potential benefits of Returnable Transport Packaging (RTP) –that is, the repeated use of packaging items– and conceptualises RTP as a technology and resource that supports organisational competitiveness. Specifically, it investigates the impact of RTP ad...

This study develops a theoretical model that links reconfigurable manufacturing systems with top management beliefs, participation, and environmental performance, drawing on agency theory and organizational culture. The study takes into account the possible confounding effects of organization size and organizational compatibility. Drawing on respon...

Economic, environmental and social aspects of sustainability have been shown to span beyond organizational boundaries, indicating the importance of managing sustainability initiatives across the supply chain. Although scholars and practitioners focus a great deal of attention toward economic and environmental sustainability in supply chains, less a...

Big data and predictive analytics (BDPA) has been at the forefront of interest for both academics and practitioners. Scholars have acknowledged the importance of BDPA in achieving business value and firm performance. However, the role of BDPA assimilation on supply chain and organizational performance has not been thoroughly investigated. To addres...

This paper focuses on how the use of Community OR (COR), specifically Systems Thinking (ST) and the Viable System Model (VSM) can help in addressing complex and uncertain problem situations within community organisations, in particular Alternative Food Networks (AFNs). Literature has highlighted the importance and benefits of AFNs, but also the com...

Research on social sustainability in developing countries has recently gained importance for both academics and practitioners. Studies in the supply chain management field take either a supplier or a manufacturer perspective that address predominantly corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues referring to the internal stakeholders. Our research...

The purpose of this paper is to propose and test a theoretical framework to explain resilience in supply chain networks for sustainability using unstructured Big Data, based upon 36,422 items gathered in the form of tweets, news, Facebook, WordPress, Instagram, Google+, and YouTube, and structured data, via responses from 205 managers involved in d...

This paper argues for the use of Total Interpretive Structural Modeling (TISM) in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). The literature has identified antecedents and drivers for the adoption of SSCM. However, there is relatively little research on methodological approaches and techniques that take into account the dynamic nature of SSCM and b...

The amount of data produced and communicated over the Internet is significantly increasing, thereby creating challenges for the organizations that would like to reap the benefits from analyzing this massive influx of big data. This is because big data can provide unique insights into, inter alia, market trends, customer buying patterns, and mainten...

Purpose Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) has attracted considerable interest among academics and practitioners. The purpose of this paper is to present a critical review of the literature, to identify missing links, to argue for the use of world class SSCM (WCSSCM) through a framework, and suggest further research directions. Design/meth...

********************* CALL FOR PAPERS ********************* SUBMISSION DUE DATE: May 15, 2017 REVIEWER FIRST REPORTS: July 15, 2017 REVISED PAPER SUBMISSION: September 15, 2017 REVIEWER SECOND REPORTS: November 30, 2017 FINAL MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSIONS TO PUBLISHER: December 15, 2017

This article reviews the literature and identifies challenges, research gaps, and further research directions on sustainable consumption and production (SCP). Several research gaps in the area of SCP are identified that includes: 1) there are very few research works analysing the mismatch between the demand and supply of sustainable products in the...

The early stages of innovation involve high levels of uncertainty, leading to it being labelled as the "fuzzy-front end" (FFE). Although openness has been identified as pivotal to innovation performance in the open innovation literature, little effort has been put into exploring its role in the FFE. Specifically, this study examines 'openness compe...

In this paper an attempt has been made to build a theoretical framework of the enablers and barriers of flexible green supply chain management (FGSCM). This study is unique in its kind, as it clearly illustrates both the enablers and barriers and their complex interrelationships that impact the design and implementation of flexible and green strate...