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Food supply chains exist in a volatile world, and are facing an increasing global pressure to behave in a responsible and sustainable manner, whilst providing adequate nourishment for a growing population: the dairy industry in the United Kingdom is no exception to this responsibility. An imbalance of power amongst stakeholders in the dairy supply chain appears to facilitate sustainable behaviours for some, at the expense of other actors' livelihoods. From the perspectives of the multiple stakeholders that are impacted by the activities of the dairy supply chain, this research aims to identify the different ways sustainability is defined within the industry, and what evaluative factors affects the perception of sustainability. Power is focused on to investigate the mechanisms that underpin powerful players' abilities to influence and legitimise certain sustainable practices. A multi-method, qualitative, inductive approach is assumed by this research, drawing on the previously utilised frameworks of stakeholder theory and resource dependence theory, as well as the novel introduction of a cultural hegemony lens in the sustainable supply chain field. The latter concept influenced the use of critical discourse analysis as a method, which represents a further novelty of this research. Contemporary grey literature on sustainability in the UK dairy industry was analysed from multiple stakeholder perspectives to identify sustainable storylines in the texts and understand how power is transmitted through discourse. Both a dominant storyline, with foundations in an economic growth paradigm, and an alternative storyline, with focus on an equitable sustainable future, emerged. Through recognising a duality of stakeholder identity, a self-perpetuating cycle of legitimacy was observed. 26 semi-structured interviews then took place with different stakeholders of the UK dairy industry, from which 12 distinct factors are associated with the evaluation of sustainable practices in the UK dairy industry. The need to move away from perceiving sustainability as a static checkbox requirement is stressed, with a multifaceted and dynamic approach towards measuring sustainable performance being suggested. The importance of the relationship between consumer and retailer is highlighted, as well as a mechanism that links together components that can influence sustainable practices, referred to as the loop of power. By blending both the findings and theoretical lenses in this research, the concept of hegemonic resource value is proposed. Finally, the tension between the paradigms of the dominant and alternative approach are contrasted, illustrating the profound difference that exists between members of the UK dairy industry. Practical implications of this research include the suggestion of an independent trade association with statutory power in the dairy industry that spans all stakeholders, as well as suggestions of areas of focus for such an organisation.

Circular Economy (CE) is an alternative model to a linear economy to produce further efficient use of the resources and gain the most significant benefit all through the valuable life cycle. This idea seeks to convert the ongoing system and embrace a new framework in which the utility and cycle of the products and materials can be extended as much as possible using key strategies, for instance: Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle, and Recover. The objective of the present research is to conduct an extensive analysis of the supply chain in order to understand the multi-stakeholder perspective, barriers, and opportunities to implement further CE practices in the organisations. The industries proposed for this study were obtained as a result of the gaps found in the systematic literature review. The Food and Textile industries were recommended in two main regions: Yucatan, Mexico, and South Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. The analysis was conducted through two main stages. The first one was a preliminary content analysis to evaluate the regions by exploring the websites of the top fifty companies in each industry for each region. The purpose of the first stage was the recognition of the most frequent CE practices currently adopted and the level of awareness. The second stage was to collect data complementary to the first stage data by conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews with people related to the redesign of the supply chain of the above-mentioned industries and through a critical analysis of the interviewees' discourse. Drawing upon a planned theoretical framework incorporating stakeholder, resource based-view, agency, and institutional theory, this thesis proposed a review of the outcomes through this theoretical lens in order to holistically evaluate and fill some of the gaps in the present literature. The results of this study will help to understand how power structures influence the way institutions are managed along the supply chain and thus achieve better planning of strategies that encourage the adoption of more circular practices.

An urban consolidation centre (UCC) is a pivotal facility initiated to reduce the negative impact generated by urban logistics activities. The UCC is an intermediate facility that connects intercity transportation with their clients (e.g. stores, offices, restaurants, etc.). The function of UCCs is to trans-ship goods directed to urban areas, aiming to consolidate deliveries, and thus provide greater efficiency (and effectiveness) in the distribution process by increasing the truckload factor and replacing heavy trucks with smaller vehicles that are more suitable for urban deliveries, which helps to mitigate urban congestion and air pollution. Despite the potential benefits of UCCs, these projects often fail to be self-sustaining, with many relying on subsidies from local authorities. This factor is the main obstacle that prohibits the long-term sustainability of this project. Through the literature review, this thesis identifies the reasons for such an issue - that UCCs cannot balance the interests of different stakeholders. Specifically, although UCCs can alleviate the environmental and social problems generated in urban logistics, the commercial interests of private stakeholders (e.g., logistics service providers, goods receivers) may be harmed by this project. As a result, UCCs will fall into deficit due a to lack of private stakeholders subscribing to this project. In response to the above issue, this thesis aims to improve the quality of stakeholders engagement during UCC planning, which enables the concerns and objectives of different stakeholders to be well considered. Based on this, the UCC can be designed reasonably to satisfy the requirements of various stakeholders, thus attracting private stakeholders to join the project. This thesis comprises four sections. In the first section, a formula-based cost structure is designed to enable planners to estimate the financial performance of UCCs in the project formulating phrase. The second section is based on four different UCC models in Sweden and China. This section reveals the result of stakeholders engagement in terms of the stakeholders' objectives, users' needs, value propositions of UCCs' services, and the stakeholders' partnerships in these UCCs. It provides an insight into how to design UCCs so that they can generate benefits for different stakeholders. In the third section, also based on the above four UCCs, a mix-method approach is implemented to evaluate the divergence of conflicts between different stakeholders and identify the reasons for these conflicts. The fourth section aims to use the cost allocation method to mitigate the financial burden of UCCs that are caused by insufficient users. Three kinds of cost allocation rules are proposed, the results illustrate that UCCs can benefit from the designed cost allocation mechanism through incentivising stakeholders' participation in UCC projects. The last section introduces a decision-making tool, which could display the cost details of different UCC scenarios, thus promoting the strategic design of a UCC This thesis contributes to both theoretical and practical aspects. For the theoretical contribution, through the comparison of four successful UCCs, presented evidence is coherent with the view that a sound UCC project can benefit all the stakeholders based on the stakeholders' engagement. Furthermore, the findings can contribute to a better understanding of the exposing and addressing of the disagreements between stakeholders' preferences during stakeholders' engagement. Lastly, it is evidently clear from the findings that the cost allocation method successfully alleviates the financial burdens of UCCs by fairly and efficiently sharing the cost to upstream and downstream stakeholders. For the practical contribution, the implemented methods and formulated models can be applied as an instruction to promote stakeholders' engagement during the UCC planning. Furthermore, the decision-making tools enable decision-makers to address the issues about cost control of UCCs as early as the project preliminary stage. All these factors can increase the success rate of a UCC project.

The suitable location of facilities is a key factor in achieving efficient supply systems both in the public and in the private sectors. Nowadays, most public and non-profit bodies offering essential services (such as healthcare or environmental management facilities) are suffering from severe funding limitations and budget cuts. In handling this scenario, the decision-makers must take any possible action to ensure facility networks can keep operating and providing a minimum required service level, even though, due to financial reasons, some facilities might be downsized (and their operating hours reduced) or, in extreme cases, closed down. Any reduction that is made might limit the service level, hence increasing the congestion level of the system. For essential services, this means an increase in demand's waiting times for server availability; as such, users could consider moving to another available facility or, at a certain point, leave the system. This study aims to develop a mathematical model for reorganising the operations of existing facility networks which encounter budget reductions issues. Due to reorganisational actions, the network size might be reduced. Hence, this study is also concerned with the effect of the reorganisation, i.e. the congestion problems which might derive from the changes imposed onto the network. Limited studies were found in the area of reorganisation of facilities' operations, especially in a scenario of supply shortage problem. Moreover, no study considered congestion problem as part of reorganisation effect. Hence, this study proposed a dynamic mathematical model using a multi-period logic as the main approach to solve the reorganisation problem. The proposed model was adapted and used to solve two real-world case studies from the City of Sheffield (UK): the first one concerned with the rationalisation of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC); the second one devoted to the organisation of General Practitioners (GP) Facilities. Both types of facilities are currently dealing with budget limitations issues. The contribution of this thesis is twofold. First of all, the effect of reorganisational actions on the networks was also considered and integrated, through explicit consideration of congestion issues by means of a novel multi-period model which was proposed in order to solve facility networks reorganisation problems. As such, this work provides an enrichment of the literature related to reorganisation problems of existing facility networks; which not many authors have explored. Secondly, such model was applied to two real-world cases faced by local authorities and other planning bodies; through these implementations, the study also contributed to practical problem-solving issues.

Despite the growing body of literature recognising the influence of supply chain leadership and governance mechanisms on supply chain practices, studies on these two domains are currently disconnected. Furthermore, while the importance of supply chain leadership is mentioned and highlighted in the literature, less is known about the role of buying firms' leadership styles as the determinants of governance mechanisms and suppliers' performance. Drawing upon theories of stakeholder, institutional, transformational-transactional leadership, social exchange and transaction cost economics, this thesis fills some of the gaps in the current literature by examining the effects of supply chain leadership on governance mechanisms and suppliers' performance. A number of hypotheses were developed and proposed, and a convergent parallel mixed methods research design was used to examine the effects of supply chain leadership on governance mechanisms and suppliers' performance in Malaysian manufacturing industries. 190 questionnaire survey responses were collected and analysed using structural equation modelling, while 25 semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that transformational and transactional leadership positively influenced different governance mechanisms with transformational leadership driving towards trust-based governance and transactional leadership pushing towards contract-based governance. The direct positive effects of transformational and transactional leadership towards suppliers' performance are also evident in this thesis. However, the findings reveal that laissez-faire leadership negatively influenced contract-based governance and suppliers' performance. Nonetheless, this thesis discovers that the indirect effects of supply chain leadership to suppliers' performance were partially mediated through governance mechanisms. The findings provide insights on reconceptualising supply chain leadership. This thesis integrates supply chain leadership and governance mechanisms in one model and reconciles the role of both concepts towards suppliers' performance. Furthermore, this thesis provides an explanation of the relationships between supply chain leadership and suppliers' performance by looking into the mediating role of governance mechanisms. By integrating those concepts, the disengagement between supply chain leadership, governance mechanism and suppliers' performance is minimised. Nonetheless, the findings offer guidance and suggestions to supply chain managers (in both buying firms and suppliers) on the role of buying firms' leadership styles and their influence towards suppliers' performance regardless of both parties' supply chain positions. Findings from this thesis can help the buying firms to re-evaluate their leadership styles as the relationship with each supplier is unique and the idea of relying on a single leadership style has a potential to disrupt the performance of both parties.

The 21st century presents a new set of challenges to mankind, notably intensive global competition, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and rapid growth in population relying on a resource base that is finite in nature. Addressing these challenges has, therefore, become a matter of global concern and urgency, prompting government industries and the financial markets to rethink their approaches with the view to move towards a low-carbon economy. The move towards a circular economy which presents a shift from the current produce-use-dispose approach is touted as a practical solution to the planet's emerging resource crunch given its potential to address both environmental and socio-economic issues. However, despite the promising nature of the circular economy paradigm, a lack of understanding of the concept is rendering its acceptance and implementation a difficult proposition. This is further compounded by lack of genuine interest from key stakeholders regarding the concept, given that a shift to a circular economy would require considerable changes in all parts of the value chain. At present, relevant stakeholders are scrambling for an efficient, consistent and reliable approach towards understanding the concept for onward implementation. In pursuit of a system of operation that satisfies the dual role of GHG mitigation and wealth generation, the current research presents a rigorous analysis of the concept of the circular economy with the view to shedding light on its drivers, barriers and policy implications. This was carried out using two approaches. The first approach entails an exhaustive examination of the supply chain of representative metals that have primary and secondary routes of production through using environmental lifecycle assessment framework. For the four case studies considered, the competitive edge of the circular economy paradigm over the linear approach was demonstrated, at least from a purely environmental perspective. Building upon the LCA study, the current work examines the barriers and drivers towards circular economy practices implementation. Set against a background of stakeholder engagement, key stakeholders from the metals supply chains were identified (including scrap dealers, public authorities, consumers, manufacturers, recyclers, civil society) and interviewed with the view to provide qualitative empirical evidence of the feasibility of such transition. Thematic content analysis of the interviews with key actors and stakeholders yielded seven themes and several sub-themes which can shape the understanding and facilitate the transitioning from a linear economy to circular economy, whilst laying a solid foundation for its acceptance and future implementation. Overall, the analysis presented in this work highlight the competitive edge of the circular economy, however, a key concern is that the economic viability of such transition may be questionable given that mechanisms to endorse them are deemed weak at the moment. For a move to circular economy to become a reality, concerted effort from all stakeholders including policy makers, energy professionals and the society at large is required.

This study adopts a contingency approach in order to analyze the mediating role of internal, customer and supplier integration on the relationship between organization structure (OS) (centralization, formalization and hierarchical relationship) and operational performance. Using a global sample from the oil and gas industry, this research examines the direct relationship between the dimensions of organization structure (centralization, formalization and hierarchical relationship) and operational performance. In addition the direct relationship between the dimensions of supply chain integration (SCI) and operational performance is also examined. A quantitative approach using structural equation modeling is used to test the research hypotheses. Data was collected using a questionnaire survey and explored using statistical techniques. Findings revealed that centralization, formalization, and hierarchical relationship negatively impact operational performance of oil and gas supply chains, and that SCI dimensions positively affect operational performance. By further testing for the mediation this study found that by increasing internal and external SCI, oil and gas companies can mitigate the negative effect of high centralization, formalization and hierarchical relationship, on operational performance. More specifically by classifying OS into the “structuring” and “structural” aspects, this research provides evidences on which of the two (the physical or the process) has a stronger negative impact on operational performance. From a practical point of view, it may be a difficult and daunting task for oil and gas companies to restructure and reform their OS (physical aspect), since this process might be timely and expensive to implement. Therefore oil and gas companies by investing in higher internal and external integration create more inter and intra collaboration and communication which could ultimately encourage organizational restructuring and the move towards organic structures. Therefore instead of viewing organizational theory (OS) and operations management (SCI) in isolation, this study endorses a combined approach (OS and SCI) to improve the operational performance of the oil and gas supply chains. Theoretical contributions to the field of operations management and organizational studies are provided.

The purpose of the study was to explore the complex interaction of the ‘soft issues’ relating to people and processes involved with IT/IS implementation in a public sector supply chain. The understanding of these complex interactions is critical and limited in the literature. There is evidence of a link between a supply chain problem-situation in the Nigerian context with these soft issues thereby demonstrating the rationale for the study. The research adopts the use of a combination of case study and action research (collaborative enquiry) concepts. The approach employed a descriptive analysis reviewing UK IT/IS projects acting as a prompt to facilitate the exploration of the Nigeria case were there is no significant prior research information. The research findings corroborates the views of extant literature; conceptualising the problem situation in the Nigerian public sector context. This involved identifying the prevalent factors in the context, illustrating how they interact and developing a management framework to enhance SCM and IT/IS implementation. The findings would aid policy makers, practitioners and academics towards understanding, formulating strategies and developing comprehensive research plans that will enhance public sector IT/IS implementation. Practitioners will obtain a better understanding of the complexities of the soft issues involved in public sector IT/IS projects. The research adds to the limited knowledge of the complex interaction of soft issues involved in public sector IT/IS implementation and presents a distinctive explanation that defines these issues from the perspective of a developing nation.

Fuel Poverty, defined most simply as “the inability to afford adequate warmth” (Lewis 1982, p.1) emerged as an issue in England following the oil crisis in 1973-1974 but remained a topic of interest only to special interest groups and failed to impact upon official government policy. Following the passing of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act (2000), the topic of fuel poverty has received increasing interest within the academic community both within England and increasingly further afield. Fuel poverty has been shown to be closely related to increased Excess Winter Deaths, morbidity and mental health issues, and is predicted to affect 2.34 million homes in England in 2015; demonstrating that despite 15 years of schemes designed to tackle fuel poverty in England, the social issue is far from being eradicated. This research develops a new approach to understanding, modelling and targeting fuel poverty in England in order to contribute to efforts to eradicate the issue. Through examination of the extant literature a novel three stage methodology was developed to respond to this aim. An analysis of fuel poverty and Index of Multiple Deprivation statistics demonstrated that current measurement approaches capture a distinct social issue with significant localised variation, contributing to the inefficiency of current intervention targeting approaches. This enabled the development of a novel Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) classification matrix that facilitates improved intervention targeting (study 1). This was utilised to identify areas to complete focus groups examining the role of energy in homes around England. The focus groups adopted a Social Practice Theory (SPT) perspective and enabled the identification of SPT factors of fuel poverty, demonstrating that fuel poverty was a much broader concept than that captured in current government policy (study 2a). Finally these factors were weighted through an application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process to develop a novel model of the SPT factors of fuel poverty (study2b). The resultant model shows that when fuel poverty is considered from a SPT perspective food, energy, domestic practices and social engagement determine the likelihood of living in fuel poverty. The final model provides practitioners with new sites of intervention and tools for change to encourage the alteration of practices which have a detrimental effect on fuel poverty and the emergence of new practices to reduce the existence of fuel poverty in England.