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Blockchain technology in supply chain management: Applications, challenges, and opportunities in the UAE and USA's automotive
Get PDFThis thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonBlockchain technology blends various digital innovations to create time-stamped records that are uniquely identified and arranged chronologically. Its core attributes, such as decentralization, immutability, security, transparency, and traceability, position it as a potentially disruptive force. Many organisations are exploring blockchain applications across sectors like finance, healthcare, logistics, and supply chain management. Despite its potential to transform supply chains, empirical research on blockchain's implementation lags behind practical applications. Many real-world uses remain in the pilot stage without substantial academic support or evidence-based guidance for industry professionals. Thus, there is an urgent need for empirical research to analyse blockchain's implications for supply chains, providing insights into adoption considerations, application possibilities, and scalability factors.
This qualitative research uses four case studies involving prominent organisations at various phases of blockchain adoption within industries such as automotive, clothing, and maritime logistics. It also includes an examination of secondary data sources detailing reported blockchain uses and an executive workshop discussing blockchain-enabled traceability in supply chains. The study uses Nvivo V-12 software for data analysis, involving 22 participants in the executive workshop and 11 in semi-structured interviews. The research results offer recommendations for implementing blockchain in supply chain operations, from initial adoption to expanding implementation across various supply networks. It examines key industry drivers, primary application domains, and industry-specific features that impact blockchain adoption and utilization in supply chain management. Furthermore, it investigates decision-making procedures for blockchain implementation within the supply chain domain and provides detailed advice on blockchain application, particularly in traceability. The implications of this research are extensive for both academia and professional practice. For academia, it provides new empirical evidence and frameworks to enhance the understanding of blockchain's role in supply chains, offering a foundation for future research. For practitioners, it delivers actionable insights and recommendations for adopting and scaling blockchain within supply chains. This includes guidance on overcoming barriers, leveraging drivers, and considering industry-specific traits that affect blockchain implementation. Additionally, the study's findings can assist policymakers in creating supportive environments for blockchain innovation in supply chains.
This study makes significant contributions to the field of blockchain adoption in the supply chain. It presents new empirical evidence on the primary motivations behind blockchain adoption, highlighting considerations like customer service, risk management, and quality assurance. Additionally, it introduces three key frameworks: a cross-sectoral framework that captures the main motivations, application areas, and industry characteristics influencing blockchain adoption; a decision model guiding the selection of blockchain technology and its application within the supply chain; and a theoretical framework identifying different perspectives to facilitate further theory development in blockchain-SCM research. These findings and frameworks provide valuable insights for practitioners and equip industry professionals with tools to navigate the complexities of blockchain implementation, ensuring a more efficient and transparent supply chain landscape
Implementation of a Combined Fuzzy Controller Model to Enhance Risk Assessment in Oil and Gas Construction Projects
Get PDFThe aim of this research is to enhance Oil and Gas (O&G) construction risk assessment using Fuzzy-based Failure Model Effect Analysis (FMEA) through the lens of O&G project managers in the U.S. A mixed-method approach was adopted for data collection, analysis, and processing, including semi-structured interviews with project managers to identify the key risks facing O&G construction projects; a Fuzzy-based FMEA to quantitatively analyse the level of significance of O&G risks; surveys to rank the assessment dimensions of the developed model and their components; and open-ended surveys to validate and verify the assessment model and its outputs, further expanding on the root causes of significant risks based on the assessment outputs, and to propose mitigation strategies for these risks. The research identified 41 risk factors classified under six categories, namely: management, technical and quality, financial and economic, health, safety, environmental, legal, and stakeholders’ risks. In addition, the risk assessment revealed that non-compliance with PPE regulations emerged as the most significant risk factor across all categories of O&G risks. This study offers valuable insights by assisting practitioners in better understanding the significant O&G risks that need to be addressed to ensure the successful execution and completion of O&G projects
Tailoring fNIRS and Virtual Reality for Use with Neurodiverse Children
Get PDFIntroduction: Technological development is advancing at a groundbreaking rate, helping us understand the developing brain. But, are the new cutting-edge tecnologies suitable for all populations?
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In collaboration with families, researchers, and Gowerlabs, our partner company, we are tailoring fNIRS and Virtual Reality for use with neurodiverse children to guide future research and make science more inclusive.RESPECT 4 Neurodevelopment project ref: R4N2023, Learning to Care – The Early Development of Empathy in Brain and Behaviour (RESPECT 4 Neurodevelopment stands for Responsible, Reliable, Scalable and Personalised Neurotechnologies for infants and children with neurodevelopmental conditions. It is a EPSRC/ MRC funded UKRI-Network Plus that started in September 2022 and will be funded until August 2025)
The impact of reward systems on organisational performance: Exploring the role of ethnic diversity and employee’s cultural traits
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonDue to economic shifts, globalisation, and increasing domestic diversity, the field of human resources
management (HRM) is experiencing significant pressures for change. Most organisations nowadays are
composed of ethnically diverse workforce, prompting a need for changes in HR theories, processes and
practices. While firms with ethnically diverse employees benefit from the variety of knowledge, information,
and ideas, there are challenges, such as reduced trust, that can influence reward systems’ role in enhancing
trust. Additionally, individuals from different ethnic backgrounds have distinct preferences and motivations
regarding reward processes and practices, which, combined with general distrust, can affect the effectiveness
of rewards in motivating these diverse groups. There varying motivations stem from unique cultural triats that
shape work values, attitudes, and behaviours, making it challenging for organisations to align reward systems
with the values of multiple individuals. Research has highlighted the impact of ethnic diversity on
organisational performance; however, the role of cultural traits in this context has not been thoroughly
examined. Understanding how cultural traits influence reward systems has become increasingly important not
only due to globalisation and the rising number of immigrants altering the workforce. Also, because traditional
HR theories and practices were designed for a homogeneous workforce with individualistic cultural values,
reaviling a significant gap in the literature. Relatively limited research has thus far examined three critical
areas: (1) the interaction effect between ethnic diversity and rewards (whether antagonistic or synergistic) on
trust and subsequent organisational performance; (2) the extent to which cultural traits influence organisational
performance and the effectiveness of rewards in enhancing such performance; and (3) whether preferences for
reward allocation criteria, inherent from cultural values, indicate motivation or aversion to pay inequality,
thereby affecting the impact of pay inequality on organisational performance. Consequently, this thesis aims
to extend HRM, psychology, and management theories and research by addressing six important areas by
conducting and reporting three distinct studies.
Study 1 examined the mediating role of trust in the relationship between rewards and organisational
performance, and the moderating role of ethnic diversity in the relationship between rewards and trust. Drawing upon the behavioural perspective, social exchange theory, and psychological contract, our model
suggests that the effect of rewards on organisational performance is mediated by trust, while the relationship
between rewards and trust is moderated by ethnic diversity. By utilising ordinary least squares (OLS)
regression analysis and nationally representative data from the 2011 Workplace Employment Relations
Survey (WERS) in Britain, the study finds empirical support for the proposed relationships. Findings reveal
that trust fully mediates the relationship between rewards and organisational performance and that this indirect
effect depends on the level of ethnic diversity, which is shown by the moderating effect of ethnic diversity on
the rewards-trust relationship. The implications of these findings for theory, future research, and managerial
practice are discussed.
Study 2 examined how cultural traits impact organisational performance, and moderate the relationship
between rewards and organisational performance. Drawing on the social exchange theory (SET) and
Hofstede’s cultural framework, we highlight the potential effect of cultural traits on performance and the
influence of cultural traits on the role of rewards within organisations. To analyse the study hypotheses, we
employed the ordinary least squares (OLS) method and utilized nationally representative data from the WERS
2011 survey in Britain. The findings reveal a significantly negative association between masculinity and
performance; individualism and performance; and uncertainty avoidance and performance (the association
between power distance and performance was not supported). Additionally, evidence supports that workforce
cultural traits moderate the relationship between rewards and organisational performance. Specifically,
cultural traits, such as higher individualism, masculinity, and uncertainty avoidance strengthen the relationship
between rewards and performance. Conversely, under high power distance reduces the size of the positive
effect of rewards on organisational performance. These findings contribute to the advancement of HRM
literature by highlighting the critical role of national culture in shaping the effectiveness of reward systems.
The implications of these findings for theory, empirical evidence, and practice are discussed.
Study 3 examined the impact of pay inequality on organisational performance and the moderating role
of cultural traits on this effect. Drawing on equity theory and insights from Hofstede’s cultural and
contingency models, this study posits that pay inequality negatively impacts organisational performance and
that employees' reactions to pay inequality practices are contingent upon their cultural characteristics. Specifically, the degree of aversion or motivation towards pay inequality varies based on cultural traits,
consequently influencing the extent of the negative impact of pay inequality on organisational performance.
This proposition is examined by analysing panel data from the Adult Social Care sector in England with
25,000 establishments over the six-year period from 2014 to 2019. Findings revealed that pay inequality has
a negative effect on organisational performance and that this negative effect was larger in establishments, in
which employees exhibited inequality aversion (i.e., high power distance and high uncertainty avoidance).
While, in establishments where employees exhibited inequality preference (i.e., individualism and
masculinity) the negative effect was mitigated. This paper extends existing theory by demonstrating the
significant impact of cultural traits on the relationship between pay inequality and performance. This thesis
makes significant contributions to the fields of strategic and international HRM, workforce diversity, and
organisational performance by integrating cultural traits and ethnic diversity into the understanding of how
reward systems influence organisational performance. The findings offer valuable insights for managers and
policymakers on the importance of tailoring reward systems to the cultural and ethnic composition of the
workforce, potentially leading to more effective HR practices and improved organisational outcomes.
Furthermore, this research paves the way for future studies to explore the nuanced effects of cultural diversity
on various organisational processes
Exploring the viability of various waste materials as aggregates in low-carbon two-part alkali-activated cementitious composites
Get PDFThis thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonBeginning in October 2020, this research project aimed to answer a fundamental question: Can a variety of waste materials effectively replace natural aggregates in low-carbon cementitious composites? the focus was on alkali-activated materials (AAMs) as an alternative to Portland cement in producing cementitious composites, pavement blocks, and modular prefabricated components. This approach promotes off-site construction, offering advantages such as cost savings, waste reduction, shorter construction timelines, and decreased environmental impact. AAMs are derived from aluminosilicate source materials like fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), aiming to decrease reliance on Portland cement and natural aggregates while promoting circular and durable construction practices.
The production of Portland cement, a crucial component in concrete binding, contributes significantly to global CO2 emissions, accounting for about 8% worldwide, with an average emission of 174 kg CO2 per cubic meter. Furthermore, the extensive use of virgin aggregates, such as gravel, sand, and crushed rocks, is concerning, with the UK alone consuming over 155 million metric tonnes annually. To reduce dependence on natural aggregate extraction, this study aimed to promote the recycling and upcycling of waste materials from other industries. In this study, it was found that AAM mix formulations reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 45% compared to OPC-based mixes. Incorporating recycled aggregates further enhanced this reduction while conserving approximately one tonne of river sand per cubic metre of AAM-based sand-free composites. On the other hand, the incorporation of recycled polymer aggregates (PVC, UPVC, and rubber) significantly improved the thermal and acoustic insulation of the composites. For instance, 100% UPVC aggregates led to a 65% reduction in thermal conductivity, while 70% rubber aggregates resulted in a 160% improvement in sound reduction index (SRI) compared to composites with 100% river sand (i.e., control sample).
The incorporation of recycled polymer aggregates of low density compared to natural sand resulted in the production of lightweight composites. The incorporation of PVC and UPVC aggregates in AAM-based composites effectively prevented chloride leaching into the environment. While investigating waste glass aggregates, in comparison to samples with 100% sand aggregates, incorporating 100% glass aggregates led to a reduction of approximately 230% in Kg CO2 eq/tonne.
Moreover, full replacement of natural sand with waste bricks and geo-cement aggregate (Geo-cement is another term used to refer to geopolymer and Alkali-Activated Materials [1]) in AAM-based composites achieved a compressive strength of about 50 MPa. To some extent, AAM-based composites mixed with used bricks and geo-cement aggregates exhibited compatibility with water absorption, freeze-thaw, acid, and chloride attack tests, and showed good durability traits. However, incorporating recycled inhomogeneous aggregates in AAM-based composites poses challenges due to the lack of alkali-activated materials standards and the varying mix formulations of AAMs with different properties. Recycled aggregates also differ in characteristics from natural aggregates. The findings of this research represent a promising advancement in utilising recycled aggregates for low-carbon cementitious composites, contributing to the decarbonisation of the construction industry and the development of more sustainable, eco-friendly building materials
Conceptualising family well-being in elite swimming
Get PDFThis paper presents a novel theoretical framework for understanding family well-being (FWB) in elite swimming. It uses qualitative data from longitudinal interviews with families of elite swimmers in Cyprus to show the importance of understanding the impact of FWB on athlete well-being. Adopting an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach, a year-long study was conducted to understand the experiences of four Cypriot families with an adolescent swimmer who had Olympic potential. The study employed four rounds of individual interviews with each family member to explore in-depth well-being, family life and elite sporting experiences. The findings revealed that a mutual sense of FWB was characterised by health, emotions and a sense of belonging and worthwhileness. We argue for the need to move from individual accounts of athlete well-being to multidimensional models that help to understand the sociocultural contexts and complex relationships that impact how athletes feel. Our research argues that understanding athletes’ well-being cannot be separated from the environment and communities in which they live and practise their sport, and explores this issue through the family context.This work was supported by the International Olympic Committee
The role of nurses in antimicrobial stewardship
No full textGlobal Infection Prevention and Management in Healthcare, ISBN: 978-88-943799-3-8. First published on 18 November 2024. The three volume work is freely available online at: https://infectionsinsurgery.org/global-digital-textbook/ .Introduction: The threat of antibiotic-resistant infections demands urgent attention from health and social care services worldwide because of its significant clinical, economic, human, and environmental costs. The efforts implemented to combat these infections, known as antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs, require a multifaceted approach and close collaboration among all health and social care professionals involved in decisions about the use of antimicrobials. Historically, nurses have largely been absent from such initiatives, which represents a missed opportunity to profit from the most abundant workforce cadre to strengthen existing and future AMS initiatives.
This chapter explores existing evidence supporting the need and impact of nursing engagement and leadership in AMS, discussing four key obstacles to increased nursing participation in AMS: fundamental issues, ownership concerns, educational gaps, and leadership challenges. This chapter also includes potential solutions and implications for addressing these barriers
Fear, Friendship and the Channel Tunnel
No full textNovember 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the first passenger trains between London and Paris. What does the history of the Channel Tunnel tell us about Britain’s relationship with its neighbours
Binary-Encoding-Based Quantized Kalman Filter: An Approximate MMSE Approach
Get PDFIn this paper, the Kalman filter design problem is investigated for linear discrete-time systems under binary encoding schemes. Under such a scheme, the local information is quantized into a bit string by the remote sensor based on a probabilistic quantizer, and then the bit string is transmitted via memoryless binary symmetric channels (BSCs). Due to the communication link noises, the bit flipping occurs in a random manner, and thus, the transmission of the bit string would suffer from specific bit-error rates. With the received bits, a recursive binary-encoding-based quantized Kalman filter is established in the approximate minimum mean-square error (MMSE) sense, which relies on the Gaussian approximation of the conditional probability density function at each iteration. Furthermore, the proposed estimator is shown to be in a Kalman-like type through performance analysis, which exhibits computational complexity comparable to the conventional Kalman filter. Subsequently, a posterior Cramér-Rao lower bound is derived for the proposed binary-encoding-based quantized Kalman filter. The effectiveness of the proposed estimator is demonstrated through numerical results.This work was supported in part by the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant 2022YFB4501704, in part by the National Science Foundation of China under Grants 62222312 and 62473285, in part by the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan Project of China under Grant 22511100700, in part by Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, in part by the Royal Society of the U.K., and in part by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany
The explanatory power of examining race and class in educational settings
No full textEditorial.Introduction:
This special issue aims to drive fresh conversations around the intersection of race and social class within the global sociology of education and beyond. In recent years, post-racial ideologies that deny the existence of structural racism and colonial legacies have gathered pace across societies in the global north. At the same time, in countries such as the UK, race and class-based inequalities have been pitted against each other by invoking the educational performance of ‘white working-class boys’ solely through the lens of class. These discourses not only fail to grasp the complexities of the issues in hand but actively deflect attention away from the way racial and classed inequalities within education, health, and job markets are interlocked and co-constituted. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living crises across the globe have laid bare deep-seated racial and classed inequalities. These pose challenges to existing sociological frameworks in terms of thinking about the operations of inequalities in daily lives, the effects of neoliberalism and growing social injustices. Indeed, sociological analyses of classed and racial inequalities in contemporary societies draw attention to their interconnected and global dimensions. Against this backdrop, it is more relevant than ever before to bring together new cutting-edge scholarship on the intersection of social class and race to reflect on the current state of affairs, chart new ways of thinking about these issues, and thus contribute to our collective struggle for a more just and equal society. This special issue aims to do just that, and it therefore has significant potential to take sociological debates on the intersection of race and class within educational settings in new directions
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