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This paper aims to explore the use of digital technologies in enabling circular ecosystems. We apply supply network (SN) configuration theory and a novel resource pooling lens, more typically used in financial systems, to identify inventory pools, information repositories and financial exchange models among network actors.

Five in-depth circular SN case studies are examined where digital technologies are extensively deployed to support circularity, each case representing alternative SN configurations. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews to map SN and resource pooling configurations across each circular ecosystem, with cross-case analysis used to identify distinct pooling and digital strategies.

Results suggest three digitally enabled circular ecosystem archetypes and their related governance modalities: consortia-based information pooling for resource recovery, intermediary-enabled material and financial pooling for remanufacturing and platform-driven information, material and financial pooling for resource optimisation.

Drawing on SN configuration and resource pooling literature, we recognise distinct configurational, stakeholder and resource pooling dimensions characterising circular ecosystems. While this research is exploratory and the identified archetypes not exhaustive, the combination of resource pooling and configuration lenses offers new insights on circular ecosystem configurations and the critical role of resource pools and enabling digital technologies.

We demonstrate the utility of the resource pooling and configuration approach in the design of digitally enabled circular ecosystems. These archetypes provide practitioners and policymakers with alternative design frameworks when considering circular SN transformations.

This paper introduces a resource netting and pooling configuration lens to circular ecosystems, analogous to financial systems, where cyclical flows and stock are critical and enabled through digital technologies.

This paper aims to address the imperative of establishing adaptive sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) within the context of export food supply chains (EFSC) in Jordan, with potential global applicability. The research introduces a new conceptual framework validated through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), prioritizing critical factors based on five expert opinions. The practical and managerial outcomes emphasize achieving sustainable supply chain performance through quality-driven sustainability (QDS), encapsulated in a practical framework (SSCQM). Employing the concept of QDS, this study aims to develop a novel decision framework for Sustainable Supply Chain Quality Management (SSCQM).

Conducted as an empirical qualitative study in Jordan, the research employs a systematic literature review to identify research gaps and establish the initial conceptual framework. A pilot case is subsequently conducted to refine the framework, followed by Case Studies of four Triads, elucidating network relationships between suppliers, manufacturers and customers. A total of 32 semi-structured interviews, complemented by observations, tours and document analysis, individually explored each case during the exploratory stage. Cross-analysis of the four cases at the explanatory stage provides empirical insights, and data triangulation, literature review and validation using NVivo enhance the robustness of the findings.

The amalgamation of the three perspectives, when treated individually, results in the integrated category of QDS influencing sustainability (SUST) performance, evident in economic, environmental and social dimensions. Various sustainable initiatives have emerged through the relationships within the Triad, comprising a company, supplier and customer in the supply chain and its broader environment, including society, aiming for enhanced sustainable development and SUST performance. Recognizing the urgency of Supply Chain Management (SCM) in the Middle East, where global supply chains are susceptible to disruptions leading to food shortages and insecurity, this research investigates the state of EFSC in the export food industry in Jordan. The novel decision (SSCQM) framework equips managers and policymakers with knowledge and practices applicable to focal actors in Triads within their EFSCs, particularly in developing countries, thereby contributing to enhancing the export food industry’s sustainability.

This research provides empirical and contextual justifications for the supply chain-quality model (SSCQM) that advocates for business organizations how a desirable, sizeable and significant outcome/shock can be triggered via embedding quality elements in an international supply chain specifically in Jordan. The research also offers significant implications for practising supply chain experts in terms of how they can effectively utilize the supply chain quality to align other players in the supply chain, revenue potential, customer retainability and employee retention to achieve superior organizational performance. The research selectively encompasses three key perspectives of supply chain networks (SCN), total quality management (TQM) and SUST to elucidate the essence of SCM.

This research contributes towards filling the gap as a lack of empirical research.

The field of international business (IB) formally welcomes and frequently calls for case study research, but the proportion of case study papers appearing in IB journals remains very small. This paper aims to support efforts to redress this imbalance by addressing an overlooked yet critical issue: the (mis)use of tenses when theorizing from case study findings. The authors reveal a pervasive use of the present tense and argue that this leads to decontextualization and, in turn, over-generalization. The paper also suggests ways in which this problem may be avoided in the future, thereby improving the credibility and status of case-based research and helping to de-marginalise it within IB.

A qualitative content analysis was applied to all (2,627) papers published between 2011 and 2021 in four leading IB journals. In total, 171 case study papers were identified over these 11 years, and a deeper content analysis was then performed to measure the extent of decontextualization/over-generalization implied by the inappropriate use of the present tense in the discussion and theorisation of research findings.

This study found that, out of 171 case study papers identified, 141 (82.5%) provided at least two instances of over-generalization as implied by the misuse of the present tense. However, some of these papers were found to feature statements that could be claimed to mitigate such inappropriate generalization. These mitigating factors included the repeated use of adverbial phrases denoting context and the use of a “propositional style” that clearly distinguished contextual findings from speculative, decontextualized generalizations. Nevertheless, 71 of the 171 (41.5%) papers still demonstrated inappropriate generalization, even after allowing for mitigating factors.

This study reveals a problematic writing practice and one which has arguably significantly contributed to the “decontextualization” problem critiqued in IB and management studies more broadly. The study also offers further insights into how decontextualization might be avoided, arguing that this problem would be significantly reduced if tenses were used appropriately in discussing and theorizing case study findings. Additionally, the study highlights the continued marginalization of qualitative research methods in IB and reinforces calls to address it.

Health-care organisations face many challenges in delivering safe, high-quality services while experiencing significant pressure to increase productivity and reduce costs. In this context, hospitals have implemented lean six sigma (LSS) programmes to improve their performance. This study aims to explore the application of LSS in three different non-profit Ecuadorian hospitals to comprehend the effectiveness of the methodology under this context.

A multiple-case analysis was performed in four phases: selecting the cases, defining a data collection protocol, performing a within-case analysis of each case and performing a cross-case analysis.

This research found that the LSS application positively impacts hospital performance indicators by reducing service time. The most frequently used tools include the supplier input process output customer diagram, value stream mapping, cause-and-effect diagram, five-why analysis, Gemba walk and paired two-sample test. Lastly, the results show that the most common challenges faced were lack of top management engagement, technical training and data availability.

The study is limited by the constraint of a single Latin American country from which the cases were analysed. Collaboration with external partners, like universities, and government policies promoting training in continuous improvement methodologies are crucial for success. Academic implications stress the importance of integrating soft skills in LSS implementation and engineering education.

This study shows a multiple-case analysis of LSS in a Latin American country highlighting the most commonly used tools, their impact on performance and the challenges of implementing LSS in health-care organisations in non-profit Ecuadorian hospitals.

This paper aims to extend the literature on social proof by looking at the effectiveness of social proof on behaviour change for environmental benefit.

The research is based on real case studies currently intended to encourage behaviour change among residents of a large UK city. An initial study assesses the motivation displayed within each case study. A second study then examines whether recipients recognise their own motivation in each case study.

Results indicate that participants did not recognise their own motivation in the case studies that were expected to be most similar to them, suggesting that recipients do not recognise “social proof” according to motivation. However, a relationship is observed between recipients’ gender and the gender of the case studies.

Demographics appear to be a better basis for social proof than motivation. This paper recommends several future avenues for further exploration, including using case studies that represent a wider range of characteristics (such as demographics). The current range of stimulus materials is limited, as these are real materials currently being used in a large UK city.

The results indicate that portraying motivation is not a good basis for using the social proof principle. Instead, social marketers ought to focus on representing similarity to the intended audience based on other characteristics such as gender.

The research contributes a new direction in this field, using Self-determination Theory to match social proof examples to recipients.

This paper aims to investigate the effect of different wing height layouts on the aerodynamic performance and flow structure of high-speed train, in a train-wing coupling method with multiple tandem wings installed on the train roof.

The improved delayed detached eddy simulation method based on shear stress transport k- ω turbulence model has been used to conduct computational fluid dynamics simulation on the train with three different wing height layouts, at a Reynolds number of 2.8 × 10⁶. The accuracy of the numerical method has been validated by wind tunnel experiments.

The wing height layout has a significant effect on the lift, while its influence on the drag is weak. There are three distinctive vortex structures in the flow field: wingtip vortex, train body vortex and pillar vortex, which are influenced by the variation in wing height layout. The incremental wing layout reduces the mixing and merging between vortexes in the flow field, weakening the vorticity and turbulence intensity. This enhances the pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of both the train and wings, thereby increasing the overall lift. Simultaneously, it reduces the slipstream velocity at platform and trackside heights.

This paper contributes to understanding the aerodynamic characteristics and flow structure of a high-speed train coupled with wings. It provides a reference for the design aiming to achieve equivalent weight reduction through aerodynamic lift synergy in trains.

Although it is commonly agreed that prescriptive analytics can benefit organizations by enabling better decision-making, the deployment of prescriptive analytics tools can be challenging. Previous studies have primarily focused on methodological issues rather than the organizational deployment of analytics. However, successful deployment is key to achieving the intended benefits of prescriptive analytics tools. Therefore, this study aims to identify the enablers of successful deployment of prescriptive analytics.

The authors examine the enablers for the successful deployment of prescriptive analytics through five organizational case studies. To provide a comprehensive view of the deployment process, each case includes interviews with users, managers and top management.

The findings suggest the key enablers for successful analytics deployment are strong leadership and management support, sufficient resources, user participation in development and a common dialogue between users, managers and top management. However, contrary to the existing literature, the authors found little evidence of external pressures to develop and deploy analytics. Importantly, the success of deployment in each case was related to the similarity with which different actors within the organization viewed the deployment process. Furthermore, end users tended to highlight user participation, skills and training, whereas managers and top management placed greater emphasis on the importance of organizational changes.

The results will help practitioners ensure that key enablers are in place to increase the likelihood of the successful deployment of prescriptive analytics.

This paper aims to evaluate how five Operation Soteria Bluestone (OSB) participating forces integrated principles of procedural justice and proactive disruption of offending into their investigations, specifically during the closing stages of a case when considering exit strategy and longer-term prevention.

A mixed-methods approach was taken, including 32 semi-structured interviews with officers and 59 case reviews of recent rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO). Data analysis methods included qualitative thematic analysis of interviews, while data from reviewed case logs was extracted and analysed using a bespoke case review tool.

Increased workloads, preparation of evidence and relational/communication difficulties with the crown prosecution service (CPS) were identified as barriers to implementing long-term disruption options. Dedicated resourcing, training and support are needed to promote suspect-focused investigative strategy and wider uptake of long-term disruption methods. Early investigative approach was also found to have “snowball” effects on suspect exit strategy, with initial lack of suspect focus and preoccupation with victim credibility, impeding consideration of long-term disruption and safeguarding options. Findings also point to a disparity between promising practice in relation to procedural justice for victims and (a relative lack of) proactive policing of repeat suspects.

The study represents a novel contribution to research on policing RASSO, illustrating the scale and nature of the obstacles to changing how these offences are investigated, even when under intense scrutiny from policy makers. It also highlights how increased organisational investment and support is linked to positive changes in practice in some forces.

This study applies complexity theory to propose and empirically examine asymmetric case conditions of antecedents and outcome models of high (low) willingness-to-engage in workplace romance (WEWR). This study focuses on constructing complex antecedent conditions that accurately indicate which employees, and under what conditions, employees are high in WEWR.

Using an experimental design, 162 employees were assigned one of nine hypothetical vignettes describing different workplace romance contexts including three discrete policies regarding workplace romances (i.e. strictly forbidden, moderate, vs no policy), two motivations for the workplace romance (i.e. job vs love), and two organizational positions of the romance (i.e. hierarchical vs lateral). Participants then reported WEWR responses. Participants also provided demographic, behavioral, and psychological work-related information. This study assesses and supports recipes (i.e. algorithms) of case and organizational structure conditions to identify cases high (low) in WEWR accurately and consistently.

The results provide clarity of which and when employees are willing vs unwilling to engage in workplace romances – and the contextualized impacts of organizational bans on WEWR. The study’s results are useful for estimating for whom specific workplace policies are effective or not by specific workplace contexts.

In highlighting the role of varying antecedent conditions in predicting WEWR, this research will assist organizations and practitioners in understanding the context in which workplace romances are more likely to occur, providing insight as to when employees are likely to comply with workplace romance policies.

This paper is the first in the workplace romance literature to examine unique combinations of antecedent conditions on WEWR, adding nuance to the current understanding of the behavior.

The reviews of cold case homicides are infrequently referenced within either procedural guides or scholarly outputs. However, boundaries for the review are imperative to ascertain the most productive use of resources, aligned with the case’s chance of eventual resolution. The purpose of the study is to identify the boundaries established by police forces within England and Wales for their reviews of cold cases. Due to the lack of guidance, forces have created their own methods which may result in ineffective review processes and strategies. Therefore, this study sought to elucidate the boundaries of the review process through 13 semi-structured interviews with cold case detectives and a seven-month observation period (analysed simultaneously using an inductive Thematic Analysis), the following boundaries were identified before the review commences: the Terms of Reference (which provide a framework for the review based on live homicide review criteria), the identification of the review type (either a full or thematic review) and justification of the case’s prioritisation. This study provides initial evidence that there is an interconnectedness of procedures underpinning the reviews of cold cases, with the Terms of Reference dictating the type of review to be conducted, which is subsequently influenced by the case’s prioritisation. This study provides an important insight into the boundaries of reviews, and recognises the challenges for their implementation, attributed primarily to available resources and the number of cases that a force is responsible for. Important recommendations are proposed for the ongoing practice of cold case reviews to provide areas of evaluation and improved practice.

The reviews of cold case homicides are infrequently referenced within either procedural guides or scholarly outputs. However, boundaries for the review are imperative to ascertain the most productive use of resources, aligned with the case’s chance of eventual resolution. The purpose of the study is to identify the boundaries established by police forces within England and Wales for their reviews of cold cases. Due to the lack of guidance, forces have created their own methods which may result in ineffective review processes and strategies. Therefore, this study sought to elucidate the boundaries of the review process through 13 semi-structured interviews with cold case detectives and a seven-month observation period (analysed simultaneously using an inductive Thematic Analysis), the following boundaries were identified before the review commences: the Terms of Reference (which provide a framework for the review based on live homicide review criteria), the identification of the review type (either a full or thematic review) and justification of the case’s prioritisation. This study provides initial evidence that there is an interconnectedness of procedures underpinning the reviews of cold cases, with the Terms of Reference dictating the type of review to be conducted, which is subsequently influenced by the case’s prioritisation. This study provides an important insight into the boundaries of reviews, and recognises the challenges for their implementation, attributed primarily to available resources and the number of cases that a force is responsible for. Important recommendations are proposed for the ongoing practice of cold case reviews to provide areas of evaluation and improved practice.

The reviews of cold case homicides are infrequently referenced within either procedural guides or scholarly outputs. However, boundaries for the review are imperative to ascertain the most productive use of resources, aligned with the case’s chance of eventual resolution. The purpose of the study is to identify the boundaries established by police forces within England and Wales for their reviews of cold cases. Due to the lack of guidance, forces have created their own methods which may result in ineffective review processes and strategies. Therefore, this study sought to elucidate the boundaries of the review process through 13 semi-structured interviews with cold case detectives and a seven-month observation period (analysed simultaneously using an inductive Thematic Analysis), the following boundaries were identified before the review commences: the Terms of Reference (which provide a framework for the review based on live homicide review criteria), the identification of the review type (either a full or thematic review) and justification of the case’s prioritisation. This study provides initial evidence that there is an interconnectedness of procedures underpinning the reviews of cold cases, with the Terms of Reference dictating the type of review to be conducted, which is subsequently influenced by the case’s prioritisation. This study provides an important insight into the boundaries of reviews, and recognises the challenges for their implementation, attributed primarily to available resources and the number of cases that a force is responsible for. Important recommendations are proposed for the ongoing practice of cold case reviews to provide areas of evaluation and improved practice.

The reviews of cold case homicides are infrequently referenced within either procedural guides or scholarly outputs. However, boundaries for the review are imperative to ascertain the most productive use of resources, aligned with the case’s chance of eventual resolution. The purpose of the study is to identify the boundaries established by police forces within England and Wales for their reviews of cold cases. Due to the lack of guidance, forces have created their own methods which may result in ineffective review processes and strategies. Therefore, this study sought to elucidate the boundaries of the review process through 13 semi-structured interviews with cold case detectives and a seven-month observation period (analysed simultaneously using an inductive Thematic Analysis), the following boundaries were identified before the review commences: the Terms of Reference (which provide a framework for the review based on live homicide review criteria), the identification of the review type (either a full or thematic review) and justification of the case’s prioritisation. This study provides initial evidence that there is an interconnectedness of procedures underpinning the reviews of cold cases, with the Terms of Reference dictating the type of review to be conducted, which is subsequently influenced by the case’s prioritisation. This study provides an important insight into the boundaries of reviews, and recognises the challenges for their implementation, attributed primarily to available resources and the number of cases that a force is responsible for. Important recommendations are proposed for the ongoing practice of cold case reviews to provide areas of evaluation and improved practice.