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1 – 10 of 613In light of the recently experienced systemic shocks (the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine), we investigate supply chain robustness. We aim to understand the potential…
Abstract
Purpose
In light of the recently experienced systemic shocks (the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine), we investigate supply chain robustness. We aim to understand the potential consequences of uncertain events or adversary’s action on critical supplies in the Alliance.
Design/methodology/approach
We leverage a parsimonious supply chain model and investigate the relationship between upstream supplier concentration/diversification and the supply chain’s robustness (survival probability) in the presence of uncertain systemic shocks. In several scenarios of shock events, we simulate alternative input sourcing strategies in the presence of uncertainty.
Findings
A firm-level cost-focused optimisation may lead all upstream suppliers to concentrate in one location, which – when subsequently hit by a shock – would result in a disruption of the entire supply chain. A chain-level forward-looking optimisation diversifies the upstream supplier location and sourcing decisions. As a result, the supply chain’s survival probability is maximised, and critical supplies will continue even under the most demanding circumstances.
Research limitations/implications
Our findings encourage political and military decision makers to enhance upstream supply chain robustness in critical and strategic sectors, such as the diversification of nitrocellulose supplies currently sourced almost exclusively from China by European gunpowder manufacturers.
Practical implications
Our findings have direct recommendations to supply chain downstream decision makers and to the government’s policy choices. Since global supply chain (GSC) disruptions in critical sectors may have catastrophic impacts on social welfare and the probability of shocks such as COVID-19 and Russia’s war may not be known even approximately, robust decision rules seem to be the appropriate tools for policymaking in critical and strategic sectors such as energy supplies, food and water, communication and defence. A robust supply chain is one in which the survival probability is maximised, which we show in a central planner strategy’s simulations.
Originality/value
The paper shows formally why a market-based global input sourcing strategy may be efficient from an individual firm’s perspective but may be suboptimal from a societal resilience perspective.
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Imoh Antai and Roland Hellberg
Management and risk techniques within industries have been studied from various disciplines in nondefense-affiliated industries. Given the assumption that these techniques…
Abstract
Purpose
Management and risk techniques within industries have been studied from various disciplines in nondefense-affiliated industries. Given the assumption that these techniques, strategies and mitigations used in one industry apply to other similar industries, this paper examines the defense industry for risk assessment. We characterize interactions for onward application to risk identification in the defense industry.
Design/methodology/approach
This research employs a systems theory approach to the characterization of industry interactions, using three dimensions including environment, boundaries and relationships. It develops a framework for identifying relationship types within system-of-systems (SoS) environments by analyzing the features of interactions that occur in such environments.
Findings
The study’s findings show that different systems environments within the defense industry SoS exhibit different interaction characteristics and hence display different relationship patterns, which can indicate potential vulnerabilities.
Research limitations/implications
By employing interaction as a means for evaluating potential risks, this research emphasizes the role played by relationship factors in reducing perceived risks and simultaneously increasing trust.
Originality/value
This paper intends to develop an initial snapshot of the relationship status of the Swedish defense industry in light of the global consolidation in this industry, which is a relevant contextual contribution.
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Kadumbri Kriti Randev, Jatinder Kumar Jha and Keerti Shukla
The main aim of this paper is to explore the influence mechanisms of perceived organizational politics (POP) on employee performance (EP). Drawing on the job demands-resources…
Abstract
Purpose
The main aim of this paper is to explore the influence mechanisms of perceived organizational politics (POP) on employee performance (EP). Drawing on the job demands-resources theory (JD-R), this paper investigates opportunistic silence (OS) as a mediating factor and job level as a moderating effect in the POP-OS-performance relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
This study’s data were collected from 203 employees working in Indian high-power distance organizations (HPDOs), such as the military, police and security forces. Mediation and moderation analysis were conducted using PLS-SEM, and the moderated mediation index was calculated using Hayes PROCESS Macro.
Findings
The results indicate that OS fully mediates the POP-performance relationship – specifically, POP as a job demand activates OS, which acts as an energy/resource depleting mechanism and further deteriorates task performance. Interestingly, the overall negative influence of POP and OS on EP was stronger for employees at lower job levels than those at senior job levels.
Originality/value
This paper offers a unique set of findings that enrich the understanding of factors responsible for employees’ performance in the highly political environments of HPDOs. By using the lens of JD-R theory, this paper draws attention towards the tendency of employees to indulge in self-serving behaviours like OS in politically charged contexts which is detrimental to their performance and may also undermine overall organization’s productivity. Furthermore, this paper also highlights the conditional effects exerted by job level in the unique nexus of POP, OS and EP.
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It was touted by Ankara as another step towards the realisation of ambitious goals for its space programme set by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in February 2021. Yet, despite…
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DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB288205
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
Tokyo is harnessing civil-military synergies and boosting government spending to expand Japan’s defence sector. Meanwhile, it has eased rules governing firms’ profits and exports…
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB287893
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
Bohuslav Pernica, Donatas Palavenis and Jaroslav Dvorak
The study aims to assess military procurement strategy in NATO countries labelled as emerging markets (Czechia, Slovakia and Lithuania) and capitalist Norway, which vary in…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to assess military procurement strategy in NATO countries labelled as emerging markets (Czechia, Slovakia and Lithuania) and capitalist Norway, which vary in national culture as indicated by the Hofstede Culture Compass.
Design/methodology/approach
This comparative case study analyses the procurement of a simple, mass-produced, off-the-shelf military product (FN Herstal MINIMI gun) in four small but very economically free countries from 2008 to 2023. The study answers the research question of how the unit price of MINIMI guns varies across post-communist and historical NATO countries distinguished by the variables operationalising national culture.
Findings
The general disability of the government to control corruption deviates the strategy of military procurement in post-communist defence institutions from an effective strategy of liberal capitalism, minimising the unit price and risks (Norway), to an odd strategy maximising the unit price and risks by preferring middlemen as agent of hidden agenda (Czechia).
Research limitations/implications
Some defence institutions in post-communist countries may be burdened by legislature capture, and detailed research is needed to determine this.
Practical implications
The authors argue that national culture may contribute to significant goal displacement in the procurement strategy adopted by the government in an economically liberal state.
Social implications
Without perfecting the control of corruption in post-communist defence institutions, the NATO burden-sharing debate on 2% of GDP will remain controversial.
Originality/value
With variables characterising national culture and the government’s ability to control corruption, the study elucidates a slow pace of convergence of post-communist countries to NATÓs values and procedures.
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This paper aims to examine the short-term market reaction for the world’s 100 largest listed defence firms at and around the three recent largest threats to the global economy  
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the short-term market reaction for the world’s 100 largest listed defence firms at and around the three recent largest threats to the global economy – Ukraine–Russia war, Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis and the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.
Design/methodology/approach
The author examine the impact of the three recent largest threats to the global economy in the largest listed defence firms using an event study methodology.
Findings
The results show a positive and statistically significant short-term reaction around the three geopolitical threats. The results also reveal the existence of higher abnormal returns for defence firms with greater weight of defence sales, in line with the captured regulator theory and for firms with higher research and development and capital expenditure intensity.
Originality/value
The effect of the war on stock markets has been relatively little examined in the financial theory. This study intends to fill this gap in the literature through the analysis of the three recent largest threats to the global economy.
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Isiaka Akande Raifu, Damian Chidozie Uzoma-Nwosu and Alarudeen Aminu
This study explored how institutional quality influences the relationship between military spending and education in Africa.
Abstract
Purpose
This study explored how institutional quality influences the relationship between military spending and education in Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used data from 43 African countries spanning the years 2000–2021. Two estimation methods were employed to address various issues: Fixed Effects with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors and the Two-Step System Generalised Method of Moments. The Fixed Effects with Driscoll-Kraay standard error method was used to obtain reliable standard errors and inferences from the estimated coefficients of the fixed effects model. Meanwhile, the problem of endogeneity between military spending and education was addressed using the Two-Step System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM).
Findings
The results indicated that military spending negatively impacts both the quality and quantity of education. However, both institutional quality and the interaction term (institutional quality*military spending) have positive effects on both measures of education, suggesting that better institutional quality mitigates the negative effect of military spending on education outcomes.
Practical implications
This study shows that institutional quality dampens the negative effect of military spending on education, especially the quality of education. Hence, African countries should prioritize strengthening their institutions to ensure optimal allocation and utilization of government funds for the benefit of their citizens.
Originality/value
This is the first study to examine the moderating role of institutional quality in the relationship between military spending and education, focusing on both the quantity and quality of education.
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Days before the summit, Fidan said Turkey would seek membership of the group, echoing similar statements expressed in the past by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has also…
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB287922
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
Albandari Alshahrani, Anastasia Griva, Denis Dennehy and Matti Mäntymäki
Artificial intelligence (AI) has received much attention due to its promethean-like powers to transform the management and delivery of public sector services. Due to the…
Abstract
Purpose
Artificial intelligence (AI) has received much attention due to its promethean-like powers to transform the management and delivery of public sector services. Due to the proliferation of research articles in this context, research to date is fragmented into research streams based on different types of AI technologies or a specific government function of the public sector (e.g. health, education). The purpose of this study is to synthesize this literature, identify challenges and opportunities, and offer a research agenda that guides future inquiry.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper aggregates this fragmented body of knowledge by conducting a systematic literature review of AI research in public sector organisations in the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS)-ranked journals between 2012 and 2023.
Findings
The search strategy resulted in the retrieval of 2,870 papers, of which 61 were identified as primary papers relevant to this research. These primary papers are mapped to the ten classifications of the functions of government as classified by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the reported challenges and benefits aggregated.
Originality/value
This study advances knowledge by providing a state-of-the-art of AI research based the OECD classifications of government functions, reporting of claimed benefits and challenges and providing a research agenda for future research.
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