PurposeThis article explores how companies in multiple controversial industries report their cont... more PurposeThis article explores how companies in multiple controversial industries report their controversial issues. For the first time, the authors use a new conceptualization of controversial industries, focused on harm and solutions, to investigate the reports of 28 companies in seven controversial industries: Agricultural Chemicals, Alcohol, Armaments, Coal, Gambling, Oil and Tobacco.Design/methodology/approachThe authors thematically analyzed company reports to determine if companies in controversial industries discuss their controversial issues in their reporting, if and how they communicate the harm caused by their products or services, and what solutions they provide.FindingsFrom this study data the authors introduce a new legitimacy reporting method in the controversial industries literature: the solutions companies offer for the harm caused by their products and services. The authors find three solution reporting methods: no solution, misleading solution and less-harmful sol...
This paper is an exploratory qualitative study of the complex organizational and inter-organizati... more This paper is an exploratory qualitative study of the complex organizational and inter-organizational-level change outcomes associated with the holding of two consecutive tribunals of inquiry into ...
This paper is an exploratory qualitative study into how tribunals of inquiry act as instruments o... more This paper is an exploratory qualitative study into how tribunals of inquiry act as instruments of legitimacy and hegemony for the State. Focusing on a case study of two consecutive tribunals of inquiry into the biggest health scandal in the history of the Irish State, the paper draws on ritual theory to offer a view of the tribunal as a process of ritualization, a strategic way of acting by the State in times of crisis. Through this process of ritualization, an authoritative, structured and structuring ritualized environment is created with schemes of ritualization imposed on participants directed toward creating ritualized bodies, hoped-for acceptance of the tribunal’s projection of reality and the re-legitimation of the role of the State in undertaking its core functions.
This paper describes the development of a Capability Maturity Model (CMM) for Service... more This paper describes the development of a Capability Maturity Model (CMM) for Service Delivery. The paper describes the use of the Delphi approach to enlist the help of 18 experts from ...
Our research uses a social exchange theory lens to examine the impact of customer dependence and ... more Our research uses a social exchange theory lens to examine the impact of customer dependence and power usage on their supplier’s adoption of environmental supply chain sustainability practices and ...
Purpose This paper aims to explore the supplier perspective on competitive tendering processes an... more Purpose This paper aims to explore the supplier perspective on competitive tendering processes and build on an increasing and developing interest in supplier satisfaction with public sector procurement activities. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data was collected from 20 interviews with a variety of suppliers to the UK public sector, which was then analysed using Nvivo and a series of empirically supported propositions developed. Findings The findings are combined into an integrated supplier satisfaction model, which explains how a multi-layered set of expectations (past and ideal) and quality dimensions (fairness, ambiguity, unnecessary information, tender focus, relationship irrelevance, unresponsiveness, outcome success) lead to dissatisfaction. This paper also establishes the implications of these judgments (non-response, poor quality and relationship impact) and that they are impacted by comparison to alternatives. Practical implications Supplier dissatisfaction can ha...
Environmental uncertainty is a fact of life in today's supply chains. In this paper we develop a ... more Environmental uncertainty is a fact of life in today's supply chains. In this paper we develop a model of environmental uncertainty, supply chain (SC) relationship quality and SC performance. We use data from the electronics sector in Ireland to test our model. Our results provide mixed support for the model, with the moderating role of both demand and supply uncertainty being supported, but technological uncertainty not supported. We reflect on these findings and suggest a research agenda based on our results.
Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 2005
PurposeThis article proposes examining how small to medium‐sized organisations (SMEs) are respond... more PurposeThis article proposes examining how small to medium‐sized organisations (SMEs) are responding to the challenge of harnessing enterprise resource planning (ERP) and internet technologies to enhance performance and improve competitiveness and aims to identify the barriers preventing organisations from harnessing these technologies.Design/methodology/approachA case‐based research strategy was chosen. Four leading SMEs were interviewed to determine their approach to extended ERP and the barriers encountered. The primary data collection was based on structured in‐depth interviews with key respondents who were involved in the implementation of extended ERP and closely involved in day‐to‐day operations.FindingsWhile each of the SMEs had already taken some steps to extended ERP, they adopted a cautious approach to the future. In short, SMEs considering extended ERP should determine the impact on all organisations before proceeding and should also apply the lessons learned from their ...
New Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility, 2015
She researches, writes and lectures on responsible management and sustainable entrepreneurship wi... more She researches, writes and lectures on responsible management and sustainable entrepreneurship with a focus on an inclusive approach to organising business in society. Her work has been published in internationally renowned peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Business Ethics. In her educational role, Linda O'Riordan lectures mainly to MBA and also Bachelor students in the subjects: Business Strategy, Sustainability, CSR and Corporate Governance, International Management, Management Consulting and Problem-Solving, Intercultural Competence, as well as Marketing, Sales and Customer Relationship Management. Additionally, she is a guest lecturer at various Universities including the University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule) and Heinrich-Heine University in Düsseldorf. Linda O'Riordan is a general manager by background with a Ph.D. from the University of Bradford in the UK. Previous to her academic role, she gained business and consultancy experience from working in industry. Some of her former employers include Accenture, UCB-Schwarz Pharma, and the Government of Ireland (Bord Bia) marketing Irish food and drinks products in Northern Europe, as well as apprenticeship positions during her studies in Ireland at the Irish Telecom Company, Dublin (now Eircom), and the Bank of Ireland, Cork. Her qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in Business Studies from the University of Limerick, Ireland, as well as an MBA and a Masters in Research from the University of Bradford in the UK.
This paper examines the relationship between customer sustainability pressure and social supply c... more This paper examines the relationship between customer sustainability pressure and social supply chain sustainability practices and outcomes. We use hierarchical regression to examine the relationship between practices and outcomes and how customer sustainability pressure moderates these.
Our study investigates the benefits of adopting responsible practices across the supply chain. In... more Our study investigates the benefits of adopting responsible practices across the supply chain. In particular, here we examine the relationship between responsible supply chain practices, operational outcomes and the factors that impact that relationship by examining the influence of a strategic sustainability orientation in the execution and outcome of responsible supply chain management (RSCM) practices and policies. This paper builds on earlier discussions of the development of a measurement instrument for RSCM (Marshall, McCarthy, Heavey, & McGrath, 2014). Here we focus on analysis of data from US-based respondents and address the research question “what are the moderating and mediating effects of a sustainability orientation of supply chain practices upon operational performance?” We found that the impact of innovation, strategic, and long-term orientations towards RSCM has a significant impact on operational outcomes. Our study is an empirical survey-based analysis and contributes to the literature o...
The Rana Plaza aftermath : How multi-stakeholder initiatives impact social sustainability practic... more The Rana Plaza aftermath : How multi-stakeholder initiatives impact social sustainability practice implementation and outcomes
Spiritual Engagement and Positive Leadership: The Promise of Identity-Focused Leader Development ... more Spiritual Engagement and Positive Leadership: The Promise of Identity-Focused Leader Development An increased focus on spirituality and mindfulness in the management education literature has resulted in calls for greater empirical work of a non-traditional nature. Therefore, this research looks to contribute to this growing body of literature by looking at the deployment of a specific aspect of spirituality, mindfulness, in a higher education context in the teaching of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) supply chain management (SCM) module. This research shows that the use of meditation techniques by SCM students can engender mindfulness and increase their attention, awareness and acceptance. In this case study, students completed a learning journal reflecting their experiences of meditation over a 6-week period. Grounded theory techniques articulated a model of the meditation exercise in this context. The research found a number of expected and unexpected benefits, including...
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compile a set of articles tackling supply chain issues in... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compile a set of articles tackling supply chain issues in BOP contexts that address both demand and supply. Solutions are needed for global sustainability problems from medical aid and food availability to the ability to participate in supply chains for the global poor. Design/methodology/approach The accepted articles in the special issue used a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to answer research questions in a variety of base of the pyramid (BOP) contexts. These approaches and results distinguish between demand (BOP market) and supply, or base of the chain (BOC), perspectives. Findings The findings in the eight accepted marticles are interesting and applicable across different BOP contexts. Compilation of the articles into the special issue and the accompanying editorial led to a comprehensive future research agenda that addresses demand-side issues by investigating the customers in BOP markets, and supply-side issues focu...
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
Purpose Socially sustainable supply chain (SSSC) practices address pressing social issues and may... more Purpose Socially sustainable supply chain (SSSC) practices address pressing social issues and may provide operational benefits as well as positive impacts on society. However, due to gaps in the current knowledge, it is difficult to know what practices will provide benefits and what management orientations can maximize the impact of these practices on operational performance. The purpose of this paper is to advance the knowledge on the effect of social sustainability orientation on operational performance by examining the mediating roles of basic and advanced SSSC practices and the moderating role of long-term orientation (LTO). Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through a survey of US-based companies about their relationships with key suppliers. Confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regression were used to test the proposed moderated mediation model. Findings Surprisingly, sustainability orientation predicts operational performance through advanced but not basic SS...
PurposeThis article explores how companies in multiple controversial industries report their cont... more PurposeThis article explores how companies in multiple controversial industries report their controversial issues. For the first time, the authors use a new conceptualization of controversial industries, focused on harm and solutions, to investigate the reports of 28 companies in seven controversial industries: Agricultural Chemicals, Alcohol, Armaments, Coal, Gambling, Oil and Tobacco.Design/methodology/approachThe authors thematically analyzed company reports to determine if companies in controversial industries discuss their controversial issues in their reporting, if and how they communicate the harm caused by their products or services, and what solutions they provide.FindingsFrom this study data the authors introduce a new legitimacy reporting method in the controversial industries literature: the solutions companies offer for the harm caused by their products and services. The authors find three solution reporting methods: no solution, misleading solution and less-harmful sol...
This paper is an exploratory qualitative study of the complex organizational and inter-organizati... more This paper is an exploratory qualitative study of the complex organizational and inter-organizational-level change outcomes associated with the holding of two consecutive tribunals of inquiry into ...
This paper is an exploratory qualitative study into how tribunals of inquiry act as instruments o... more This paper is an exploratory qualitative study into how tribunals of inquiry act as instruments of legitimacy and hegemony for the State. Focusing on a case study of two consecutive tribunals of inquiry into the biggest health scandal in the history of the Irish State, the paper draws on ritual theory to offer a view of the tribunal as a process of ritualization, a strategic way of acting by the State in times of crisis. Through this process of ritualization, an authoritative, structured and structuring ritualized environment is created with schemes of ritualization imposed on participants directed toward creating ritualized bodies, hoped-for acceptance of the tribunal’s projection of reality and the re-legitimation of the role of the State in undertaking its core functions.
This paper describes the development of a Capability Maturity Model (CMM) for Service... more This paper describes the development of a Capability Maturity Model (CMM) for Service Delivery. The paper describes the use of the Delphi approach to enlist the help of 18 experts from ...
Our research uses a social exchange theory lens to examine the impact of customer dependence and ... more Our research uses a social exchange theory lens to examine the impact of customer dependence and power usage on their supplier’s adoption of environmental supply chain sustainability practices and ...
Purpose This paper aims to explore the supplier perspective on competitive tendering processes an... more Purpose This paper aims to explore the supplier perspective on competitive tendering processes and build on an increasing and developing interest in supplier satisfaction with public sector procurement activities. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data was collected from 20 interviews with a variety of suppliers to the UK public sector, which was then analysed using Nvivo and a series of empirically supported propositions developed. Findings The findings are combined into an integrated supplier satisfaction model, which explains how a multi-layered set of expectations (past and ideal) and quality dimensions (fairness, ambiguity, unnecessary information, tender focus, relationship irrelevance, unresponsiveness, outcome success) lead to dissatisfaction. This paper also establishes the implications of these judgments (non-response, poor quality and relationship impact) and that they are impacted by comparison to alternatives. Practical implications Supplier dissatisfaction can ha...
Environmental uncertainty is a fact of life in today's supply chains. In this paper we develop a ... more Environmental uncertainty is a fact of life in today's supply chains. In this paper we develop a model of environmental uncertainty, supply chain (SC) relationship quality and SC performance. We use data from the electronics sector in Ireland to test our model. Our results provide mixed support for the model, with the moderating role of both demand and supply uncertainty being supported, but technological uncertainty not supported. We reflect on these findings and suggest a research agenda based on our results.
Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 2005
PurposeThis article proposes examining how small to medium‐sized organisations (SMEs) are respond... more PurposeThis article proposes examining how small to medium‐sized organisations (SMEs) are responding to the challenge of harnessing enterprise resource planning (ERP) and internet technologies to enhance performance and improve competitiveness and aims to identify the barriers preventing organisations from harnessing these technologies.Design/methodology/approachA case‐based research strategy was chosen. Four leading SMEs were interviewed to determine their approach to extended ERP and the barriers encountered. The primary data collection was based on structured in‐depth interviews with key respondents who were involved in the implementation of extended ERP and closely involved in day‐to‐day operations.FindingsWhile each of the SMEs had already taken some steps to extended ERP, they adopted a cautious approach to the future. In short, SMEs considering extended ERP should determine the impact on all organisations before proceeding and should also apply the lessons learned from their ...
New Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility, 2015
She researches, writes and lectures on responsible management and sustainable entrepreneurship wi... more She researches, writes and lectures on responsible management and sustainable entrepreneurship with a focus on an inclusive approach to organising business in society. Her work has been published in internationally renowned peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Business Ethics. In her educational role, Linda O'Riordan lectures mainly to MBA and also Bachelor students in the subjects: Business Strategy, Sustainability, CSR and Corporate Governance, International Management, Management Consulting and Problem-Solving, Intercultural Competence, as well as Marketing, Sales and Customer Relationship Management. Additionally, she is a guest lecturer at various Universities including the University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule) and Heinrich-Heine University in Düsseldorf. Linda O'Riordan is a general manager by background with a Ph.D. from the University of Bradford in the UK. Previous to her academic role, she gained business and consultancy experience from working in industry. Some of her former employers include Accenture, UCB-Schwarz Pharma, and the Government of Ireland (Bord Bia) marketing Irish food and drinks products in Northern Europe, as well as apprenticeship positions during her studies in Ireland at the Irish Telecom Company, Dublin (now Eircom), and the Bank of Ireland, Cork. Her qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in Business Studies from the University of Limerick, Ireland, as well as an MBA and a Masters in Research from the University of Bradford in the UK.
This paper examines the relationship between customer sustainability pressure and social supply c... more This paper examines the relationship between customer sustainability pressure and social supply chain sustainability practices and outcomes. We use hierarchical regression to examine the relationship between practices and outcomes and how customer sustainability pressure moderates these.
Our study investigates the benefits of adopting responsible practices across the supply chain. In... more Our study investigates the benefits of adopting responsible practices across the supply chain. In particular, here we examine the relationship between responsible supply chain practices, operational outcomes and the factors that impact that relationship by examining the influence of a strategic sustainability orientation in the execution and outcome of responsible supply chain management (RSCM) practices and policies. This paper builds on earlier discussions of the development of a measurement instrument for RSCM (Marshall, McCarthy, Heavey, & McGrath, 2014). Here we focus on analysis of data from US-based respondents and address the research question “what are the moderating and mediating effects of a sustainability orientation of supply chain practices upon operational performance?” We found that the impact of innovation, strategic, and long-term orientations towards RSCM has a significant impact on operational outcomes. Our study is an empirical survey-based analysis and contributes to the literature o...
The Rana Plaza aftermath : How multi-stakeholder initiatives impact social sustainability practic... more The Rana Plaza aftermath : How multi-stakeholder initiatives impact social sustainability practice implementation and outcomes
Spiritual Engagement and Positive Leadership: The Promise of Identity-Focused Leader Development ... more Spiritual Engagement and Positive Leadership: The Promise of Identity-Focused Leader Development An increased focus on spirituality and mindfulness in the management education literature has resulted in calls for greater empirical work of a non-traditional nature. Therefore, this research looks to contribute to this growing body of literature by looking at the deployment of a specific aspect of spirituality, mindfulness, in a higher education context in the teaching of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) supply chain management (SCM) module. This research shows that the use of meditation techniques by SCM students can engender mindfulness and increase their attention, awareness and acceptance. In this case study, students completed a learning journal reflecting their experiences of meditation over a 6-week period. Grounded theory techniques articulated a model of the meditation exercise in this context. The research found a number of expected and unexpected benefits, including...
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compile a set of articles tackling supply chain issues in... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compile a set of articles tackling supply chain issues in BOP contexts that address both demand and supply. Solutions are needed for global sustainability problems from medical aid and food availability to the ability to participate in supply chains for the global poor. Design/methodology/approach The accepted articles in the special issue used a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to answer research questions in a variety of base of the pyramid (BOP) contexts. These approaches and results distinguish between demand (BOP market) and supply, or base of the chain (BOC), perspectives. Findings The findings in the eight accepted marticles are interesting and applicable across different BOP contexts. Compilation of the articles into the special issue and the accompanying editorial led to a comprehensive future research agenda that addresses demand-side issues by investigating the customers in BOP markets, and supply-side issues focu...
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
Purpose Socially sustainable supply chain (SSSC) practices address pressing social issues and may... more Purpose Socially sustainable supply chain (SSSC) practices address pressing social issues and may provide operational benefits as well as positive impacts on society. However, due to gaps in the current knowledge, it is difficult to know what practices will provide benefits and what management orientations can maximize the impact of these practices on operational performance. The purpose of this paper is to advance the knowledge on the effect of social sustainability orientation on operational performance by examining the mediating roles of basic and advanced SSSC practices and the moderating role of long-term orientation (LTO). Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through a survey of US-based companies about their relationships with key suppliers. Confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regression were used to test the proposed moderated mediation model. Findings Surprisingly, sustainability orientation predicts operational performance through advanced but not basic SS...
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Papers by Donna Marshall