Operations and Supply Chain Management Commons^™

Procurement Skills In The Age Of Volatility, Jason S. Kerzel

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Problem With Modern Supplier Diversity Programs And Building A Methodology For Strategic Transformation, Lillian Hou Qin

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Understanding Transparency In Supply Chains, Lucy N. Buck

Haslam Scholars Projects

The purpose of this thesis paper is to examine what standards should be used for supply chain product transparency across industries to satisfy the needs of external stakeholders, specifically Gen Z consumers. Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in supply chain management with growing stakeholder pressure, strict government regulations, and scarcity of resources. A scenario-based role-playing experiment is conducted using descriptive vignettes to measure Gen Z consumer reactions to the following factors: timing of transparency, type of product, and type of sustainability.

Online survey methods are used involving 33 students in one of the Honors and Scholars Programs at the University …

Effects Of Economic Development Status And Eco-Product On Consumption Values: From The Perspective Of Us Consumers, Mostafa Zaman

Doctoral Dissertations

Consumers select a product based on numerous product characteristics. Numerous studies conducted earlier revealed that consumers in developing countries preferred products made in western or developed countries because their product quality is better than the quality of local products (Lee & Nguyen, 2017; Dao & Heidt, 2018; Rodrigo et al., 2019). Moreover, consumers are increasingly concerned about manufacturers’ environmental issues. Although ethical consumers believe that eco-products could save the environment, some consumers are not concerned about the eco-products and thus select products based on other product attributes (Joshi & Rahman, 2015). Hence, it becomes very challenging for retailers to select …

Education's Role In Socially Sustainable Sourcing Methods, Emily Toye

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

From blood diamonds sparking a war in West Africa to Foxconn building a suicide net, any inhumane act in a supply chain poses a risk to companies, despite how upstream the scandal occurs. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the supply chains of the companies from which they purchase, as information is becoming more and more accessible. While companies may claim to be not responsible for the actions of their suppliers, consumers associate the company with the scandal regardless. This study explores how companies are ensuring their upstream supply chains are socially responsible. This paper studies the incentives and approaches …

The Effects Of Pandemics On Supply Chains, Faith O. Barre

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

An Overview And Analysis Of The Impacts Of Extreme Heat On The Aviation Industry, Brandon T. Carpenter

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

Weather is a common cause of flight delays and cancellations. However, the vast majority of the time when thinking about weather and its effect on aviation, winter conditions such as snow come to mind. Heat is usually one of the last types of weather we associate with airline challenges. Recently, a bomb cyclone made headlines for the disruptions it caused with travel, especially at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Interestingly, the exact opposite of winter weather conditions can cause just as many challenges. During the summer of 2017, a number of flights at various airports such as Phoenix Sky Harbor …

Effects Of Extreme Heat On Aviation, Brandon T. Carpenter

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

Weather is a common cause of flight delays and cancellations. However, the vast majority of the time we think about weather and its effect on aviation, winter conditions, such as snow, come to mind. Heat is usually one of the last types of weather we associate with airline challenges. Recently, the Bomb Cyclone has made headlines for the headaches it caused with travel, especially at The John F. Kennedy International Airport. Interestingly, the exact opposite of winter weather conditions can cause just as many challenges. Over this past summer, a number of flights at various airports such as Phoenix Sky …

Supply Chain Sustainability: Understanding The Financial Impact, Matthew J. Guinn

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a differential impact on the financial performance of a company between environmental and social events.

This study uses a randomization of publicly traded companies within specific, pre-determined SIC codes, which is a collection of 66 companies, split between manufacturing and retail, to get the most accurate representation.

This study utilizes multiple regression models via STATA to analyze data compiled from the Wharton Research Database Services (WRDS) utilizing the MSCI ESG KLD, and Bloomberg, to analyze the percent increase in stock price which is the overarching models independent variable. Then, …

How Can The Internet Of Things Reduce Waste In The Supply Chain?, Mary M. Mccullough

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Supplier Network Mapping For Sustainability Dispersion, Frank X. Murphy

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

An Overview And Analysis Of The Impacts Of Extreme Heat On The Aviation Industry, Brandon T. Carpenter

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Head Over Heels: Women In Supply Chain Management, Mary Margaret Mobley

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

Being a woman in the Supply Chain Management major, I have seen the challenges females face in a male-dominated field. Just why is it that we see so few women in executive roles in the Supply Chain field? Is it because of the gender challenges, or is there another underlying issue that is causing the lack of women in upper-level Supply Chain roles? Through this research study, twelve female participants will tell about their experiences being an entry-level woman in Supply Chain field. These challenges will help to determine if these entry-level challenges are the reason why women are either …

Disaster Relief Logistics: An Academic Framework Evaluation Of The 2016 Great Smoky Mountain Wildfires, Clay Edward Daniel, Alexandre Medeiros Rodrigues

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Supply Chain-Driven Innovation: The Influence Of Supply Chain Resource Orchestration On Organizational Performance, Ulrich Schmelzle

Doctoral Dissertations

As continuous innovation became a strategic necessity in many markets, organizations are increasingly adding external resources to complement their in-house R&D activities. However, little is known about the concrete practices of employing and integrating those external resources. Hence, this research introduces a new conceptual framework of supply chain resource orchestration (SCRO) on the basis of a systematic literature review and a theory elaboration of resource management theories. Qualitative interviews with supply chain managers in a multi-case study are enriching and substantiating the SCRO conceptualization. Finally, a crosssectional survey (n= 247) is applied to empirically validate the new framework. The positive …

Modeling The Consumer Acceptance Of Retail Service Robots, So Young Song

Doctoral Dissertations

This study uses the Computers Are Social Actors (CASA) and domestication theories as the underlying framework of an acceptance model of retail service robots (RSRs). The model illustrates the relationships among facilitators, attitudes toward Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), anxiety toward robots, anticipated service quality, and the acceptance of RSRs. Specifically, the researcher investigates the extent to which the facilitators of usefulness, social capability, the appearance of RSRs, and the attitudes toward HRI affect acceptance and increase the anticipation of service quality. The researcher also tests the inhibiting role of pre-existing anxiety toward robots on the relationship between these facilitators and attitudes …

Determining The Location Of A Milk Condensing Plant In Tennessee, David Frederick Mendez

Masters Theses

Given the increasing popularity of local foods and the desire to reduce shipping costs and carbon footprint, Tennessee-based dairy product producers are showing interest in sourcing fluid milk locally. Based on dairy farmer surveys, discussions with industry leaders, shipping distances, and transportation costs estimates, a mixed integer linear programming model is used to determine the optimal location of an in-state milk condensing plant. The objective is to minimize the total transportation costs of shipments of fluid milk from farms to the condensing plant plus the transportation cost of shipments of condensing plant products to further in-state processing. Twelve scenarios of …

In The News: An Exploration Of Starbucks And The Media, Caitlin Boone

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Supply Chain Resource Orchestration And Supply Chain Knowledge In Improving Product Launch Performance In Emerging Markets, Matthew Troy Jenkins

Doctoral Dissertations

As mature markets become more saturated, managers increasingly recognize the value of emerging markets as the next horizon for future growth opportunities. Launching products into these markets is extremely risky, as they are characterized by weak supply chain institutional environments -- i.e. lack of physical supply chain infrastructure and scarcity of supply chain market intermediaries. Literature points to the need to acquire country specific resources and knowledge in order to improve performance in these countries. However, improvement in product launch performance may lie with a firm’s ability to orchestrate its acquired supply chain resources (i.e. create and leverage supply chain …

Plentifull Business Proposal, Tayler Amelia Tate

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

A Cost-Differential Analysis Of Local Soybean Processing In East Tennessee: Roast Or Crush?, Rachel Lauren Eatherly

Masters Theses

East Tennessee soybean producers currently have limited local markets and processing options. Most soybeans produced in the region are transported for processing or export to Guntersville or Decatur, Alabama. High transportation costs cut into profit margins and limit local economic impact. With the demand for processed soybeans from the local beef and dairy industries, local processing technology options ought to be investigated. This study will assist soybean farmers in decision-making between hauling to current processing plants or seeking out alternative local processing. Local processing points could allow local beef and dairy farmers additional options of including processed soybeans in least-cost …

A Neural Network For Collaborative Forecasting, Abdulrahman M. Enani

Masters Theses

As the supply chain activities’ backbone, demand forecasting must be accurate. This paper proposes an artificial neural network forecasting model, which integrates and synchronizes shared information, such as sales or consumption rate among different partners, to improve the forecasting’s accuracy. This information sharing is part of the collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) model, which is a supply chain model aiming to enhance the supply chain’s efficiency by jointly planning and forecasting between two or more supply chain partners that will be used as the base for production and replenishment activities. The model is validated using a tuna product sales …

Cross-Functional Integration In The Supply Chain: Construct Development And The Impact Of Workplace Behaviors, Daniel A. Pellathy

Doctoral Dissertations

Cross-functional integration (CFI) is central to supply chain theory and practice. However, researchers have yet to settled on a consistent definition or measure of CFI, creating confusion over its conceptual content and making it difficult to validate given operationalizations. In addition, researchers have only recently begun to explore the impact of workplace behaviors on CFI and supply chain performance. The two studies in this dissertation seek to contribute to the supply chain literature in both of these areas. Study 1 develops a comprehensive definition and valid measure of CFI based on a systematic process of construct development. Study 2 employs …

Examining The Nature And Consequences Of Interfunctional Bias In A Corporate Setting, William Adam Powell

Doctoral Dissertations

Interfunctional bias is examined in this dissertation as a potential barrier to interfunctional cooperation. Interfunctional cooperation is desirable in modern corporate organizations as a contributor to effective service delivery, operations planning, and sales performance. Interfunctional stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination are hypothesized to relate positively, and together provide the bias-based theoretical basis through which barriers to interfunctional cooperation can be more thoroughly understood. Based on the extant literature in marketing and psychology, competing models of interfunctional bias are developed and hypothesized. In the first of three studies a questionnaire-based survey of supply chain employees’ perceptions of salespeople permitted the examination of …

A Simulation Model Of The “Bio-Depot” Concept In The Context Of Components Of Variance And The “Taguchi Loss Function”, Maximilian Platzer

Masters Theses

The research focuses on the simulation, statistical evaluation, costs, and continuous improvement of supply chains for bio-based materials. A significant challenge of using cellulosic feedstocks for biofuel or bioenergy production is the high per unit costs of final products, e.g., biofuels. The goal of the research is to provide practitioners with useful statistical methods and a simulation Excel template for evaluating the variance and costs associated with the supply chain of bio-based products. Statistical Process Control (SPC), components of variance, Taguchi Loss Function, and reliability block diagrams (RBD) are used in this thesis for the evaluation of the supply chain …

Corporate Social Responsibility: What Is It, And Why Does It Matter?, Charles Andrew Currey

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

In an increasingly competitive business environment, employers are also competing to attract the right talent. Many of these employers are also promoting their company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts and achievements. This study sought to understand if such efforts affected their ability to attract young talent. Gaining an understanding of what job attributes are most important to graduating college students and how CSR impacts their decisions to work for a particular company is important for recruiters in attracting the right talent. To achieve this understanding and insight, I used a quasi-experimental survey methodology to conduct my research. Survey participants were …

The Impact Of Sales And Operations Planning Implementation On Supply Chain And Financial Metrics, Matthew Nolte

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Rogue And Deviants: A Game-Theoretic Perspective On Opportunism In Strategic Alliance Relationships, Anton Pavol Fenik

Doctoral Dissertations

Opportunistic behavior is often studied in interfirm relationships, yet we don’t know the different types of behavior that are hidden behind the general opportunism label. Therefore, using game theory as guidance, this dissertation examines the roots of and influences on two types of opportunistic behaviors in strategic alliances. Specifically, the author suggests that the strategic alliances literature would benefit from recognizing that opportunistic behaviors don’t always originate from the firm (rogue-firm opportunism), but instead often originate from individual alliance employees (deviant-personal opportunism). Moreover, this dissertation examines how relational factors between two alliance partners impact these two types of opportunistic behaviors. …

Creating Competitive Advantage In The Premium Market Segment Through A Sustainability Strategy, Andrew E. Iberg

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

A Contingent Systems View Of Urban Logistics, William John Rose

Doctoral Dissertations

As urban areas around the world continue to grow, many companies have set their sights on entering these increasingly important markets with dense and diverse customer populations. Unfortunately, the urban environment presents many unique challenges not encountered in traditional city-to-city logistics. As firms adapt to these unique challenges, differences between cities add further complexity. Applying the systems contingency theory perspective (Venkatraman, 1989), this research examines the differences between U.S. urban areas and the logistics strategies that best fit specific combinations of urban environmental characteristics. Following a multi-disciplinary literature review, case studies conducted in eight U.S. cities confirmed certain environmental characteristics …