Vietnam will quicken pace of vaccine roll-out

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Roll Out

Significance Meanwhile, its programme to vaccinate the population against the coronavirus is proceeding slowly: fewer than 160,000 of its roughly 98 million people are fully inoculated. The only COVID-19 vaccine administered by the authorities to date is the UK-Swedish AstraZeneca shot, but Hanoi has received and ordered doses of other jabs as well. Impacts The authorities will keep use of Chinese vaccines limited. Quickly widening vaccination coverage will be key to realising the targeted average annual GDP growth of 6.5-7.0% in 2021-25. Vietnam will aim to become a key manufacturing hub for global vaccine supply chains.

Organisational responses to mandatory modern slavery disclosure legislation: a failure of experimentalist governance?

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 1505-1534
Author(s):  
Michael Rogerson ◽  
Andrew Crane ◽  
Vivek Soundararajan ◽  
Johanne Grosvold ◽  
Charles H. Cho
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Mandatory Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Modern Slavery ◽  
Improve Compliance ◽  
Experimentalist Governance ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Board Level

PurposeThis paper investigates how organisations are responding to mandatory modern slavery disclosure legislation. Experimentalist governance suggests that organisations faced with disclosure requirements such as those contained in the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 will compete with one another, and in doing so, improve compliance. The authors seek to understand whether this is the case.Design/methodology/approachThis study is set in the UK public sector. The authors conduct interviews with over 25% of UK universities that are within the scope of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 and examine their reporting and disclosure under that legislation.FindingsThe authors find that, contrary to the logic of experimentalist governance, universities' disclosures as reflected in their modern slavery statements are persistently poor on detail, lack variation and have led to little meaningful action to tackle modern slavery. They show that this is due to a herding effect that results in universities responding as a sector rather than independently; a built-in incapacity to effectively manage supply chains; and insufficient attention to the issue at the board level. The authors also identity important boundary conditions of experimentalist governance.Research limitations/implicationsThe generalisability of the authors’ findings is restricted to the public sector.Practical implicationsIn contexts where disclosure under the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 is not a core offering of the sector, and where competition is limited, there is little incentive to engage in a “race to the top” in terms of disclosure. As such, pro-forma compliance prevails and the effectiveness of disclosure as a tool to drive change in supply chains to safeguard workers is relatively ineffective. Instead, organisations must develop better knowledge of their supply chains and executives and a more critical eye for modern slavery to be combatted effectively. Accountants and their systems and skills can facilitate this development.Originality/valueThis is the first investigation of the organisational processes and activities which underpin disclosures related to modern slavery disclosure legislation. This paper contributes to the accounting and disclosure modern slavery literature by investigating public sector organisations' processes, activities and responses to mandatory reporting legislation on modern slavery.

scholarly journals The adoption of soft skills in supply chain and understanding their current role in supply chain management skills agenda

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 1063-1079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ozlem Bak ◽  
Christine Jordan ◽  
James Midgley
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
The Uk

PurposeWith supply chains expanding in scope and scale globally, the academic literature underlined the increasing role and importance of soft skills. Traditionally, the supply chain literature geared towards hard skills including functional and technical skill sets with limited discussion on soft skills. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to assess and explore the soft skills demand in supply chain management arena.Design/methodology/approachThis study has utilised a mixed methods study in two phases, with the first stage including a questionnaire distributed to 120 supply chain employees in the UK, followed by six interviews with supply chain experts in the UK.FindingsThe results suggest that soft skills, especially behavioural skills such as communication, planning, initiative and negotiation, were seen to be more important when compared to decision making, negotiation and management skills. The findings indicate that the changing supply chain scope encourages the requisition and development of different supply chain soft skills with varied levels of emphasis in relation to 15 soft skills identified in the literature.Research limitations/implicationsThis study employs a mixed-method approach to establish the perceived importance of soft skills in the UK supply chains. This limits the generalisability of the results to other contextual settings.Practical implicationsThis paper presents soft skills impact upon the supply chain. Specific soft skills are critical to supply chain employees compared to others (e.g. behavioural and people management skills), which may lead to articulation of supply chain soft skills training initiatives.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the soft skills discussion in the supply chain context and discusses the role of soft skills. Topical gaps in the literature are identified as areas for future research. The findings have generated additional supply chain skills to the academic literature as well as provided an understanding of the weighting of soft skills in terms of their importance and application to industry needs.

Path to Scottish independence will be difficult

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Green Party ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Absolute Majority ◽  
Successful Vaccine ◽  
Economic Support ◽  
Election Results ◽  
Scottish Independence ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Roll Out

Significance Having fallen one seat short of an absolute majority, the SNP will form a government with the Green Party, which also supports independence. After the election results, SNP leader and Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it is only “a matter of time” before Scotland holds another referendum on independence. Impacts The UK government’s rejection of a second referendum risks fuelling support for Scottish independence. London's successful vaccine roll-out and economic support is unlikely significantly to shift support vis-a-vis Scottish independence. A referendum victory in favour of Scottish independence would likely undermine support for the Union in Wales and Northern Ireland.

A preliminary investigation into senior management skills: the context of third-party logistics (3PLs) providers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Midgley ◽  
Ozlem Bak
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Senior Management ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Third Party Logistics ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Management Skill ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk

PurposeThe third-party logistics (3PL) provider has faced significant change since containerisation with the broadening scope of supply chains and technological developments. With these changes, the required supply chain skills discussions have covered mostly graduate skills or employees' skills with a limited discussion to what extent and whether senior management skills were changing. Hence, 3PL senior management skill requirements will be compiled based on existing studies and assessed to check whether these are still relevant and if so to what extent for today's 3PL senior managers.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire has been devised based on 3PL senior management skills identified in the academic literature and sent out to senior managers via professional social networks of 3PL. Based on the previous literature, the senior managers selected had to fulfil the selection criteria of a minimum five years' managerial experience in a 3PL, and a minimum of ten years' experience in general, which limited the sample size to twenty-seven senior managers in the 3PL sector.FindingsThe findings indicated that 3PL senior managers’ skills highlighted an increasing dependence on and importance of relational and behavioural skills, particularly when compared with the more traditional functional and managerial skills. The study indicated that the 3PL senior managers highlighted an increasing dependence and importance upon relational and behavioural skills, particularly when compared with the more traditional functional skills.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has explored the senior management skills in 3PL in the UK, albeit the respondents possessing diverse backgrounds. Therefore, it would be beneficial to test whether these findings are exemplary across the wider 3PL sector, not only in the UK but also across Europe to see how corporate agenda for executive supply chain skills could be devised.Practical implicationsCorporate supply chain training and development staff can develop specific programs based on the 3PL senior management skill sets especially on relational and behavioural skills, which are needed for future managers as well as up-skill senior managers' skills which are deemed to be most important in the current 3PL market.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the supply chain skills discussion and reports subject relevant challenges for today’s senior management in the 3PL industry. The findings have generated preliminary discussions on whether senior management skills are changing with the broadening scope of supply chains.

Ethics could damage public trust in UK government

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Conservative Party ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Supreme Court ◽  
Constitutional Constraints ◽  
Uk Government ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Roll Out

Significance The UK government’s landslide election victory in 2019 has given Prime Minister Boris Johnson room to pursue an agenda for governance that targets institutions such as the Supreme Court and the Electoral Commission. The government has also ignored the recommendations of ethics bodies and appointed to key positions individuals with close personal ties to the ruling Conservative Party. Impacts The government’s agenda risks attracting increasingly questionable sources of offshore political money and support. The institutional agenda to remove constitutional constraints and reform the civil service will likely resume after COVID-19. The successful roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination would likely boost public confidence in the UK government.

Construction supply chain integration: an elusive goal?

2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Briscoe ◽  
Andrew Dainty
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk

PurposeTo empirically investigate the problems encountered in trying to integrate supply chains in the UK construction industry and to set these problems in the context of the extensive literature on supply chain management and partnering.Design/methodology/approachA brief review of current supply chain issues in the construction industry is provided. Three case studies of leading construction clients were carried out and these included public and private organisations from different sectors of the economy, public transport, information and communications technology and vehicle manufacturing. A large number of interviews were conducted with the various clients, their main contractors and key subcontractors and suppliers.FindingsThe findings reveal that the large number of supply chain partners and the significant level of fragmentation limit the levels of integration that are achievable. The interplay of environmental and procurement related factors renders the realisation of truly integrated supply chains very problematic and difficult to achieve. Nevertheless the paper identifies some key principles that do need to be followed if the elusive goal of integration is to be eventually realised.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the present cases were chosen to be representative, they may not necessarily reflect the experiences of all clients and contractors in the construction industry.Originality/valueThis paper adds another dimension to the extensive body of knowledge that already exists on supply chain integration. In particular, it focuses on construction, a large and important sector of the economy but one that does not receive as much research interest as the manufacturing and distribution sectors.

scholarly journals Supply chain resilience and business responses to disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Usha Ramanathan ◽  
Olu Aluko ◽  
Ramakrishnan Ramanathan
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Retail Sector ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk

PurposeAt its peak, the COVID-19 pandemic has created disruption to food supply chains in the UK and for the entire world. Although societal changes created some resilience within the supply chains, high volatility in demand creates supply, logistics and distribution issues. This is reflected in the economic instability of businesses and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In this paper, the authors explore factors behind this initial disruption in the supply chains and offer suggestions to businesses based on the established practices and theories.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use mixed methods research. First, the authors conducted an exploratory study by collecting data from published online sources. Then, the authors analysed possible scenarios from the available information using regression. The authors then conducted two interviews with UK retail sector representatives. These scenarios have been compared and contrasted to provide decision-making points to businesses and supply chain players to tackle current and any future potential disruptions.FindingsThe findings from the current exploratory study inform the volatility of supply chains. The authors suggested some possible responses from businesses, during and after the pandemic.Originality/valueThe regression model provides a decision-making approach to help supply chain businesses during the pandemic outbreak. Once a complete data set of COVID-19 is available, the authors can create a resilience model that can help businesses and supply chains.

The recovery of the UK economy will be uneven

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Content Type ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Fiscal Incentives ◽  
Political Relations ◽  
Hospitality Sector ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Roll Out

Significance The overall growth of 1.1% in September was weaker than expected, with the slowdown in the hospitality sector contributing. Impacts Reversing the trend of persistently low investment requires fiscal incentives, but debt payments will reduce budget scope in the recovery. When the vaccine roll-out begins, it will take another few months to reach enough people to relax the approach towards social distancing. Joe Biden's election and expected departure of Dominic Cummings from Downing Street could bolster UK-EU economic and political relations.

Freeing the slaves from our supply chains

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Pollitt
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Slave Trade ◽  
Forced Labor ◽  
International Labor Organization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Network ◽  
The Past ◽  
International Labor ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk

Purpose – This paper aims to ask how much forced labor and trafficking have changed since the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and whether businesses and governments are taking adequate measures to remove slavery from international supply chains. Design/methodology/approach – It looks at three of the most high-profile slavery cases in the past four years and asks whether modern manifestations of slavery are any different from the traditional forms we associate with the colonial governments of the eighteenth century. It sets out the latest theories behind the unexpected increase in forced labor. It also addresses the scope, successes and shortfalls of three anti-slavery enactments proposed in the past four years, to ask how much is being done to fully update international labor laws and why certain efforts could prove insufficient. Practical implications – It points out that the government of California and the International Labor Organization have successfully implemented rigorous and savvy anti-slavery laws, but the UK has yet to produce a draft Bill that would put British anti-slavery efforts in the appropriate international context. Social implications – It argues that international corporations must acknowledge that many of the countries in which they operate lack the institutional capacity to enforce the rule of law, so the responsibility to uphold modern-day standards often rests with the businesses themselves. Originality/value – It argues that existing international anti-slavery conventions have failed to suppress the slave-trade boom because they do not reflect the shift in economic control from governments to the private sector and its trans-national network of supply chains.

scholarly journals Corporate responses to modern slavery risks: an institutional theory perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Flynn ◽  
Helen Walker
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Institutional Pressure ◽  
Modern Slavery ◽  
New Policies ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
The Uk

Purpose Drawing on statements made under the transparency in supply chains provision of the UK Modern Slavery Act, this paper aims to examine how firms are responding to modern slavery risks in their supply chains. Design/methodology/approach Using an institutional theory lens, a content analysis of modern slavery statements by financial times stock exchange (FTSE) firms is carried out. The analysis focusses on sources of modern slavery institutional pressure and changes that firms have made in their structures, policies and practices in response to modern slavery risks. Findings Three sources of institutional pressure are inferred from modern slavery statements: international human rights accords (coercive), multi-stakeholder initiatives (mimetic) and professional standards (normative). Changes made by firms in direct response to modern slavery include adopting new policies, strengthening contract terms, establishing working/steering groups and creating new key performance indicators. FTSE 100 firms have been more proactive than FTSE 250 firms in making these changes, as have firms in higher risk industries. Research limitations/implications The analysis covers FTSE firms only. Responses to modern slavery risks by non-FTSE firms deserve attention. Practical implications The UK Modern Slavery Act relies on non-government organisations and consumers to hold firms to account over modern slavery. Policymakers should be aware that while this strategy might work with high profile firms, it is less applicable to firms that operate below the public radar. Originality/value The paper shows that institutional theory has validity for explaining corporate responses to modern slavery risks.

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