http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32879 2026-05-17T12:11:12Z 2026-05-17T12:11:12Z Gyabaah, Michael http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33267 2026-05-14T19:14:47Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: E-procurement and supply chain performance in emerging economies: A study of manufacturing sector in Ghana Authors: Gyabaah, Michael Abstract: Electronic procurement has become one of the leading methods for purchasing goods and services in today's competitive environment. Research indicates that e-procurement influences business outcomes, including the output of the supply chain. However, factors that affect the relationship between e-procurement and supply chain performance have not received significant attention in the procurement literature. Based on this the current research aimed at investigating the effects of e-procurement on supply chain performance, as well as the mediating role of supplier efficiency and quality of information. The study further tested the interaction effects of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and top management support on the link between e-procurement and supply chain performance. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from a sample of 439 employees from the manufacturing sector in Ghana. The study was guided by the Technology Acceptance Model theory. Structural equation modelling was used to test the direct effects, mediation and moderation effects of the intervening variables. The findings indicate that, statistically, e-procurement exerts positive and significant influence on supply chain performance and drives supplier efficiency and quality of information. However, the effect of supplier efficiency on supply chain performance proved otherwise. Quality of information exerts a significant positive effect on supply chain performance. Furthermore, supplier efficiency and quality of information were found to be significant mediators between e-procurement and supply chain performance. Regarding the moderating effects, the interaction effect of perceived ease of use is statistically significant on the link between e-procurement and supply chain performance, but perceived usefulness and top management support are statistically insignificant. Theoretically, the study deepens the understanding of the mediating and moderating mechanisms that influence the relationship between e-procurement and supply chain performance in the manufacturing sector in a developing economy. The study has valuable implications for industry players, particularly procurement and supply chain management professionals and policy makers seeking to improve procurement and enhance the performance of their supply chains. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Du, Guangjie http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33225 2026-04-28T12:15:36Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Technology Adoption and Sustainable Development: Evaluating the Impact of Robotics on Unemployment and SO₂ Emissions Authors: Du, Guangjie Abstract: This doctoral thesis explores the impact of robotics adoption on two dimensions of sustainability, unemployment and SO₂ emissions. The adoption of robotics has brought about profound changes in the global community, transforming employment and the air quality. Two seemingly distinct issues are connected through the broader theoretical framework and its practical applications. Existing research provides limited cross-country evidence on the effects of robotics adoption on unemployment and environmental outcomes, and little is known about the roles of culture and spatial spillovers in shaping these effects. Based on a relevant theoretical framework, the thesis addresses the gaps by proposing research questions in two consecutive empirical chapters, as explained in the next section. Secondary databases are employed to examine the research questions. In the thesis, the results are drawn from performing multiple regressions on the cross-country empirical data gathered. Briefly, the thesis analyses the impact of the adoption of robotics on unemployment and SO₂ emissions, focusing on revealing the interdependency between economic characteristics and sustainability. Accordingly, it is organised into two empirical chapters. The first empirical chapter investigates the effects of robotics adoption on unemployment across multiple national contexts, utilising panel data from 33 countries over the period 2010–2019. This analysis employs theoretical frameworks of innovation diffusion and absorptive capacity to explore how the adoption of robotics influences international unemployment disparities. Additionally, this chapter examines the employment effects of robotics through a cross-cultural lens. The empirical results indicate that robotics adoption reduces unemployment; however, this effect differs substantially across countries when cultural dimensions are included as moderating factors. The chapter thereby extends the existing body of research on robotics adoption and unemployment by integrating insights from innovation diffusion and absorptive capacity theories. Moreover, the findings offer policymakers deeper insights into the nuanced role of cultural contexts in shaping employment-related policies related to the adoption of robotics. The second empirical chapter focuses on examining the impact of robotic adoption on sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emission intensity (per unit of GDP) and total SO₂ emissions. The analysis applies a comprehensive panel dataset from 50 countries spanning the period from 2000 to 2019. The application of advanced econometric methodologies, with the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) being a notable example, is situated within the theoretical frameworks of spatial spillover and absorptive capacity. This approach differentiates between domestic and cross-border impacts of robotics on air quality indicators. The empirical evidence suggests that the adoption of robotics is conducive to the reduction of SO₂ intensity and total SO₂ emissions to both domestic and neighbouring countries, thereby demonstrating significant direct and spillover effects that transcend national boundaries. The spatial econometric analysis presented in this chapter makes a significant contribution to the existing literature on technological advancements and environmental outcomes. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that integrating robotics can enhance understanding of the intricate consequences that arise from this intersection in global environmental governance and policy-making processes. The structure of this thesis deviates from the conventional single, continuous narrative structure, adopting instead two independent empirical research chapters. These chapters have the potential to be published separately in academic journals. This format aligns with emerging trends in interdisciplinary research, which often involve multiple authors across various dimensions of broader research topics. This structure facilitates the rapid dissemination and interaction of academic outcomes within the academic community. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that this approach can facilitate the timely production of research findings, thereby making an academic contribution to their field. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z