Dr. Lina Zhang is a lecturer in Operations Management at the University of Exeter Business School. Prior to joining Exeter in September 2022, she was a Teaching Fellow at Nottingham University Business School (NUBS) China after obtaining her doctorate degree at the University of Nottingham. Her research interests focus on retail operations in the digital era, particularly concerning the omni-channel retail operations and operations management with social technologies. Her research has been published in the European Journal of Operational Research, International Journal of Production Economics and Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review
Research interests
- Omni-channel retail operations
- Social technologies in Operations
- Sustainable supply chains
Research projects
Projects supervised (PG)
- Cross-channel return policy research in the omnichannel retailing (MSc in supply chain management)
- How can supply chain collaboration mitigate supply chain risks? (MSc International Management)
- Time series forecasting of individual stocks in the real estate sector (MSc Business Analytics)
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
Irawan CA, Jones D, Hofman PS, Zhang L (2022). Integrated strategic energy mix and energy generation planning with multiple sustainability criteria and hierarchical stakeholders.
European Journal of Operational Research DOI.
Zhang L, Zhang Y, Chutani A (2022). Riding the wave of fashion rental: the role of power structures and green advertising.
Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review,
168Abstract:
Riding the wave of fashion rental: the role of power structures and green advertising
In recent years, the rise in the collaborative consumption of fashion products has propelled many fashion brands to tap into rental markets and offer rental services. Although many studies have investigated consumer perceptions and attitudes toward fashion rental services, analytical models that help businesses make more informed supply chain decisions are scarce. Consequently, we develop game-theoretical models to study the fashion market with two firms, i.e. a fashion manufacturer and its rental platform partner. The models consider four green-advertising investment situations: no firm invests, only the fashion manufacturer invests, only the rental platform invests, or both firms invest in green advertising for fashion rental services. We compare pricing and green advertising decisions under different power structures between the two firms across the four green-advertising investment situations. Our results demonstrate when and how the power structure affects the key decision variables. We reveal that it is least profitable for both firms if neither contributes to green advertising, while both firms obtain the highest profits when they both invest in green advertising. In the two situations when only one firm invests in green advertising, we note that it is not necessarily unfavorable for firms to accept the green-advertising cost proactively. Specifically, the Stackelberg follower benefits from investing in green advertising. Furthermore, in these two situations, whether or not the Stackelberg leader covers the green-advertising cost is more important than their identity. Our results and analysis reveal important managerial implications that can assist firms in excelling in the fashion rental market.
Abstract.
DOI.
Zhang L, Wu L, Huang L, Zhang Y (2021). Wield the Power of Omni-channel Retailing Strategy: a Capability and Supply Chain Resilience Perspective.
Journal of Strategic Marketing, 1-25.
DOI.
MacCarthy BL, Zhang L, Muyldermans L (2019). Best Performance Frontiers for Buy-Online-Pickup-in-Store order fulfilment.
International Journal of Production Economics,
211, 251-264.
DOI.
Publications by year
2022
Irawan CA, Jones D, Hofman PS, Zhang L (2022). Integrated strategic energy mix and energy generation planning with multiple sustainability criteria and hierarchical stakeholders.
European Journal of Operational Research DOI.
Zhang L, Zhang Y, Chutani A (2022). Riding the wave of fashion rental: the role of power structures and green advertising.
Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review,
168Abstract:
Riding the wave of fashion rental: the role of power structures and green advertising
In recent years, the rise in the collaborative consumption of fashion products has propelled many fashion brands to tap into rental markets and offer rental services. Although many studies have investigated consumer perceptions and attitudes toward fashion rental services, analytical models that help businesses make more informed supply chain decisions are scarce. Consequently, we develop game-theoretical models to study the fashion market with two firms, i.e. a fashion manufacturer and its rental platform partner. The models consider four green-advertising investment situations: no firm invests, only the fashion manufacturer invests, only the rental platform invests, or both firms invest in green advertising for fashion rental services. We compare pricing and green advertising decisions under different power structures between the two firms across the four green-advertising investment situations. Our results demonstrate when and how the power structure affects the key decision variables. We reveal that it is least profitable for both firms if neither contributes to green advertising, while both firms obtain the highest profits when they both invest in green advertising. In the two situations when only one firm invests in green advertising, we note that it is not necessarily unfavorable for firms to accept the green-advertising cost proactively. Specifically, the Stackelberg follower benefits from investing in green advertising. Furthermore, in these two situations, whether or not the Stackelberg leader covers the green-advertising cost is more important than their identity. Our results and analysis reveal important managerial implications that can assist firms in excelling in the fashion rental market.
Abstract.
DOI.
2021
Zhang L, Wu L, Huang L, Zhang Y (2021). Wield the Power of Omni-channel Retailing Strategy: a Capability and Supply Chain Resilience Perspective.
Journal of Strategic Marketing, 1-25.
DOI.
2019
MacCarthy BL, Zhang L, Muyldermans L (2019). Best Performance Frontiers for Buy-Online-Pickup-in-Store order fulfilment.
International Journal of Production Economics,
211, 251-264.
DOI.
Invited lectures
Design of Operations Facilities and Systems (MSc module), University of Nottingham
My teaching interests mainly include the following areas:
- Supply chain and operations management
- Logistics management
- Management science
- Project management
My teaching philosophy is to ensure that teaching should be inclusive, interactive, and innovative.