University of Exeter Business School

Professor Mickey Howard

Professor Mickey Howard

Professor in Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Deputy Head of Department of Operations and Analytics

 M.B.Howard@exeter.ac.uk

 2153

 +44 (0) 1392 722153

 Streatham Court 0.89

 

Streatham Court, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter, EX4 4PU, UK

Overview

Prof Mickey Howard is Professor of Supply Chain Management at the University of Exeter Business School. He started at Exeter in 2009 and served for 6 years as Director of Research for the management department. As a participant in numerous research grants, Mickey has published over 150 research papers exploring the procurement of complex performance, buyer-supplier relationships, collaborative technologies, sustainable supply chain management and circular economy implementation. He is a regular speaker at UK government events and international conferences such as BAM, IPSERA, EUROMA & Academy of Management. He is co-author of the award winning textbook ‘Purchasing & Supply Chain Management: A Sustainability Perspective’ (2014, 2018) Routledge UK, and edited book ‘Procuring Complex Performance’ (2011) Routledge New York, recently translated into Chinese. He has supervised 6 PhD students to completion.

His research spans the implementation of sustainable business systems and transition to the circular economy from an operations & supply chain perspective. His most recent work explores waste identification and value recapture as part of an EPSRC ‘Modelling supply chain optimisation in the food and beverages industry’ project which helps SMEs in south-west England work towards the circular economy. Over the past decade he has developed several systems based mapping tools to minimise materials, water, energy & carbon related waste and maximise circular maturity. He advocates a circular business advantage approach which enables closer collaboration with external partners, helping both business and local authorities shape regional economic policy towards long-term resiliency. Mickey has over 25 years’ experience of working with large corporations in the global automotive, IT systems and defence sectors exploring supply chain strategy, customer order fulfilment and procurement of complex performance.

He has published in a wide range of Business & Management academic journals, including Omega: International Journal of Management Science, Journal of Strategic Information Systems, British Journal of Management, Industrial Marketing Management, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, Journal of Cleaner Production, International Journal of Production Research and Journal of Purchasing & Supply Management.

Qualifications

PhD (Bath), MBA (Durham), BA Honors (Northumbria)

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Research

Research interests

My research is grounded in Operations & Supply Chain Management and includes elements of innovation and systems thinking. I explore theories of the firm (e.g. RBV, Natural RBV, Dynamic capabilities), Agency (e.g. principle-agent, networks), Institutional theory and System Dynamics. My recent work examines the interface between inter-organizational relationships, governance mechanisms and the implementation of sustainable & circular business models. I am currently engaged in the following research themes and welcome quality research proposals from prospective doctoral students:

  • Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) - I explore the role of purchasing and supply chain management in stimulating a more sustainable regional, national & global economy. I first taught SSCM on the One Planet MBA at Exeter and have been involved in several major grants: the Clear about Carbon project in Cornwall (2010-2014), and the Circular Economy Modelling project (2016-2019) described further below. My 2014, 2018 (2nd edition) award winning textbook with co-authors Profs Johnsen and Miemczyk was the first in its field to introduce a sustainability perspective across all aspects of purchasing & supply chain management.
  • Circular economy (CE) implementation - I co-founded the Circular Economy Business Forum at Exeter in 2015 to assist firms in recapturing value from activities such as recycling, re-use, remanufacture, leasing and product life extension. In 2016 it was amalgamated into the Sustainability & Circular Economy research cluster. I was co-investigator (with Prof Steffen Boehm, Pi) on a £483,000 EPSRC grant on ‘Modelling supply chain optimisation in the food and beverages industry: Helping SMEs in South West England work towards the circular economy’. Emerging from this project are the multilevel challenges i.e. firm, supply chain, ecosystem around how we implement the circular economy, which is of major interest to me. The increasing significance of CE in business & society today is reflected in the launch of our Exeter Centre for Circular Economy led by Prof Peter Hopkinson.   
  • Procuring complex performance (PCP) - my work on PCP originates back to when I was based at the University of Bath, School of Management (1999-2009). It involves studying the temporal dynamics between manufacturing contractors and public buyer organizations as they adopt a through-life approach to managing the procurement of complex platforms and facilities e.g. warships, dockyards, airport terminals, hospitals etc. My 2011 edited book with Nigel Caldwell includes a number of PCP related themes which are explored further in a 2014 IJOPM journal special issue. My 2019 BJM article discusses the dysfunctional effects on performance of governance mechanisms by defence partners during the commissioning of capital warships over extended periods of time e.g. 10 - 30 years.

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Publications

Books

Johnsen T, Howard MB, Miemczyk J (2018). Purchasing and supply chain management: a sustainability perspective (2nd Edition). London, UK, Routledge, T&F.
Johnsen T, Howard MB, Miemczyk J (2014). Purchasing & Supply Chain Management: a Sustainability Perspective. UK, Routledge. Taylor & Francis Group.
Caldwell N, Howard M (eds)(2011). Procuring Complex Performance: Studies of Innovation in Product-service Management. New York, Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group).

Journal articles

Cagno E, Neri A, Howard MB, Brenna G, Trianni A (In Press). Industrial Sustainability Performance Measurement Systems: a Novel Framework. Journal of Cleaner Production, 230, 1354-1375.
De Angelis R, Howard M, Miemczyk J (In Press). Supply Chain Management and the Circular Economy: Towards the Circular Supply Chain. Production Planning and Control
Zils M, Howard M, Hopkinson P (2023). Circular economy implementation in operations & supply chain management: Building a pathway to business transformation. Production Planning and Control, 0-0.
Howard M, Yan X, Mustafee N, Charnley F, Böhm S, Pascucci S (2022). Going beyond waste reduction: Exploring tools and methods for circular economy adoption in small-medium enterprises. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 182, 106345-106345.
Howard M, Boehm S, Eatherley D (2022). Systems resilience and SME multilevel challenges:. A place-based conceptualization of the circular economy. Journal of Business Research, 145, 757-768.
Howard MB, Roehrich J, Lewis M, Squire B (2019). Converging and Diverging Governance Mechanisms: the Role of (Dys)Function in Long-term Inter-organizational Relationships. British Journal of Management., 30, 624-644. Abstract.
Trianni A, Cagno E, Neri A, Howard M (2019). Measuring industrial sustainability performance: Empirical evidence from Italian and German manufacturing small and medium enterprises. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, 229, 1355-1376.  Author URL.
Howard MB, Hopkinson P, Miemczyk J (2019). The Regenerative Supply Chain: a Framework for Developing Circular Economy Indicators. International Journal of Production Research, 57(23), 7300-7318.
Howard MB, Webster K (2018). Circular business advantage: what organisations need to know. Circulate – online publication of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
De Angelis R, Howard MB, Miemczyk J (2018). Supply Chain Management and the Circular Economy: Towards the Circular Supply Chain. Production Planning and Control
Johnsen T, Miemczyk J, Howard MB (2017). A Systematic Literature Review of Sustainable Purchasing and Supply Research: Theoretical Perspectives and Opportunities for IMP-Based Research. Industrial Marketing Management, 61, 130-143.
Miemczyk J, Howard MB, Johnsen T (2016). Dynamic Development and Execution of Closed-Loop Supply Chains: a Natural Resource-Based View. Supply Chain Management: an International Journal
Howard M, Wu Z, Caldwell N, Jia F, König C (2016). Performance-based contracting in the defence industry: Exploring triadic dynamics between government, OEMs and suppliers. Industrial Marketing Management, 59, 63-75.
Caldwell N, Howard MB (2014). Contracting for Complex Performance in Markets of Few Buyers and Sellers: the Case of Military Procurement. International Journal of Operations & Production Management. Special Issue: Procuring & Managing Complex Performance, 34(2), 270-294.
Yalabik B, Howard M, Carey S (2012). The Innovation Game: Lessons in Strategy and Managing Operations. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 32(12), 1441-1459.
Lewis M, Brandon-Jones A, Slack N, Howard M (2010). Competing through operations and supply: the role of classic and resource-based advantage. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 30(10), 1032-1058.
Fedorowicz J, Gelinas U, Gogan J, Markus L, Usoff C, Howard M, Vidgen R (2010). Modelling Physical Barriers to Inter-Organizational System Implementation Success. International of Information Technology & Management, 9(4), 365-388.
Howard M, Vidgen R, Powell P (2010). Strategies for E-Procurement: Auto Industry Hubs Re-Examined. International Journal of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management, 3(1), 21-42.
Howard MB, Powell P, Vidgen R (2010). Strategies for E-procurement: Auto Industry Hubs Re-Examined. International Journal of Information Systems & Supply Chain Management, 1(3), 21-42.
Baban P, Zhang D, Howard M, Childe S, Lamming R (2010). Supply chain quality management: Analysing service-based relations within a supply chain in the manufacturing environment to APMS-2010 doctoral workshop 09-10 October 2010, Cernobbio, Como, Italy. Proceedings of APMS 2010 - International Conference on Advances in Production Management Systems Abstract.
Lewis M, Howard M (2009). Beyond Products and Services: Shifting Value Generation in the Auto Supply Chain. International Journal of Automotive Technology & Management, 9(1), 4-17.
Johnsen T, Howard M, Miemczyk J (2009). UK Defence Change and the Impact on Supply Relationships. Supply Chain Management: an International Journal, 14(4), 270-279.
Stone G, Howard M, Miemczyk J (2008). Collaborative ICT Ventures: Implementing the Responsive Automotive Supply Network. International Journal of Automotive Technology & Management, 8(3), 239-253.
Miemczyk J, Howard M (2008). Managing Global Auto Operations: Supply Strategies for Build-to-Order. Supply Chain Management – an International Journal, 13(1), 3-8.
Howard M, Vidgen R, Powell P, Powell J (2007). Exploring the use of QPID: a collaborative study of B2B in the automotive industry. Omega, 35(4), 451-464.
Howard M, Miemczyk J, Lewis M, Brandon-Jones A (2007). Implementing Supply Practice at Bridgend Engine Plant: the Influence of Institutional & Strategic Choice Perspectives. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 27(7), 754-776.
Howard M, Squire B (2007). Modularization and the Impact on Supply Relationships. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 27(11), 1192-1212.
Howard M, Vidgen R, Powell P (2007). Using QPID for collaborative investigation in a B2B industry setting. Omega: the International Journal of Management Science, 35(4), 451-464.
Howard MB, Miemczyk J, Graves A (2006). Automotive Supplier Parks: an Imperative for Build-to-order?. Journal of Purchasing & Supply Management, 1(14), 91-104.
Howard MB, Powell P (2006). Automotive e-Hubs: Exploring Motivations and Barriers to Collaboration and Interaction. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 15(1), 51-75.
Howard MB, Powell P, Vidgen R (2005). Automotive Industry Information Systems: from Mass Production to Build-to-order. Journal of Cases on Information Technology, 7(2), 15-29.
Howard MB (2005). Collaboration and the '3DayCar': a Study of Automotive ICT. Journal of Information Technology, 1(20), 245-258.
Howard M (2005). Collaboration and the '3DayCar': a study of automotive ICT adoption. JOURNAL OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, 20(4), 245-258.  Author URL.
Howard MB, Vidgen R, Powell P (2003). Overcoming Stakeholder Barriers in the Automotive Industry: Building-to-order with Extra-Organizational Systems. Journal of Information Technology, 18(1), 27-43.

Chapters

Miemczyk J, Carbone V, Howard M (2021). Learning to Implement the Circular Economy in the Agri-food Sector: a Multilevel Perspective. In Bals L, Tate W, Ellram L (Eds.) Circular Economy Supply Chains – from Chains to Systems, Emerald, UK.
Howard MB, Powell P, Vidgen R (2012). Strategies for e-procurement. In  (Ed) Information Technologies: Methods and Techniques., IGI Global.
Caldwell N, Howard MB (2011). Conclusions and commentary. In Caldwell N, Howard M (Eds.) Procuring Complex Performance: Studies of Innovation in Product-Service Management, New York: Routledge.
Bessant J, Howard MB, Caldwell N (2011). Product-Service Innovation: Reframing the Buyer-Customer Landscape. In Caldwell N, Howard M (Eds.) Procuring Complex Performance: Studies of Innovation in Product-Service Management, New York: Routledge.
Howard MB, Miemczyk J (2011). Supply Management in Naval Defence: the Case for PCP. In Caldwell N, Howard M (Eds.) Procuring Complex Performance: Studies of Innovation in Product-Service Management, New York: Routledge, 139-158.
Howard M, Caldwell N (2010). Introduction. In Caldwell N, Howard M (Eds.) Procuring Complex Performance: Studies of Innovation in Product-Service Management, Routledge. Abstract.
Miemczyk J, Howard MB (2008). Auto Supplier Park Strategies. In Parry G, Graves A (Eds.) Build to Order: the Road to the 5Day Car, UK: Springer-Verlag.
Howard M, Vidgen R, Powell P (2008). Automotive e-hubs: exploring motivations and barriers to collaboration and interaction. In Parry G, Graves A (Eds.) Build-to-order: the Road to the 5-Day Car, UK: Springer-Verlag.

Conferences

Miemczyk J, Howard M, Hopkinson P, Tate W (2022). Transitioning to the circular economy: initial findings from two multinational organisations. European Operations Management Association (Euroma). 3rd - 6th Jul 2022. Abstract.
Howard M, Yan X, Mustafee N, Boehm S, Hopkinson P, Charnley F, Pascucci S (2020). Seven Tools for the Circular Economy: from Linear Flows to Systems Value Recapture. International Society for Circular Economy (IS4CE). 6th - 7th Jul 2020.
Howard M (2019). Circular Economy implementation in the south-west agri-food sector: implications for practice and theory. 20th Conference for Closed Loop Supply Chains. 4th - 6th Aug 2019.
Howard MB, Boehm S, Eatherly D, Lobley M, Mustafee N, Vamvakeridou-Lyroudia L (2018). A Capability Maturity Model for the Circular Economy: an Agri-food Perspective. Circular Economy Disruption: Past, Present & Future – an academic symposium. 17th - 19th Jun 2018.
De Angelis R, Howard MB (2018). The Circular Economy: from Buzz Word to Conceptual and Theoretical Clarity in Management Studies. British Academy of Management. 3rd - 6th Sep 2018.
De Angelis R, Howard M (2018). The Circular Economy: from Buzz Word to Conceptual and Theoretical Clarity in Management Studies. British Academy of Management. 3rd - 6th Sep 2018.
Howard MB, Roehrich J, Lewis M, Squire B (2017). Converging and Diverging Governance Mechanisms: the Dynamic Interplay of (Dys)Function. Academy of Management. 4th - 8th Aug 2017.
Howard M, Roehrich J (2017). Managing conflict, opportunism and trust repair: the dark side of inter-organizational relationships. European Operations Management Association (EurOMA), 24th Annual conference. 3rd - 5th Jul 2017.
Howard MB, Miemczyk J, De Angelis R (2017). Towards the Circular Supply Chain: What future for Purchasing & Supply Management?. International Purchasing & Supply Education and Research Association. 9th - 12th Apr 2017.
De Angelis, R, Howard MB, Miemczyk J (2017). Towards the Circular Supply Chain: What future for Purchasing & Supply Management?. Proceedings of IPSERA, 26th Annual conference. 9th - 12th Apr 2017.
Howard MB, Coles T (2016). A research agenda for the circular economy: SME integration in services-based supply chains. International Purchasing & Supply Education and Research Association. 26th - 31st Mar 2016.
Howard MB, Wu Z, Jia F (2015). Exploring triadic dynamics between government, OEMs and suppliers: Performance based contracting in the UK defense industry. Academy of Management.
De Angelis R, Howard M, Owen R, Whittaker J (2014). Emergence of Business Models for a Circular Economy: Empirical Insights Using a Resource and Institutional Perspective. Corporate Responsibility Research Conference. 15th - 17th Sep 2014.
Howard MB, Correia F, Hawkins B, Pye A (2012). Clear About Carbon?. British Academy of Mgt.
Kumar N, Howard MB, Howard M, Lewis M, Carey S (2011). Exploring the influence of contractual and relationsl governance. EUROMA.
Correia FML, Hawkins B, Howard M, Lamming R, Pye A (2011). Low Carbon Procurement: an Emerging Agenda. 20th Annual IPSERA Conference (International Purchasing and Supply Education and Research Association. Vision 20/20 - Preparing today for tomorrow’s challenges. 10th - 13th Apr 2011. Abstract.
Correia F, Hawkins B, Howard MB, Lamming R, Pye A (2011). Low Carbon Procurement: an Emerging Agenda. IPSERA.
Caldwell N, Howard MB (2011). Procuring Complex Performance. Production Operations Management Systems.
Howard MB, Caldwell N (2011). Procuring Complex Performance: a New Dawn for Public-Private Collaboration?. International Purchasing & Supply Education & Research Association.

Reports

Howard MB, Jeanrenaud S, Correia F (2012). Desso and the Cradle to Cradle Challenge: Rethinking Carpet as a Closed Loop Supply System. Cranfield, UK, European Case Clearing House (ECCH).
Howard M (2010). Product-service Innovation: Managing Complex Procurement & Supply. Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS).

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External Engagement and Impact

External positions

  • External advisor for MSc Engineering Management programs, University of Bath, (2017)
  • External examiner (PhD) for Universities of Lancaster (2012), Surrey (2015), Bath (2016), and Aalto (2017)
  • Chairman for the Disruptive Innovation Festival live presentation and panel session held simultaneously between Exeter and Yokohama University, Japan (2015)
  • Chairman for the advisory board of the ESF ‘Clear About Carbon’ project (2011)
  • Advisor to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply Education Executive
  • Reviewer for the Journal of Supply Chain Management, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal.

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