Dr Muhammad Mustafa Kamal

About me:

Muhammad Mustafa Kamal, an Associate Professor in Sustainable Operations and Analytics and Deputy Head of the Management Department and, as such, heading the Operations and Analytics Department at the University of Exeter Business School, brings a wealth of academic expertise and a commitment to fostering collaborative scholarly and research initiatives. Prior to joining the University of Exeter, Kamal was an Associate Professor in Supply Chain Management, and Curriculum Lead (Head of Subject Group) in Business Analytics and Digital Transformation at Coventry University. He earned his PhD in Information Systems from Brunel University London, focusing on the adoption and evaluation of enterprise integration technologies in local government authorities in the United Kingdom. As a participant in numerous research grants bringing in income well over £1million, Kamal has published over 100 research papers exploring the technological paradoxes and artificial intelligence implementation, supply chain digitalisation, emergency medical supplies scheduling, digitalisation in omnichannel healthcare supply chain businesses, adoption of additive manufacturing for sustainable operations, impact of big data analytics on supply chain operations, enabling circular supply chain artificial intelligence adoption in food supply chains, value co-creation through social innovation, enabling sustainable energy futures, green supply chain collaboration, and analysing supply chain integration, and circular economy implementation. He is a regular presenter at UK, EU, and international conferences such as BAM, AMCIS, ECIS, HICSS, EMCIS and also published in POMS, IPSERA and Logistics Research Network.

In addition to his academic achievements, Kamal has played pivotal roles in significant research capacity building projects. As a Co-Investigator, he contributed to a joint program initiated by the British Council in Pakistan and the Higher Education Commission (HEC). This programme aimed to strengthen partnerships between higher education sectors in Pakistan and the UK, with a focus on enhancing the capacity of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for knowledge generation and research uptake. Kamal's contributions encompassed training potential researchers in writing competitive grant proposals, offering tailored support for female PIs, training reviewers in line with international best practices, enhancing the research management capacity of Pakistan university Offices of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORICs), and providing training and support to PIs and Co-PIs on research project management.

Moreover, Kamal continued his commitment to capacity building in Pakistan through a programme focused on enhancing the capabilities of PhD supervisors in HEIs. Partnering with Coventry University, this initiative aimed to address the challenges faced by HEIs in developing regions, particularly in terms of generating and disseminating new knowledge. Kamal, as a Co-Investigator, played a crucial role in developing baseline studies, conducting in-depth interviews with academics in Pakistan HEIs, and providing training to enhance supervisory skills for PhD students. This project aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Quality Education, promoting inclusive and equitable quality education opportunities. Successful third-party evaluation of the Supervisor Capacity Building training is a testament to the significant influence on various cohorts and the enduring impact it promises for supervisor development and training in Pakistan in the future.

The impact of Kamal's work is not confined to academia alone. As a project and academic lead for bespoke training programmes, he has successfully led projects such as Strategy Training and Risk Management Training for the Civil Service Workforce (DCMS and DIT), contributing to the enhancement of professional skills in governmental departments, generating around £62,500. Besides this, his commitment to knowledge exchange is reflected in initiatives like the knowledge exchange program for Indonesian students, fostering international collaboration and enriching the educational experience, resulting in generating £25k income.

Kamal's leadership and contributions in these projects underscore his dedication to advancing research capacity, fostering international collaborations, and supporting the development of a knowledge-based economy, particularly in the context of higher education landscape. His multidimensional role as an academic, researcher, and collaborator positions him as a key contributor to the intersection of academia and global research initiatives. Notably, he has successfully supervised 22 PhD completions, further highlighting his expertise and impact in the field.

He has published in a wide range of Business & Management academic journals, including Technological Forecasting and Social Change, International Journal of Production Research, Journal of Business Research, Computers and Industrial Engineering, Production, Planning and Control, Information Systems Frontiers, Information Technology and People, Information Systems Management, Journal of Global Information Management, Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Industrial Marketing Management, Information Technology and People, Government Information Quarterly, Information and Management, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, Expert Systems with Applications, and Journal of the Operational Research Society.

Interests:

• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Supply Chain Digitalisation
• Operations Analytics
• Circular Economy and Sustainability
• Information System/Industry 4.0/5.0

My research is grounded in Operations Management, Supply Chain Management and Digitalisation, and includes elements of innovation and digital transformation. I am currently engaged in the following research themes and welcome quality research proposals from prospective doctoral students:

Theme 1: Achieving Sustainability and Resilience in Supply Chain Operations - Role of Circular Economy and Industry 4.0

Several noticeable researchers and practitioners have recognised the significance and applicability of circular economy and industry 4.0 for supply chain operations and production management at large. However, relatively little is known about the role of circular economy and industry 4.0 in achieving sustainable supply chain operations (e.g., on demand planning, production and manufacturing, logistics, procurement, and inventory). Among the extant research studies published, a few shed light on the link between IoT and SCM and the impact of additive manufacturing on supply chain operations, processes and performances. This project aims to research and respond to questions - what is the role of circular economy and industry 4.0 in developing sustainable supply chain operations.

Theme 2: Impact and Use of Disruptive Technologies in Developing Sustainable Supply Chain Operations

This project aims to explore a critical question: What is the impact of utilising disruptive technologies in developing sustainable supply chain operations? In contemporary business environments, disruptive technologies have revolutionised the way employees connect, communicate, and collaborate for the exchange of information and knowledge within and between organisations, spanning various regions. The adoption of disruptive technologies holds profound implications for reshaping supply chain operations. Addressing this central question will contribute to reshaping the relationships between supply chain businesses, customers, suppliers, and other vital stakeholders, not just within individual supply chains but across interconnected networks. Research in this domain will provide insights into emerging best practices for collaboration and the operational challenges within the discipline of operations and supply chain management.

Theme 3: Enhancing Sustainability in Supply Chain Operations through Dynamic Business Analytics: A System Dynamics Approach

Businesses and supply chain organisations, using analytical different methods, assess their past performance to gain insights and drive their business planning for a better future. This interdisciplinary PhD research aims to investigate the integration of sustainability principles within supply chain management using advanced business analytics techniques, with a specific focus on system dynamics modelling. The study will explore how real-time data analytics, predictive modelling, and system dynamics simulations can enhance decision-making processes in supply chain operations to optimise sustainability outcomes. Key areas of investigation include resource optimisation, demand forecasting, carbon footprint reduction, and circular economy strategies. The research will contribute to both sustainability and business analytics literature while providing practical insights for sustainable supply chain management.

Qualifications:

PhD in Information Systems (Brunel University London, UK).

MSc Distributed Computing Systems (University of Greenwich, UK).

MSc Computer Science (Pakistan).

BBA Bachelor in Business Administration (Pakistan).