Doctoral Theses (Edinburgh Business School)
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Item Learning change management : case study of a mining company undergoing expansion(Heriot-Watt University, 2025-03) Banda, LawrenceZambia's mining industry has a long history, dating back to the late 1920s. However, a prolonged period of mismanagement resulted in reduced funding, poor performance, and increased operational risk. In 1991, the mines were privatised, and the Swiss mining company, Glencore, acquired Mopani Copper Mines, one of the industry's largest units operating in the Copperbelt province. This company is a substantial contributor to employment, GDP, and foreign exchange earnings in Zambia. To address operational risks, the organisation adopted a risk management framework called SafeMining, which was developed by the International Council of Metals and Minerals to create a safety culture where all workplaces recorded zero accidents. The implementation of SafeMining resulted in several changes, including the introduction of new technologies, mechanisation of underground operations, ISA smelting, modification of procedures and practices, adoption of a comprehensive risk assessment and management system, and subcontracting of key operations. However, the organisation had little experience of managing change, with no documentation of past changes and how these were managed. To review and understand the change programme in Mopani Copper mines, this study was conducted to identify existing problems and areas for improvement. The study used a multi methods approach, which included case studies in which staff were interviewed, documents and incidents were reviewed, and a small questionnaire survey was undertaken. From this it was found that despite additional controls being developed and implemented, inappropriate risk behaviour and poor management of operational risk persisted. The conclusion is that the culture change initiative has failed to achieve its goals. The evidence gathered points to the organisation relying heavily on experts, often external to the organisation, in the implementation process. They did not understand the workplace and the changes were not supported or owned by senior management. There is a failure to align organisational structures and resources to achieve a safety culture. This, when combined with poor communication with workers and middle management and the lack of involvement of senior management, means that the change programme had little chance of success. These findings, coupled with learnings from literature, led to the formulation of a plan to help remedy the situation and improve the safety and operation of the mining company. The study's academic implications are that integrating change initiatives into safety management systems is critical. A significant observation is that a strong safety culture cannot be acquired quickly, rather, it requires the establishment of a positive safety climate, effective communication, staff empowerment, viewing safety as a core aspect of change rather than an afterthought and compliance from all employees. The study’s practical implications are that Zambia’s shortcomings in mining policies are derailing the industry from aligning with global standards and adapting to modern technologies. Despite goals for increased copper production and foreign investment, the current mining laws are outdated and fail to address contemporary practices, particularly in areas like electronic blasting, mechanisation, automation and, more recently, the use of artificial intelligence. These areas will require thoughtful change management in integrating these advanced technologies in an industry predominantly characterised by traditional mining practices. As many Zambian mining companies are adopting global best practices due to multinational ownership, there is an urgent need for significant regulatory reforms. In addition, there is a need for higher learning institutions to update their curricula to reflect current industry trends and resolve the skills gap. The research suggests potential directions for future studies, including: 1. Evaluating structured change management approaches and their effects on employee attitudes and organisational outcomes within the mining sector. 2. Investigating the impact of artificial intelligence to address operational risk and the factors influencing its effectiveness in implementing change.Item Strategies for profitable revenue growth in a VUCA operating environment : an interpretive study of Zimbabwe commercial banks(Heriot-Watt University, 2025-02) Mhondiwa, Heriet K.; Gleadle, Doctor PaulinePurpose – The Zimbabwe business environment is widely recognized as a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) environment, with its after-effects being increasingly significant. This study delves into how commercial banks in Zimbabwe can formulate effective strategies to navigate this disruptive landscape. Emphasizing profitable revenue growth as a critical metric, the research explores the strategies that senior managers of commercial banks could embrace to survive and thrive in the VUCA world. Additionally, it underscores the pivotal role of senior managers' values and their association with the success or failure of their banks' strategies for revenue growth. Despite the abundance of VUCA literature, most of it is consultancy-based rather than research-based and focuses on strategies indirectly associated with revenue growth for commercial banks. Moreover, there is a noticeable absence of empirical research investigating the potential association between senior managers' values and their strategies in a VUCA environment. Design/methodology/approach - The study involved 30 participants and six commercial banks, exploring the success strategies and reasons for failure in Zimbabwe's VUCA environment from 2007 to 2019. Employing an interpretive research paradigm, the study delved into individuals' experiences using the laddering interview technique based on Kelly's Personal Construct Theory. By thematically analysing the relationship between banks' strategies and their values, the study presented significant research findings that could shape the future of banking strategies. Findings – The findings underscore the importance of aligning personal values with strategies. They suggest that senior managers implementing strategies reflecting their values significantly impact the organization's success or failure. This insight empowers senior managers to take ownership of shaping strategies that resonate with their values and ultimately enhance the organization's success. Practical implications— This study contributes to academic discourse and provides practical guidance for regulators and bankers. It offers valuable insights into effective revenue growth strategies that can be implemented during a VUCA period. Furthermore, it establishes a direct connection between these strategies and bankers' values, underscoring the practical relevance of nurturing these values within banks. Originality/value – This study contributes to the currently limited academic literature concerning strategies for achieving profitable revenue growth and their connection with the personal values of senior managers in commercial banks operating in VUCA environments. Additionally, it presents an innovative and pioneering application of the laddering technique within Zimbabwe's VUCA environment. Furthermore, it addresses survivorship bias in strategic management by integrating failed and successful commercial banks. Suggestions for business applications and further research are included.Item A leadership perspective on drivers of team performance during mandatory telework in the UAE(Heriot-Watt University, 2025-02) Yousif, Amin; Kisgen, Professor Doctor StefanieTraditionally, telework – also referred to as Work-from-home (WFH) - is a voluntary work agreement between an employee and their line manager to partially work outside the usual office location. The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 forced companies around the world into ”lock-downs”, applying mandatory and full-time telework. These “telework” models differed substantially from traditional conceptualizations of telework: The arrangements were not voluntary but rather imposed and furthermore, the extent of teleworking practices increased from partial to full-time. Traditional telework knowledge is unable to explain phenomena under these new conditions. Companies lack guidance on how to cope best with a crisis situation where mandatory and full extent telework adoption becomes obligatory. Mandatory telework has rarely been conceptualized in literature. The study’s aim is to address this gap in knowledge by investigating drivers of successful adoptions of mandatory telework from a leadership perspective. Team performance is justified as success measure in the study. Mandatory telework remains a relevant topic even after the pandemic is over: The findings of the study could be applied to other crisis scenarios where mandatory telework must be adopted, for example violent conflicts due to increasing geopolitical instability as well as increasing natural disasters due to global warming like floods and hurricanes. A mixed methods approach with triangulation design is adopted. The study is conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for four reasons: First, although there is a vibrant academic community in the UAE, not many studies have examined telework in this region. Second, the UAE are a regional technology hub with highest ICT (information and communication technology) standards like broadband penetration and speed. Telework use and ICT are known to be correlated. Third, the UAE managed the crisis exceptionally well, both in economic as well as in public health terms, which makes this region a case to learn from. Fourth, the researcher is based in the UAE, therefore gaining access to leaders is feasible. The population of the study are leaders in the UAE who “normally” work with their teams in traditional office environments. Two research questions are asked: 1. What are drivers of team performance during mandatory telework – from a UAE leaders’ perspective? 2. How do UAE leaders overcome challenges when having to implement mandatory telework? Through systematic review of key literature, the study identifies key concepts for potential drivers: Boundary management, media-rich collaboration technology, trust and shared leadership. Research hypotheses are developed, assuming relationships between the drivers and team performance with trust as a moderator. Findings from quantitative and qualitative parts are triangulated. The study found that boundary management, media-richness in communication and shared leadership are drivers of team performance in a mandatory telework environment. The role of trust as a moderator or mediator was inconclusive in the study. Particular challenges related to mandatory telework were identified: mental health and workflow inefficiency. The study contributes to theory by extending boundary theory, media-richness theory and shared leadership theory into the new application “mandatory telework”. In literature, these theories had been applied to other contexts like traditional telework or virtual teams but not to mandatory telework. Developing practical guidance for companies from the findings of the study represents the contribution to practice.Item Strong relationships matter : how female entrepreneurs grow and leverage social capital in the German consulting sector(Heriot-Watt University, 2025-02) Bittighofer, Lisa; Peisl, Professor Doctor TomSocial capital is vital for entrepreneurial success, and female entrepreneurs, as a significant emerging group in the start-up ecosystem, face unique challenges due to social role expectations, gender bias, and financial limitations. Despite this, they build and manage sustainable businesses, particularly in Germany’s consulting sector, where traditional gender roles persist. However, there is limited understanding of how female entrepreneurs grow and leverage social capital. This study explores how female entrepreneurs in Germany's consulting industry develop and leverage social capital for business growth. Drawing on the theories of Bourdieu (1983, 1986 & 2000), Skeggs (1997, 2004), and Granovetter (1983), this research employs a case-based approach to examine female entrepreneurs' particular experiences. Semi-structured interviews, analysed through thematic analysis, provided in-depth insights (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The study contributes to understanding how female entrepreneurs navigate social relations, how societal factors influence their practices, and how the consulting sector's dynamics shape their approaches. Findings highlight that female entrepreneurs prioritize strong ties, differing from typical business networks that rely on weak ties. Strong ties also enable barter, a common practice in the consulting industry. Additionally, they face gender-specific challenges while benefitting from female role models.Item Exploring the adoption of a risk management system for fiscal space expansion in Botswana(Heriot-Watt University, 2024-09) Molosiwa, Tshepang; Dudau, Doctor AdinaThe purpose of this study is to examine how civil servants in Botswana's healthcare sector perceive the adoption of risk management systems. Risk management systems (RMS) adoption factors are examined through technology adoption theories. Reviewing documents and conducting interviews reveals barriers such as little understanding, resistance to change, resource limitations, and system integration challenges. RMS adoption remains positive despite these obstacles, emphasizing the importance of financial resources, strong organizational support, active user involvement, and alignment with existing processes. Investing in comprehensive training programs to build confidence and competence within users is key to overcoming these barriers. Implications suggest significant policy changes to enhance RMS adoption in Botswana's healthcare sector. Implementing these findings could enhance accountability, transparency, efficiency, and safety. Applying the technology adoption model provides an understanding of RMS adoption factors in Botswana. Practically, it facilitates the implementation of RMS through actionable insights. Future research should examine the long-term impact of RMS adoption, compare it to other regions or sectors, and explore advanced technologies. Such research could improve the effectiveness of RMS in healthcare settings by providing deeper insights into best practices. Using this study, informed decisions can be made, and strategic planning can be implemented, enhancing healthcare quality.Item How will IT megatrends and Legal Tech technologies influence the future IT strategies of law firms in Germany? : an AI-enhanced real-time Delphi study(Heriot-Watt University, 2024-12) Scheit, Michael W.; Mergenthaler, Professor Doctor JensThe findings of the study highlight the importance of Legal Tech for law firms in Germany, emphasising its critical role in boosting profitability and competitiveness while ensuring relevance in Germany’s rapidly evolving legal landscape. While Legal Tech is particularly important for large law firms, it also offers significant advantages to small and medium-sized law firms. The study’s participants agree that the integration of Legal Tech will bring substantial benefits to all involved stakeholders, be they clients or partners. Although these technologies need only to perform at 80% of human capability in terms error rate to gain acceptance, they are expected to lead to an increase in law firm spin-offs, empower smaller firms to handle larger cases, and facilitate the entry of third party providers into the market. Legal Tech is relevant to all fields of law and is set to democratise access to legal services, shifting power towards consumers and significantly enhancing ‘Access to Justice’. The thesis investigates the impact of IT Megatrends and Legal Tech clusters on the IT strategies of law firms in Germany, utilising the real-time Delphi method. Out of the emerging technologies (IT Megatrends), ‘Generative AI’ (=7.47 on a scale of 0-10), ‘Quantum Computing’ (=5.75/10), and ‘Neuromorphic Computing’ (=5.2/10) will have the highest impacts in 10+ years on the legal sector, according to the study’s results in 2024. The Legal Tech clusters ‘Legal and Compliance Analytics’ (=7.41/10), ‘Risk Management’ (=7.21/10), ‘Document Automation’ (=7.5/10), ‘Software for Legal Practices Management’ (=7.17/10), ‘Privacy Management Tools’ (=7.06/10), and ‘E-Discovery Solutions’ (=7.0/10) will have a high impact. The thesis also answers how these Megatrends and Legal Tech Clusters (will) influence the IT strategy of law firms in Germany, providing practical advice for CEOs and CIOs in the legal sector. This thesis also offers a new approach to using the (real-time) Delphi method enhanced by Artificial Intelligence. Integrating an AI’s “opinions” and “comments” into a Delphi study to “simulate” an (engaged) human expert could prove a powerful enhancement for traditional round-based and real-time Delphi studies and should be further researched. Only a fraction of the participants recognised the AI's “participation” during the study. This work also contributes to the method of Delphi studies by presenting statistical findings that elucidate various aspects of participant behaviour in Delphi studies on the experts’ opinion change behaviour. Enriching the academic debate, contractionary to Gnatzky et al. (2011, p.10), the so-called ‘Initial condition effect’ was substantiated across all participant groups in this study. This finding is consistent with Battin et al. (2023), who also observed a difference in how participants recruited early to the study amended their ratings of the outcomes compared to those recruited later. In line with the findings of Hussler et al. (2011), most participants did not significantly alter their initial ratings, and changes were exceptionally rare across all groups. Makkonen et al.’s (2016) observation that demographic factors such as age generation and professional experience do not significantly influence opinion change during the Delphi processes could be confirmed.Item Integrating mindfulness and character strengths to develop 21st-century-ready leaders – a case study-mixed methods approach(Heriot-Watt University, 2024-12) Advani, Alexandra; Mergenthaler, Professor JensHuman Resource Management (HRM) practitioners have traditionally focused on addressing deficiencies in leaders. Despite extensive research on 21st -century leadership competencies, organisations continue to struggle with outdated competency lists and a lack of consensus. While the literature specifies 'what' qualities leaders should embody, there is a gap in 'how' to cultivate such leaders. This study promotes a strengths-based approach to leader development inspired by positive psychology. It explores Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice (MBSP), an eight-week group intervention combining mindfulness and character strengths practices, in developing 21st -century-ready leaders. Grounded in the Broaden-and-Build (B&B) theory of positive emotions, it posits that MBSP participants may experience immediate benefits from positive emotions and gradual benefits from enhanced personal resources and well-being. Using the Values in Action (VIA) classification, the study introduces a framework using character strengths to identify and nurture leadership competencies. Adopting a critical realism perspective, the longitudinal Case Study-Mixed Methods (CS-MM) design involved an MBSP intervention with working students at a German higher education institution, including an experimental and control group. The qualitative component used thematic analysis of participants' reflective journals to explore mechanisms enabling the development of leadership competencies during the MBSP. Mindfulness and strengths practices increased positive emotions like gratitude, joy, hope, and love, broadening thought-action repertoires and enhancing resources such as optimism, emotional intelligence, resilience, self-awareness, critical thinking, goal orientation, problem-solving, decision-making, strategic thinking, creativity, passion for learning, curiosity, bravery, flexibility, relationship management, communication, teamwork, empathy, and emotional regulation. The embedded quantitative strand complemented these insights by measuring changes in character strengths and mindfulness using non-parametric statistical tests. It quantified the extent of these changes from baseline to the end of the eight-week MBSP intervention compared to a control group, as well as six months post-intervention. The alignment of qualitative and quantitative findings affirms MBSP's positive impact on developing 21st -century leadership competencies. This research links MBSP, positive emotions, and leader development, offering a strengths-based framework for nurturing 21st -century-ready leaders and valuable strategies for HRM practitioners to implement MBSP in organisations.Item The impact of donor support on public financial management and fiscal reform in developing countries : the case of Jordan(Heriot-Watt University, 2024-12) AbuHussein, Ruba; Alshurafa, Doctor MohammedIn recent decades, many developing countries have received external assistance to implement economic reforms, with public financial management (PFM) and fiscal reforms being critical components. Jordan, facing a series of crises, requires substantial support in these areas. This study aims to evaluate the impact of donor support on fiscal reforms in Jordan and explore its historical context. The investigation involves analysing the design, implementation, and management of PFM and fiscal reform initiatives which cover revenue management, public budgeting, budget execution, accounting, financial reporting, and public expenditure management. This investigation addresses strategies and tools employed, methods for measuring performance, mechanisms promoting sustainability, and techniques supporting reform initiatives. Critical theory is adopted to understand power dynamics, interests, and politics influencing and shaping change and reform efforts in Jordan. Using an interpretive approach within the critical research paradigm, the research triangulates findings from contextual analysis, surveys, and interviews to ensure objectivity, credibility, validity, and reliability. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the key mechanisms driving PFM reform and the factors influencing its success. It identifies several critical factors for successful PFM reform, emphasising the need to prioritise political commitment, collaboration, government ownership, communication, and accountability. The research notes challenges related to sustainability and adaptability and provides insights to inform policy and strategic planning for donor agencies and recipient governments. It encourages future studies to enhance the understanding of PFM reforms in other countries, improve generalisability, and explore the importance of accountability in improving the performance of PFM reform initiatives.Item Using scenario planning to build strategic options to boost the performance of League of Ireland football(Heriot-Watt University, 2024-09) Lynch, Alan Joseph; Robinson, Doctor CraigThis thesis considers how a strategy can be developed by applying scenario planning methodologies. The aim is to use a qualitative approach to expand on existing theory relating to scenario planning and to consider how it feeds into the strategy process. This research was conducted in relation to League of Ireland football, which has historically underperformed. Existing academic research on scenario planning, futures studies and strategy was reviewed to gain an understanding of existing scenario planning methodologies that are widely applied in practice, leading to a conceptual framework that develops the Strategy Identification Framework (SIF). The SIF was applied to LOI football in a three step process. First, a range of secondary data was analysed to identify topics that were previously highlighted as areas to improve. Second, these topics were used as a basis for semi-structured interviews with stakeholders within the industry, or tangentially linked. Using thematic analysis, a number of improvement drivers were identified and used to create a matrix of potential scenarios. These scenarios were reduced in number to three based on a review for possibility and plausibility, and then developed in detail. Finally, the three scenarios were presented to an expert panel and a future strategy for the LOI was identified. This practical application led to a revised SIF that can be used in other domains. The key contribution of the research is the development and application of the SIF, which reflected the learnings gained from the practical application to the LOI. This study has closed the gap between theory and practice in scenario planning, making it more accessible for organisations to use to create more robust strategies for the future, whilst engaging all relevant stakeholders at various stages in the process. The application of the SIF to the LOI highlighted the issues that remain within football in Ireland. The recommendation of Stadia 2031 using the financial recommendations contained in the present study, highlighted how key stakeholders are reticent to take ownership and believe that the gap should be closed by the Irish government. This is not a likely outcome. Unless significant changes are made within the structure of the game in Ireland, this study is consigned to being another lost opportunity.Item Adaptive hybrid-selling in German mechanical engineering B2B-sales : how can computer-mediated and on-site communication be effectively combined to convince decision-makers?(Heriot-Watt University, 2024-11) Kober, Stephan; Spandl, Professor Doctor TorstenThis research supports B2B-salespeople to select, combine and use on-site and digital communication channels approaching decision-makers to achieve communication goals - incorporating different sales process steps - in times of massively changing communication habits. Salespersons in german B2B-sales face the huge challenge of having handled by far the largest part of their customer communication via well-known communication channels such as on-site visits, telephone and E-mail for decades and now having to handle additional communication channels (e.g. videoconferences, Social Media or customer specific videos), which are new territory for many salespeople, in a relatively short period, since on-site customer appointments were not feasible caused by the Corona pandemic. However, skills to communicate professionally through these channels and to decide which channels are the most appropriate in which situation were not sufficiently developed. Using a qualitative research strategy and applying a multiple embedded case study approach, experiences of sales-directors, purchasing managers and salespersons have been analysed. The data analysis has been conducted via a thematic analysis. Applying this research strategy, communication experiences from the real-world context in B2B-sales have been elicited to conclude which combination of different communication channels is valued by interlocutors. Via a practical model and a checklist, which can be applied in real-world communications with prospects and customer’s decision makers, the research’s objective is to provide a pragmatic help for B2B-salespersons in order to increase deal closing rates via a convincing communication with customer’s decision-makers.