Author: Natasha Lawlor-Morrison

The Hidden Cost of Returns: Can Blockchain Protect Your Business?

On By In blockchain, Product Returns, Research Spotlight, Sustainable Development, Technology

Reverse logistics – the process of moving goods from consumers back to manufacturers for reuse, recycling, or disposal – is a critical component of the circular economy. Traditionally, this process has been plagued by inefficiencies, high costs, and lack of transparency. Blockchain is simply a distributed digital ledger technology – that is, a record of transactions. They are designed in such a way that it is secure, transparent, and tamper-proof. Blockchains can contain smart contracts- these are automatically executed processes that do not require an intermediary. For example, when a return is scanned in, a smart contract might automatically refund a consumer – if the associated barcode is the same as what was initially sent – without the need for a person to do this. Blockchains are immutable because data recorded on a blockchain cannot be altered or deleted without obvious detection.

By creating secure, tamper-proof records, blockchain enables logistics firms to track products throughout their lifecycle, ensuring accountability and reducing fraud.

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Meet the Member: Steven Brown on Open Strategy, Multi-Sector Leadership, and Research with Real-World Impact

On By In Leadership, Meet the member, Open Strategy

Following a ten-year career in the British Army, Steven Brown’s business career took centre stage. With over 20 years of senior leadership experience in industries such as telecommunications, consumer electronics and global logistics, Steven brings a broad range of experience to his research.  He completed an MBA in 2007, an experience which first got him thinking about the possibility of pursuing research further. Now, as a PhD student at the University of Greenwich, Steven is diving deep into the evolving field of Open Strategy—bringing both curiosity and humility to the process.

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Learning Under Fire: How NATO Militaries—and Others—Can Adapt Faster 

On By In Change Management, Innovation, Organisational Learning, Research Spotlight

The map room hums with servers and low voices. Coffee rings stain the edges of a thick after action report, its spine cracked from travel. “We captured the lesson,” the lieutenant says, “but it never became practice.” Heads nod around the table. 

The lesson is there—buried in a PDF, referenced in a PowerPoint, archived in a SharePoint folder named after last year’s exercise. The official process is immaculate, but the next patrol leaves with what fits the tempo of the day: a briefing, a map, a hope not to repeat the mistake. 

Why do high-stakes organisations struggle to learn from their mistakes?

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Meet the Member: Ibukun Joy Lawal.

On By In Meet the member

“Many people assume that AI adoption in higher education is mainly about technology, choosing the right tools or systems. But what often surprises people is how much the human element matters. My research shows that leadership style, trust, and the relationship between leaders and followers can make or break successful AI implementation. It’s not just about having innovative technology; it’s about whether people feel empowered, supported, and confident enough to engage with it. In many ways, the success of AI in universities depends far more on people than on the machines themselves.”

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Sneak Peek: Understanding the Psychology Behind Product Returns

On By In Artificial Intelligence, Brand Loyalty, Machine Learning, Product Returns, Research Spotlight, Systems Dynamics

You’ve just received a parcel. It’s the jacket you ordered last week. The colour’s slightly off, the fit isn’t quite right, and the material feels cheaper than expected. You hesitate. Should you return it? You scroll through reviews, wondering if others felt the same. You sigh, toss it in the back of your wardrobe, and move on.

This everyday moment—silent dissatisfaction—is at the heart of Dr Duong’s current research. His work dives deep into the psychology of online product returns, revealing that not all returns are created equal, and not all dissatisfaction is voiced.This everyday moment—silent dissatisfaction—is at the heart of Dr Duong’s current research. His work dives deep into the psychology of online product returns, revealing that not all returns are created equal, and not all dissatisfaction is voiced.

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Why Do African SMEs Still Avoid External Finance—Even When It’s Available?

On By In Africa, Financing, Research Spotlight, SMEs, Sustainable Development, Urban systems

You are running a small, family-owned business in a bustling African city. This business was built from scratch by you through hard work and by reinvesting all your profits. Today, your business needs funding to break into new markets, and you recently heard that new government reforms have made it easier to access loans. Banks are more open, paperwork is simpler, and funding is finally within reach. But you don’t apply. Why?

This is the paradox at the heart of SME finance in Africa: access is improving, but uptake remains stubbornly low. A new study led by NUSC colleague Dr. Andrew Hansen-Addy, with Prof. Mario Davide Parrilli and Dr. Ishmael Tingbani, dives deep into this puzzle—revealing why increased access to finance doesn’t always lead to more borrowing, and what that means for SME policy, resilience, and growth.

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Dr Jingxi Huang on Sustainability, Psychology, and the Power of Small Changes

On By In Meet the member

At the heart of NUSC’s interdisciplinary mission is a commitment to tackling urban challenges through diverse perspectives. Dr Jingxi Huang, a researcher in consumer behaviour and sustainability, embodies this spirit with her unique blend of marketing insight and psychological depth. Jingxi’s passion for sustainability goes beyond academic theory. “It’s a long-term challenge that affects both our generation and the next,” she explains.

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The Architecture of Innovation: Lessons from a Football Academy

On By In Innovation, Research Spotlight, SMEs, Social Network Analysis

In the heart of Belgium, a football academy – KRC Genk – buzzes with quiet intensity. Coaches huddle over data sheets, young players lace up boots with dreams of stardom, and behind the scenes, a task force assembles — not just to talk tactics, but to ensure that the academy stays at the forefront of developing talent. This task force is composed of individuals selected from within the academy- taking a bottom-up approach that leverages their expertise. By including external knowledge, this task force can also challenge the status quo and promote innovative thinking.

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Meet the Member: Neal Layton on Flexible Work, Real-World Insight, and a PhD with Purpose

On By In Meet the member

Meet Neal Layton, one of our newest PhD Students. For Neal, pursuing a PhD isn’t just an academic milestone—it’s a meaningful way to round off a dynamic career that’s spanned consultancy, leadership, and even a stint in a banking start-up. “I loved the research during my Master’s” he says. “This felt like a great way to finish working life ahead of retirement.”

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