Professor Bob Ritchie

Educational and Professional Background

Bob started his career in the Information Technology and Communications sector working for major UK and multinational organisations developing business computer solutions. 

Following a mid-life career change and consequent undergraduate and postgraduate studies with the London School of Economics, Salford and Cardiff Universities, Bob pursued a career in Higher Education progressing from lecturer at Staffordshire University to Head of Department at Manchester Metropolitan University, joining the Lancashire Business School in his current post as a Research Professor three years ago. 

He is currently Executive Vice President of ISBE responsible for Conferences and Events, Chairman of the Crewe Development Agency, founder of the Institute for Supply Chain Risk Management (ISCRIM) and active in various professional bodies. Bob undertakes research, consultancy and development projects for UK and international businesses advising on strategic risk management and risk management within supply chains. 

Current Teaching Activities

Currently involved in teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.  Primary subjects include Innovation, Risk Management, Entrepreneurship, Small Business Development and Management and Supply Chain Risk Management. 

Extensive involvement in supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate projects and dissertations as well as research degree students.  

Research

Current Research Projects

Supply Chain Risk Management Research Handbook – joint editor with Associate Professor George Zsidisin from Colorado State University of the latest text that the ISCRIM (International Supply Chain Risk Management) team have been invited to publish, following the previous pathfinder research publication  three years ago.   The text is being published by Springer, one of the world’s largest publishing groups in Science and Technology, publishing 1,450 journals and 5,000 new book titles every year in more than 20 countries with very strong representation in the USA.   The series’ editor, Frederick Hillier from Stanford University has praised the quality of the proposal  and the advanced state of research and development, seeing this as a very important and 'definitive work that outlines the parameters of this emerging field.’  A distinctive feature of the text is that the 35 contributors are drawn from 12 different countries and each is operating at the leading edge in this new field in terms of research, consultancy and practice.  Within the team are a large core of experienced international writers and publishers within this and related fields from Cranfield University, Michigan State University, Western Carolina University and Lund University in Sweden.   The text is due for publication early 2008.

Supply Chain Risk Management and Performance – widening and  development of initial conceptual development work and in-depth case study analysis. Seeking to assess the impact of re-active and pro-active strategies and activities designed to manage risk in supply chains and the consequences for the business performance.   Aim is to establish practical means of assessing the impact of risk avoidance and amelioration on measurable performance parameters such that these considerations may play n active role in risk management decisions.  

Ethnic Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Culture – continuation of the study seeking to identify and understand the nature and significance of the barriers and support mechanisms prevalent in different ethnic sub-groups in the UK.  Investigating the contribution of factors such as human capital, social capital and how these may be influenced by the differences in cultural background.    Generated two conference papers from the work to date and embarked on the detailed analysis of the substantial empirical dataset generated.  Plan is to extend the investigation into other ethnic groups, generate more responses from existing groups in the survey and then deepen the investigation through more qualitative methods designed to enhance the explanatory power of the research.

Government regulation and SMEs – initial phase utilised the evidence from Forum of Private Business (FPB) surveys and the interactive evidence collected from the 1st National Small Business Summit held in October 2006.  Outcome was paper completed and submitted for journal publication in early 2007.  Follow-on research being undertaken utilising subsequent FPB on-line surveys and evidence collected from the 2nd Small Business Summit held October 2007.  Extending remit to examine wider set of issues highlighted by SMEs as providing barriers to business start-up and development.

Publications (Since 2001, Starting With Most Recent)

• Books

 “Supply Chain Risk:  A Handbook of Assessment, Management and Performance”, Ritchie, R.L. and Zsidisin, G., Springer  forthcoming 2008.

• Chapters in Books

Ritchie, R.L. and Burtonshaw-Gunn, S.J., (2006), ‘Developments in Construction Supply Chain Management and the Impact on People and Cultural Change,’ chapter in  ESRC People and Culture in Construction Seminar Series : ‘People and Culture in Construction: A Reader’ Edited by Andrew Dainty, Stuart Green and Barbara Bagilhole, publisher Taylor and Francis, March 2007.

Ritchie, R.L. and Brindley, C.S (2005), ‘SMEs and the Internet : A Comparative Study – China and the UK’, chapter in Sustaining Growth and Performance in East Asia, edited by Charles Harvie and Boon-Chye Lee, Edward Elgar, London, UK, pp. 277-300.

Ritchie B. and Brindley C.S. (2005) ‘Risk Management in the Digital Economy’ chapter in Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology edited by Mehdi Khosrow-Pour, pp. 2431-2437, Idea Group Publishing, USA.

Ritchie B. and  Brindley C.S. (2004), ‘Developments in Supply Chain Risk Management – Introduction’, Chapter in Supply Chain Risk, Brindley, C.S. (ed), pp. 3-13, Ashgate Publishing Ltd., London.

Ritchie R.L and Brindley, C.S. (2004), ‘Risk Characteristics of the Supply Chain – A Contingency Framework,’ Chapter in Supply Chain Risk, Brindley, C.S. (ed), pp. 28-42, Ashgate Publishing Ltd., London.

Ritchie, R.L and Brindley, C.S. (2004), ‘Future Developments in Supply Chain Risk Management – Conclusion’, Chapter in Supply Chain Risk, Brindley, C.S. (ed),  pp. 197-202,  Ashgate Publishing Ltd., London.

Ritchie, B. and Brindley, C. (2004), ‘Reducing risk in information search activities’ chapter in Business Intelligence in the Digital Economy : Opportunites, Limitations and Risks, Editor Mahesh S. Raisinghani, University of Dallas, pp 1-24, Idea Group Publishing, Hershey, PA.

• Journals

Ritchie, B. and Collinson, L., (forthcoming 2008), ‘A small business perspective on UK Government regulation and control’, submitted to Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy

Ritchie, B., Brindley, C. and Armstrong, N. (2008) ‘A Portfolio Management Approach to Supply Chain Risk Management’, International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, forthcoming 2008.

Ritchie, B. and Brindley, C. (2007) ‘An emergent framework for supply chain risk management and performance measurement’ Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol. 58, pp. 1398-1411.

Ritchie, R. and Brindley, C. (2007) ‘Supply Chain Risk Management and Performance : Current Trends and Future Developments’ , International Journal of Operations and Production Management,  March 2007, Vol. 27, Issue 3, pp. 303-322.

Ritchie, R. and Khorwatt, E. (2007) ‘Attitude of Libyan Auditors to Inherent Risk and Control Risk Assessment,’ British Accounting Review, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 39-59.

Ritchie, Bob (2006), Special edition on Entrepreneurship - editorial, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Vol. 24, No. 6, December, pp.795-798.

Ritchie, B. and Lam., W. (2006) ‘Taking Stock of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Research’,  International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, Vol. 12, No. 6, pp 312-327.

Walters, D., Greenwood, A. and Ritchie, R., (2006) ‘Work-based learning: effectiveness in information systems training and development’, Higher Education Quarterly, Vol. 60, No. 1, pp. 91-107.

Ritchie, B. and Brindley C., (2005) ‘ICT adoption by SMEs : implications for relationships and management’ New Technology Work and Employment,  Vol. 20 (3), pp. 205-217. 

Ritchie, B.and Brindley, C. (2005) ‘Cultural determinants of competitiveness within SMEs,’ Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 12, No.1, pp 104-119.

Ritchie R. and  Brindley C., (2002), ‘Reassessing the management of the global supply chain’ Integrated Manufacturing Systems, The International Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol 13 (2) pp.110-116.

Ritchie, R.L., Peet, S., Brindley,C.S., (2002), ‘The European Commission and SME support mechanisms for E-business’, European Business Review, Vol. 15 (5), pp. 335-341.

Ritchie, R.L. and Brindley,C.S., (2001), ‘ The Information – Risk Conundrum’, Journal of Marketing Intelligence and Planning, Vol 19 (1), pp29-37.

Ritchie, R.L. and Brindley, C.S., (2001), ‘Ethnic influences on risk perceptiveness and attitudes towards entrepreneurship’, Cyprus International Journal of Management, Vol. 6 (1), pp. 14-26.

Ritchie,R.L and Brindley C S, (2001), ‘Disintermediation, Disintegration and Risk in the SME Global Supply Chain’, Management Decision, Vol 38 (8), pp 575-583.
 
Ritchie R L and Brindley C S, (2001), ‘Undergraduates and Small and Medium Size Enterprises : Opportunities for a Symbiotic Partnership’,  Journal of Education and Training, Vol 42 (8&9), pp 509-517.

• Conference Papers

Refereed Conference Papers

Lam, W. and Ritchie, B. (2007)  ‘Understanding Ethnic Entrepreneurship from an Enterprise Culture Perspective’, Proceedings ISBE Conference, Glasgow, 7th – 9th November, 2007.

Lam, W. and Ritchie, B. (2006)  ‘Enterprise Culture, Subcultures and Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship’, Proceedings ISBE Conference, Cardiff, 2nd – 4th November, 2006.

Ritchie, B. and Burtonshaw-Gunn, S.A. (2003), ‘Partnering within the UK Construction Industry’, 12th Annual IPSERA Conference, 14-16 April, Budapest, Hungary, Proceedings pp 989-999.

Ritchie, R.L., Soufian, N. and Joseph, N. (2001), ‘The empirical content of constant expected returns asset pricing models in the UK stock market’, Multinational Finance Conference, Italy, June 2001.

Ritchie,R.L., Liu,J. and Wang,J. (2001), ‘FDI and Western development in China : Strategic Considerations for Multi-National Companies’, 28th Annual Conference UK Chapter, Academy of International Business, Manchester, Proceedings Vol II, pp 512-540.

Brindley, C.S. and Ritchie, R.L., (2001), ‘Relationship marketing as a solution to entrepreneurial risk’, AMA 6th Annual Research Symposium, The Marketing Entrepreneurship Interface, Kingston University, 11-12th January 2001.

Research Degree Supervision (Completed And Current Since 2001)

25 successfully completed PhD supervisions including the following specialisms:

• Information Content of Quarterly Earnings : Earnings Announcement Price Response of Income Stocks and Growth Stocks : the Case of Thailand

• ICT Developments, the Evolution of the amorphous Supply Chain and Consequences for Corporate Strategies, Risk and Relationships

• Supply Chain Strategies in the UK Retail Sector

• Strategic Supply Chain Management ; Critical Success Factors for Partnering Relationships within the UK Construction Industry

• Process and perceptions of those involved in decision making   within the smaller organisation

• Pricing of Risk in the UK Stock Market Empirical analysis of constant expected returns asset pricing models in the UK stock market’

• ICT in Teaching and Learning in Primary Schools – Specific Application to Science subjects

• Strategic Management Development in Geriatric Institutions in Israel

• Attitude of Libyan auditors to risk assessment factors

• Examining risk assessment and risk management issues relating to impact of legislation on schools

• Influence of Project Based Learning on Learning Effectiveness in Language Tuition at Secondary level in Israel

• Gender attributes and behaviour relating to Risk and Crises Management

• Cultural Influences on Asset Portfolio diversification in Nigerian Insurance Companies

• Effectiveness of Regulation and supervision in Libyan banking

• Corporate Social Reporting in Libya

• Effectiveness of Internal Audit function in Libya

• Evaluation of role and influence of player representatives in the Football industry