Product Sourcing Strategies of UK Footwear Firms

This research projects is aimed at clarifying the impact of global economic shifts on UK footwear sector firms’ future product sourcing strategies, their sourcing location decisions and how they might respond to ongoing turbulence if further contraction within the domestic industry is to be halted. China remains the world largest exporter of footwear to the UK. They are, however, experiencing significant inflationary pressures in manufacturing such that some UK firms are considering alternative sourcing locations. Additionally, many footwear firms seek to achieve greater supply chain (SC) agility whether outsourcing or manufacturing in order to respond more effectively to satisfying demand in increasingly fickle UK market segments and in some export markets. In this regard consideration is being given to manufacturing repatriation, however, sector expertise is becoming increasingly scarce with the resulting loss of traditional shoemaking knowledge and ‘know-how’. Given such circumstances, technological innovation may prove to be the only strategy for re-shoring to become viable. The research will adopt both Transaction Cost Theory and the Resource Base View as both individual and complementary theoretical lens. Comparative case studies provide the main source of data, supported by sector specialist key informant narratives in order to provide verification to the primary outputs. The primary case studies will be subjected to ‘cross case’ analysis in order to generate findings which identify critical issues relating to footwear product sourcing by UK firms. In turn they will provide a platform for the development of new SC theoretical concepts and generate usable supply chain practitioner models/ frameworks. If adopted these new approaches to product sourcing strategy should positively impact on firm performance product sourcing efficiency, improved SC agility to halt sector decline

Perspectives on Platform Regulation

Online social media platforms set the agenda and structure for public and private communication in our age. Their influence and power is beyond any traditional media empire. Their legal regulation is a pressing challenge, but currently, they are mainly governed by economic pressures. There are now diverse legislative attempts to regulate platforms in various parts of the world. The European Union and most of its Member States have historically relied on soft law, but are now looking to introduce regulation. Leading researchers of the field analyse the hard questions and the responses given by various states. The book offers legislative solutions from various parts of the world, compares regulatory concepts and assesses the use of algorithms. With contributions by Izumi Aizu, Enni Ala-Mikkula, Alexandre Alaphilippe, Natalie Alkiviadou, Alejandro Aréchiga Morales, Siwal Ashwini, Judit Bayer, Jörg Becker, Konrad Bleyer-Simon, Elda Brogi, Shun-Ling Chen, Poren Chiang, Michael Geist, Gerard Goggin, Giovanni De Gregorio, Sarah Hartmann, Maximilian Hemmert-Halswick, Maria Carolina Herrera Rubio, Bernd Holznagel, Peng Hwa Ang, Richard Janda, Jan Christopher Kalbhenn, Juliya Kharitonova, Kristiina Koivukari, Päivi Korpisaari, Jacob Mchangama, Trisha Meyer, Kilian Müller, Larissa Sannikova, Mårten Schultz, Nicole Stremlau, Maria L. Vazquez, Kuo-Wei Wu and Lorna Woods

Perspectives on Platform Regulation

Online social media platforms set the agenda and structure for public and private communication in our age. Their influence and power is beyond any traditional media empire. Their legal regulation is a pressing challenge, but currently, they are mainly governed by economic pressures. There are now diverse legislative attempts to regulate platforms in various parts of the world. The European Union and most of its Member States have historically relied on soft law, but are now looking to introduce regulation. Leading researchers of the field analyse the hard questions and the responses given by various states. The book offers legislative solutions from various parts of the world, compares regulatory concepts and assesses the use of algorithms. With contributions by Izumi Aizu, Enni Ala-Mikkula, Alexandre Alaphilippe, Natalie Alkiviadou, Alejandro Aréchiga Morales, Siwal Ashwini, Judit Bayer, Jörg Becker, Konrad Bleyer-Simon, Elda Brogi, Shun-Ling Chen, Poren Chiang, Michael Geist, Gerard Goggin, Giovanni De Gregorio, Sarah Hartmann, Maximilian Hemmert-Halswick, Maria Carolina Herrera Rubio, Bernd Holznagel, Peng Hwa Ang, Richard Janda, Jan Christopher Kalbhenn, Juliya Kharitonova, Kristiina Koivukari, Päivi Korpisaari, Jacob Mchangama, Trisha Meyer, Kilian Müller, Larissa Sannikova, Mårten Schultz, Nicole Stremlau, Maria L. Vazquez, Kuo-Wei Wu and Lorna Woods