Chair in Business Analytics, Big Data & Supply Chains |PhD and MSc (Supply Chain/ Logistics/Operations), MSc (Business Analytics), MBA, BSc and FSc (Mathematics, Statistics, and Computing), PCAP (Education) & UK HE Senior Fellow
Personal Chair
- About
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- Email Address
- pervaiz.akhtar@abdn.ac.uk
- Office Address
University of Aberdeen Business School
MacRobert Building
King's College
Aberdeen AB24 5UA
- School/Department
- Business School
Biography
Introduction and Expertise
Professor Dr. Pervaiz Akhtar serves as the Chair (Full Professor) of Business Analytics, Big Data, and Supply Chains at the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom (UK). Professor Akhtar upholds the philosophy of lifelong learning, having graduated from Imperial College London. This principle is central to his expertise in Data Science, Modelling, Machine Learning, Business Analytics, Digital Transformation, and Artificial Intelligence, as well as their innovative applications in Supply Chains, Logistics, and various business operations, aimed at enhancing Social, Operational, and Environmental Performance through the adoption of the Circular Economy and the implementation of Net-Zero strategies. Professor Akhtar regularly delivers keynote speeches at national and international events and is open to considering keynote invitations.
PhD students seeking supervision and possessing relevant qualifications and skills are encouraged to apply.
Experience and Leadership Roles
Professor Akhtar leverages over 20 years of academic, consultancy, and industrial experience across renowned public, private, and non-profit organizations (e.g., UNICEF, JCCP, Oxfam, MSF, Islamic Relief, Red Cross, Unilever, and Reckitt Benckiser). His previous leadership roles encompass Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Director of MBA Programs, Director of Data, Analytics, and Digital Integrations, Deputising Dean/Head of Department, Divisional Director of Research, MSc and BSc Program Director, Visiting Professorships (e.g., IESSEG, France) and Member of Executive Committees. He has supervised more than 50 research students, including PhDs.
With more than 7 years in industry, he held positions such as Market Expert in Logistics/Supply Chains and Data Science/Analytics, Logistics and Project Manager, and Transportation and Distribution Manager. His two-fold industrial and academic experiences assist him to bridge the gap between industrial requirements and academic practices.
Prizes and Awards
Key Achievements:
Professor Akhtar became the youngest professor in 2018 from his country of origin, securing three consecutive promotions within the same university—setting a historic record—along with receiving a professorship offer from a top 10 UK university. His remarkable accomplishments also placed him among just over 150 academics across all disciplines in the UK who attained their professorship before the age of 35, according to HESA records.
- Research
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Research Overview
Research Publications/Journals, Editorial Roles, and Funded Projects
Professor Akhtar has published (Google Scholar) in top-tiered international journals (i.e., A*/FT50/CABS4/Q1) such as the International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Journal of Product Innovation Management, British Journal of Management, International Journal of Production Economics, Business Ethics, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, among others.
Professor Akhtar served as Senior Associate Editor for the International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management and is affiliated with the editorial boards of the British Journal of Management and the Journal of Knowledge Management. He also reviews for several highly regarded journals.
Professor Akhtar has worked on multiple projects with more than 25 organizations worldwide (e.g., United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Asia, Middle East, and Europe). He has completed more than 15 funded projects and received awards – the value more than £5 million.
Research Methodology and Tools
Professor Akhtar employs mixed methods and utilizes a wide range of software tools for consultancy, projects, research, and teaching, including Python, RStudio/R, SAP, Tableau, Power BI, AMOS, Mplus, SmartPLS, Gephi, SPSS, AMPL, SuperDecisions, and Advanced Excel, among others. Examples of his extensive skill set include:
- Machine learning, AI, and data science techniques
- Unstructured data mining and analytics
- Advanced visualization techniques
- Network analysis
- Time series analysis
- Multi-level modeling and panel/longitudinal data handling
- Data cleansing, feature engineering, and data quality checks
- Moderating and mediating analysis
- Structural equation modeling and partial least squares analysis
- Multiple regression, logistic regression, and discriminant analysis
- Endogeneity solutions
- Forecasting
- Inventory modeling, simulation, and optimization
- Six Sigma applications
- Qualitative comparative analysis, among others.
- Teaching
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Teaching Responsibilities
Examples of programmes taught/developed/overseen
PhD
MBA (Business Analytics)
MBA
MSc, Big Data and Business Analytics
MSc, Business Analytics/Data Science and Consulting
MSc, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
BSc, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
BSc, Project Management
BSc, ICT
Modules taught/developed/overseen
Applied Data Analytics and Visualisation
Big Data Analytics and Visualisation
Operations Management and Digital Transformation
Business Analytics
Data Science
Information Management and Big Data
Supply Chain Analytics
Text Mining and Machine Learning
Network Analysis
Modelling and Analysis
Decision Making Techniques for Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Multivariate Analysis
Logistics Technology
Operations Management
Enterprise Systems Enterprise Systems and Business Intelligence/SAP
Supply Chain Planning and Control (optimization, simulation and other quantitative tools for measuring quality)
Procurement & Supply Chain Management
Business Project Management
- Publications
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Enhancing Supply Chain Innovation and Operational Agility Through Knowledge Acquisition From the Social Media: A Microfoundational Approach
IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, vol. 71, pp. 12777-12791Contributions to Journals: ArticlesIndustrial Digitization, the Use of Real-Time Information, and Operational Agility: Digital and Information Perspectives for Supply Chain Resilience
IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, vol. 71, pp. 10387 - 10397Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDetecting fake news and disinformation using artificial intelligence and machine learning to avoid supply chain disruptions
Annals Of Operations Research, vol. 327, pp. 633–657Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAvoiding crisis-driven business failure through digital dynamic capabilities. B2B distribution firms during the COVID-19 and beyond
Industrial Marketing Management, vol. 113, pp. 14-29Contributions to Journals: ArticlesBarriers to Information and Digital Technologies Adoption in Humanitarian Supply Chain Management: A Fuzzy AHP Approach
Journal of Enterprise Information Management, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 505-527Contributions to Journals: ArticlesResponsible Innovation in Emerging Markets’ SMEs: The Role of Alliance Learning and Absorptive Capacity
Asia Pacific Journal of Management, pp. 1-35Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe role of big data analytics in manufacturing agility and performance: moderation- mediation analysis of organizational creativity and of the involvement of customers as data analysts
British Journal of Management, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 1200-1220Contributions to Journals: ArticlesCoordination and collaboration for humanitarian operational excellence: Big data and modern information processing systems
Production Planning and Control, vol. 33, no. 6-7, pp. 705-721Contributions to Journals: ArticlesImpact of IoT on manufacturing industry 4.0: A new triangular systematic review
Sustainability (Switzerland), vol. 13, no. 22, 12506Contributions to Journals: Review articlesCross-border mergers and acquisitions of emerging economies' multinational enterprises - The mediating role of socialization integration mechanisms for successful integration
Human Resource Management Review, vol. 31, no. 3, 100578Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2016.12.003
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
