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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Data-driven and adaptive leadership contributing to sustainability: global agri-food supply chains connected with emerging markets
International Journal of Production Economics, vol. 181, no. Part B, pp. 392-401Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2015.11.013
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Embracing supply chain agility: an investigation in the electronics industry
Supply Chain Management, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 140-156Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-06-2015-0237
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
The influence of industrial policy and national systems of innovation on emerging economy suppliers’ learning capability
Industry and Innovation, vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 512-530Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2016.1189811
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
- [ONLINE] University of Kent repository
The linkages between leadership approaches and coordination effectiveness a path analysis of selected new Zealand-UK international agri-food supply chains
British Food Journal, vol. 117, no. 1, pp. 443-460Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-12-2013-0357
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Supervision environments and performance of UK dairy warehouses: A path analysis
British Food Journal, vol. 116, no. 6, pp. 1000-1013Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-12-2012-0313
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Coordination in humanitarian relief chains: chain coordinators
Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 85-103Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/20426741211226019
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Chain coordinators and their role in selected food supply chains:: Lessons from Pakistan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom
Food Chain, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 104-116Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.3362/2046-1887.2012.008