Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Assessing the Impact of AI on Operational and Supply-Chain Decision-Making: Evidence from Companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Shalhoob, Huda Shafiq; Tahirov, NailThis study investigates the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on flexible and responsive supply chain decision-making within Saudi Arabian enterprises. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research incorporates qualitative insights from seven semi-structured interviews and quantitative data from 96 survey respondents. The findings show that AI enhances supply chain flexibility and responsiveness; however, challenges remain related to strategic integration, cultural readiness, and financial accountability. Although AI adoption in Saudi enterprises is still at an early stage, it has significant potential to transform decision-making, improve agility, and strengthen competitiveness in global markets. The study highlights that current AI integration is fragmented and uneven, suggesting that further research is needed to explore sector-specific adoption patterns and long-term financial impacts, as well as the cultural and leadership barriers influencing AI-enabled supply chain transformation.42 0Item Restricted Barriers Shaping the Attitude–Behaviour Gap in Sustainable Purchasing: Evidence from Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Aljohani, Eshraq; Arunachalam, DeepakThis dissertation investigates the persistence of the attitude–behaviour gap in sustainable purchasing among Saudi consumers, a context where environmental awareness has grown but outcomes remain unsustainable. The research explores structural and supply-chain obstacles preventing people from turning pro-sustainability attitudes into actual purchasing actions. Guided by an interpretivist philosophy, it adopts a qualitative design using thirteen semi-structured interviews conducted in Arabic with Saudi consumers. Thematic analysis identified key patterns. Findings reveal five obstacles: high costs that frame sustainable products as luxury goods; limited availability in mainstream retail channels; weak transparency that fuels scepticism; negative product experiences prioritising convenience and quality; and inadequate end-of-life systems leaving consumers disempowered. The research shows that the gap stems from fundamental market and supply chain obstacles surpassing environmental awareness. Market transformation is presented as the solution to bridge this gap through affordable prices, accessible products, transparent information, consistent quality, and circular infrastructure. It contributes to theory by challenging the sufficiency of the Theory of Planned Behaviour and highlights practical implications for managers and policymakers.22 0Item Restricted The impact of artificial intelligent (AI) on inventory management and cost efficiency in the supply chain.(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) almasaeed, murtadha; fang, liuThis dissertation discusses the impact of artificial intelligence on inventory management and cost efficiency. The research shows how AI improves in the supply chain such as forecasting, replenishment, and warehouse operations. At the same time, it shows the challenges facing the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Furthermore, the research investigates the importance of trust and satisfaction that can affect the success of AI adoption. The study uses a quantitative survey to collect data from professionals in the supply chain from different organisations and industries. Various analyses were employed including descriptive statistics, reliability testing, t-tests, correlation, regression, and ANOVA tests. According to the findings, AI adoption has improved the inventory turnover, reduced delays, and lowered labour and logistics costs. However, there are some unexpected findings such as demand forecasting and automated replenishment, which did not show statistically significant evidence. This shows that system integration and the maturity of adoption are important to achieve all the benefits. The findings also show that trust and satisfaction have an important role. The trust showed to reduction in stockouts and the satisfaction improved as the company size and usage time increased. These findings match the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) which shows user perception affects the adoption and the outcome of AI. In conclusion, the study shows improvement in the supply chain operations after AI adoption. However, the success of AI depends on some factors such as the company's resources, the level of adoption and how employees trust the technology. These results give the manager the full view of how to use AI effectively in the operations.29 0Item Restricted The Impact of Geopolitical Tensions on Supply Chain Strategies in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almakakhalas, Mutrik; Khobzi, HamidThis dissertation's overall objective was to highlight the impact of geopolitical tensions on the supply-chain strategies from an international perspective, and how Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia adopted actions and endeavors to forecast geopolitical uncertainties. As geopolitical risks increase in the corporate economy, businesses continue to shift their supply chain approach beyond cost efficiency to a resilience-based approach to guarantee flexibility in navigating the emerging challenges. Specifically, this paper considered reshoring, supplier diversification, and the use of digital technologies as pertinent mitigating approaches and assesses how universal the highlighted approaches are in mitigating the risk caused by political and economic shocks whose impact without proper mitigation can reach drastic results. Data were collected from experts employed in mega-projects of Saudi Arabia (NEOM, The Line, and Oxagon) by using a quantitative methodology in a survey, and then to analyze the returns of these methods towards supply chain performance and, more specifically, the tradeoffs between risk reducing and enhancing the operational performance of the chain. Results suggest that while resilience-based approaches to supply chain recovery from disruptions are successful in supply chain terms, they are usually less competitive on cost, rendering trade-offs between flexibility and cost effectiveness challenging for organizations, which necessitates more attention. The study also indicates that the execution aspect of these strategies is different from the actions due to the terms of service, which are determined mainly by the employees, implying that policy makers and business organizations require a targeted plan and organization through a robust and adaptive supply chain in a geographical cluster.25 0Item Restricted Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience for SMEs in Import Logistics via Sea Freight(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almarshad, Norah; Liyanagamage, NellwThis research examines how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in import logistics can enhance their resilience to global sea freight disruptions. Although SMEs play a crucial role in international trade, they often lack the financial, technological, and structural resources to manage disruptions such as port strikes, geopolitical instability, and shipping cancellations. Despite these challenges, there is limited research focusing specifically on SME strategies within maritime logistics. To address this gap, the study adopts a qualitative case study approach, using Whale Logistics, an Australian freight forwarder that supports SMEs, as the focal firm. Data were collected through a virtual interview with the company’s General Manager, complemented by internal documents, industry reports, and academic literature. Thematic analysis identified key resilience strategies employed by Whale Logistics, including flexible pricing mechanisms, diversified shipping partnerships, strong financial safeguards, and coordinated internal communication. These practices align with the three stages of supply chain resilience: anticipation, resistance, and recovery. Based on these findings, the study recommends that SMEs implement structured risk management frameworks and knowledge management systems to improve their ability to detect, respond to, and recover from disruptions. These strategies can help SMEs maintain operational continuity and remain competitive in an increasingly unpredictable global logistics environment.12 0Item Restricted Novel Framework for Integrating Blockchain Technology into Logistics and Supply Chain Services(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alkhaldi, Bidah; Al-Omary, AlauddinBottlenecks and operational inefficiencies in supply chains still persist despite technological innovations, due to structural and managerial issues. Blockchain integration presents a viable solution to these long-standing issues by offering tamper resistant ledgers, secure transactions and automation capabilities. This research takes a novel approach by designing a blockchain integration framework for supply chains, modifying the MOHBSChain framework to create the Supply-Blockchain framework. This framework is validated by developing a functional prototype using Hyperledger Fabric, by considering a port decongestion use case scenario. This research adopted an inductive approach, starting with informal observations of real-world port operations and a targeted literature review to identify patterns and challenges. The framework development was guided by the principles of transaction cost economics, resource-based view, and diffusion of innovations theories. MoSCoW method was used to prioritize features, while agile project management was adopted to ensure timely completion. Hyperledger Firefly and its connector framework were used as the middleware to facilitate blockchain integration, while chaincode developed using Go language was packaged and deployed to implement smart contracts. Raft orderer consensus mechanism was chosen to ensure resilience and fault tolerance. From a core functionality standpoint, the prototype allows initiation of smart contracts corresponding to functions such as creating and editing supply chain process-related documents, minimizing manual interventions and enhancing efficiency to reduce port congestion. It also offers live tracking of blockchain transactions, facilitating transparency and oversight, the permissioned nature of Hyperledger Fabric ensures security and robust access controls. Results of functional and performance testing conducted using Hyperledger Caliper, Prometheus, and Grafana, were satisfactory; this indicates the prototype's potential in alleviating bottlenecks in supply chains and quickly delivering benefits to key stakeholders such as port authorities, customs officers, shipping line representatives and logistics providers. In terms of limitations, the prototype is limited to basic functionalities and lacks advanced features required to meet operational and regulatory standards. Future improvements can focus on integrating AI for tasks such as predictive analytics and automated document verification, while technologies such as NFT-based schemas can enhance ownership verification and improve asset tracking.48 0Item Restricted ANALYSIS OF CONTAINERIZED GRAIN, DRIED DISTILLERS’ GRAINS, AND OTHER FEED COMMODITIES EXPORTS AND INLAND MOVEMENT(North Dakota State University, 2025-05) Helmi, Wesam; Mattson, Jeremy; Vachal, KimberlyContainerized shipping has become an increasingly important method for transporting bulky products. This research investigates different topic areas associated with containerized grain, Dried Distillated Grain, and other feed (DDG&oF) shipping. It covers both inland movement and exports from the United States. The first part of the research provides a descriptive analysis of U.S. containerized DDG&oF shipping trends, using the PIERS database. This part examines variations by origin, port of departure, commodity type, and destination country. The results are visualized using charts and spatial maps and show the amount of shipped grains, DDG&oF in containers versus bulk shipments. In addition, it shows when the containerized grain started declining, in which commodities, and for which exporting ports. This part of the research aims to provide an understanding of shifts that occurred in recent years. The second part of the research is a prescriptive analysis using a Linear Programming transshipment model to optimize the inland transportation of containerized grain. Using data from the Surface Transportation Board and Freight Analysis Framework, the optimization model minimizes total logistics costs by considering transportation, operational, and freight expenses in both rail and highway modes. It also evaluates potential new inland terminal locations and uses sensitivity analysis to test the robustness of the model under varying conditions. Third, the research explores the mode of choice between container vessels and bulk carriers for exporting DDG and other feed (DDG&oF), a major U.S. agricultural export. A Beta regression model is applied to PIERS data, focusing on shipments to top destination countries. This analysis identifies the most influential key factors that affect transportation mode decisions, such as shipping prices, exchange rate, Index of Industrial Production, and more. The findings address gaps in current literature regarding DDG&oF modal choice and contribute new insights into optimizing international agricultural logistics. In addition, the study applied multicollinearity analysis to ensure the correlation of independent variables. Together, studies provide a comprehensive analysis of containerized grain export trends, logistics optimization strategies, and shipper decision-making in modal selection. The research offers practical implications for improving cost-efficiency, network design, and policy considerations in the evolving landscape of U.S. agricultural exports.13 0Item Restricted Mitigating Risks In Global Transportation And Logistics Networks(Sheffield Hallam University, 2025) Alotaibi, Munthir; Hatami, SomayehIn this dissertation, global transportation and logistics networks are studied with respect to risks which include the identification and assessment of disruptions and the effectiveness of existing risk mitigation strategies, and the impact of emerging technologies on those risks. The goal of the study is to develop a full risk-mitigation approach for improving the resilience of logistics networks. Using qualitative interviews of industry professionals, the research identifies such key risks as geopolitical instability, natural disasters and operational inefficiencies and evaluates the strategies that companies have employed to manage such risks, including supplier diversification and long-term partnerships. The investigation of the blockchain and AI technologies with the aim to improve risk management includes factors as the cost, integration complexity and skills shortage. Furthermore, it examines how sustainability and resilience can be incorporated into risk strategy to illustrate the trade-offs companies encounter between achieving sustainability objectives while actively managing the disruption's impact on operations. Emerging technologies have much to offer, but the findings indicate their integration needs to be managed with thought to cost, skill and regulatory barriers. The thesis concludes by suggesting a balanced approach that incorporates technology, resilience, and sustainability to future proof logistics networks and minimise vulnerabilities.52 0Item Restricted Mitigating Risks In Global Transportation And Logistics Networks(Sheffield Hallam University, 2025) Alotaibi, Munthir; Hatami, SomayehIn this dissertation, global transportation and logistics networks are studied with respect to risks which include the identification and assessment of disruptions and the effectiveness of existing risk mitigation strategies, and the impact of emerging technologies on those risks. The goal of the study is to develop a full risk-mitigation approach for improving the resilience of logistics networks. Using qualitative interviews of industry professionals, the research identifies such key risks as geopolitical instability, natural disasters and operational inefficiencies and evaluates the strategies that companies have employed to manage such risks, including supplier diversification and long-term partnerships. The investigation of the blockchain and AI technologies with the aim to improve risk management includes factors as the cost, integration complexity and skills shortage. Furthermore, it examines how sustainability and resilience can be incorporated into risk strategy to illustrate the trade-offs companies encounter between achieving sustainability objectives while actively managing the disruption's impact on operations. Emerging technologies have much to offer, but the findings indicate their integration needs to be managed with thought to cost, skill and regulatory barriers. The thesis concludes by suggesting a balanced approach that incorporates technology, resilience, and sustainability to future proof logistics networks and minimise vulnerabilities.24 0Item Restricted Sustainable Supply Chain Practices: Benefits and Challenges in the Middle East(Dublin Business School, 2025) Hakami, Abdulaziz; Paul, PJThere is a significance of sustainable supply chain practices (SSCM) have a significant role in reducing environmental impacts. In this case, it enhances brand reputation by facilitating operational profitability. In this case, emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, and blockchain have a significant role in optimising supply chains. The study highlights the critical role of governments and regulatory bodies in developing SSCM practices through policies, frameworks, and incentives like tax benefits. However, challenges such as high costs of advanced technology, lack of sustainability awareness, and inadequate infrastructure hinder adoption. For the research, primary data collection was collected through semi-structured interviews with employees in Middle Eastern industries. It is found that effective regulatory frameworks and incentives facilitate sustainable supply chains which also improve resource efficiency. Sustainable practices like waste reduction and energy-efficient solutions provide significant environmental, economic, and social benefits that achieve global sustainability goals. However, economic and technological challenges are highlighted which emphasize the need for financial incentives, public-private partnerships, technological access, and employee skill development.9 0