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About Ben
Professor Ben Clegg serves as Professor of Operations and Systems Thinking in the Department of Operations and Service Management at Aston Business School, College of Business and Social Sciences, aligning with the broader discipline of Business & Economics. His academic background includes a BSc (Hons) in Management Science and a Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS) from Loughborough University Business School, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from De Montfort University with the dissertation 'A Systems Approach to Re-engineering Business Processes towards Concurrent Engineering Principles', a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) from the University of Central England, and a Diploma in Strategic Marketing (DipM) from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Clegg joined Aston Business School as a Lecturer in 2003, advancing through roles such as Professor of Research and Professor in Operations and Service Management. He was Head of the Operations and Information Management Department from 2018 to 2022 and Associate Dean for Business Partnerships from 2013 to 2016. He has undertaken external examining duties for Cambridge University Engineering Department since June 2020, University of Strathclyde since June 2019, University of Nottingham Business School from 2012 to 2017, and others.
Clegg's research specializations include systems thinking for business and operational process improvement, inter-company operations and supply chain management, enhancement of strategic and operations management practices, and the development, adoption, and implementation of new operations technologies like digitalization. He has authored 126 research outputs, encompassing 43 journal articles, 20 conference publications, and 14 chapters. Key publications feature 'Systems Thinking and Action Research for Innovation: Theory and Practice of the Process Oriented Holonic (PrOH) Modelling Methodology' (2026, book), 'A hybrid multi-agent and system dynamics approach for risk-informed selection of third-party logistics providers in supply chains' (2026), 'From Canonical to Emancipatory Action Research: Using PrOH Modelling to Enhance Reflexivity' (2025), and 'Risk mitigation, adaptability and sectoral resilience: Buffering in automotive supply chains prior & post disruption' (2025). His contributions have earned awards such as the Nigel Slack Teaching Innovation Award (2019 and 2017), InnovAction Award (2014), Outstanding KTP Project (2014), and EFMD Excellence in Practice Awards (2014). Clegg holds distinctions including Chartered Engineer (CEng) since 2003, Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET) since 2013, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) since 2007, and memberships in organizations like the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS), European Operations Management Association (EurOMA), and British Academy of Management (BAM). With approximately 200 publications and a Google Scholar h-index over 33, his work impacts areas tied to UN Sustainable Development Goals 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). He serves in four editorial roles and was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the journal Systems in 2025.