http://hdl.handle.net/1893/2672 This community contains the ePrints and eTheses produced by the School's staff and students. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 01:22:01 GMT 2026-10-13T01:22:01Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38377 Title: Do Professionals Choke in the Face of Pressure and Distraction? Author(s): Butler, David; Butler, Robert; Singleton, Carl Abstract: We ask whether facing partisan audiences affects the execution of a skilled task. Our setting is penalty shootouts in the high-stakes environment of elite professional football (soccer). In this context, performers take penalties under intense pressure, while facing a subset of the crowd behind the goal who attempt to distract them through visual and auditory tactics. Using data on 1,322 penalties taken in the later rounds of major English cup competitions from 1992 to 2026, we find no evidence that having supportive allied spectators behind the goal provides a strategic advantage. This implies that elite professionals in this domain can effectively screen out crowd-induced distractions when performing under extreme stress. Tue, 01 Dec 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38377 2026-12-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38372 Title: The relationship of scaling and democracy in third sector organizations Author(s): Child, John; Narooz, Rose; Ramadan, Nora Abstract: The scaling of Third Sector Organizations [TSOs] in terms of the number of beneficiaries they serve and/or the range and quality of contributions they offer, is generally assumed to be a desirable aim. At the same time, many TSOs are embedded in local communities and have the potential to act as a community voice thus contributing to the process of bottom-up democracy. The present paper aims to offer a systematic analysis of the relation between the scaling of TSOs and their potential democratic role both internally in articulating a community voice and externally in securing resources and support for their mission. It analyses inter-relationships between TSOs’ routes to scale and their democratic processes, including positive effects of democracy on scaling, and identifies TSO organization and legitimacy as intervening factors. This leads to new theoretical insights that suggest avenues for future research and inform policy guidelines. Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38372 2026-07-29T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38369 Title: A History of the Early Years of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh Author(s): Williams, Christopher KI; Galanos, Vassilis; Yang, Xiao Abstract: This article describes the early years of artificial intelligence (AI) at the University of Edinburgh, roughly from the early 1960s to the mid-1980s. It covers the key founders and various administrative structures, research highlights and teaching developments from this period, notable women in early AI research, and discusses the national and international connections of the work carried out at Edinburgh. Motivated by a scarcity of historical documentation on this pivotal period, we employ a methodological blend of archival research and recent oral histories to draw a detailed picture. The study highlights the contributions of key figures such as Donald Michie and Christopher Longuet-Higgins, whose interdisciplinary work established Edinburgh as a European hub for AI research. Despite challenges like the “AI winter”, sparked by the Lighthill Report, Edinburgh fostered advances in many areas of AI. The analysis also explores early ethical considerations in AI development, reflecting on technological neutrality and the anticipation of AI’s societal impact. This historical account not only clarifies Edinburgh’s critical role in AI’s evolution but also offers enduring lessons on interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical responsibility, relevant for the continued advancement of AI technologies today. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38369 2026-08-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38353 Title: The strategic transformation process of new energy technology firms from a dynamic capabilities perspective: a case study of company E Author(s): Wu, Jun Abstract: In the context of the global energy system accelerating its transition towards low-carbon, intelligent and systematic development, new energy technology enterprises are confronted with multiple uncertainties across technology, policy, markets and industry boundaries. This thesis takes Company E as a single case study, exploring the process and mechanism of strategic transformation of new energy technology enterprises from a dynamic capabilities perspective. It asks what happened during the strategic transformation, why it could continue, and how dynamic capabilities play a role. This research adopts an interpretivist qualitative case study approach, integrating 15 semi-structured interviews, participatory observations, and secondary data, and conducts the research through thematic analysis, coding analysis, and process analysis. The research reveals that the strategic transformation of Company E was not a one-off leap but went through three stages: the product breakthrough period (2007-2015), the multi-business expansion period (2016-2020), and the ecosystem leadership period (2021 to present). The strategic logic evolved from competing in wind turbine products to providing comprehensive clean energy solutions and building a zero-carbon ecosystem. Dynamic capabilities have played a pivotal role in connecting external changes with internal strategic actions: the company sensed technological, policy, and market changes, seized new strategic windows, and reconfigured resources, organizational structures, and ecosystem relationships. Additionally, dynamic capabilities exhibited differentiated forms at different stages, namely technology-oriented, portfolio-integrative, and ecosystem-shaping dynamic capabilities. The contribution of this research lies in deepening the understanding of the evolution of strategic transformation stages in new energy technology enterprises from a process perspective, revealing the mediating mechanism of dynamic capabilities in driving strategic transformation, and refining the specific manifestations and micro-foundations of dynamic capabilities at different stages. The research also provides management insights for new energy technology enterprises to enhance their sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring capabilities and promote continuous strategic upgrading. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38353 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z