Xishu is an Associate Professor in Business Analytics at the Department of Management, Business School, University of Birmingham.
She completed her Ph.D. in 2019 in Operations Management, at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. Her dissertation was on dynamic decision making under supply chain competition.
Xishu specialises in operations management, supply chain management, real-time optimization, pattern recognition, and software development. Her research topics include capacity investment, transportation planning, supply disruption risk forecasting, new product development, technology adoption, and contracting in new forms of economy. Some examples of the research questions are: how (when) should firms invest in their production capacity for a new product under competition and uncertain consumer tastes? How to measure demand risk and consumer taste uncertainty? How should firms sign contracts with gig workers to ensure a sustainable and robust labor supply? How to assess supply disruption risk with limited data?
In all of her research, she works closely with firms, especially those in the aviation, retail, and pharmaceutical industries. Some examples of the firms which she works with are Fokker, Air France-KLM, Philips, and Amazon Web Service. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for innovation, she thrives in solving practical problems and providing impactful solutions. Xishu’s focus extends beyond theoretical exploration as she actively engages in the implementation process, ensuring the seamless integration of her solutions.