![Danni Zhang BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/4884?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Danni Zhang
(she/her)
BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA
Lecturer in Logistics and Operations Management
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
Danni is a Lecturer in the Logistics and Operations Management section at Cardiff Business School, and she joined the school in September 2023. Currently, she also holds the role of Visiting Research Fellow at the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton.
Prior to her current position, she served as a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Risk Analysis at Southampton Business School since 2021. With extensive research experience, she has led numerous interdisciplinary projects spanning various fields, including finance, omnichannel retail, international business, product returns, psychology, supply chain operations, and sustainability.
Danni obtained her doctorate from Southampton Business School, and her PhD thesis, titled 'Understanding and Improving How Communication Formats Influence Lay Comprehension of Financial Information,' was completed within the Centre for Risk Research Group. She holds a BSc (First Class) in Accounting and Finance from the University of Leeds, as well as an MSc in Accounting and Finance from the University of Warwick.
Danni is also recognised as a Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and holds the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP), which underscores her commitment to excellence in higher education. Additionally, she has been awarded a CPD Certification for her outstanding performance in the Business Sustainability Management course (84%) offered by the University of Cambridge Institute.
Publication
2024
- Merlano, E. F., Frei, R., Zhang, D., Murzacheva, E. and Wood, S. 2024. Consumer perspectives on interventions to combat fraudulent product returns in omnichannel fashion retail. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management (10.1108/IJPDLM-02-2024-0082)
- Dawson, I. G. J. and Zhang, D. 2024. The 8 billion milestone: Risk perceptions of global population growth among UK and US residents. Risk Analysis 44(8), pp. 1809-1827. (10.1111/risa.14272)
- Zhang, D., Dawson, I., Frei, R. and Merlano, F. 2024. Navigating the green path: exploring the dynamics and impact of peer-to-peer retail returns. Presented at: EurOMA 2024 TRANSFORMING PEOPLE AND PROCESSES FOR A BETTER WORLD, Barcelona, Spain, 29 June - 3 July 2024.
2023
- Zhang, D., Frei, R., Wills, G., Gerding, E., Bayer, S. and Senyo, P. K. 2023. Strategies and practices to reduce the ecological impact of product returns: An environmental sustainability framework for multichannel retail. Business Strategy and the Environment 32(7), pp. 4636-4661. (10.1002/bse.3385)
- Zhang, D. and Frei, R. 2023. Understanding the challenges of applying circular economy principles to product returns. Presented at: The 2023 International Conference on Resource Sustainability, Surrey, August 7-9 2023 Presented at Zhang, D. ed.2023 International Conference on Resource Sustainability [Book of Abstracts]. pp. 94-94.
- Frei, R., Zhang, D., Bayer, S., Senyo, P., Gerding, E., Wills, G. and Beck, A. 2023. The impact of COVID-19 on product returns management in multichannel retail. [Online]. SSRN. (10.2139/ssrn.4503184) Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4503184
- Zhang, D., Frei, R., Senyo, P., Bayer, S., Gerding, E., Wills, G. and Beck, A. 2023. Understanding fraudulent returns and mitigation strategies in multichannel retailing. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services 70, article number: 103145. (10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103145)
- Frei, R., Zhang, D., Bayer, S., Gerding, E., Wills, G. and Speights, D. 2023. What factors drive product returns in omnichannel retail?. [Online]. SSRN. (10.2139/ssrn.4410055) Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4410055
- Zhang, D., Dawson, I. and Frei, . 2023. Communicating the environmental risk of product returns.. Presented at: The 31th Annual Conference for the Society of Risk Analysis - Europe: Risk and Assessment in a Changing World, Lund, Sweden., 19 - 21 June 2023.
- Zhang, D., Frei, R., Su, S., Litaudon, V. and Kimera, J. 2023. Towards sustainable product returns: collaborating with returns providers for circular and sharing economy. Presented at: The 2023 International Conference on Resource Sustainability, 7 - 9 August 2023.
2022
- Zhang, D., Frei, R., Bayer, S., Senyo, P. K., Wills, G., Gerding, E. and Beck, A. 2022. The impact of COVID-19 on managing product returns in retail. Presented at: 6th World Conference on Production and Operations Management, Online, 23-25 August 2022Proceedings of 6th World Conference on Production and Operations Management. pp. 633-642.
- Zhang, D., Bayer, S., Willis, G., Frei, G., Gerding, E. and Senyo, P. 2022. Using big data analytics to combat retail fraud. Presented at: 4th International Conference on Finance, Economics, Management and IT Business, Online, 24-25 April 2022 Presented at Arami, M., Baudier, P. and Chang, V. eds.Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Finance, Economics, Management and IT Business. SciTePress pp. 85-92., (10.5220/0011042600003206)
- Zhang, D., Frei, R., Senyo, P., Bayer, S., Wills, G. and Gerding, E. 2022. Sustainability of product returns. Presented at: The 9th EurOMA Sustainability Forum, Zagreb, Croatia,, 21 March 2022 - 22 March 2022.
2021
- Zhang, D., Dawson, I., Sung, M. and Ma, T. 2021. Can graphical displays really improve the communication of financial risk information?. Presented at: The 29th Annual Conference of the Society for Risk Analysis, Espoo, 14-16 June 2021.
Articles
- Merlano, E. F., Frei, R., Zhang, D., Murzacheva, E. and Wood, S. 2024. Consumer perspectives on interventions to combat fraudulent product returns in omnichannel fashion retail. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management (10.1108/IJPDLM-02-2024-0082)
- Dawson, I. G. J. and Zhang, D. 2024. The 8 billion milestone: Risk perceptions of global population growth among UK and US residents. Risk Analysis 44(8), pp. 1809-1827. (10.1111/risa.14272)
- Zhang, D., Frei, R., Wills, G., Gerding, E., Bayer, S. and Senyo, P. K. 2023. Strategies and practices to reduce the ecological impact of product returns: An environmental sustainability framework for multichannel retail. Business Strategy and the Environment 32(7), pp. 4636-4661. (10.1002/bse.3385)
- Zhang, D., Frei, R., Senyo, P., Bayer, S., Gerding, E., Wills, G. and Beck, A. 2023. Understanding fraudulent returns and mitigation strategies in multichannel retailing. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services 70, article number: 103145. (10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103145)
Conferences
- Zhang, D., Dawson, I., Frei, R. and Merlano, F. 2024. Navigating the green path: exploring the dynamics and impact of peer-to-peer retail returns. Presented at: EurOMA 2024 TRANSFORMING PEOPLE AND PROCESSES FOR A BETTER WORLD, Barcelona, Spain, 29 June - 3 July 2024.
- Zhang, D. and Frei, R. 2023. Understanding the challenges of applying circular economy principles to product returns. Presented at: The 2023 International Conference on Resource Sustainability, Surrey, August 7-9 2023 Presented at Zhang, D. ed.2023 International Conference on Resource Sustainability [Book of Abstracts]. pp. 94-94.
- Zhang, D., Dawson, I. and Frei, . 2023. Communicating the environmental risk of product returns.. Presented at: The 31th Annual Conference for the Society of Risk Analysis - Europe: Risk and Assessment in a Changing World, Lund, Sweden., 19 - 21 June 2023.
- Zhang, D., Frei, R., Su, S., Litaudon, V. and Kimera, J. 2023. Towards sustainable product returns: collaborating with returns providers for circular and sharing economy. Presented at: The 2023 International Conference on Resource Sustainability, 7 - 9 August 2023.
- Zhang, D., Frei, R., Bayer, S., Senyo, P. K., Wills, G., Gerding, E. and Beck, A. 2022. The impact of COVID-19 on managing product returns in retail. Presented at: 6th World Conference on Production and Operations Management, Online, 23-25 August 2022Proceedings of 6th World Conference on Production and Operations Management. pp. 633-642.
- Zhang, D., Bayer, S., Willis, G., Frei, G., Gerding, E. and Senyo, P. 2022. Using big data analytics to combat retail fraud. Presented at: 4th International Conference on Finance, Economics, Management and IT Business, Online, 24-25 April 2022 Presented at Arami, M., Baudier, P. and Chang, V. eds.Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Finance, Economics, Management and IT Business. SciTePress pp. 85-92., (10.5220/0011042600003206)
- Zhang, D., Frei, R., Senyo, P., Bayer, S., Wills, G. and Gerding, E. 2022. Sustainability of product returns. Presented at: The 9th EurOMA Sustainability Forum, Zagreb, Croatia,, 21 March 2022 - 22 March 2022.
- Zhang, D., Dawson, I., Sung, M. and Ma, T. 2021. Can graphical displays really improve the communication of financial risk information?. Presented at: The 29th Annual Conference of the Society for Risk Analysis, Espoo, 14-16 June 2021.
Websites
- Frei, R., Zhang, D., Bayer, S., Senyo, P., Gerding, E., Wills, G. and Beck, A. 2023. The impact of COVID-19 on product returns management in multichannel retail. [Online]. SSRN. (10.2139/ssrn.4503184) Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4503184
- Frei, R., Zhang, D., Bayer, S., Gerding, E., Wills, G. and Speights, D. 2023. What factors drive product returns in omnichannel retail?. [Online]. SSRN. (10.2139/ssrn.4410055) Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4410055
Research
Danni has diverse research interests centred around sustainable value chains, the Circular Economy, and individual decision-making. Her research primarily focuses on two areas: (1) strategic management of product returns in the retail industry and (2) exploring how complex information can be effectively presented to influence individuals' understanding and foster responsible behaviour.
Her research projects have fostered collaboration with colleagues from diverse academic disciplines, external researchers, and industry experts in the retail sector, both within the UK and internationally, including in North America and China. This collaborative approach has enriched the scope and impact of her work, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and practical implications for the retail industry.
- Product returns in retail
- Fraudulent returns
- Livestream Shopping and Operations Management
- Sustainable operations and reverse supply chain
- Risk/Environment communication; Risk comprehension and perceptions
- Decision-making and judgement
- Behaviour and environmental protection
- Sustainable Marketing
Research Projects
Research Grant from the Trust Autonomous Systems (TAS) Hub
- Principles for Building Fair and Trustworthy Autonomous Fraud Detection in Retail (Researcher Co-Investigator).
Research Grant from the CIMA Research Grant
- Developing Framework for the Circular Economy in Retailing (Co-Investigator).
Research Grant from the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)
- Forecasting and influencing product returns and fraud rates in a Covid-19 World (Postdoctoral researcher).
Research Grant from the Faculty of Social Science Southampton [Early Career Researchers Development Fund]
- The communication of environmental impacts of product returns (Principal Investigator).
Research Grant from the Faculty of Social Science Southampton [Building Sustainable and Green Futures Funding]
- Evaluating the Role of Peer-to-Peer Product Returns in Reducing Environmental Problems (Principal Investigator).
Research Grant from the Southampton Business School
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- How to reduce wardrobing and fraudulent returns behaviour via targeted messages (Principal Investigator).
- Global environmental risk perceptions (Co-Investigator).
- Modelling the interactions between retailers and fraudsters (Co-Investigator).
- Assessing the impact of the product returns for international trading (Co-Investigator).
Biography
Qualifications
- 2023- Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP), UK
- 2022- Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Higher Education Academy, UK
- 2021- PhD in Business and Management, University of Southampton,UK
- 2014- MSc Accounting and Finance (WBS), University of Warwick, UK
- 2013- BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance, University of Leeds, UK
Honours and awards
- Doctoral College 2019 Director's Award, within the theme of Enterprise (University of Southampton)
- Doctoral College 2018 Director's Award, within the theme of Enterprise (University of Southampton)
- The Accounting and Finance Performance Prize (from Leeds University Business School) 2012
- Celebrating Volunteering 2012 Community Care Award, Leeds
- Celebrating Volunteering 2011 Community Care Award, Leeds
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising students in the following areas:
- Retail Operations, with a focus on Product Returns and Fraudulent Returns
- Livestream Shopping and Operations Management
- Forecasting
- Circular Economy
- Risk Communication and Decision Making
- Behavioural Operations