Information Sharing in Global Supply Chain Alliances

The post–WWII economic expansion of economies such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and more recently China and India was enabled to a significant degree by the increasingly complex, global supply chain networks of large Original Equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the United States, European Union, and Japan. By linking buyers and suppliers across countries and industries, supply chain management (SCM) practices have a large impact on the economic fortunes of companies and countries throughout the world. Nowhere has the effect of this mutual interdependence been felt more strongly than between the U.S. companies and the Asia-Pacific market. Although the benefits of SCM are well documented, some evidence suggests that the reality of SCM implementation can create additional pressures for suppliers. We identify key problem areas experienced by suppliers and their link to the type of information shared by buying firms. The problem area experienced by most suppliers relates to issues of dependence in the alliance. Mere information sharing is insufficient for a successful alliance, and more information can be associated with a number of problems. For example, lack of information sharing can be associated with a supplier's perception of the buyer expecting excessive support. However, greater information sharing can be associated with a supplier's perception of the buyer passing on an excessive burden. Sharing of financial information is perceived as intrusive and controlling. These apparent contradictions uncover the complexity of the supply chain alliance. The moderating factors appear to be open communication and joint sharing of problem solving procedures—factors identified by suppliers that define a world-class buyer.     

A supply chain management framework for services

While services represent the largest sector of the global economy, 86.8% in the United States, most supply chain management (SCM) research is focused on product flows. Executives in manufacturing firms have benefited from frameworks created to implement SCM processes, but this is not the case for their counterparts in service companies. The two most cited SCM frameworks for services have methodological and conceptual deficiencies. Drawing upon the service-dominant logic of marketing and using an empirical research approach, we developed supply chain structure maps for nine service firms. Our findings indicate that the supply chain structure maps of service companies are comparable to those in the product-based literature, which supports the service-dominant logic. Then, we identified the six key processes that constitute a framework to manage service supply chains. The customer relationship management and the supplier relationship management processes form the critical links in the supply chain, and the other four processes are coordinated through this linkage. The SCM framework for services provides direction for executives in service firms who need to increase cross-functional integration within their firms and with other members of the supply chain. For academics, 12 avenues for future research are identified.     

Retail supply chain management practices in India: A business intelligence perspective

The study surveyed executives of a major food retailer in India and explored their perspectives on supply chain management practices, competitive advantage and firm performance; to assess the importance accorded to application of business intelligence (BI) in their operations. Nine dimensions for SCM practices and four dimensions for competitive advantage are identified which are found to strongly relate to each other. The dimensions of SCM also strongly relate to firm performance. Though information sharing with suppliers and their inclusion in strategic decision-making emerge as key dimensions of SCM, their impact on competitive advantage is perceived to be insignificant by retailers.     

THE APPLICATION OF EMPIRICAL STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT RESEARCH TO SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Researchers in supply chain management (SCM) have traditionally relied most heavily on the core disciplines of logistics, marketing, and operations; most are less familiar with empirical literature in strategic management. However, with the evolution of logistics into the more interdisciplinary SCM along with increasing attention within strategic management to supply chain issues, recent empirical research in strategy has much to offer. This study reviews and categorizes more than one hundred articles relevant to SCM drawn primarily from top strategic management journals.     

RFID Applications for Integrating and Informationalizing the Supply Chain of Foodservice Operators

Abstract

By enabling easier and real-time information sharing among supply chain partners, Internet applications foster and support new forms of collaborative supply chain management (SCM) practices within the foodservice sector. Advances in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies extend such collaborative SCM practices by increasingly integrating and synchronizing demand and supply chains. The objective of this paper is to investigate and analyze how RFID technologies can seamlessly tie customer interactions with the food supply chain and revolutionize the accuracy, efficiency, personalization-interaction, and security of foodservice marketing, production, and distribution simultaneously. To achieve this, the paper discusses the RFID implementation issues, practices, and benefits within the foodservice sector. The food industry's perspectives on the adoption and benefits of RFID developments are reported by discussing the results of a reality-check study conducted in the Greek foodservice sector.     

An Empirical Taxonomy of Supply Chain Management Practices

We develop an empirical taxonomy of supply chain management (SCM) practices grounded in the capability‐based view. Three groups—transactional SCM, translational SCM, and relational SCM—were identified using cluster analysis of data collected from over 200 U.S. manufacturing firms. We explain the differences among these groups and their relationship to improvements in supplier and buyer performance. Finally, we discuss implications for research and practice in SCM.     

基于SCOR模型的供应链一体化风险管理研究

供应链一体化风险管理体系从供应链SCOR模型的构建出发,提出一个基于SCOR模型的供应链风险管理框架,着眼于供应链一体化风险管理目标、管理文化、管理组织、管理过程、控制机制和管理信息系统,在合作博弈分析基础上,建立以利益分配和风险管理成本分摊为驱动的供应链风险分担架构,以提高供应链的可靠性和安全性,从而改善供应链的效率,提升供应链的运作绩效。     

虚拟供应链合作伙伴的知识共享模式研究

知识在虚拟供应链合作伙伴中的共享和传播是供应链知识管理的核心内容。本文根据对供应链企业间知识共享微观机制的认识,分析了知识共享障碍,在此基础上,提出了虚拟供应链合作伙伴基于知识共享的系统结构,并进一步探讨了其知识共享的策略。     

A Virtue-Ethics Analysis of Supply Chain Collaboration

Technological advancements in information systems over the past few decades have enabled firms to work with the major suppliers and customers in their supply chain in order to improve the performance of the entire channel. Tremendous benefits for all parties can be realized by sharing information and coordinating operations to reduce inventory requirements, improve quality, and increase customer satisfaction; but the companies must collaborate effectively to bring these gains to fruition. We consider two alternative methods of managing these interfirm supply chain relationships in this article. The first, which we have named “dictatorial collaboration,” occurs when a dominant supply chain entity assumes control of the channel and forces the other firms to follow its edicts. We compare and contrast this method with “sustainable collaboration,” in which the parties share resources and engage in joint problem solving to improve the performance of the system as a whole. We use a virtue ethics lens to describe these methods of relationship management to suggest that sustainable collaboration is preferable to dictatorial collaboration both operationally and ethically in the long run.     

供应链管理中信息共享的激励措施

在信息经济时代,商业环境正发生日新月异的变化,管理供应链所需的知识也在不断地推陈出新。客户需求变化、柔性生产能力、知识管理能力、创新能力、供应链企业间的合作能力、国际市场变化等是影响供应链管理信息共享能力的主要因素。文章通过对供应链企业信息共享前后的经营状况进行比较分析,论证了信息共享的“囚徒困境”,并提出了通过对供应商实行价格激励、减少零售商前置时间、防范信息共享风险、克服企业间文化差异等措施,以保证信息共享的有效性。     

供应链网络的鲁棒性探微

供应链网络具有复杂性、动态性、开放性和网络型的特征。由于内部不确定性和外部不确定性的存在,供应链存在相当风险。为了减轻风险企业和供应链越来越倾向运用鲁棒性的方法来经营企业和供应链。供应链鲁棒性管理主要分为鲁棒供应管理、需求管理、产品管理和信息管理。供应链鲁棒性运作管理在解决供应链不稳定问题中发挥了至关重要的作用,使供应链网络不确定性问题得到解决,也使供应链网络中的企业能够优势互补、规避风险,使企业能够协同实现产业内的合作与发展。     

Conceptualizing and managing service supply chains

The supply chain management (SCM) literature is dominated by studies in industrial markets and studies that deal with the supply chains of manufactured goods. This paper develops a framework for conceptualizing and managing the supply chains of services. The few studies that deal with services' supply chains either focus on a particular business service sector or they adopt an unvaried approach to the management of different service supply chains. The paper draws insights from the existing frameworks for SCM and takes into account the peculiar characteristics for the production and delivery of services across several service industries. Based on the analysis of several processes, areas of concern for supply chain managers are identified, and a research agenda for services SCM phenomena is proposed.     

LOGISTICS SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES FOR SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Despite the growing interest in supply chain management (SCM), there is little literature on the abilities practicing logisticians need to work in a SCM world. This paper studies these SCM abilities using two complementary methods: survey research and qualitative research interviews (case studies). The surveys yielded importance ratings of 45 SCM skill areas and a three‐factor skill model (interpersonal/managerial, quantitative/technological, and SCM core). Teamwork emerged as the skill area rated most important for SCM. Moreover, the case studies discovered additional critical skill areas for SCM such as gathering and sharing information. The interviews also enabled deeper understanding of skills within organizational contexts.     

运用TQM提升供应链稳定性

全面质量管理（TQM）作为供应链管理（SCM）质量的关键成功因素，越来越引起业界重视。从信息技术和绩效衡量两个维度来探讨TQM提升供应链稳定性的方法，并以美国汽车业的成功案例进行说明。     

供应链成员合作的五个促进因素

供应链管理(SCM)已经被证明是一种有效增强企业竞争优势的管理方法。供应链中的各成员构成一个组合的虚拟实体,在各成员所有权归属不一致的情况下,如何促成各成员之间的有效合作就显得十分重要。从各成员之间信息共享、决策协调、相互进行专有资产投资、建立有效的交流沟通机制、扩大绩效评估范围五个方面探讨增强供应链成员之间合作的方法,从而增强供应链成员之间的合作。     

联合库存管理法在供应链库存控制中的应用

库存管理是供应链管理中的重要内容,联合库存是一种供应链集成化运作的决策代理模式,是一种风险分担的库存管理模式。通过联合库存在供应链库存控制中应用的研究,找出联合库存管理法在供应链库存控制中的应用对策,为实现供应链的同步化运作、零库存、准时化采购以及精细供应链管理提供条件和保证。     

基于电子商务的供应链设计与重构策略

企业推行供应链管理必然面临电子商务这一新环境,电子商务为供应链管理创造了新机会,同时也对供应链管理提出了新挑战,供应链管理必须根据电子商务环境做出相应调整和重构。分析电子商务环境对供应链管理的影响,探讨电子商务环境下供应链设计与重构的方法、原则和步骤,使物流、信息流和资金流发挥最大效能,最终实现理想的供应链。     

上市公司年报供应链信息披露现状分析

本文认为,供应链信息是对公司进行分析评价的重要依据,而现行体制下的年报规范并不要求直接披露供应链信息,而是通过一些间接指标和情况来反映公司的供应链情况。文章指出,通过供应链特征词词频分析可了解公司对供应链管理的关注程度;通过基于主要交易额的聚类分析可认识上市公司供应链集成度的总体水平和具体公司的供应链集成度。这两种聚类分析原理和方法不同,但结果基本一致,结论可相互印证。总体看来,我国上市公司对供应链管理关注程度不够,综合供应链管理水平偏低;虽然供应链集成度总体水平较低,但在部分供应链环节上,相当多的公司已经具有了较高的供应链集成度;公司年报对供应链信息关注和披露的程度有逐年上升的趋势,少数企业已开始有意识地从供应链视角披露自身重要经营事项。     

供应链金融中网络连接对中小企业融资质量的影响研究

近年来,基于供应链网络开展的供应链金融成为中小企业解决融资难的有效途径。文章基于网络视角,构建了中小企业在供应链网络中的强连接与桥连接通过信息分享影响其融资质量的理论模型,通过对255个调研数据进行统计分析发现：中小企业在供应链网络中的强连接和桥连接均对其供应链融资质量具有正向影响;信息分享是中小企业供应链网络连接影响其融资质量的重要内在机制;环境竞争性对中小企业信息分享与其供应链融资质量之间的关系具有正向的调节作用。