Coping With Dependence: A Logistics Strategy Based on Interorganizational Learning for Managing Buyer–Supplier Relations

The rise of outsourcing has heightened interest in the role of logistics managers in coping with dependence in buyer–supplier relations. Buying firm dependence on a supplier potentially reduces supplier performance to expectations because the buying firm cannot leverage power to capture value in the relationship. Drawing from interorganizational learning theory, we advance a logistics strategy that consists of supplier cost analysis and supplier integration as a means to create value and thereby mitigate the negative effects of dependence. By facilitating the acquisition and use of knowledge, supplier cost analysis and supplier integration enable buying firms to identify improvement opportunities while engaging in collaborative supplier relations. Using survey responses from 222 buying firms, we find that while buyer dependence decreases the buyer's perceived supplier performance, supplier integration suppresses these negative effects. Furthermore, we show that supplier cost analysis is a valuable knowledge acquisition tool that logistics managers can use to enable supplier integration as a relational form of governance. As such, we provide new insights into interorganizational learning theory and suggest to logistics managers the important role supplier cost analysis plays in managing buyer–supplier relationships.     

不对称信息下的物流服务供应链质量监督

不对称信息下物流服务供应链质量监督是物流服务供应链的重点研究内容之一。考虑一个物流服务提供商和集成商的供应链结构,在对称信息下质量监督基本模型的基础上,建立了不对称信息下Bayes-Nash均衡模型并给出了均衡解,模型进一步考虑了引入物流服务集成商本身受到惩罚因素及提供商之间竞争因素对质量监督的影响,分别得出了新的Bayes-Nash均衡解。此外,对比了引入这两种因素前后提供商和集成商质量决策的变化并给出了提高物流服务供应链质量水平的措施。     

基于客户旅程地图的第四方物流企业引领战略勾勒

首先界定第四方物流、引领战略和客户旅程地图等概念的内涵,进而针对第四方物流模式、物流企业发展战略及相关的工具模型予以理论溯源;在此基础上分析了中国社会经济(全供应链)、物流行业及企业的总体发展概况,并对中国第四方物流的发展进行扫描;然后从供应链(纵向)发展与管理效能、物流行业(横向)发展与服务效能、物流企业(自身)发展与运营效能三个维度设计了第四方物流企业引领发展的评价指标体系;据此揭示了当前中国第四方物流企业发展现存的主要问题;最后基于客户旅程地图,从"一纵"(供应链发展引领战略)、"一横"(物流业发展引领战略)、"一点"(自身运营发展战略)3个层面构建了中国第四方物流企业"三位一体"引领发展战略,同时提出了加强信息管理、提供品牌服务、提升运营能力等对策措施。     

The impact of IT and customer orientation on building trust and commitment in the supply chain

The application of information technologies (IT) to logistics activities may have benefits beyond cost savings, as it can create bonds between the supply chain partners. The objective of this paper is to analyse the influence of customer orientation on the application of IT to the supply chain and of these on the development of channel relationships based on trust and commitment. A questionnaire-based personal survey was conducted among manufacturers. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesis contained in the theoretical model. The results indicate that customer orientation affects the application of IT to logistics, and IT has a positive impact on manufacturer and supplier commitment to the relationship.     

LOGISTICS SERVICE DRIVEN LOYALTY: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

Based upon the extant literature and a qualitative study of buyer‐seller relationships, an exploratory model of the relationship between supply chain power, dependence, satisfaction, and loyalty is developed and presented. Four fundamental objectives are accomplished through this research and presented here. The first was to use a qualitative method to gain a deeper understanding of the logistics service driven loyalty that exists between suppliers and customers. The second was to develop a more thorough understanding of the gap in logistics service expectations between a supplier and their customers. The third objective was to examine how the power/dependence relationship affects both customer service expectations of the parties, and the actual logistics service delivered by the supplier. Finally, this research is intended to build a basis for future quantitative research of loyalty in supplier/customer relationships.     

Supply chain consortia: the rise of transcendental buyer–supplier relationships

A theoretical, cross-disciplinary model for cooperative buyer–supplier relationships is proposed which integrates information obtained from prior research on organizational culture and transaction cost analysis (TCA). The authors describe key elements of TCA and review the three types of transaction governance structures commonly used to explain relationships within an organization. The authors extend this by applying structure type to buyer–supplier relationships. The researchers propose several types of interorganizational relationships and conclude with an in-depth discussion of a successful supply chain consortium used by Boeing Aircraft Company and several key suppliers.     

北京奥运物流供应链的构建

奥运物流供应链应具有的时效性、空间集中性、需求不确定性和安全性等特点,以物流为纽带构建从物资的供应商、物流企业到仓储再到各个运动场馆及垃圾处理这一完整的功能网链结构模式的奥运物流供应链,以实现信息流、物流、资金流的有机结合,为2008年北京奥运会的顺利进行创造条件。     

基于层次分析法的食品供应链风险影响因素评价研究——以生鲜食品为例

食品供应链可分为原料采集阶段,加工制造阶段与分级销售阶段。在供应链的各个不同的阶段中,都会面临来自供应链自身以及外部的诸多风险,概括起来主要有原材料采购风险,物流运输储存风险,市场需求风险。它们直接或间接的受到诸多因素的影响,各影响因素的不断变化决定着供应链风险的高低。本文总结出了4大主要影响因素,即自然条件,信息因素,物流技术及设备,市场需求因素,并应用层次分析法对这四大影响因子进行重要性排序,结果表明,这四个因素对于生鲜食品供应链风险的影响程度排序为:物流技术和设备,信息因素,市场需求环境,自然条件。本文以上述排序为基础,提炼出了相应的解决方案和措施,为如何规避当前我国生鲜食品供应链存在的风险提供合适的建议。     

The Struggle is Real: Insights from a Supply Chain Blockchain Case

Despite the anticipated benefits and the numerous announcements of pilot cases, we have seen very few successful implementations of blockchain technology (BCT) solutions in supply chains. Little is empirically known about the obstacles to blockchain adoption, particularly in a supply chain's interorganizational setting. In supply chains, blockchains' benefits, for example, BCT‐based tracking and tracing, are dependent on a critical mass of supply chain actors adopting the technology. While previous research has mainly been conceptual and has lacked both theory and empirical data, we propose a theory‐based model for interorganizational adoption of BCT. We use the proposed model to analyze a unique in‐depth revelatory case study. Our case study confirms previous conceptual work and reveals a paradox as well as several tensions between drivers for and against (positive and negative determining factors, respectively) of BCT adoption that must be managed in an interorganizational setting. In this vertical context, the adoption and integration decision of one supply chain actor recursively affects the adoption and integration decisions of the other supply chain actors. This paper contributes midrange theory on BCT in supply chain management (SCM), future research directions, and managerial insights on BCT adoption in supply chains.     

制造业供应链共享信息模型运用过程分析——基于第三方物流企业供应链管理平台的构建

本文对基于第三方物流的供应链的共享信息需求进行了分析,设计了四种共享信息模型,即EDI模型、外部数据库模型、第三方企业模型及信息平台模型。在比较各种模式特点的基础上,提出了供应链中信息共享模型在制造业领域的可实现模式。     

Strategic and Operational Determinants of Relationship Outcomes With New Venture Suppliers

While the vast majority of the supplier selection and development literature has focused on relationships between mature, established firms, significantly less attention has been paid to relationships between established firms and new, entrepreneurial ventures. This study addresses this important topic and, using an interdisciplinary lens, investigates the question of how established buying firms can work with new ventures to achieve desired relationship outcomes. Drawing on the literature from the disciplines of entrepreneurship and supply chain management, we propose a theoretical model that links buying firms' strategic orientation in supplier selection (innovation and cost in strategic supplier selection) and operational approach in supplier development (direct and indirect development of new venture suppliers) with new venture‐specific relationship outcomes (purchasing volume and realized innovations). The model's predictions are tested on cross‐sectional survey data from 136 buying firms. Our results contribute to the emerging research stream at the supply chain management–entrepreneurship interface and enhance the understanding of relationships between established firms and new ventures.     

CUSTOMER SERVICE IN THE INTERNET‐ENABLED LOGISTICS SUPPLY CHAIN: WEBSITE DESIGN ANTECEDENTS AND LOYALTY EFFECTS

This article extends the existing research on logistics customer service‐loyalty relationships to the online logistics supply chain environment by examining potential website determinants of logistics customer service quality. A structural equation analysis of 373 online shopping transactions suggests that perceived quality of all logistics customer service activities (perceived cycle time, in‐stock availability, and customer responsiveness) varies inversely with: (1) perceived ease of use, and (2) content vividness of the website; and positively with product information content. However, only retailer customer responsiveness assessment was found to have any significant influence on consumer intended loyalty behavior in Internet‐enabled supplies chains.     

基于产品多生命周期的闭环供应链信息采集与共享

多生命周期的闭环供应链管理涉及大量的参与实体和广泛的时空范围,覆盖整个产品生命周期的信息对于闭环供应链的运作效率与协调有着重要影响,信息采集与共享是闭环供应链管理的关键之一,必须在产品全生命周期时空范围内,采用适合闭环供应链信息采集的技术构建一个完整的信息采集体系。基于物联网技术的闭环供应链信息采集与共享体系,能够较好地解决其面对的特殊问题,但其自身的实现也面临技术和管理上的诸多挑战。随着我国经济改革与增长方式的持续改进,闭环供应链将日益受到各方重视,基于产品多生命周期的闭环供应链信息采集与共享体系必将成为未来闭环供应链实践中不可或缺的运作与竞争前提。     

A Multiagent Model for Coordinated Distribution Chain Planning

The aim of this article is to show the advantages that the use of a multiagent model can provide in implementing vertical and lateral coordination among the components of a noncentralized distribution chain. This model has been implemented in Java language in order to allow for the development of a Web-based decision support system that can perform the coordination strategies, simulated in this article in a real logistics chain.

This article, after introducing the main concepts related to the adoption of coordination mechanisms within a supply chain, the main issues of agent-oriented technology, and a brief review of the related literature, presents the structure of the proposed model and the static and dynamic behaviors of the decision-making agents. The design issues of specific coordination models, the negotiation mechanisms introduced, and their proper tuning are then discussed. The models have been applied to a real two-level distribution system of an electromechanical company, made up of a supplier and a geographically distributed network of retailers. Experimental results showed the benefits derived from the adoption of coordination-based models, above all in supply contexts, characterized by relevant information sharing among the main tiers of the chain.     

THE BENEFITS OF USING E‐BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY: THE SUPPLIER PERSPECTIVE

The use of e‐business technologies between supply chain organizations has primarily been examined from the viewpoint of buying firms or retailers, with little attention given to the benefits accrued to suppliers. Further, previous studies have been limited to either financial or marketing performance measures, or a narrow range of operational measures. This study builds on research in this area by testing a model of the relationship between supplier use of e‐business technologies in communication with their primary buyer, degree of buyer‐supplier coordination, and a complete set of benefits that include strategic and operational performance measures. Using data from 241 first‐tier OEM suppliers in the computer industry, the findings show that supplier use of e‐business technologies positively impacts organizational benefits both directly and indirectly by promoting buyer‐supplier coordination.     

Interorganizational processes in buyer–supplier dyads: An information intensity perspective

In an increasingly global business environment, organizations interact with partners, suppliers and customers who are geographically spread and exchange information regularly. Without a robust information technology infrastructure, the speed and effectiveness of this information exchange is limited. Business-to-business (B2B) electronic business applications are a class of interorganizational information systems (IOIS) that facilitate such information exchange arising out of interorganizational processes (IOPs). The success of any e-business initiative depends on the successful implementation and the actual use of such IOIS. This study uses the concept of information intensity (II) to identify the information sharing requirements arising from IOPs, thus presenting opportunities for B2B Web site use, with specific reference to organization-specific customer-facing and supplier-facing IOIS. We use data from four buyer–supplier dyads, eight medium- to large-scale organizations in the Indian context and identify a generic set of dominant IOPs in buyer–supplier interactions. Through these we present the sources of II in IOPs along three dimensions – complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity which influence the feature set in the IOISs. We conclude with implications for IOIS design, implementation and use.     

RELATIONSHIP MAGNITUDE AND ITS ROLE IN INTERORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP STRUCTURE

Close relationships between and among supply chain members are becoming more prevalent. However, there is lack of agreement in the literature and in practice concerning the characteristics of different interorganizational relationships. The resultant confusion is an obstacle to the progression of research and could cause problems among firms in a supply chain. Based on previous research and an exploratory study conducted with company executives responsible for supply chain management activities, this article seeks to introduce the concept of relationship magnitude (i.e., the extent or degree of closeness or strength of the relationship) and differentiate it from relationship type (i.e., classes of relationships that share common traits). Implications for managers and opportunities for future research are provided.     

我国农村现代物流运作模式展望

随着市场化程度的提高,我国农村物流模式呈现出一些新趋势,如以顾客为核心,小批量、个性化,准确性和即时性,可持续发展以及适应性等。本文认为,考虑到目前和未来农村、城镇基础建设、领导者素质以及国内外竞争环境变化等因素,我国农村物流运作模式可设定为功能混合、功能整合、物流一体化和供应链管理等四个阶段,农村物流组织结构应同时在企业内部和企业外部向扁平式智能组织结构模式的方向发展。农用品物流流程再造,在企业内部应以农村物流特点为基础,适应高效率低成本的要求,对企业物流业务流程进行信息化改造;而在企业外部则必须对供应链上各个环节进行系统优化,通过建立供应链战略联盟,对原材料和产成品由供应地流向消费地的所有参与者和所有环节进行一体化管理,实现整条供应链最优化。     

Relationship Quality and Performance Outcomes: Achieving a Sustainable Competitive Advantage

As firms strive to develop a sustainable competitive advantage, the relationships formed among supply chain parties become a critical consideration. Firms seek to establish relationships that can provide the desired level of performance and competitiveness. Relationship quality provides a global measure of buyer–supplier relationships and can be used to assess the types of relationships a firm has within its supply chain. This research examines the impact of relationship quality on supply chain operational performance and satisfaction with strategic performance while considering both buyer and supplier perspectives and collaborative and arm’s length types of relationships.     

Predicting behavioral loyalty through corporate social responsibility: The mediating role of involvement and commitment

This study examines whether consumers' perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities can predict behavioral loyalty, and how two attitudinal constructs drawing from the means-end chain model—involvement and commitment—mediate this relationship. A field study of 634 customers of an Australian professional football team was conducted by combining attitudinal surveys with actual behavioral data collected one year later. The results revealed a positive mediating effect of involvement on the relationship between perceived CSR and behavioral loyalty. However, when the effect of involvement on behavioral loyalty was mediated by commitment, the indirect effect of perceived CSR turned negative. The findings of this study indicate that the contribution of CSR initiatives to behavioral loyalty is not as robust as past research suggests, and is also contingent upon specific psychological states activated by consumers' perceptions of such initiatives.