An exploration of factors influencing the choice of commodity price risk mitigation strategies

Most firms are exposed to price volatility associated with commodities, which can significantly affect the price paid for raw materials, energy, packaging, shipping, and component purchases. Commodity price risk represents the financial, operational and informational effects of commodity price volatility (CPV). The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the supply chain risk management literature by providing a taxonomy of commodity price risk mitigation strategies and factors that may influence the adoption of these strategies. A qualitative study was conducted using a grounded theory approach, based on case studies of companies with home operations in Italy, Germany, and the US. The paper provides some initial evidence for theory and practice as to: 1) how firms can mitigate the risk from CPV by implementing various sourcing, contracting, and financing strategies; and 2) the influence of commodity/product factors, buying organization factors, supply chain factors, and external environment factors on strategy capability and choice.     

考虑产品替代和环保水平的供应链优化与协调

针对由单个制造商和单个零售商构成的供应链,考虑制造商生产两种碳足迹不同的可替代的产品,建立供应链优化决策模型,确定最优的产品环保水平与销售价格,提出供应链系统的协调机制.分析了产品之间不同的替代程度对均衡解和各成员利润的影响,并进一步讨论了收益共享契约对于提高供应链环境的作用.研究表明,产品环保水平竞争强度的增加会带来供应链成员利润的增加而价格竞争强度的增加会带来供应链成员利润的减少.集中式决策不仅有利于供应链利润的提高,而且有利于供应链环境的改善.当消费者对产品之间环保水平的敏感程度较高时,收益共享契约的协调效果较好.     

考虑质量风险的养老服务供应链契约研究

服务质量是养老服务的重要因素。针对我国养老问题,结合养老服务供应链思想,通过建立单集成商、多合作性提供商的质量风险模型,研究集成商和提供商之间不同质量激励合同对服务质量和供应链收益等要素的影响,探讨了合同成立的潜在条件,并分析了合同内变量之间存在的潜在关系。发现在满足一定条件时,适当的激励系数会使得提供商产生合作关系、提高风险防范水平并增加供应链各部分收益。对供应链风险环境下有效激励合同的建立提供一定理论依据。     

Supply chain quality management practices and performance: An empirical study

This study proposed a conceptual framework to study the relationships among three dimensions of supply chain quality management (SCQM) – in-house quality management practices (internal QM), interaction for quality with suppliers on the upstream side of supply chain (upstream QM), and interaction for quality with customers on the downstream side of supply chain (downstream QM) – and their impact on two types of quality performance (conformance quality, and customer satisfaction). Survey data were collected from 238 plants in three industries across eight countries and structural equation modeling was used to test this framework. The results indicate a dominant role of the internal QM in SCQM which has a positive impact on the other SCQM dimensions and two types of quality performance. Downstream QM is found to mediate the relationship between internal QM and customer satisfaction, while there is a lack of direct impact of upstream QM on either type of quality performance.     

基于成本分摊的易逝品两级供应链利益分配分析

易逝品本身的特点决定了其生产经营风险大、市场需求不确定,所以制造商和零售商之间采取采购承诺和契约的有效方式来实现风险和利益的分摊。本文从成本分摊的角度,探讨在两级供应链中利益在制造商和零售商之间的分配,以及在不同情形下的供应链总利益。     

Improving sustainable supply chain performance through organisational culture: A competing values framework approach

This research adopts the institutional and relational view theories to empirically test the impact of organisational culture (OC) on sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP) and further examines the impact of external integration on their relationship, drawing on a study in the food manufacturing industries in the UK and Greece. Using the mixed method approach, structural equation modelling (SEM) technique was first used to empirically analyse the data from a survey of 315 firms. In addition, insights from 11 interviews from top managers were qualitatively used as the basis to enrich and confirm the findings from the quantitative study. Our findings revealed that in the context of global supply chains only developmental, hierarchical, and group culture components of the competing values framework (CVF) as a model for assessing OC are conducive for achieving a higher SSCP. Although developmental, hierarchical and group cultures are instrumental for SSCP, a strong external integration is still required. Thus, external integration was found to mediate the relationship between the dimensions of OC and SSCP. The results further confirmed a positive relationship between all the dimensions of OC (developmental, group, hierarchical and rational culture) and external integration and a positive impact of external integration on SSCP. This research expands the institutional and relational view theories to examine the effect of OC (using CVF) on SSCP and further reveals the extent of external integration needed in the relationship to enhance SSCP in global supply chains. Supply chain managers are encouraged to adopt integrated competing values, namely, developmental, group, and hierarchical cultures to intensify the external integration in the supply chain to overcome several sustainability challenges and improve SSCP.     

A model of vertical integration and investment in generation capacity in electricity markets: The case of the bidding game

The aim of this work is to assess the impact of (partial) vertical integration between generators and retailers on generation capacity choice and its subsequent welfare consequences. We present a framework in which final demand is perfectly inelastic and stochastic. Nevertheless, wholesale demand is elastic because of the existence of outside opportunities (mainly international transmission capacity). The model is a three-stage game. Neither transmission nor retail costs are taken into account.

In the first stage of the game, generators choose capacity only knowing distribution of demand and thus maximizing their expected profit. The second stage of the game represents the competition for market share between retailers in a market where consumers have switching costs. The former face unknown demand and maximize their utility based on two factors: the expected profit and a risk element. Finally, generators submit bid functions to the system operator given known demand and maximizing their profit during the last stage of the game. Retailers and generators interact in the wholesale market, which is cleared by the system operator whose function is to match supply (represented by the bids of the generators) and demand through a system of single price auctions. The wholesale market is the only means to buy and sell energy; there are no bilateral contracts between firms, except if they are vertically integrated.

We compare fully disintegrated and partially vertically integrated structures using a comparative statics approach. In this paper, the analysis will focus on the last stage of the game: the bidding game. We find that partial vertical integration between generators and retailers tends to lower wholesale prices but not unambiguously. Depending on which firm (vertically integrated or disintegrated generator) has installed the higher capacity and depending on level of demand, prices can stay unchanged or even rise.     

基于转移支付的绿色农产品供求协调机制研究

研究绿色农产品供求双方协调机制问题。在信息对称和信息不对称两种情况下,通过对供求双方分别在信息对称条件下和信息不对称条件下利润的比较,及对其转移支付取值区间的分析,研究绿色农产品供求协调机制的最优利润,提出相应的协调对策。最后给出一个算例加以说明。     

Decision-making in the supply chain: Examining problem solving approaches and information availability

In this paper we investigate the role of two types of problem solving approaches on supply chain performance. Additionally, we investigate how the level of information availability moderates problem solving approach on supply chain performance. We draw on construal level theory from the experimental psychology literature to explain how the problem solving approaches (abstract problem solving approach vs. concrete problem solving approach) contribute to supply chain performance. From this foundation, we run a series of behavioral experiments to test our hypotheses that problem solving approaches and information availability impact supply chain performance as presented in the beer distribution game. A key finding of this study is that individuals who take an abstract problem solving approach are able to perform better than individuals who take a concrete problem solving approach in the context of limited information availability. However, in the context of complete information availability, the impact of both types of problem solving approaches on performance becomes negligible.     

The Impact of Profit Sharing on the Performance of Financial Services Firms*

abstract Relying on macro theories (agency and organizational control) as well as micro theories (goal setting and expectancy), this study investigates the impact of profit‐sharing plan (PSP) adoption on the value creation process of financial services firms. The study relies on a comprehensive methodological approach that is both quantitative, with a dual cross‐sectional/longitudinal (pre‐post) design that compares PSP adopters with a control group of PSP non‐adopter firms, and qualitative through interviews with some adopting firms’ managing directors. Results show that firms adopting a PSP enhance their profitability in comparison to both their own prior performance and to firms that are not adopting a PSP. Results also show that the adoption of a PSP: (a) positively influences only profit drivers that are under employee control; and (b) is more likely to have a long term, positive impact on external profit drivers than on internal profit drivers. Qualitative data from field interviews corroborate and enrich these quantitative findings.     

搭便车行为对双渠道供应链的影响分析

本文建立了一个双渠道供应链的模型,得出了存在搭便车行为时供应链的定价、服务决策和利润水平,并分析了搭便车行为的强度变化对于供应链决策和状态的影响。我们的结果说明了搭便车行为对于双渠道供应链有双向作用,既能提高集中决策供应链的利润,也会使分散决策的供应链利润受损,同时,证明了搭便车行为是导致供应链冲突的原因之一。     

Is Supply's Actual Contribution to Sustainable Development Strategic and Operational?

This paper addresses the issue of how sustainable supply practices are actually used as a leverage for sustainable development (SD). In order to assess the level of sustainable supply management within an organization, the authors have reviewed the literature extensively and then developed a five‐step maturity model around five management dimensions. A qualitative exploratory approach based on two detailed case studies of organizations whose reputation for SD is recognized internationally has been used. This methodology allowed us to show (1) how sustainable supply practices could be used as a leverage for an organization's sustainable development approach and (2) that sustainable supply practices still have quite a distance to go with regards to the maturity model for sustainable supply, even in organizations that are often mentioned as leaders in the SD area. In these organizations, managers still emphasize environmental considerations, while neglecting practices that would make it possible to reach the three SD objectives simultaneously. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

协同机制下供应链剩余利润合理分配的影响因素研究

首先论述了供应链剩余利润以及该利润分配在协同供应链系统中的重要作用,分析了影响利润分配的系统外部和内部的各种因素,并利用层次分析法确定了供应链成员协作满意度和所担风险两个关键因素,指出了在有限条件下协同供应链剩余利润分配研究的重点。     

信息分享对原始设备制造商与其合同制造商竞争的影响

研究了原始设备制造商的预测信息分享对一个原始设备制造商和一个与其同时有合作和竞争的合同制造商组成的供应链系统的影响,建立制造商间信息分享的模型,该模型包括一个原始设备制造商和一个合同制造商。研究发现,原始设备制造商关于市场潜在需求预测信息的分享对其预期利润是不利的,同时需求信息预测的精度对原始设备制造商信息分享的决策也有影响,原始设备制造商没有动机与其供应链成员进行信息分享,但信息分享使得供应链整体利润增加。最后,建立一个信息分享补偿机制分享供应链利润的增加量,以期通过信息分享补偿机制促使原始设备制造商有动机进行信息分享,从而实现其与合同制造商的“双赢”。     

随机需求下基于增量返利合同的供应链协调

基于单个制造商和单个零售商组成的两级供应链进行研究,比较了分散决策与集中决策对供应链利润的影响,分析了供应链协调的重要性,建立了增量返利激励的供应链合作模型。最后通过数值算例说明了所建立的协同机制可以使分散的供应链系统达到了和集中式供应链系统相同的绩效,系统实现了帕累托的改进,实现供应链成员的利益共享。     

The Coordination and Preference of Supply Chain Contracts Based on Time-Sensitivity Promotional Mechanism

To encourage retailers to submit orders as soon as possible, manufacturers usually launch a time-sensitivity promotional mechanism that the earlier you order, the cheaper the wholesale price will be in advance of the selling season. This paper aims to investigate if the mechanism can improve supply chain performance. A dyadic decentralized supply chain system comprising a single manufacturer and a single retailer is viewed as a research framework. Initially, a benchmark model is proposed to provide a criterion-referenced for coordinating the supply chain in a non-standard distribution environment. Second, a time-sensitive wholesale price contract is constructed to confirm that the mechanism can coordinate the supply chain. However, the retailer accepts the entire forecast risk under the contract. An improved contract called a time-sensitive revenue-sharing contract is constructed based on the notion that the manufacturer shares partial forecast risk. The results show that participants can arbitrarily divide the optimal supply chain’s expected profit between the constructed price contracts; however, two differences exist between the contracts, that is, participants have contract preferences. Finally, a numerical analysis and a few management insights are given.     

Georg Charasoff: A Pioneer in the Theory of Linear Production Systems

This paper exposes mathematically Charasoff s results on linear production systems. Charasoff developed an algorithm for the iterative calculation of the Leontief inverse, the concepts of basic and non-basic commodities, as well as the Srajfian standard system. This allowed him, given the real wage rate, to calculate the profit rate independently of prices as the ratio of two physically homogeneous magnitudes, and then the prices for an already given profit rate. Therefore, as early as 1910, Charasoff had developed significant concepts of the theory of linear production systems, which long afterwards became more broadly known through the works of Leontief and Sraffa.     

Does contingent pay encourage positive employee attitudes and intensify work?

This article explores the relationships between three dimensions of contingent pay – performance‐related pay, profit‐related pay and employee share‐ownership – and positive employee attitudes (job satisfaction, employee commitment and trust in management). The article also examines a conflicting argument that contingent pay may intensify work, and this can detract from its positive impact on employee attitudes. Of the three contingent pay dimensions, only performance‐related pay had direct positive relationships with all three employee attitudes. Profit‐related pay and employee share‐ownership had a mix of negative and no significant direct relationships with employee attitudes, but profit‐related pay showed U‐shaped curvilinear relationships with all three employee attitudes. The results also indicated that performance‐related pay is associated with work intensification, and this offsets some of its positive impact on employee attitudes.     

Linking forward and reverse supply chain investments: The role of business uncertainty

This paper explores managerial efforts in reverse supply chains (RSC), where the focus is on the capture and exploitation of used products and materials. The RSC can potentially reduce negative environmental impacts of extracting virgin raw materials and waste disposal. If so, investment in the reverse supply chain should not be made in isolation, but instead must be integrated with investments selected to improve the forward supply chain. After defining and operationalizing these constructs, a survey of plant managers was used to empirically assess the linkages between supply chain investments, organizational risk propensity (i.e., willingness to take risk) and business uncertainty. Reverse supply chain investment had two primary dimensions: reconditioning (i.e., high-value recovery) and recycling and waste management (i.e., low- or no-value recovery). Ongoing investment in the forward supply chain was significantly related to investment in recycling and waste management, but not to investment in reconditioning. Moreover, risk propensity was found to mediate the relationship between the external business uncertainty and investment in the forward and reverse supply chain.