Supply Chain Game Changers—Mega,Nano, and Virtual Trends—And Forces That Impede Supply Chain Design (i.e., Building a Winning Team)

Strategic systems design is essential to structuring and governing a supply chain for competitive advantage. To effectively co‐create value, decision makers must manage the three rights of supply chain design: right players, right roles, and right relationships. Doing this well requires managers discern how the unwritten competitive rules are changing as well as determine firm readiness to compete. As part of this analysis, we briefly explore five emerging “game changers” that represent potential supply chain design inflection points: (1) Big Data and predictive analytics, (2) additive manufacturing, (3) autonomous vehicles, (4) materials science, and (5) borderless supply chains. We also consider four forces that impede transformation to higher levels of value co‐creation: (1) supply chain security, (2) failed change management, (3) lack of trust as a governance mechanism, and (4) poor understanding of the “luxury” nature of corporate social responsibility initiatives. How well managers address sociostructural and sociotechnical issues will determine firm survivability and success.     

中等强国是“一带一路”框架下开展“第三方市场”合作的重点对象

近几年,“第三方市场”合作发展迅速,已成为凝聚多方共识、实现互利共赢的重要创新合作模式。考虑到“第三方市场”合作是一项复杂的系统工程,我国在“一带一路”框架下倡导和推进“第三方市场”合作显然不适宜“大水漫灌式”的平均用力。因此,为更好实现优势互补、多方共赢,中国同相关各方在开展“第三方市场”合作,探索以中等强国作为“一带一路”框架下实施第三方市场合作的优先方向和重点对象。通过发挥中等强国的独特作用和相对优势,将中等强国打造成“五通”布局和区域合作的支点,以此既能减少“一带一路”建设中的恶性摩擦和同质竞争,还可以增强和优化“第三方市场”合作的资源和运作效率。     

The Evolution of Scholarly Research on Sponsorship: Expectations About the Future of This Research Domain

This study examines how scholarly research on sponsorship has evolved from 2001–2011 and envisages the shape of this domain from 2012–2014. From the 6,240 words counted in 573 articles, we identified prominent themes around “sponsorship,” “sponsor,” “sport,” “brand,” and “marketing” from 19 key concepts. We assessed sets of concepts that best reflect the sponsorship theme by conducting a series of multiple linear regression analyses. Trend analyses from 2012–2014 indicated prospects for a dramatic increase in research activity around six topics. We anticipate the rate of sponsorship research will continue briskly in line with the continued escalation of global sponsorship expenditure.     

论消费信贷应当缓行

我国目前存在的消费市场疲软的根源在于有效供给不足,而不是有效需求不足。当前,如果一味强调降低储蓄,扩大即期消费,则后果可能得不偿失。即使能够在一定程度上起到增加即期消费的作用,也会给未来增加更大的消费不足的可能。据此,我们认为我国目前存在的主要问题不是消费不足而是生产不足,要解决这一问题关键在于弥补“生产断层”而不是“消费断层”。     

Business Ethics as Field of Teaching,Training and Research in Sub-Saharan Africa

The notion of “responsibility” can be understood in a number of different ways, namely as being accountable for one’s actions, as a personal trait, or as a task or duty that results from one’s role. In this article we will challenge the assumptions that underpin each of these employments of the word “responsibility” and seek to redefine the concept as such. The main thrust of the argument is that we need to critically interrogate the idea of “identity” and deliberate decision-making that inform the use of all three of these notions of “responsibility”. By drawing on selected concepts emanating from the oeuvre of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, our understanding of agency moves away from “identity” towards “multiplicity”. In fact, it will be argued that our sense of “agency” is a side-product of our own desiring-production as it operates in and through our interactions with other human beings and organizational structures. The article therefore contends that “responsible management” requires ongoing re-articulations of moral responsiveness.     

Reducing Disconnects in the Design Agency-Client Relationship

Abstract

Account turnover for smaller agencies, whether an advertising, marketing research or design agency, is a serious financial drain that absorbs disproportionate CRM and managerial energies. Using a web-based survey developed from in-depth interviews, this empirical study investigates the extent to which smaller graphic design agencies follow the classical decision-making “process” when producing a creative product (an advertisement; a new package design, etc.). The global hypothesis is that the greater the degree of adherence to the steps in the management of the ideal relationship management “process” the greater the perceived satisfaction will be with their clients. Results of the analysis partially support the hypothesis and provide valuable directions for future studies.     

BUILDING CARS TO CUSTOMER ORDER — WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR INBOUND LOGISTICS OPERATIONS?

The automotive industry is undergoing a strategic transition. Cost pressure from rising stock levels in the market and increasing incentives needed to sell these vehicles are forcing vehicle manufacturers to rethink their prevalent “stock‐push” approach, building vehicles against a forecast and selling from stock, in favor of a stock‐less “build‐to‐order” order fulfillment strategy. More responsive order fulfillment at the vehicle manufacturer level however will not only require flexible and responsive component supply, but will also have wide ramifications for the logistics operations. Based on three case studies of major inbound logistics operations, this exploratory study assesses their ability to support such a build‐to‐order approach, as well as the potential implications of such transition. The paper concludes with a set of general strategies for how these implications could be mitigated.     

Identifying supply chain solutions in the UK house building sector

This paper identifies the problems of the UK housing industry and offers solutions to improving its overall performance and competitiveness. The terrain scanning methodology, which is a supply chain diagnostic, is used to gain an in-depth understanding of various business participants and supply chain processes. A quasi-Delphi study is used to identify areas for improving business and supply chain processes. The findings reveal that a change of “mind-set”, a shift toward process orientation and improved communications, are essential actions that need to be addressed by the UK housing sector to improve its performance and competitiveness. The paper concludes by suggesting that these three actions will assist UK housing companies in their move towards implementing supply chain management strategies.     

DEFINING SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

A management construct cannot be used effectively by practitioners and researchers if a common agreement on its definition is lacking. Such is the case with the term “supply chain management”—so many definitions are used that there is little consensus on what it means. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine the existing research in an effort to understand the concept of “supply chain management.” Various definitions of SCM and “supply chain” are reviewed, categorized, and synthesized. Definitions of supporting constructs of SCM and a framework are then offered to establish a consistent means to conceptualize SCM. Antecedents and consequences of SCM are identified, and the boundaries of SCM in terms of business functions and organizations are proposed. A conceptual model and unified definition of SCM are then presented that indicate the nature, antecedents, and consequences of the phenomena.     

Supply Chain Strategies: Changes in Customer Order‐Based Production

Supply chain development is debated in terms of whether lean and agile supply chain strategies will work simultaneously and whether “leagile” strategies are possible. This study explores complexity and dynamics of the mixed strategy in a longitudinal automotive industry case study and contributes with four propositions related to the debate and practices of supply chain strategies.     

The Changing Private Market System

Most marketing managers still function as if challenges such as scarcity of resources and “social responsibility” were simply temporary phenomena. But our “private” market system is evolving into a “public” system. Public policy and the goals of society play an expanding role in making strategy decisions.

Traditional efficiency is when a manager attempts to achieve the greatest output for a given combination of inputs. Under a contemporary definition of efficiency, each firm must produce and allocate goods and services in such a manner that the maximum possible societal utility is achieved. The marketing function is to be the “change agent.”

Marketing today is in a transition from a “passive” to an “active” phase of its ability to deal with the changes taking place. As traditionally, the marketing manager will make decisions within several areas: product offering, price, distribution and promotion efforts, including advertising and sales. The basic concept of the product will be changed to include not only physical goods, but also services, organizations, people, plans and ideas. Exchange will take place between two parties and will no longer be measured simply by a straightforward calculation of costs. Environmental quality, political considerations, consumer welfare, etc., must be evaluated along with profits in order to properly understand how well marketing is satisfying the needs of society.     

Mitigating the Myopia of Dominant Logics: On Differential Performance and Strategic Supply Chain Research

The primary question of management scholarship is, “What leads some firms to be successful even as others fail?” Over the years, a variety of dominant logics have emerged to inform this question. Synthesized, these logics make it clear that companies win when they create customer value better than the competition and efficiently enough to be profitable. That is, firms that design distinctive and dynamic value‐added systems win competitive battles. This observation is salient to the Journal of Business Logistics community as systems design and value creation are focal decision areas of supply chain management. With this in mind, we briefly discuss two of many areas for which strategic supply chain research can inform differential performance.     

Relational competence and strategic procurement management: Towards an entrepreneurial and contractual theory of the firm

This article explains what a strategic procurement management approach to effective business strategy is. This proactive approach is contrasted with current reactive and simplistic approaches to purchasing and supply management. A proactive approach to business management requires firms to recognise that their boundaries need to constantly change in response to consumer preferences; and, that the most effective operational tool for deciding on the “effective boundaries” of the firm will be based on analysing types of relational competences. This approach links competences, relationships and asset specificity in order to procure a supply and value chain which reduces the costs of transactions and improves profitability.     

日本“购物难民”的产生、影响及启示

人口老龄化已经成为影响经济发展的全球性问题。日益严峻的老龄化问题,引发了如何为老年人提供相应的生活照料、满足其日常生活需求等经济社会问题。商业设施大型化和郊区化、城市中心商业街空洞化、近邻型的商业设施减少以及私家车的普及均是日本“购物难民”问题产生的原因,并对日本零售业的发展产生影响。为缓解“购物难民”问题,日本政府高度重视,各部门分别制定并实施不同政策,在资金、交通、商业规划等方面解决老年消费群体购物难的问题;零售企业积极参与,采用灵活的经营策略,有针对性地满足老年人的需求;非营利组织帮助零售企业解决痛点问题,提高商品运输和配送效率,发挥会员机制的作用,及时把新鲜健康的食材送到老年消费者手中;政府、零售企业和非营利组织共同构建了为不同层次老年消费者提供服务的协同合作系统。借鉴日本经验,应该认识到我国人口老龄化的严峻性,预测并重视“购物难民”等问题的到来:在政府宏观调控层面,引导开发老年消费市场,完善商业布局;在企业微观经营层面,构建适应老年市场需求的经营战略,创新经营方式,开发新的经营业态;进而构建由市场主导、政府引导、企业作为主力军的“购物难民”问题应对体系。     

基于批发价格契约的低碳供应链协调研究——考虑互惠和利他偏好的分析视角

为弥补供应链理性经济人假设或只考虑单一偏好的缺失,基于批发价格契约建立完全自利和社会偏好下(仅零售商具有社会偏好、仅制造商具有社会偏好,以及双方同时具有社会偏好)的供应链博弈模型,分析决策主体的社会偏好对定价策略、碳减排策略、最优订购量、决策主体的利润和供应链的利润及其协调性的影响。研究发现:双方利他偏好程度的增大可激励制造商投资减排;领导者制造商的利他行为有利于减缓供应链"双重边际效用",而跟随者零售商的利他行为对供应链利润的影响与制造商的社会偏好有关;当双方的互惠偏好起主导作用且认为对方存在不友善行为时,互惠偏好会降低制造商减排积极性并会加剧供应链"双重边际效用"。上述结论延拓了供应链管理理论,为低碳供应链节点企业选择合作伙伴类型以及低碳供应链运作提供了参考。     

宏观杠杆率、影子银行规模与银行体系稳定性——基于TVP-VAR模型的实证研究

"去杠杆"、"强监管"和"防风险"是新时期经济社会发展中的关键任务。本文选取2010-2018年季度数据构建微观审慎监管视角下的银行体系稳定性指数,分析检验我国宏观杠杆率、影子银行规模对银行体系稳定性的时变影响机制。研究显示:我国银行体系稳定性总体呈震荡向下趋势,由稳定阶段逐渐转向当前高度不稳定阶段。进一步地,采用时变参数向量自回归模型(TVP-VAR)实证研究发现:我国宏观杠杆率与影子银行规模对银行体系稳定性的冲击响应具有时变特征和时滞效应。宏观杠杆率与影子银行规模之间存在相互促进的非线性动态关系,二者叠加会对银行体系产生不利冲击。中长期内,宏观杠杆率过快攀升会加重银行体系不稳定,杠杆率适度波动一定程度上有利于银行体系稳定;短中期内,影子银行的适当扩张给稳定银行体系产生积极影响,但过度膨胀会形成长期持久的负向冲击。鉴于此,现阶段我国应加强经济去杠杆、影子银行监管及银行风险防范多重政策目标之间的有效协同,以维护金融体系稳定。     

全球供应链调整变化与我国应对策略研究

受全球经济格局重塑、经贸规则变化、科技进步和新冠疫情冲击等多重因素影响,全球供应链正在深度调整。我国作为全球供应链制造环节的地位正在改变,发达国家加速生产制造等供应链部分环节回归本地化,贸易保护主义行为加速构筑新壁垒,供应链从开放性、普惠性、全球性重返封闭性、歧视性、区域性,供应链从经济利益最大化的单一绩效向经济、环境和社会的多重综合绩效转变。这些趋势变化对我国制造大国地位和产业安全构成严峻挑战,也带来倒逼我国产业转型升级,由全球供应链参与者变为主导者的重要机遇。我国须主动适应趋势变化,将现代供应链上升为国家战略,巩固制造业综合优势,支持企业全球布局,参与国际合作治理,提升参与和把控全球供应链的主动权,维护全球供应链稳定,构建“以我为主”、弹性安全供应链,维护国家经济与产业安全。     

EXPLORING A GOVERNANCE THEORY OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT: BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS TO INTEGRATION

Supply chain management is rapidly growing as both a strategic initiative and an academic discipline. As firms increasingly include their supply chain partners in the development of business strategy, researchers will have to constantly reevaluate the underlying themes and emergent theories of strategic logistics, management, and marketing by introducing new topics and revisiting seminal extant results. As such, this research was developed to explore the important concept of supply chain integration through strategic governance theory development. Since supply chain governance is a relatively new topic, a grounded study of both new and existing integration facilitators and barriers is presented. The study was initiated with a qualitative “managerial” development of scale items followed by a full empirical analysis. The result is an industry based returning to the source methodology for testing current governance related issues in industry. Contributions include the development of multiple dimensions of supply chain governance across facilitators and barriers, an explanation of the interplay between governance facilitators of, and barriers to, integration, a discussion of strategic level managerial implications, and a call for the future extension of governance research into the theory wanting domain of logistics and supply chain management.     

On-shelf availability and logistics rationalization. A participative methodology for supply chain improvement

Ensuring “On-shelf Availability” (OSA) or avoiding “Out of stock” events (OOS) in a store is a key factor for customer satisfaction. Likewise, logistics rationalization throughout the supply chain is a key factor for business profitability.The main aim of this paper is twofold: First, to design a participative methodology that systematically seeks to reduce OOS events, maintain a store's image and rationalize logistics processes by adopting the Action Research approach; Second, to illustrate the usefulness of this methodology, by implementing it in one of the largest retailers in Spain.The proposal selects and applies a set of specific key performance indicators (KPIs) related to shelf use by redesigning store and logistics processes in a structured, participative way.