Supply Relational Risk: What Role Does Guanxi Play?

The topics of supply chain risk and global sourcing have garnered significant attention in recent years. Although there is ample circumstantial evidence of global sourcing risk, especially from the western‐firm perspective of sourcing from China, few published studies have investigated the root causes of this risk. In this paper, we argue that much of the risk associated with sourcing from China stems from the differences associated with institutional norms and philosophical orientation between western and Chinese thought and culture. Based on an in‐depth literature review and case analysis, we compare western forms of supply chain relationship management with Guanxi, the Chinese form of relationship management and propose a framework of how western firms are exposed to supply relational risk when sourcing from Chinese suppliers. The framework proposed in this article sheds light for supply chain managers with regard to the potential pitfalls facing firms when working with Chinese suppliers, and provides the groundwork for future research regarding supply chain practices and Guanxi networks.     

Gift Giving,Guanxi and Illicit Payments in Buyer–Supplier Relations in China: Analysing the Experience of UK Companies

This paper explores the relationship between gift giving, guanxi and corruption through a study of the relationships between UK manufacturing companies in China and their local component suppliers. The analysis is based on interviews in the China-based operations of 49 UK companies. Interviews were carried out both with senior (often expatriate) staff and with local line managers who were responsible for everyday purchasing decisions and for managing relationships with suppliers. The results suggest that gift giving is perceived to be a significant problem in UK-owned companies in China. However the relationship between these payments and established understanding of gift giving within guanxi-networks appears to be weak. Gift giving appears to be associated with illicit payments, corruption and the pursuit of self-interest. Firms seek to reduce the incidence of illicit transactions by changing staff roles, instituting joint responsibilities, which include the separation of different aspects of sourcing/purchasing, ineasing the involvement of senior staff in the process and through the education of employee and suppliers.     

基于供应链战略联盟的供应商管理

近几年来,随着供应链管理的不断发展,采购供应管理成为企业实现柔性化经营、有效应对市场的重要手段,在这一发展背景下,供应商作为供应链战略的重要参与者如何有效地加以管理,从而确立起及时、动态地与下游企业有效沟通的机制,真正实现供应链管理绩效,已成为当今供应链管理的重要课题。本文从理论和实证的角度分析了供应链战略联盟背景下,供应商的评价维度、细分管理的原则以及相应的规制形式,从而使企业真正确立起行之有效的战略供应链体系。     

Measuring the Consequences of Using Diverse Supplier Evaluation Teams: A Performance Frontier Perspective

This article focuses on the postperformance evaluation of a supplier set by a buyer evaluation team. It explores the use of data envelopment analysis and the assurance region technique to measure the impact that conforming or disparate evaluation teams can have on the perception of supplier performance. As a result, this work makes the case for moving the notion of performance scorecards usage to the next level. For researchers the work demonstrates the case for dual accountability and the construction of performance frontiers motivated by an actual setting using many of the important dimensions discussed in the empirical literature. For managers, the work demonstrates one way of action‐based decision making in performance management that recommends courses of action in the buyer–supplier interface. Several other practice‐based interpretations for managers are also discussed.     

协同产品商务中的供应商选择问题研究

企业与供应商之间的合作与创意共享可以融合成一种新能力并产生综合效益。如何正确地选择有实力和相容的供应商,是实现良好的供应商关系管理的基础。用一种利用基于案例论证和神经网络技术的智能供应商选择系统来评价和选择供应商,可有效地解决对供应商分析评估的问题     

The Strategies and Characteristics of Exporting SMEs:

The behaviour of exporting firms is the result of the complex interaction of many factors of the external and internal environment both at the national and international level. This paper presents the main findings from an exploratory study which assessed the characteristics and marketing strategies of small- to medium-sized exporting firms in a developing country, Peru. Statistical analysis using non-parametric methods to measure the behaviour of these firms used criteria taken from studies of firms in mostly developed countries. The observations from the analysis indicate that characteristics such as size and management perceptions and commitment, and strategies related to market concentration in developed countries taking into consideration export sales volume as a measure of performance (dependant variable) were positively associated to the success of these Peruvian firms and added to their competitiveness.     

Extra-role behavior in buyer–supplier relationships

This study develops theory and provides empirical evidence regarding the antecedents and consequences of extra-role behavior in supply relationships (i.e., supplier behaviors that go beyond formal role definitions and responsibilities and are oriented toward helping the buyer firm, referred to as partner ERB). Communal motivations, instrumental motivations, and role formalization explain the variation in partner ERB. Further, the effect of partner ERB on relationship profitability is contingent on the buyer partner's qualifications and the degree of technological unpredictability. An empirical test is presented based on 223 buyer–supplier relationships. Partner ERB has several drivers including role formalization. While partner ERB generally increases buyer profitability, in certain cases (e.g., for poorly chosen suppliers in a predictable environment) it may actually decrease it.     

促进产业和谐发展的零供关系构建研究

零供关系对于产业发展至关重要。有关调查显示我国零供关系显失公平现象十分严重,已经危及到了整个产业链的和谐。零供矛盾的焦点主要集中在零售商收取不合理的通路费用和拖欠货款。大型零售商滥用自身市场优势追求利益最大化、过度依赖"渠道控制"盈利模式及对供应商依赖渠道资源存在认识偏差是导致零供冲突的主要原因。完善相关法律法规、健全社会诚信机制、签订以公平交易为基础的合同、建立合理的利益分配机制和信息共享机制,有助于构建和谐的零供关系,促进产业健康发展。     

基于信用评估的供应商关系管理

供应商关系管理是供应链条件下现代采购管理的核心内容,对采购效率和效益的提高具有重要意义。本文从企业信用角度,探讨采购方如何通过评估、监督和激励来规范供应商的信用行为,改善采购的信用环境,从而建立与供应商健康和稳定发展的合作关系,实现科学高效的供应商关系管理。     

基于4S模型的RAT应用研究

20世纪90年代以来,逆向拍卖技术(Reverse Auction Technology,RAT)作为一种具有革命性和划时代意义的采购技术,从国外引进中国。本文针对逆向拍卖技术应用中产生的问题提出了"4S模型",探讨了采购+战略、对象+战略、供应商+战略对RAT的作用,并模拟了其作用,提出了企业运用"4S模型"的对策与建议。