Using integrated information systems in supply chain management

The aim of this paper is to empirically test not only the direct effects of information and communication technology (ICT) capabilities and integrated information systems (IS) on firm performance, but also the moderating role of IS integration along the supply chain in the relationship between ICT external and capabilities and business performance. Data collected from 102 large Iberian firms from Spain and Portugal are used to test the research model. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis is employed to test the direct effects and the moderating relationships proposed. Results show that external and internal ICT capabilities are important drivers of firm performance, while merely having integrated IS do not lead to better firm performance. In addition, a moderating effect of IS integration in the relationship between ICT capabilities and business performance is found, although this integration only contributes to firm performance when it is directed to connect with suppliers or customers rather than when integrating the whole supply chain.     

Electronic marketplace definition and classification: literature review and clarifications

The definitions and classifications of any new phenomenon build a strong foundation for further research. Although research on electronic marketplaces (EMs) has proliferated in recent years, related definitions and classifications are still confusing and misleading. The purpose of this paper is to perform a review of the EM literature, and to clarify and explain published information about electronic marketplaces. For EM definitions, we emphasise (1) the difference between EMs as governance structures and as business models, and (2) EMs at different levels of centralisation. For EM classifications, we summarise nine of the most commonly mentioned classifications, and examine the differences and correlations among them. By doing so, potential confusion and common misunderstanding about the different EM definitions and classifications are clarified.     

Remote control and maintenance outsourcing networks and its applications in supply chain management

The paper analyzes the impact of e-business technologies on maintenance management and supply chain operations. The aim of this work is to investigate the network organization level of supply chains in case of remote maintenance application and to understand how maintenance policies are coupled with information technology (IT) solutions. To this purpose two literature reviews are presented: firstly, on the supply chain and network integration, and then on the evolution of maintenance using information technology. Following this, the paper present four specific industrial case-studies of eMRO network organisation. They have been chosen as reference models from a set of practical applications and pilot tests performed by the authors in different production sectors in the last 5 years. Technology complexity environments, maintenance outsourcing level, and supply chain integration context are discussed for each case-studies with particular regards to the profitable forms of collaboration provided by the introduction of IT and the Web. This analysis work toward the development of a framework useful to: (1) classify different e-maintenance systems and understand the relationships between the different members of the network, and (2) identify the variables which can influence the introduction and development of the systems.     

The effect of high-involvement human resource management practices on supply chain resilience and operational performance

Supply chain (SC) resilience is an increasingly important topic for practitioners and academics because it is a competitive weapon for firms to cope with SC disruptive risks. This study examines the impact of high-involvement human resource management practices on SC resilience from the ability-motivation-opportunity perspective. It also examines the relationship between the dimensions of SC resilience and operational performance. Based on data collected from 206 Chinese manufacturers, the proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. The results indicated that employee participation played the most powerful role in improving supplier, customer, and internal resilience. Moreover, employee skills only facilitate internal and customer resilience but have no significant impact on supplier resilience. By contrast, employee incentives do not influence the dimension of SC resilience. It was also found that both internal and customer resilience have positive effects on operational performance, while supplier resilience has no significant effect. The findings contribute to literature and practice.     

AR公司供应链环境下供应商关系管理改进研究

供应链环镜下的企业竞争行为发生了巨大变化,供应商关系管理的理念、目标和方式方法也都随之发生了重大变化,企业应该在对采购物资进行分类的基础上选择相适应的供应商和确定供应商关系战略,通过供应商绩效评价和激励,达到控制供应风险和调控企业外部资源的目的.     

Business-to-business electronic market place selection

There is an increasing demand for doing business online, which calls for higher business interoperability on business-to-business (B2B) electronic market places (EMp). This drives the development of integration technologies for improving B2B electronic market (EM) functions on EMp. This paper argues that with the development of integration technologies companies will use more private, community and public EMp and select their proper type of EMp when comparing the function–cost ratios of business interoperability on different types of B2B EMp. This argument has been validated through the case studies against a method of historical event analysis. In this shift, four integration factors of standard flexibility, enterprise integration, service provision and semantic integration are constantly improving EMp functions, which lead to an overall reduction of interaction cost for business interoperation on all types of EMp. This will change business behaviour and corporate strategies of most firms, and have important implications for firms to make strategies of how to select EMp to increase business interoperability for higher competitiveness.     

ERP systems success: an empirical analysis of how two organizational stakeholder groups prioritize and evaluate relevant measures

Organizations worldwide are adopting enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. A number of studies discuss the implementation and success of such systems, but our study of the literature indicates that discussions about ERP systems success from the perspectives of key organizational stakeholders are not easy to come across. This study is designed to fill this gap in research. Using surveys in Finland and Estonia, we obtained empirical data from 66 respondents in 44 diverse, private, industrial organizations. Our objective was to determine whether differences exist between two organizational stakeholder groups, i.e. business managers and IT professionals, concerning how each group believe ERP success measures and dimensions are prioritized and evaluated in their respective organizations. Prior literature suggests that differences exist between the two groups with regard to how each perceives organizational information technology (IT) issues. Our study indicates that no significant statistical differences exist between the two groups with the exception of one dimension of ERP success, i.e. vendor/consultant quality. The implications of our findings for both practice and research are discussed.     

A multi-agent-based model for a negotiation support system in electronic commerce

This study proposes a multi-agent-based model for bilateral multi-objective negotiation in electronic commerce trading. The function and behaviour of several types of agents are discussed. These agents interact with each other in our negotiation support system model to create the most appropriate solution for both negotiating parties. In particular, we are concerned with a win-win negotiation approach in which agents seek to strike a fair deal that also maximizes the payoff for everyone involved. That is, if the opponent cannot accept an offer then the proponent should endeavour to find an alternative to make a trade-off. Against this background, a utility model based on fuzzy constraint satisfaction problems is proposed to ensure that these agents reach a solution that is fair for both negotiating parties if such a solution exists. The model uses prioritized fuzzy constraints to indicate how concessions should be made when necessary. In addition, by incorporating the notion of a negotiation argument into our evaluation model, the agents can sometimes reach agreements that would otherwise be impossible. Finally, a numerical example is given to display the applicability of the proposed approach for electronic trading assistance.