The impact of supply-side electronic integration on customer service performance

Although information technologies have been expected to directly enhance firm performance in specific value chain activities (e.g., supplier performance or customer service performance), their advanced capabilities offer the promise of organizational integration and spill-over benefits. Enterprise systems provide firms with platforms for electronically integrating their supplier and demand chain activities. Spill-over benefits refer to the impacts that occur when IT investments in one organizational domain benefit performance in a different value chain side of the firm. Supply-side electronic integration (SEI) refers to the use of electronic means to integrate the exchange of information and transactions with suppliers through enterprise systems. In our research, we examine whether SEI generates spill-over effects on customer service performance, over and beyond firms’ direct investments in customer-side digitization. We also examine whether structural attributes of the firm (e.g., vertical integration, diversification, and centralization) moderate the effects of supply-side electronic integration on customer service performance. Our analysis of a secondary dataset of InformationWeek 500 firms shows that SEI helps firms realize cost-savings in their customer service performance, especially if they are less vertically integrated. In addition, SEI investments help diversified and centralized firms achieve cross-selling with their customers. We also find that SEI is more likely to help decentralized and diversified firms achieve customization in their customer service activities. These results suggest that SEI helps firms achieve twin goals in customer service: cost reduction and revenue expansion. Overall, our research reveals how supply-side electronic integration could generate benefits in customer service performance in firms.     

Contextual factors affecting the integration of enterprise systems in post-merger oil and gas companies

This study examines the contextual factors of the external business environment, organization, information systems, and enterprise system software as they affect integration of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems after a merger or acquisition in the oil and gas industry. A multiple case study method using primary and secondary data revealed: ERPs are operational necessities rather than strategic differentiators; best practice adoption is a viable alternative that supports successful integration of cultures and knowledge from two experienced organizations; schedules are extended when best practices from both companies are consolidated into a single instance; consolidation facilitates Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and lowers the cost of ownership; imposing acquirer systems on targets facilitates timely decision-making and shorter schedules.     

电子商务下实物配送整合平台的研究--基于XML Web Service技术的PDIP应用

当今我国电子商务迅速发展,物流行业方兴未艾,然而实物配送却制约了电子商务环境下B2C商务模式的发展.文章结合我国物流配送行业的发展现状,提出了一种新型的物流配送模式--服务集成商模式,并且基于此模式,利用Web Service技术开发了一整套第三方物流整合软件--实物配送整合平台（Physical Delivery Integration Platform,以下简称：PDIP）.     

电子商务在钢材销售中的重要地位

近十年来电子商务的快速发展有目共睹,超过了以往任何一种新兴商业模式。电子商务现已经广泛深入到各个领域,在各行各业中所发挥了强大的作用,本文以钢材市场为研究对象,针对销售过程涉及到的重点问题进行了电子商务的效果分析。     

Managing Organizational Knowledge Integration in the Emerging Multimedia Complex

Due to technological convergence, complexes of interrelated industries are emerging. This paper presents a conceptual framework of the role different organizational forms and combinative capabilities play in the management of organizational knowledge integration in this context. The focus is on firms previously operating in one of the relatively stable constituting industries. We argue that a firm's organizational form has to be matched with appropriate combinative capabilities in order to integrate component knowledge into architectural knowledge that consequently serves as a platform for generating new product–market combinations. The framework is empirically illustrated using the example of two Dutch publishing firms moving into the multimedia complex, which is currently emerging around information and communication technologies. The empirical analysis shows that the framework offers strong potential for improving the understanding of the complex process of organizational knowledge integration, as the prerequisite for developing new business in an emerging industrial complex.     

Facilitating offshoring with enterprise technologies: Reducing operational friction in the governance and production of services

The development of cheap and robust communications technologies has lowered the cost of conducting business transactions across international boarders and opened up low wage rate global labor markets to firms facing demand for cheap and efficient service delivery. A review of transaction cost theory and operations management models of service process disaggregation reveals parallels between the how firm boundaries are determined and how certain service process elements can be disaggregated from face-to-face customer contact. This theoretical background is used to identify challenges to the effective offshoring of service processes. The competitive capability literature offers suggestions as to how firms might acquire the internal capabilities required to manage offshore service processes. Propositions are developed on how the standardized transactional infrastructure of enterprise technologies (and the organizational competencies developed by successful enterprise system adopters) may help mitigate the challenges of offshore governance.     

Process innovation laboratory: a new approach to business process innovation based on enterprise information systems

Most organizations today are required not only to operate effective business processes but also to allow for changing business conditions at an increasing rate. Today nearly every business relies on their enterprise information systems (EIS) for process integration and future generations of EIS will increasingly be driven by business process models. Consequently business process modelling and improvement is becoming a serious challenge. The aim of this paper is to establish a conceptual framework for business process innovation (BPI) in the supply chain based on advanced EIS. The challenge is thus to create a new methodology for developing and exploring process models and applications. The paper outlines the process innovation laboratory (Π-Lab) as a new approach to BPI. The Π-Lab is a comprehensive framework and a collaborative workspace for experimenting with process models. The Π-Lab facilitates innovation by using an integrated action learning approach to process modelling in a controlled environment. The study is based on design science and the paper also discusses the implications to EIS research and practice.     

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.     

基于顾客价值创新的供应链整合策略研究

优化供应链管理水平,构建一体化的整合供应链,已经成为当前形势下供应链企业获取竞争优势的重要途径。本文从创造顾客价值的角度出发,提出供应链整合管理必须以满足顾客需求为中心,增强产品功能和质量,提高服务水平,降低顾客成本,创造更多的顾客价值。在此基础上,提出建立基于Internet和EDI技术的信息共享系统及进行关键业务流程重组是提升供应链顾客价值的重要整合策略。     

Spillover effects within supply chains: Evidence from Chinese-listed firms

There is increasing attention on information transfers along supply chain partners for firm (extreme) events. This growing literature finds spillover effects following certain types of firm events. Using data from credit rating actions of Chinese-listed firms over the period between March 2007 and May 2020, we examine the spillover effects of supply chains by focusing on the market reactions of event firms to the action announcements. We find strong evidence of spillover effects driven by the market reactions of event firms, which are enhanced through information diffusion channels as supply chain partners receive more investor attention. Moreover, the effects are stronger when event firms' market reactions are negative, event firms are non-stated-owned, the industry concentration of event firms is higher, or the supplier-customer business relationship is closer. Overall, these findings highlight the role of investor attention and network characteristics in supply chain spillovers.     

系统研发的持续集成与持续交付技术的研究与实现

系统研发,是IT公司根据自身的业务情况以及用户的相关需求,对业务不断实现和迭代的过程。在这个过程中,代码集成与交付方式影响了整个团队的工作进度和效率,优秀的持续集成与持续交付的相关技术可以使开发人员实现自动化管理,将精力集中到功能实现上,更快响应市场变化。论文通过调研持续集成与持续交付的相关技术,结合时下流行的DevOps概念及容器技术,提出一种典型的实现方案,为系统研发效率的提升提供借鉴和参考。     

Supply chain integration and shareholder value: Evidence from consortium based industry exchanges

Recent trade and academic literature point to the importance of supply chain integration among partners as a key determinant of value creation. This paper analyzes the shareholder value effects of setting up industry exchanges, a prominent mechanism used to achieve supply chain integration. Shareholder value effects are estimated by measuring the stock market reaction (abnormal returns) associated with announcements to form or join industry exchanges. We find that abnormal returns from participation in industry exchanges are positive but only marginally significant in the whole sample of 144 firms in 18 exchanges formed during 2000–2001. In the sub-sample of 88 exchange founders who were part of the original announcements to form the exchange, the abnormal market reaction is about 1% and significant. We also find that firms with greater bargaining power and higher process efficiency benefit more from participation in industry exchanges.     

The differences of firm resources and the adoption of teleworking

This paper studies the differences of firm resources between teleworking firms and non-teleworking firms. The results indicate that teleworking firms use more information and communication technologies, invest more resources in R&D, have a larger percentage of knowledge workers and salespeople in the workforce, and have a larger geographical market. The employees have greater access to the Internet and electronic communication, are more trained in the use of information and communication technologies, and are more involved in their job design and planning. Regarding the business organisation, teleworking firms use more human resource flexible practices and variable compensation, outsource more activities, and manage employees by objectives.     

The interoperability force in the ERP field

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems participate in interoperability projects and this participation sometimes leads to new proposals for the ERP field. The aim of this paper is to identify the role that interoperability plays in the evolution of ERP systems. To go about this, ERP systems have been first identified within interoperability frameworks. Second, the initiatives in the ERP field driven by interoperability requirements have been identified from two perspectives: technological and business. The ERP field is evolving from classical ERP as information system integrators to a new generation of fully interoperable ERP. Interoperability is changing the way of running business, and ERP systems are changing to adapt to the current stream of interoperability.     

Impact of eBusiness technologies on operational performance: The role of production information integration in the supply chain

While the information technology (IT) literature is mixed regarding the direct benefits of eBusiness technologies on performance, the impact of such technologies on supply chain practices remains largely an unexplored area of research. We hypothesize that while there may be no direct benefit of eBusiness technologies on performance, these technologies might support customer integration and supplier integration in the supply chain, which in turn might impact operating performance.To examine our hypotheses, we collected data from respondents who focused their responses to a single major product the process that manufactures it, a significant customer, and an important supplier. Our analyses showed that there was no direct benefit of eBusiness technologies on performance; however these technologies supported customer integration and supplier integration. Further, supplier integration was found to positively impact cost, quality, flexibility, and delivery performance; however there was no relationship between customer integration and performance. Consequently, there is a relationship between eBusiness technologies and supplier integration that leads to better performance. Further, there is an interactive effect between customer integration and supplier integration that supports the notion that firms that have both forms of integration, supported by eBusiness technologies, significantly outperform the others.     

The effectiveness of using e-collaboration tools in the supply chain: an assessment study with system dynamics

Developments in information technology, in recent years, have enabled major advances in electronic commerce, which is growing at a very fast pace. Although business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce seems to be slowing down due to economic conditions, business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce still represents the next generation of business automation.Taking advantage of new technologies, today provides an opportunity, but will be a must in the future. The use of Internet e-collaboration tools will increase in this new era. They play a role of “value creation enabler”, but at the same time they generate a wide range of new business and market “complexities” that companies have to face.This paper presents a classification of “managerial spaces” where multiple trading partners share critical information using e-collaboration tools and assesses the possible local and global impact on the supply chain (SC) performance. This is made by means of a SC model conceptualization and a simulation study with system dynamics.     

Integrating Sustainability into Firms' Processes: Performance Effects and the Moderating Role of Business Models and Innovation

Innovation has been widely regarded as a panacea for sustainable development, but there remains considerable uncertainty about how it will lead to a more sustainable society. We analyze the role of innovation and business models for the link between the integration of sustainable management with other corporate functions and the economic and environmental performance of companies. Drawing on survey data in the manufacturing sector, we apply structural equation modeling to compare differences between business models and the role of different stakeholder groups in a moderation analysis. We find a positive association of the integration of strategic issues and environmental management with the economic and environmental performance of firms. The results also suggest differences in the link between integration and economic and environmental performance, respectively, depending on the type of business model or innovation pursued, and that secondary stakeholders influence sustainability integration. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

第三方物流企业经营策略

随着市场竞争的加剧,面对强大的竞争对手,条块分割的体制,传统经营的理念,物流人才的匮乏,企业纷纷在降低物流成本、提高物流服务水平上下功夫.经营策略体现了物流企业的现代物流服务理念,企业在为顾客提供物流服务的过程中,必须站在客户的立场上思考物流合理化问题.第三方物流企业如何运用经营策略,提高经营运作能力,对其核心竞争力的培养和长远发展具有较高的理论和现实意义.     

基子电子商务的信息组织与集成模式

以信息技术的发展为前提,总结了企业信息组织模式的发展过程,论述了企业信息组织模式和中小型企业开展电子商务过程中存在的问题.利用数据仓库、信息集成原理以及虚拟专用网络技术,分别提出了基于人因信息融合的多源信息集成和基于vPN技术的EDI两种解决方案.详细阐述了B2B与B2C环境下企业信息组织与集成模式,并以铁路集装箱物流为例介绍了电子商务的实际应用.     

Understanding sustainable development flexibility: An information perspective

Although flexibility has been considered critical in responding to uncertainty in a business environment, few studies have explored firms' flexibility in sustainable development. To understand the nature of firms that can respond better to uncertainty in their sustainable development practices, this study defines sustainable development flexibility and investigates the mechanism underlying its formation. The study proposes a conceptual framework on the interactions of managers' environmental attitude and cognitive style, as well as firms' information integration on sustainable development flexibility. A questionnaire survey was developed to test the corresponding hypotheses, and 241 valid responses were received from middle- and top-level managers in Chinese firms. The results show that (a) the higher the manager's environmental attitude, the higher the firm's information integration and greater sustainable supply chain flexibility, and (b) the more intuitive the manager's cognitive style, the greater the impact of environmental attitude on sustainable development flexibility.