ICT and economic development in Taiwan: analysis of the evidence

The IT-led development strategy adopted by Taiwan has been greatly recognised by other Asian newly industrialised economies (NIEs) in their own NII initiatives. This paper discusses the impact of ICT on economic growth in Taiwan based on longitudinal data over 16 years. It highlights the joint impact of national IT capabilities and national IT investment on economic growth, and the findings imply that the payoff effect of IT investment on economic growth can be achieved only through a robust national information infrastructure that supports IT adoption and application.     

基于再造、外包和关系能力的供应链再设计

通过流程再造、外包和创造关系能力来进行供应链再设计，可以达到提升供应链网络整体竞争优势的目标。关系能力的发展是这一再设计方法中的核心环节。在具体的供应链再设计过程中应注意几个关键问题，包括通过内部分析和关系分析决定外包业务，注重供应链流程整合，注重关系能力的衡量。按照核心企业业务活动的竞争力水平和对企业战略目标的贡献不同，供应链网络中关系能力可以沿着不同的路径发展．关系能力的发展会强化企业内部能力，最终通过塑造内部竞争优势和关联性优势，而使供应链网络整体竞争优势得到提升．     

Information Technology Tools in New Product Development: The Impact of Complementary Resources*,†

Emergent research has examined the antecedents to using information technology (IT) in the new product development (NPD) process and the impact of IT on NPD performance. Based on the resource‐based view (RBV) of the firm, this study hypothesizes that particular resources create IT capabilities that significantly enhance NPD outcomes. More specifically, this research extends previous work by investigating whether three complementary resources, namely an executive champion for IT, global engagement, and organizational innovativeness, influence IT capabilities (IT use frequency and IT replacement frequency), which in turn affect NPD outcomes (NPD task proficiency and NPD performance). To test the conceptual model, survey data were collected from 220 NPD and IT managers in a variety of large Japanese firms. The results show that an executive champion for IT and global engagement are predictors of both IT tool use and replacement frequency while organizational innovativeness contributes only to IT tool replacement frequency. The results also indicate that both IT tool use and replacement frequency have a positive effect on NPD task proficiency, which improves NPD performance. This research contributes to the literature by adding understanding of the role of IT in NPD at the firm level in four ways. First, it examines particular organizational complementary resources and their relationship to IT capabilities. Second, it examines the RBV and IT in the context of NPD, an important business process. Third, it measures IT usage in a more granular fashion (i.e., IT tool use frequency and IT replacement frequency) rather than simply IT usage as a dichotomy. Finally, through testing the proposed model with data collected from Japanese firms, this study provides empirical evidence from an Asian country to answer the call for more NPD research to be conducted in countries other than North American and Western European contexts. The findings of the study also provide implications for managers. Importantly, they indicate that an executive level champion for IT is a key influencer in facilitating IT usage and replacement, and likely can help generate awareness of and support for greater IT investments so the firm can create IT capabilities for effective NPD.     

A hub-and-spoke model for multi-dimensional integration of green marketing and sustainable supply chain management

Since the concept of sustainability was transformed into business mainstream, both sustainable supply chain management and green marketing have become key topics of academic research and managerial practices. Great advances have been made in the two areas in parallel. It has been recognized that green marketing and sustainable supply chain management should be seamlessly integrated so that green customer's needs can be better met by the supply chain capabilities. Existing research has explored point-to-point integration approach. This paper proposes a new hub-and-spoke integration model to integrate green marketing and sustainable supply chain management from six dimensions: product, promotion, planning, process, people and project (called the 6Ps). Empirical study has been undertaken with industries to test the 6Ps integration model. Results from the empirical study on integration dimensions, integration strategies, and drivers and obstacles for multi-dimensional integration are presented together with managerial implications. The new integration model allows the flows of resources such as information, materials and funds between green marketing and sustainable supply chain management through multiple direct pathways. It has the potential to achieve better overall business performance against the triple bottom line objectives.     

Facilitating artificial intelligence powered supply chain analytics through alliance management during the pandemic crises in the B2B context

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global supply chains and exposed weak links in the chains far beyond what most people have witnessed in their living memory. The scale of disruption affects every nation and industry, and the sudden and dramatic changes in demand and supply that have occurred during the pandemic crisis clearly differentiate its impact from other crises. Using the dynamic capabilities view, we studied alliance management capability (AMC) and artificial intelligence (AI) driven supply chain analytics capability (AI-SCAC) as dynamic capabilities, under the moderating effect of environmental dynamism. We tested our four research hypotheses using survey data collected from the Indian auto components manufacturing industry. For data analysis we used Warp PLS 7.0 (a variance-based structural equation modelling tool). We found that alliance management capability under the mediating effect of artificial intelligence-powered supply chain analytics capability enhances the operational and financial performance of the organization. Moreover, we also observed that the alliance management capability has a significant effect on artificial intelligence-powered supply chain analytics capability under the moderating effect of environmental dynamism. The results of our study provide a nuanced understanding of the dynamic capabilities and the relational view of organization. Finally, we noted the limitations of our study and provide numerous research directions that may help answer some of the questions that arise from our study.     

Understanding users' performance evaluation of IT solutions

Traditionally, buying center research in business marketing has long focused on the role of various buying center members, including users, in influencing purchasing decisions. Recent studies have also established the important role users play in successfully implementing information technology (IT) initiatives of buying organizations and its influence on future relationships with sellers. Consequently, in order to ensure future business, marketers need users to evaluate their solutions favorably. This study attempts to understand the factors influencing user evaluation of performance of sellers' IT solutions. Based on an inter-disciplinary approach, a model of antecedent factors to explain user evaluation of suppliers IT solutions is proposed and tested. Results gleaned from a survey of 361 users of Internet-based technology in an automotive supply chain indicate that user attitudes toward technology, satisfaction with the new technology, users' overall understanding of supply chain management principles, and job-related consequences influence user evaluation of IT solutions.     

Corporate Governance and returns on information technology investment: evidence from an emerging market

Prior studies have reported mixed findings on the impact of corporate information technology (IT) investment on firm performance. This study investigates the effect of corporate governance, an important management control mechanism, on the relation between IT investment and firm performance in the Taiwanese electronics industry. Specifically, we explore board independence and foreign ownership, which have increasingly become salient factors concerning corporate governance in emerging markets. We address their roles across firms of different sizes and in industries where degrees of competitiveness run a wide gamut. Our results show a positive moderating effect of board independence on the IT investment‐firm performance relation, especially when competition intensifies. Furthermore, we find that the greater the foreign ownership in small firms, the more positive the IT investment‐firm performance relation, suggesting that foreign investors may bring IT expertise to help small firms reap the benefits of using IT. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cross-border e-commerce firms as supply chain integrators: The management of three flows

Cross-border e-commerce is becoming increasingly popular around the world. With the development of technology, competition has gradually shifted from commodity-based attributes, such as cost and quality, to a supply chain's service capacity for e-commerce. Within this context, the present paper delineates how cross-border e-commerce firms can generate supply chain service capabilities that yield improvements in supply chain relationship quality to e-tailors and other platform users. Insights are derived through data collected via a multiple case study approach based on four Chinese cross-border e-commerce enterprises (OSell, Zongteng, BizArk and Linca); data were collected from 41 semi-structured interviews, field visits and secondary data. Relying on the service-dominant logic as the theoretical foundation, we identify three supply chain resources (flows related to information, logistics and finance) and their interplay as being critical for the development of supply chain service capabilities, which in turn lead to an improvement in the quality of supply chain relationships (assessed by the dimensions of trust improvement/commitment, risk mitigation, and customer satisfaction). The results offer important insights into how to best manage supply chain resources in relation to the three flows by cross-border e-commerce firms in order to foster relationship quality, an attribute that has become so critical today for competitive differentiation.     

从产品供应链管理走向信息化篚价值网络管理：双案例研究

近年来产品供应链管理得到了广泛的关注,而产品供应链强调的是产品从供应商到分销商乃至最终客户的流程活动,基于此很多供应链信息技术的运用都是支持这一活动过程的,然而,随着经济全球化以及市场变化的加剧,使得企业越来越从产品供应链转向信息化为基础的价值网络。通过安吉物流以及苏宁电器的供应链信息化运作为研究对象,揭示了新时代价值网络管理的特征以及组织方式。指出价值网络管理的运行不仅是供需之间的产品经营和信息的协同,更是计划、知识、流程和投资行为的协同化,此外在组织方式上,则是以服务为中心、供需互动为手段、链式、辐射式、星座式创新为基础的综合管理体系。     

Leveraging supplier capabilities: The role of locus of capability deployment

This study adds to the resource‐based view by studying how client firms may gain performance benefits from supplier IT capabilities in market‐based arrangements where the supplier's IT capabilities are readily available to multiple client firms. I argue that the locus of supplier capability deployment, i.e. whether supplier capabilities are deployed at the client (in‐sourcing) or supplier (outsourcing), has implications for client firm performance. The findings show that in‐sourcing leads to complementary effects between supplier IT capabilities and client operational capabilities. In contrast, clients with weaker operational capabilities benefit from outsourcing the respective activity to the supplier, and may even be able to reduce their capability disadvantage through outsourcing. The data on 964 U.S. credit unions contracting with 22 technology solution providers is archival. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

城市智慧供应链发展指数构建及其应用

在新一轮科技革命和产业变革浪潮的带动下,智慧供应链正在快速发展,与之相关的城市智慧供应链发展也成为当前供应链研究领域中的重要问题。然而,传统的供应链发展评价指标体系难以直接应用到智慧供应链评价中。为此,本文从企业视角和区域视角出发,从城市智慧供应链基础设施情况、人力资源投入情况、资金投入情况、企业创新情况、供应链效率和效益6个维度构建了中国城市智慧供应链的发展评价体系,设计了基于改进的TOPSIS方法的评价方法,并进行了中国城市智慧供应链发展指数评价,为城市管理部门量化智慧供应链发展水平提供了方法依据。     

零售商主导的创新成本共担期权契约研究

本文在不确定市场环境中,考虑期权契约在零售商主导的单周期二级供应链成员间创新投入的协调,分别讨论在是否允许期权信用违约情形下,要实现供应链协调各决策主体的决策模型。研究发现单纯的期权契约难以实现供应商单方面创新投入行为,为此引入创新投入成本共担机制,对原契约加以修正则可以实现供应链协调。研究表明在创新成本共担下的期权契约机制可以满足零售商主导的供应链协调,能够提高供应商和零售商的期望收益,实现帕累托改进。     

Effects of inter-organizational compatibility on supply chain capabilities: Exploring the mediating role of inter-organizational information systems (IOIS) integration

Growing globalization and environmental uncertainty have increased the challenges managers face in delivering services or products to the customer. Integration of information systems across partnering organizations has become the backbone of supply chain management, as amalgamation facilitates the sharing of information required to enhance organizational flexibility and responsiveness while minimizing risk and inventory costs. Using data from the Australian retailing sectors, this study investigates the mediating role of inter-organizational information system (IOIS) integration on the relationships between inter-organizational compatibility and supply chain capabilities. The results indicate that inter-organizational compatibility of technical, strategic, and cultural inter-organizational dimensions facilitate IOIS integration and supply chain capabilities. To maximize benefits for all chain members, IOIS integration needs to be embedded in the strategies and goals of partnering organizations. Business-to-business and industrial marketing managers need to be aware that IOIS integration processes require support of top managers of the partnering organizations and should be embedded in the organizations' strategic goals.     

The role of learning and technical capabilities in predicting adoption of B2B technologies

Using the resource-based view and the learning organization as its theoretical framework, this study hypothesized that organizations which possessed not only the technical capabilities for automation but also the ability to learn and share information would be most likely to automate their supply chain processes. An empirical study with the top suppliers of a major airline supported this hypothesis. As predicted, both learning capabilities and certain technical capabilities were important in predicting the likelihood of adoption of Ariba, a web-based e-procurement tool.     

The influence of firms' technological capabilities on export performance in supplier-dominated industries: the case of ceramic tiles firms

In this paper, we study the effects that firms' technological capabilities, as an expression of their technological innovation strategy, have on their international competitiveness. In doing so, we draw on export and international trade literature to justify the influence that the firms' technological activity has on their export performance. In addition, we use concepts derived from the literature on technological innovation to identify different capabilities that the firms may develop to manage their innovation process, i.e., those related to investment, production and co-operation. These constitute the basis of our hypothesis, in which the technological innovation capabilities identified are related to firms' export performance. Empirical work is carried out on a sample of 88 Spanish exporting firms belonging to the ceramic tiles industry, which is characterized as being a supplier-dominated industry. Data were mainly gathered through a postal survey directed at firm managers. Our findings show that technological innovation capabilities have a positive impact on export performance. Specifically, results show that investment in internal non-R&D innovative activities, such as engineering design and pre-production, exerts a positive influence on export performance. However, neither investment in R&D nor investment in external acquisition of technology exerts any influence on export performance. In addition, our findings show that production capabilities have a positive effect linked to both improvement and imitation of products and processes. Regarding co-operation, export performance is related to capabilities that derive from co-operation with universities and research institutes rather than co-operation with other companies.     

Designing supply chains: Towards theory development

This paper describes a typology for designing supply chains that work in harmony to design, produce, and deliver products with different characteristics and customer expectations. This research discusses supply chain types that are necessary for success across three types of products: standard, innovative, and hybrid. It develops a framework for categorizing the supply chain types according to product characteristics and stage of the product life cycle. The key success factor for a product change as the product moves through its life cycle, and this may require different supply chain characteristics and capabilities. The paper blends literature and theory development with cases study research to create the typology and develop a set of research questions for further investigation.     

Outsourcing reverse logistics of high-tech manufacturing firms by using a systematic decision-making approach: TFT-LCD sector in Taiwan

Reverse logistics are increasingly crucial for the supply chain strategy of global high-tech manufacturing firms. As reverse logistics operations are significantly more complex than traditional manufacturing supply chains, many high-tech manufacturers are examining the feasibility of outsourcing reverse logistics activities to third party logistics providers (3PLs) from a strategic planning perspective. Internal resources and capabilities are thus examined from a resource-based perspective to identify which reverse logistics service requirements could be fulfilled in-house or outsourced. Therefore, this work presents a systematic approach using the analytical network process (ANP) not only to investigate the relative importance of reverse logistics service requirements, but also to select an appropriate 3PL. Empirical results based on the case of the TFT-LCD sector in Taiwan indicate that information technology management is of priority concern in reverse logistics services. In addition to providing a valuable reference for manufacturers concerned with service requirements for outsourcing, results of this study significantly contribute to the efforts of 3PLs in evaluating whether they comply with potential customer requirements based on their service capabilities.     

Information technology and its changing roles to economic growth and productivity in Australia

In this paper we describe our investigation of the role of investment in information technology (IT) on economic output and productivity in Australia over a period of about four decades. The framework used in this paper is the aggregate production function, where IT capital is considered as a separate input of production along with non-IT capital and labour. The empirical results from the study indicate the evidence of robust technical progress in the Australian economy in the 1990s. IT capital had a significant impact on output, labour productivity and technical progress in the 1990s. In recent years, however, the contribution of IT capital on output and labour productivity has slowed down. Regaining the IT capital productivity therefore remains as a key challenge for Australia, especially in the context of greater IT investment in the future.     

基于PSM-DID模型的政策对试点企业经营绩效的影响评价研究——以"供应链创新与应用试点"政策为例

近年来,我国政府积极推进供应链领域政策的制定与发布,如何更好地评估既有政策带来的绩效成为政府进一步完善供应链相关政策的关键。本文选取商务部“供应链创新与应用试点”政策(商建函[2018]142号)作为研究对象,并构建双重差分倾向得分匹配(PSM-DID)模型,将试点企业经营绩效中的盈利能力指标ROA作为被解释变量,利用Stata15.0对2015~2019年5年间覆盖3494家样本企业的面板数据,共15278个样本进行处理计算,以此对该政策实施对试点企业经营绩效的影响效果进行评价。结果表明:2018年开始实施的供应链创新与应用试点政策,对试点企业的经营绩效ROA有着显著的正向促进作用。此外,企业规模、企业的资产负债率、托宾Q值和企业固定资产投资比率都对ROA有显著影响。其中企业规模和托宾Q值对ROA有正向影响,资产负债率和固定资产投资比率对ROA有负向影响。     

奖惩机制下回收投资成本分担对闭环供应链决策的影响研究

为了探讨奖惩机制下制造商与回收商分担固定回收投资成本对闭环供应链决策的影响,利用博弈论建立了由制造商、回收商和消费者构成的闭环供应链模型。通过对比分析及仿真得出各决策变量基于制造商分担比例及奖惩力度的变化。研究表明：仅考虑制造商分担回收投资成本、奖惩机制下制造商分担回收投资成本均能有效提高回收率,降低零售价,提高产品需求量,且第二种机制作用效果更佳。适当的分担比例和奖惩力度可以提高制造商和零售商的利润。因此,在合理的奖惩力度下制造商分担一定的回收投资成本时,闭环供应链各成员能实现互利共赢。