United States and Canadian Rail Freight-Rate Structures: A Carparative Analysis

This paper applies rail freight-rate theory to U.S. and Canadian grain movements for both domestic and export destinations. In this analysis it is established that grain freight rates in the U.S. are largely determined by distance, shipment size, frequency of shipments, intermodal competition, and geographical characteristics of route origins and destinations. Freight rates, therefore, vary depending upon routes. A comparison of U.S. export rates with Canada's statutory rate revealed that the U.S. rate levels, in 1979, were 4.3 and 2.9 times higher for hauling distances of 200 and 1,000 miles respectively in the lowest-rate route; while it was about 7.8 and 7.5 times higher for the same mileage in the highest-rate route. The extent to which the U.S. experience is relevant to Western Canada depends largely on the manner in which Canada's statutory rate is revised after the scheduled review in 1985–86.     

Impact of organizational and buyer characteristics on the buying center

A mail survey of 200 organizational buyers was conducted to determine if the number of individuals in the buying center or the amount of perceived self-influence varied by organizational and buyer characteristics or by the type of purchase decision. The results of the study indicate that the type and size of the firm, as well as the buyer's educational level, affect both the number of individuals in the buying center and the amount of perceived self-influence of the organizational buyer. The results further indicate that the size of the buying center increases and the amount of perceived self-influence decreases as the purchase decision becomes more complex.     

Buyers differ in evaluating suppliers

This article discusses the industrial buyer's vendor evaluation in light of past vendor performance. A conjoint analysis approach was used to determine the relative importance of factors and the levels of performance. This evaluation indicated that industrial buyers can be classified into classical decision model categories.     

众包供应链创新发展路径分析

众包供应链(Crowdsourcing Supply Chain,CSC)作为一种新型供应链,正成为研究热点。在文献综述的基础上,分析了众包和供应链关系,并对众包供应链进行界定,通过众包供应链特征分析,对众包供应链和外包的关系进行了比较,研究了众包供应链耦合的3种创新模式;最后,重点探讨了众包供应链创新发展的4个阶段（萌芽阶段、探索阶段、成长阶段和成熟阶段）及各阶段的表现形式。