Supplier relationship impacts on postponement strategies

The main purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the supplier relationship on postponement implementation in the buying firm. The links between three supplier relationship constructs and three postponement constructs are hypothesised and tested through structural modelling. These hypotheses are then tested using empirical data of a sample of 219 manufacturing firms. The findings suggest that the ability of the buying firm to delay product design decisions (postponement in product design) is positively related to the level of supplier commitment, supplier expectation of a continuing relationship with the buyer, and level of joint buyer and supplier actions. However, the buying firm’s ability to delay purchasing decisions about which items to order or how many to order (postponement in purchasing operations) was only positively related to the level of joint buyer and supplier actions. By contrast, the buying firm’s ability to delay the final product configuration (postponement in production operations) was not directly affected by those aspects of the supplier relationship investigated. These findings give greater insight into how different aspects of supplier relationship impact different types of postponement than previous research and have significant implications for practice.     

供应商逆向选择行为的成因与对策研究

从信息经济学的角度分析了供应商逆向选择行为出现的根本原因与必要条件,在此基础上探讨了如何利用供应商声誉和供应商利用信号显示原理来传递自身信息,以及采购企业通过实施选择与认证机制,或是通过显示原理设计报酬合同并根据供应商的选择结果来判断供应商的真实信息或类型,从而有效地降低了交易双方之间的信息不对称程度,并解决了供应商逆向选择问题.     

Transaction attributes and buyer-supplier relationships in AMT acquisition and implementation: the case of Malaysia

This paper explores how transaction attributes of technology affect differences in the relationship between technology buyers and suppliers. It also examines the impact on performance of different patterns of relationship between technology buyers and suppliers. Data obtained from 147 manufacturing firms in Malaysia are used to test several hypotheses, which were derived from a review of the literature on technology, transaction cost theory and buyer–supplier relationships (BSR). The research results indicate that the higher the level of technological complexity, specificity and uncertainty, the more firms are likely to engage in a closer relationship with technology suppliers. Even though the majority of firms reported improvements in their performance, results indicate that firms demonstrating a closer relationship with technology suppliers are more likely to achieve higher levels of performance than those that do not. It is also shown that with high levels of transaction attribute, implementation performance suffers more when firms have weak relationships with technology suppliers than with moderate and low levels of transaction attribute.     

Developing environmental and social performance: the role of suppliers’ sustainability and buyer–supplier trust

We explore how environmental and social performance of manufacturing firms can be improved as sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) develops and evolves within a firm from internal to external practices. Importantly, this study considers how key suppliers’ sustainability performance and buyer–supplier trust mediate and moderate such a development. A conceptual framework is developed which relies on resource-based theories and emerging empirical evidence. Then, partial least square methodology is applied on survey data from a sample of Italian manufacturing firms. Results show that manufacturing firms’ sustainability performance improves as SSCM develops; however, while internal practices have a direct impact on performance, the effect of external practices on a manufacturing firm’s sustainability performance is fully mediated by key suppliers’ sustainability performance. Yet, buyer–supplier trust significantly influences the scope of such gains. Since evidence suggests that manufacturing firms are still struggling with how to leverage supply chain innovation potential for sustainable development, this study provides a timely and valuable contribution.     

Organisational resilience and relational dynamics in triadic networks: a multiple case analysis

This study aims to analyse resilience and relational dynamics (competitive, cooperative and co-opetitive) within a triadic buyer–supplier–supplier context. Our central goal is to show how a buyer’s supplier–supplier relational behaviour leads to and shapes resilience of this triad. We utilised a multiple-design case approach and selected eight buyers and their suppliers from the textile industry in Turkey. By analysing a triadic context from another industry, we conducted validation analyses. Our findings showed a pattern of relationship between the resilience and the relational dynamics of a triad. Built on theory and insights from the cases, we proposed three propositions. We argued that when co-opetition prevails in a triadic context of relations, the triad resilience level is highest. In competitive relational settings the triad resilience level is lowest, and when the relational dynamics are cooperative, the triad resilience level is moderate. This study is the first to introduce and discuss organisational resilience at triadic level. Furthermore, to our knowledge, our insights from cases are among the first attempts to link three types of supplier–supplier relational dynamics to triad resilience via the use of a multiple-design case approach. Therefore, our contributions are likely to extend the organisational resilience and buyer–supplier–supplier relations research.     

A fuzzy AHP evaluation model for buyer–supplier relationships with the consideration of benefits,opportunities, costs and risks

With increasingly fierce global competition, firms in various industries need to build a cooperative buyer–supplier relationship to survive and to acquire reasonable profit. Even though the literature on various types of collaboration between firms is abundant and the works on supplier selection models are numerous, the research that provides a mathematical model for the selection of the most appropriate form of buyer–supplier relationship is very limited. Existing buyer–supplier evaluation models usually only consider the benefits from the relationship, but not the opportunities, costs and risks that may need to be confronted. The main objective of this study is to propose an analytical approach to evaluate the forms of buyer–supplier relationship between a manufacturer and its supplier. A fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model, which applies fuzzy set theory and the benefits, opportunities, costs and risks (BOCR) concept, is constructed to deal with uncertainty and to consider various aspects of alternatives. Multiple factors that affect the success of the relationship are analysed by incorporating experts’ opinions on their priority of importance, and a performance ranking of the buyer–supplier forms is obtained. A case study of selecting the most appropriate buyer–supplier form between a TFT-LCD manufacturer and its colour filter supplier is presented, and the proposed model is applied to facilitate the decision process. The proposed model is a general form that can be tailored and applied by firms that are making decisions on buyer–supplier relationship.     

Pricing structures for solutions: an exploratory study within the oil and gas industry†

A growing number of companies have begun to realise the potential for differentiating their product offerings by integrating services to provide customised solutions. Although there is now an extensive and growing literature on this trend, researchers have only recently begun to consider the pricing structures for such solutions. To address this shortcoming, the present study adopts an exploratory case-based approach to investigate a buyer (drilling contractor) and two suppliers of offshore capital equipment, each of whom provides condition-based maintenance solutions for offshore drilling units in the upstream oil and gas industry. The findings of the study identify a number of underlying mechanisms for solution offerings (i.e. innovativeness, benchmarking alternatives, measurability, replicability and operational risk) that are important considerations in the process of determining appropriate pricing structures based on the buyer’s business model, procurement practices and maintenance strategy vis-à-vis the supplier’s capabilities and the buyer–supplier relationship. The present study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on and insight into the complexity of determining the pricing structure for solution offerings from the perspective of the supplier as well as the buyer.     

Supplier post performance evaluation: the effects of buyer preference weight variance

We use empirical post performance data of suppliers and buyers to demonstrate that degrees of variability of buyer evaluation team weight preferences can have varying effects on the perception of supplier performance attributes. We first justify then use data envelopment analysis (DEA) as a research tool to integrate buyer performance and buyer weight preferences with supplier performance and then use the results of the dyadic DEA evaluation model to analyse three propositions. This integration is essential to a dyadic approach. Results indicate that buyer preference weights on supplier performance attributes influence the perception of supplier performance sometimes in unexpected ways dependent on the degree of conformity versus disparity in the factor weights that was put into operation using assurance regions. As a result, buyer performance factors and preferences must be measured and their effects understood before post performance supplier evaluation is completed and other components of a relationship management plan are implemented.     

Impact of risk aversion and backup supplier on sourcing decisions of a firm

This study focuses on a newsvendor problem with multiple suppliers, considering the risk-neutral and risk-averse objectives in a mean-risk optimisation model. The firm first decides order quantities from the primary (unreliable) suppliers and reserve capacity from the secondary (reliable) backup supplier. After the state of its primary suppliers and customer demand is revealed, the firm purchases from the available suppliers and uses the backup supplier subject to the reserved capacity. For the special case of normal distribution and risk-neutral objective, optimality properties were developed. A comprehensive numerical study examines the sensitivity of the sourcing strategies of firms to risk, shortage cost, demand uncertainty, salvage value, and capacity reserve options; various managerial insights are offered based on this.     

Unpacking IT use and integration for mass customisation: a service-dominant logic view

Significant changes in customer demands for individualised offerings are causing firms to move away from mass production strategies toward customisation. Many firms struggle in this migration because the requirements for mass customisation (MC) differ greatly from those needed for mass production. As firms strive to optimise their interactions with customers and suppliers to produce highly customised offerings at near mass production prices, IT use along with customer and supply integration are important organisational competencies. Research studies explore many facets of MC but, in regard to IT use for customer and supplier integration, most focus on specific activities within the product design and development process. This study extends the IT-enabled organisational capabilities line of research, using data collected from 220 manufacturers, to explore IT use in a comprehensive sense for planning, infrastructural, and operational activities in various business processes intended to achieve MC. These findings suggest that comprehensive IT use can enhance a firm's integration efforts with customers and suppliers. These factors, in turn, drive operational performance and MC, which lead to firm performance. Grounded in service-dominant logic (SDL) theory, these findings provide theoretical and empirical support to explain why customer integration may be a driving force in MC.     

Monitoring type B buyer–supplier relationships

The ability to monitor supplier performance is a critical capability for maintaining strong buyer–supplier relationships. Monitoring type B suppliers is especially challenging as they are not as clearly defined as either type A, with strong strategic partnerships, or type C, with little partnership. This research develops a non-parametric multivariate Hoteling’s T ² control chart to capture the in-control state of a dyadic relationship (Phase I), and show how it would be developed based on survey data of buyer–supplier relationship attributes. Modelling the satisfactory level of dyadic relationship performance is very useful for identifying when the relationship begins to move away from the desired state. We then use the designed control chart to monitor the relationship between dyads over time to determine if any unusual behaviour has occurred (Phase II) and illustrate its implementation through a case study from the auto industry. This research illustrates how supply chain managers can secure and improve their supply chain performance by monitoring and maintaining strong relationships with their partners. The proposed method extends the existing SPC tools to effectively manage Type B buyer–supplier relationships.     

Supplier development or supplier switching?

We study a firm's cost-based sourcing decision of whether to invest in an incumbent supplier or switch to an alternative supplier in order to realise lower purchasing costs. In isolation, it can be shown that the development of an incumbent supplier (i.e., a cooperative investment) becomes more attractive, the higher the uncertainty about the price the buying firm can realise on the market and the incumbent supplier's cost. Likewise, switching to an alternative supplier becomes more attractive, the higher the expected value of and the uncertainty about the buying firm's market price. For comparing these two sourcing strategies simultaneously we provide a profit-maximising framework for the buying firm that shows that switching is less recommendable the higher the variance of the incumbent's cost and if the uncertain maximum demand is negatively correlated with the uncertain incumbent supplier's cost. Overall, our study substantially expands the frequently followed approach of basing supplier development versus supplier switching decisions merely on strategic and qualitative considerations.     

Green procurement and green supplier development: antecedents and effects on supplier performance

This study adopts the opposing theoretical views of legitimacy – institutional and strategic – in evaluating firm performance and top management commitment as antecedents to green procurement and green supplier development. Additionally, the impact of green procurement and green supplier development on supplier performance is analysed. Using a sample of western European companies, we develop a structural equation model to test our hypotheses. We find that the buying firm’s market performance positively relates to the adoption of green procurement. While financial performance has no effect on green procurement, top management commitment is found to be an important driver of both green procurement and green supplier development. Moreover, the relationship between green procurement and supplier performance is fully mediated by green supplier development. The paper addresses a research gap concerning firm-level antecedents for green procurement and green supplier development showing that both practices may impact supplier performance. Furthermore, it is shown that legitimacy concerns drive basic green procurement, whereas top management is decisive for advanced practices, such as green supplier development.     

An empirical study of firm’s absorptive capacity dimensions,supplier involvement and new product development performance

Firms’ performance in their new product development (NPD) is believed to be positively related with involving suppliers in the process of new product development, and also with the organisation’s capacity and capability to absorb external and internal knowledge, namely absorptive capacity (AC). Addressing a gap in the literature, this study adopts the definition and structure for AC suggested by Tu et al. (2006) to examine relationships between AC’s sub-dimensions with NPD performance, and also their moderating effects on the relationship between supplier involvement and new product development performance, on both financial and nonfinancial aspects. Data from a survey of 161 manufacturing firms are used to test the developed hypotheses using structural equation modelling and hierarchical regression. Direct and contingent effects of supplier involvement and AC on new product development performance are studied. As a result factors determining AC are found of different level of effects on financial and nonfinancial performance of new products, which will have implication for theory and practice.     

Buyer behaviours and the performance of the supply chain: An international exploration

This paper studies the effects of buyer?supplier interaction in a supply chain environment. It focuses on the effects of buyer behaviours (such as supplier selection, number of suppliers, percentage of outsourcing, and frequency of production changes) on the performance of the supply chain. Using data collected from machine tool manufacturers around the world, the various behaviours of buyers are examined to see how they induce or mitigate the degree of uncertainty experienced by suppliers and thus affect suppliers' delivery performance. In addition, it was investigated how such buyer behaviours could further affect the supply chain's ability to perform as expected. The statistical results suggest that many buyer behaviours that have no direct effect on buyer's performance can have a significant effect on their suppliers' performance. Specifically, buyer behaviours directly manifest in supplier performance and only indirectly manifest in their own performance. This can give the buyer the false impression that the supply base is harming performance, when the real problem is the way the buyer manages the supply chain. The results vary by region of the world, suggesting that any theory that links buyer behaviours to supplier performance will need to consider a firm location.     

Does a purchasing manager’s need for cognitive closure (NFCC) affect decision-making uncertainty and supply chain performance?

Purchasing managers have increasingly assumed a pivotal role in supply chain management. They are extensively involved in the decision-making processes for purchasing and supply decisions. Yet, the extent to which their personal traits may affect decision-making environments and supply chain performance (SCP) has not been subjected to rigorous empirical scrutiny. Extant research has remained largely anecdotal and disjointed. This paper seeks to extend the stream of research in supply chain management by systematically investigating the antecedents and performance outcomes of decision-making uncertainty (DMU). It enhances current SCP literature by incorporating two understudied constructs, namely DMU and purchasing managers’ need for cognitive closure (NFCC), to explore behavioural impacts on SCP. Using structural equation modelling, this study empirically tests a number of hypothesised relationships based on a sample of 201 purchasing firms. Analysis results provide robust support for the links between close buyer–supplier relationships, DMU, the NFCC and the SCP of the buying firm. Implications for future research and supply chain practice are also offered.     

Absorptive and desorptive capacity configurations in supply chains: An inverted U-shaped relationship

The extant literature has highlighted the importance of knowledge transfer between a buyer and its supply network for strengthening supply chain competence. This is a bi-directional exchange where the buyer and supply network each act as the sender and receiver of knowledge. Prior research has however largely focused on the knowledge recipient only. We consider both sender and recipient using two key dynamic capabilities related to knowledge transfer: (i) desorptive capacity, which enables the safe transfer of knowledge from the sender; and, (ii) absorptive capacity, which enables the acquisition and assimilation of external knowledge by the recipient. Using the concept of ‘fit’, we investigate whether organisations strengthen supply chain competence when their desorptive capacity exceeds that of their supply network's (positive misfit) and consider the moderating role of the organisation’s and supply network’s absorptive capacity. Multiple regression analysis of survey data from 250 firms identifies an inverted U-shaped relationship between positive desorptive capacity misfit and supply chain competence. Further, this relationship is shown to be moderated by the supply network’s absorptive capacity level. The paper furthers our understanding of supply chain knowledge management enabling buyers and their supply networks to achieve more successful knowledge transfer outcomes.     

激励供应商R&D努力的最优补贴策略研究

构建了一个由两个竞争的供应商、一个采购商和最终消费者组成的供应链模型,采购商通过招标方式向供应商采购物品,供应商的R&D活动可以降低自己的制造成本.分别考虑了对供应商总额补贴、对供应商单位补贴和对消费者单位补贴三种不同情形下,政府R&D补贴对供应商的R&D努力和社会福利的影响.研究发现,对供应商的总额补贴并不能激励供应...