Recommendations for supplier innovation evaluation from literature and practice

Abstract

Purpose

Companies have to assess the benefit of supplier innovation before realization. The specific situation of supplier innovation differs from conventional innovation evaluation because a supplier innovation refers to a subproduct for which the supplier is responsible. To date, supplier innovation evaluation has not been comprehensively discussed in the literature. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to focus on how supplier innovation should be evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, a case study based on expert interviews has been conducted to identify how supplier innovation is evaluated in practice. On the basis of the empirical findings the specific situation of supplier innovation is discussed in relation to theoretical basics about the object, objective, time, reference, person, recipient, criteria, and methods of evaluation as well as the evaluation and selection process.

Findings

Results are recommendations for the special situation of supplier innovation evaluation before their realization in the purchasing company.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the recommendations, a systematic and comprehensive approach with evaluation criteria and methods should be developed. Future research should address useful evaluation criteria and methods.

Practical implications

Managers can use the recommendations to evaluate supplier innovation in practice and to establish a systematic evaluation and selection process for supplier innovation.

Originality/value

The research findings contribute to the literature about innovation management and supplier management research by providing insights into the special situation of supplier innovation evaluation; in particular, this is the first paper which provides a systematic and comprehensive discussion about supplier innovation evaluation.

Citation

Winter, S. and Lasch, R. (2016), "Recommendations for supplier innovation evaluation from literature and practice", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 36 No. 6, pp. 643-664. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-07-2014-0341