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This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework on interfirm conflicts in tourism value chains. The framework includes types of conflict, triggers of conflict and their preconditions, consequences of conflict and measures for preventing conflict.

The framework is developed from a review of literature that is focused largely on tourism value chains, interfirm conflicts and interorganizational relations. It draws on the ideas, concepts and empirical evidence offered in the literature.

Conflicts can be distinguished by their level of explicitness and by the motives on which they are grounded. They may be triggered by opportunistic behaviours, coercive demands, perceptions of unfairness or dissatisfaction with partner’s performance. Preconditions include exogenous events, asymmetrical power distribution, antagonism of goals and differences in perceptions of reality and serve as a breeding ground for the triggers. Consequences are typically destructive but may also offer opportunities for constructive outcomes. Joint implementation of formal contracting and relational governance may be used to prevent conflicts.

This paper provides a conceptual framework that can be used by scholars wishing to conduct more detailed empirical research on the subject. It can also be used by practitioners to assess interorganizational relations within their tourism value chains and to develop appropriate measures for preventing interfirm conflicts.

This study seeks to explore the strategies purchasing and supply managers can employ to navigate the challenges presented by low-probability-high-impact (LPHI) disruptions. The core aim is to create a process framework that provides a systematic, step-by-step method to help purchasing and supply managers effectively deal with the chaos triggered by LPHI events.

The study draws on qualitative data collected from eight firms operating within different industries (healthcare, fishing, food retail and manufacturing), where two firms represented each industry. The data underwent a thorough analytical process involving open coding, axial coding and aggregation of categories, resulting in the identification and formulation of overarching themes.

The analysis unveiled five primary challenges purchasing and supply management (PSM) encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include supply shortages, supplier opportunism, the imperative to build a new supply base, price volatility and the need to make critical decisions based on limited information. It also identified contingent factors that influenced the magnitude of these challenges and approaches applied to address them. Additionally, it identified five responses to the challenges and two contingent factors that affected the responses.

This study extends the existing body of knowledge in purchasing and supply management by developing a process framework tailored to assist purchasing and supply managers in effectively addressing LPHI disruptions. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to offer a structured, step-by-step approach that guides PSM professionals in navigating the chaos likely to be caused by such events.

Despite increased interest in the Operator 4.0 concept, there has been scarce attention on practice-oriented frameworks that can assist firms in reaping the potential benefits of technologies within the I4.0 framework. The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrative framework on how to engage Operator 4.0 effectively.

Following meta-synthesis logic and integrative conceptual analysis, this study synthesizes and integrates experimental case studies on Operator 4.0 solutions. The analysis is conducted on 24 cases retrieved from peer-reviewed articles.

The analysis revealed several factors that determine the type and extent of benefits that can be realized within a human-cyber-physical system. However, enhancing these capabilities is not straightforward, as several factors can inhibit the realization of these capabilities. Firstly, the benefits vary depending on the type of Operator 4.0. Secondly, the interoperability of the introduced I4.0 solution with the existing systems is crucial. Thirdly, the adaptability of the solution to serve multiple purposes is crucial, as it tends to increase technology acceptance.

The studies reviewed in this research were based on experimental cases, with limited implementation of the solutions they proposed. As such, their implications when implemented on a larger scale are tentative.

The present study has synthesized existing experimental cases and developed an integrative framework to guide the implementation of Operator 4.0. By gathering primary insights from these experiments, we have clarified when and how Operator 4.0 and the required interactions can lead to successful implementation.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the drivers, enablers, barriers, key success factors, pitfalls and benefits of implementing public procurement of innovations (PPoI) in an organization.

The study deployed multiple-case design, whereby six case organizations were selected according to purposeful sampling. Data collection was carried out through in-depth semi-structured one-on-one interviews with key informants. Data analysis involved coding, synthesis, categorization and aggregation.

The study revealed that implementation of PPoI represents significant change in an organization, and thus, it identifies key enablers and barriers that organizations must overcome. Furthermore, the study revealed that implementation of PPoI is a necessary but not sufficient condition for reaping its benefits. Moreover, the study identified key success factors for achieving the desirable results and potential pitfalls that organizations should avoid to ensure that the execution phase is not hurt.

Overall, the findings of the study imply that PPoI and the practices associated with it are valuable to the organizations implementing it and society at large. Thus, time and financial investments and the costs associated with the challenges and barriers of implementing it are justified by the resulting wider benefits and outcomes.

The study contributes by providing useful insights related to implementation of PPoI at an organizational level. Considering that extant literature provides limited insights on this subject, findings of this study should be of interest to researchers, public authorities, procurement practitioners, small- and medium-sized enterprises and other stakeholders. In particular, the study contributes to the body of knowledge on PPoI and offers actionable implications to both practitioners and policymakers.

The purpose of this study is to delineate key aspects of backshoring readiness and discuss how such aspects contribute to a smooth shift-back from global sourcing operations. It aims to answer the following questions: which factors constitute backshoring readiness and how these factors affect the backshoring transition.

Based on theory departure from the organizational readiness field and the emerging field on backshoring, a conceptual model is developed. A multiple qualitative case study is then conducted to exemplify the backshoring readiness factors delineated in the study.

The study indicates that due to previous outsourcing, limitations concerning the availability of firms’ capabilities are affected by ownership structures and that backshoring appears to be time-sensitive. The study delineates three key aspects of backshoring readiness and proposes a comprehensive understanding of readiness as an important construct to enhance successful backshoring.

The findings are limited by the nature of this conceptual study, the restriction to a high-cost context and the small number of cases. Therefore, conclusions and proposed recommendations need to be further investigated in preferably larger samples of case studies.

By introducing contextual variables that go beyond traditional cost considerations, this work should be of special interest for both practitioners and academics, because the absorptive capacity for the exploitation of cutting-edge knowledge is globally scarce and hence rather expensive in Western countries compared with traditionally low-cost countries. Another practical contribution of this study is the conceptual backshoring readiness framework itself, as it can guide firms acquainting themselves with the resource availability in their home environment.

The research defines key resources needed to facilitate backshoring readiness in a conceptual framework developed from literature, which is then exemplified by a case study. This framework conceptualizes backshoring readiness as aspects of requirements to knowledge, technology and supplier infrastructures. Furthermore, the readiness framework developed provides firms and their managers with six recommendations that can enable a rigorous evaluation of a firm’s readiness to embark on backshoring and reflect on the aspect of fitness of its current strategies.

This study tries to examine how supply chain (SC) absorptive capacity (AC), SC ambidexterity, SC risk mitigation and supply chain agility (SCA) affect SC efficacy (SCE) in manufacturing firms (MFs) in the Middle East region.

Using a quantitative approach through a survey-based study, 1,004 questionnaires were distributed to the MFs that are listed in the chambers of the industries of Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in the Middle East region, with 239 useable and valid responses retrieved for analysis, representing a 23.8% response rate. The main respondents were chief executive managers, operations managers, managers and logistics managers from both mid and top levels. The conceptual model was tested by using a hypothesis-testing deductive approach. The findings are based on covariance-based analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) using partial least squares-SEM (PLS-SEM) software.

This study illustrates a significant relationship between SC AC, SC ambidexterity, SC risk mitigation and SCA on SCE. Further, the findings indicate that there is a significant effect of SC risk mitigation as a mediating factor in the relationship between SC AC, and SC ambidexterity on SCE directly and indirectly, as well through a moderating effect of SCA in these relations. Finally, there is a significant direct and indirect effect of SCA in the relationship between SC AC and SC ambidexterity on SCE as a moderating factor.

This study presents theoretical and empirical insights that both SC risk mitigation and SCA are proper logistics features for mediating and moderating extends the literature by adding a positive role of SC AC and SC ambidextrousness in mitigating SC risks. However, this study adds up the SC literature by evidencing moderating role of SCA between the absorptive capacities, ambidexterity on SCE. Such findings of this study can provide insightful implications for managers and practitioners at different levels in and efficacy among MFs (MFs, stakeholders and policymakers regarding the importance of using the three mentioned enablers on SCE) in MFs, particularly in the Middle Eastern firms and in developing countries in general East region.