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Article
Publication date: 24 April 2013

Blandine Ageron, Olivier Lavastre and Alain Spalanzani

This research aims to explore innovation in supply chain management. Innovation has often been studied in supply chain relationships and specifically from a product point of view…

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Abstract

Purpose

This research aims to explore innovation in supply chain management. Innovation has often been studied in supply chain relationships and specifically from a product point of view. The authors aim to observe innovation by focusing on the different practices and collaborations suppliers and customers are developing to improve their competitiveness and the performance of the whole supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of previous literature on innovation in supply chain management is presented and the authors design an interview guide for their data collection that is developed from their previous literature review on innovation in supply chain management. Data are collected from 68 innovations in French companies and subsequently analyzed to identify the major elements of innovations in supply chain management.

Findings

The key findings of the paper identify the major components affecting innovative supply chain practices and SC performance. The results suggest that innovation is essential in supply chain management and can be characterized according to its degree of novelty and rupture, its distribution throughout the SC and the level at which it occurs. In addition, a typology of innovative supply chain practices is proposed.

Originality/value

The authors' study is exploratory and examines the state of practices concerning innovation in supply chain management. The authors identify the major elements of innovations and propose a typology of these innovative supply chain practices.

Details

Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 18 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-8546

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Article
Publication date: 15 March 2013

Blandine Ageron, Angappa Gunasekaran and Alain Spalanzani

This exploratory research aims to examine and evaluate the importance of IS/IT criterion in the suppliers selection process. The paper attempts to assess if there is superior…

3144

Abstract

Purpose

This exploratory research aims to examine and evaluate the importance of IS/IT criterion in the suppliers selection process. The paper attempts to assess if there is superior supply chain performance arising from the integration of this criterion and to determine difficulties companies face resulting from this deployment.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of previous literature on supplier selection is presented and the authors designed a structured questionnaire for their data collection. Data were collected from 90 French companies and subsequently analyzed to understand the IS/IT criterion used for supplier selection along the upstream value chain.

Findings

The results suggest that IT/IS is a significant supplier selection criterion within supply chain context because of the rapid proliferation of information sharing across upstream chains.

Research limitations/implications

Since this empirical investigation has been limited to French companies, further studies can be done for comparison with similar western countries or different countries (on economic, environmental, social, political dimensions).

Practical implications

This research has several implications for the decision makers in the management of their suppliers. It informs them on the necessity to integrate IS/IT in their suppliers selection. Meaning while, it indicates which IS/IT must be emphasized and which difficulties will be faced by integrating this criterion. It also gives some insights concerning the supplier relationship development.

Originality/value

The paper identifies the relative importance of IS/IT criterion in the supplier selection process. IT/IS has a role to play as it has helped improve the dynamics of both externalization and internationalization, notably by solving problems and by encouraging development of upstream relationships.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 113 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 8 August 2016

Federico Caniato, Luca Mattia Gelsomino, Alessandro Perego and Stefano Ronchi

Recently, in response to the credit crunch and the increased costs of financing, new solutions for supporting the financial management of supply chains, known as supply chain…

13946

Abstract

Purpose

Recently, in response to the credit crunch and the increased costs of financing, new solutions for supporting the financial management of supply chains, known as supply chain finance (SCF), have been developed. They exploit the strengths of supply chain links to optimise working capital. The purpose of this paper is to provide a reference framework that links together the objectives leading to the adoption of SCF solutions and several moderating variables.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a multiple case study methodology, analysing 14 cases of the application of SCF solutions among Italian companies.

Findings

The main findings are the identification of the different objectives leading to the adoption of SCF; the analysis of the impact of moderating variables (the level of inter- and intra-firm collaboration, the level of the trade process digitalisation and the bargaining power and financial strength of the leading firm) on SCF adoption; and the formulation of a reference framework supporting the effective adoption of SCF solutions.

Research limitations/implications

This contribution is exploratory in nature; theory-testing contributions should be the focus of further research. Also, the sample is limited to Italian companies. Finally, the service provider’s point of view has been marginally taken into consideration in this study.

Originality/value

The article addresses the need for more empirical research on SCF. It provides a reference framework focused on the objectives and moderating variables leading to effective SCF adoption, providing a theory-building contribution on the general topic of SCF and on the specific topic of the adoption process of different SCF solutions.

Details

Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 21 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-8546

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 28 April 2014

Nathalie Fabbe-Costes, Christine Roussat, Margaret Taylor and Andrew Taylor

The purpose of this paper is to explore the empirical reality of environmental scanning (ES) practices in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) contexts. In particular it…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the empirical reality of environmental scanning (ES) practices in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) contexts. In particular it tests a conceptual framework proposed in 2011 by Fabbe-Costes et al.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical data for this research were obtained from 45 semi-structured interviews with key informants, combined with a discussion of the main results with a focus group of supply chain experts. These data are compared with the literature and brought to bear on the framework.

Findings

The research finds both breadth and depth in the scope of sustainability scanning practices of the respondent group and provides evidence of multi-level scanning, with all respondents describing scanning activity at the societal level. It further demonstrates the adoption of multiple and diverse scanning targets at all levels in the conceptual framework. The articulation and ranking of scanning targets for SSCM at all levels informs the development of priorities for practice. The paper also makes some observations about the boundaries of the scanning process.

Practical implications

The results provide managers with concrete guidance about what to scan in sustainable supply chain contexts. The validated framework can serve as a practical tool to assist managers with the organization and prioritization of their ES activities.

Originality/value

The paper is among the first to address the role of ES in sustainable supply chain contexts. It highlights the need for a multi-level framework for such scanning activities and opens up a debate about their implementation.

Details

International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 34 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3577

Keywords

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