Abstract
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Shuliang Zhao and Junchen Wang
Proximity is a crucial factor influencing innovation collaboration and performance. Most existing studies have primarily focused on the organizational level and been static in…
Abstract
Purpose
Proximity is a crucial factor influencing innovation collaboration and performance. Most existing studies have primarily focused on the organizational level and been static in nature. Therefore, a further study on how proximity affects innovation performance is needed. This paper aims to fill this gap by highlighting the organizational, cognitive and geographical proximity in China’s open regional innovation system.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes the data from 2010 to 2015 through path analysis.
Findings
The results reveal that geographical proximity has a direct positive effect on regional innovation performance in China’s regional innovation system. It also shows that organizational proximity exerts a negative impact on absorptive capacity, and through it adversely affects regional innovation performance. In contrast, cognitive proximity is found to have a positive effect on absorptive capacity, enhancing regional innovation performance.
Originality/value
Based on these findings, this paper contributes to a better understanding of the role of proximity in innovation collaboration and performance. By highlighting the importance of different proximity types, it provides insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to foster regional innovation.
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This study provides a comprehensive framework of adaptation in triadic business relationship settings in the service sector. The framework is based on the industrial network…
Abstract
This study provides a comprehensive framework of adaptation in triadic business relationship settings in the service sector. The framework is based on the industrial network approach (see, e.g., Axelsson & Easton, 1992; Håkansson & Snehota, 1995a). The study describes how adaptations initiate, how they progress, and what the outcomes of these adaptations are. Furthermore, the framework takes into account how adaptations spread in triadic relationship settings. The empirical context is corporate travel management, which is a chain of activities where an industrial enterprise, and its preferred travel agency and service supplier partners combine their resources. The scientific philosophy, on which the knowledge creation is based, is realist ontology. Epistemologically, the study relies on constructionist processes and interpretation. Case studies with in-depth interviews are the main source of data.
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Alistair Brandon-Jones and Desiree Knoppen
The purpose of this paper is to report on research into the impact of two sequential dimensions of strategic purchasing – purchasing recognition and purchasing involvement – on…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report on research into the impact of two sequential dimensions of strategic purchasing – purchasing recognition and purchasing involvement – on the development and deployment of dynamic capabilities. The authors also examine how such dynamic capabilities impact on both cost and innovation performance, and how their effects differ for service as opposed to manufacturing firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors test hypotheses using structural equation modeling of survey data from 309 manufacturing and service firms.
Findings
From a dynamic capability perspective, the analysis supports the positive relationships between purchasing recognition, purchasing involvement, and dynamic capability in the form of knowledge scanning. The authors also find support for the positive impact of knowledge scanning on both cost and innovation performance. From a contingency perspective, data supports hypothesized differences caused by industry, whereby service-based firms experience stronger positive linkages in our model than manufacturing-based firms. Finally, emerging from the data, the authors explore a re-enforcing effect from cost performance to purchasing involvement, something that is in line with the dynamic capabilities perspective but not typically addressed in operations management (OM) research.
Originality/value
The research offers a number of theoretical and managerial contributions, including being one of a relative few examples of empirical assessment of dynamic capability development and deployment; examining the enablers of dynamic capability in addition to the more commonly addressed performance effect; assessing the contingency effect of firm type for dynamic capabilities; and uncovering a return (re-enforcing) effect between performance and enablers of dynamic capabilities.
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Desirée Knoppen, David Johnston and María Jesús Sáenz
The purpose of this paper is to integrate the literature on learning in the context of boundary spanning innovation in supply chains. A two-dimensional framework is proposed: the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to integrate the literature on learning in the context of boundary spanning innovation in supply chains. A two-dimensional framework is proposed: the learning stage (exploration, assimilation, exploitation) and the learning facet (structural, cultural, psychological and policy). Supply chain management (SCM) practices are examined in light of this framework and propositions for further empirical research are developed.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 60 empirical papers from the major journals on supply chain relationships published over an 11-year time span (2000-2010) were systematically analyzed.
Findings
The paper reveals a comprehensive set of best practices and identifies four gaps for future research. First, assimilation and exploitation are largely ignored as mediating learning stages between exploration and performance. Second, knowledge brokers and reputation management are key mechanisms that foster assimilation. Third, the iteration from exploitation back to exploration is critical though underdeveloped in efficiency seeking supply chains. Fourth, the literature stresses structural mechanisms of learning, at the expense of a more holistic view of structural, cultural, psychological and policy mechanisms.
Research limitations/implications
The search could be extended to other journals that report on joint learning and innovation.
Practical implications
The framework provides guidelines for practitioners to develop learning capabilities and leverage the knowledge from supply chain partners in order to continuously or radically improve boundary spanning processes and products.
Originality/value
The study is multi-disciplinary; it applies a model developed by learning scholars to the field of SCM.
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Digitalisation is a key driver of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) to better understand the opportunities and challenges pertaining to digital transformation;…
Abstract
Digitalisation is a key driver of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) to better understand the opportunities and challenges pertaining to digital transformation; organisations adopt different approaches to dealing with digitisation. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the impact of Industry 4.0 on the procurement process re-engineering and its role within the area of supply chain management. Additionally, the research will examine barriers and challenges involved in the digitalisation of procurement and supply chains and how to overcome them. According to the findings, digitalisation of the procurement process can have several advantages, such as supporting complex decision-making processes and administrative tasks, focusing on strategic decisions and activities, transforming procurement into a strategic interface to support organisational efficiency, effectiveness and profitability and fostering the development of new business models. Furthermore, the study highlighted various influencing factors, challenges and the role of stakeholders impacting the digitalisation of procurement functions and supply chains.
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Frano Barbic, Antonio Hidalgo and Raffaella Cagliano
The purpose of this paper is to examine the dynamics of contractual and relational mechanisms during different phases of multi-partner R&D alliances.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the dynamics of contractual and relational mechanisms during different phases of multi-partner R&D alliances.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a longitudinal single case study to gain in-depth understanding of which governance mechanisms are best suited for different phases of alliance collaboration. Applying a retrospective strategy for data collection, three rounds of interviews were conducted with representatives of all partner firms. The data were complemented by documentary analysis of both internal documents and publicly available information.
Findings
The findings suggest that the use of governance mechanisms in multi-partner alliances depends on the characteristics of alliance phases. Relational governance is most important in the exploration and development phases, while the importance of contractual governance comes to the fore during the development and finalization phases. Despite the predominance of one type of mechanism, the findings support a complementary perspective of governance mechanisms.
Research limitations/implications
The results of a single case study offer limited generalizability and should thus be treated with caution. More cross-industry, cross-national studies should be conducted to verify the applicability of the findings to other industries, cultures and geographical contexts.
Practical implications
Managers should be aware that different phases of the alliance life cycle have different control and coordination needs, and should rely on different mechanisms during different phases of the alliance.
Originality/value
The authors have synthesized insights from various perspectives (transaction cost economics, organization theory, social exchange theory), and developed a multidisciplinary approach to multi-partner collaborations.
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Jury Gualandris, Hervé Legenvre and Matteo Kalchschmidt
The purpose of this paper is to introduce and define the concept of purchasing ambidexterity in terms of two dimensions: balance dimension and combined dimension. The study…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce and define the concept of purchasing ambidexterity in terms of two dimensions: balance dimension and combined dimension. The study proceeds to empirically examine the multiple performance effects generated for the buying firm and its key suppliers.
Design/methodology/approach
Ambidexterity theory informs the authors’ conceptual model. To test the hypotheses, the authors collected survey data from 95 purchasing functions of medium and large European firms and applied various estimation techniques.
Findings
This research indicates that ambidexterity substantially varies across purchasing functions. Further, it discovers that a purchasing function’s ability to advance the combined magnitude of exploratory and exploitative activities represents an essential determinant of supplier efficiency, supplier product innovation, and buyer financial performance. Notably, this research also discovers that balancing the magnitudes of exploratory and exploitative activities on a relative basis produces negative effects on the innovativeness of the supply network.
Originality/value
Although ambidexterity theory has been applied to supply chain management, limited attention has been dedicated to purchasing ambidexterity. This gap led us to study how purchasing impacts the competitiveness of the buying firm and of its supply network by balancing and combining exploratory and exploitative activities. This research is the first to advance the notion of purchasing ambidexterity, unpack its underlying dimensions, and examine its multiple performance implications. Such a conceptual and empirical development presents new perspectives on how purchasing can help the buying firm and its supply network to strengthen their competitiveness.
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Raymond Obayi, S.C. Koh, David Oglethorpe and Seyed M. Ebrahimi
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of three important relational capabilities – absorptive capacity (AC), transactive memory systems (TMS), and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of three important relational capabilities – absorptive capacity (AC), transactive memory systems (TMS), and organisational interoperability (OI); on the flexibility of buyer-supplier relationships and performance in retail supply chains. Drawing on the relational view of strategic management, the impact of relational capabilities on two forms of supply chain flexibility is examined – configuration flexibility (CF) for switching suppliers with minimal penalties, and planning and control flexibility (PCF) for altering supply schedules, quality, and delivery lead-time.
Design/methodology/approach
Strategic- and tactical-level managers from 211 retail stores in the UK were surveyed. The authors validated a measurement model with structural equation modelling and tested four hypotheses on the mediating role of relational capabilities on supply chain flexibility and retail performance, controlling for size, duration of relationship, and market segment.
Findings
Results showed that the three relational capabilities partially mediated the positive effect of CF and PCF on operational performance in big middle and niche retailers. Examining the interaction effect of the forms of flexibility on the relational capabilities and performance, the authors found positive interaction effects on TMS and OI but a non-significant effect on AC.
Practical implications
In addition to providing novel theoretical insights on supply chain flexibility, the findings have practical implications for supplier selection and buyer-supplier relationship management.
Originality/value
Overall, the study highlights the impacts of relational capabilities on adopted operational strategies such as flexibility, buyer-supplier relationships, and retail performance.
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Rodrigo Valio Dominguez Gonzalez
This study aims to investigate the relationship between learning culture and teamwork context based on the mediating role played by dynamic capability in manufacturing teams of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationship between learning culture and teamwork context based on the mediating role played by dynamic capability in manufacturing teams of the industrial sector.
Design/methodology/approach
It proposes that dynamic capability is a key element for improving the performance of teams, which, in turn, is positively affected by learning culture and teamwork context. This study is based on data from a survey of 201 companies in the Brazilian industrial sector with manufacturing teams, and followed the partial least squares approach to model the structural equation that was used for data analysis.
Findings
The results indicate that dynamic capability has a strong positive influence on team performance, and also that, despite learning culture and teamwork context having no direct association with performance, they offer contributions mediated by dynamic capability.
Research limitations/implications
This study includes a reduced sample regarding the population of Brazilian industrial companies, being restricted to only one sector of activity. Future studies may obtain larger samples by working with different sectors in different countries.
Practical implications
This article alerts managers to the importance of dynamic capability for improving the performance of teams, and points out the role played by learning culture and teamwork context in this relationship.
Originality/value
This research presents new insights into how dynamic capability contributes to the performance of teams, based on antecedent factors (learning culture and teamwork context).