Heike Schulze, Lydia Bals and Thomas E. Johnsen
Implementing sustainability into global supply networks remains a challenge for companies. Purchasing and supply management (PSM) interacts closely with supply network actors…
Abstract
Purpose
Implementing sustainability into global supply networks remains a challenge for companies. Purchasing and supply management (PSM) interacts closely with supply network actors, thus influencing how the firm’s value creation is delivered. While previous sustainable PSM (SPSM) research has shed light on how to manage sustainability on an organizational level, the individual competences PSM professionals require are less understood. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a systematic literature review to determine the current research coverage of specific competences and knowledge required to implement sustainability. The authors complemented this with data from 46 interviews with practitioners. From coding the data with NVivo, a first comprehensive competence overview for SPSM was developed.
Findings
The literature review results, complemented with interview data, highlight that functional-oriented, cognition-oriented, social-oriented and meta-oriented competences form part of a comprehensive SPSM competence model. We propose a framework that includes these, and integrates two behavioral moderators on the organizational level, i.e. situational enabling, as well as empowerment and obligation.
Research limitations/implications
While the proposed framework provides a basic first systematization of SPSM competences, further research is needed to extend it. There is ample opportunity to shed further light on both individual and organizational-level factors that influence the application of SPSM competences, and therefore SPSM behavior.
Practical implications
The results have implications for higher education and professional training programs in companies. The framework provides an overview of competences needed for SPSM. The discussion highlights the need to apply education and training methods for different types of competences that are suitable for conveying implicit knowledge apart from explicit knowledge.
Originality/value
Adressing a current research gap in sustainability-related competences in PSM, the overall framework highlights SPSM competences of interest to both scholars and managers alike.
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This paper addresses the perceived closeness of the relation between East and West German adult children and their parents who no longer live in the same household. The empirical…
Abstract
This paper addresses the perceived closeness of the relation between East and West German adult children and their parents who no longer live in the same household. The empirical analyses are based on the German Socio‐Economic Panel (GSOEP). They show that East German family relations are closer than West German relations. Regarding the causes for closer or weaker relations for East and West Germans there are both similarities and differences. For example, the empirical analyses indicate differences regarding the importance of standard of living, birth cohort, and religion.
Daniel Jaspers and Heike Proff
This paper investigates how capital-intensive companies, especially in the automotive sector, navigate the challenge of balancing significant technological investments against…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper investigates how capital-intensive companies, especially in the automotive sector, navigate the challenge of balancing significant technological investments against market demands for asset-light strategies. It examines the use of innovation platforms as a strategic solution for mediating these goal conflicts and sustaining competitiveness in a technology-driven market.
Design/methodology/approach
The study analysed 286 automotive companies from Europe, North America and Asia through a quantitative survey conducted in 2022, focusing on companies using innovation platforms. It applied partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to assess the relationships between the use of innovation platforms, relational rents and performance.
Findings
The research found that companies using innovation platforms can achieve early-stage relational rents through partnerships and resource sharing, although these benefits have not yet translated into profitability. Companies in the sample are still developing their partner network, and while they experience collaborative advantages, they face initial challenges in converting these into financial gains. The study highlights the critical role of scaling in the network, complementarities in production, limiting the outflow of resources and capabilities besides modularisation in achieving long-term profitability.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on how capital-intensive companies use innovation platforms to balance technological investments and asset-light pressures, a topic with limited previous research. It underscores the long-term potential of such digital platforms in innovation ecosystems in generating value and the need for patient investment in promising platform effects. The findings support the strategic value of innovation platforms as capital-intensive industries face intensified competition from high-technology companies.
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This research examines social innovations in public health (SIPH) in Erfurt and Hamburg, Germany, from 2021 onwards. There is a need for further research to identify the…
Abstract
Purpose
This research examines social innovations in public health (SIPH) in Erfurt and Hamburg, Germany, from 2021 onwards. There is a need for further research to identify the relationship between policies and their effect on SIPH. This paper responds to this need, through a holistic conceptual framework. It becomes a kaleidoscope for exploration: it explores the narrative of SIPH within their landscapes, both outward and inward. This paper inspects whether there is, if any, PH innovation translated into reality. It informs us about the policy vs reality differences and by doing so it expands the research on PH vs social innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper draws on a mixed conceptual framework. The focus is on community SIPH projects, in Hamburg and Erfurt. This paper uses policy field theory to attest to the level of integration between national and state level (1); the ecosystem lens to understand how cities define and create their innovation ecosystem environments (2). It then examines the internal dynamics of the SIPH, exploring whether they exhibit triple or quadruple helix characteristics (Quadruple helix collaboration theory) (3) and whether they are independent (do they behave like an art world in itself) (4) and do they have distinct roles from within (innovation roles theory) (5).
Findings
Preliminary findings reveal the absence of community, grass-root level SIPH. Policies are framed within ecosystem narratives: Erfurt’s strong value lies in its university community leadership while Hamburg demonstrates strong cultural component to social innovation. Overall, narratives surrounding social innovation differ, reflecting diverse values and priorities. Further analysis will explore the complex relationship between policy and practice, considering local factors like path dependencies which contribute to the (lack of) community engagement and resources.
Research limitations/implications
This study focuses on limited national and state policy papers and media sources. The limitation of this is, however, that it may not fully capture the breadth of social innovation initiatives in PH across all levels of governance, healthcare at large, community projects in other geographical areas of the country of Thuringia or for-profit sphere in both cities. It is important to note here that it may largely omit the policy involvement of Thuringia at large, as it focuses on Erfurt. Hamburg, as the state and the city, possesses more capacities and different governmental set-up from Erfurt, which is the capital city of Thuringia state. This is why this paper is not necessarily a comparative one, it is impossible to compare the two. This study furthermore acknowledges a couple of other limitations. First, the diverse theoretical frameworks employed, while offering complementary perspectives (and are being employed precisely for this reason!) are not fully integrated (due to their inherent differences of focus as well as the scope of this research). A more in-depth exploration of each theory could have provided insights. Second, the exclusion of for-profit social enterprises and innovations from the analysis may limit the general applicability of the findings to the broader landscape of social innovation. Third, while the study examined current policies and initiatives, it did not explicitly delve into the historical path dependencies that may have shaped the current context of social innovation in PH. Fourth, the political dimensions of social innovation, such as power dynamics and competing interests among stakeholders, are not explored. Additionally, while this study offers a comprehensive overview, it does not constitute a detailed case study of any of the two cities (which could have provided a more nuanced understanding of specific contexts).
Practical implications
This research offers practical insights for policymakers and practitioners in the PH sector. By identifying the factors influencing SIPH success, the findings can inform the design and implementation of future initiatives. The comparative analysis of Erfurt and Hamburg demonstrates the need for context-specific strategies that leverage local strengths and address unique challenges. The research emphasizes the importance of collaboration, community engagement and responsive policies to foster sustainable and impactful SIPH.
Social implications
By analyzing policies holistically and evaluating their level of integration, this paper contributes to discovering a degree of cultural and grass-root readiness towards SIPH.
Originality/value
This research provides a unique grass-root perspective on SIPH in two German cities, highlighting the interplay between policy and local practice. It contributes to a growing body of knowledge on social innovation in the PH sector. By focusing on recent developments and the impact of Germany’s national strategy, the research provides timely and relevant information for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers interested in fostering social innovation for PH. Organizational and sociological perspective, creative theoretical kaleidoscopes, unusual social science approaches to ambiguity of policy worlds might help and, together with the sharp case study methods, discover path dependencies and behaviors we need in order to elevate SIPH in each and community, welcome demographic and health challenges awaiting us with readiness and in time.
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Pernilla Derwik and Daniel Hellström
Supply chain (SC) professionals and their competence play a key role in creating value and competitive advantage for companies. A considerable amount of this competence is…
Abstract
Purpose
Supply chain (SC) professionals and their competence play a key role in creating value and competitive advantage for companies. A considerable amount of this competence is developed at work, but little is known about how this takes place. Drawing on constructivist learning theory, the authors investigate how SC professionals develop their competence at work.
Design/methodology/approach
The study takes off from a theoretical framework of workplace learning mechanisms, followed by a series of in-depth interviews with an expertise panel of profoundly competent and experienced SC professionals.
Findings
The results provide detailed insights into the learning process of SC professionals. The key findings show that SC professionals use a wide range of learning mechanisms throughout their careers, and that the contribution and complexity of these mechanisms differ and change dynamically with seniority. The findings also show that learning mechanisms should not be viewed as isolated phenomena, but closely related to every-day SCM work as well as learning attitude.
Research limitations/implications
By conceptualizing learning as a process, and congregating the fragmented literature into a framework of workplace learning mechanisms, this research provides a theoretical reference point for future studies. The empirical findings bring a new level of detailed knowledge on how SC professionals learn at work.
Practical implications
The results can assist SC professionals, HR managers and academic program leaders in their quest to develop competence in the field of SCM.
Originality/value
This paper makes a unique contribution to the human aspects of SCM literature by presenting the first study that investigates in depth the crucial but complex process of how workplace learning takes place for SC professionals in practice.