Aneesh Banerjee, Florian Lücker and Jörg M. Ries
Reverse factoring (RF)–a form of supply chain finance (SCF)–is widely recognised as a win-win for both buyers and suppliers. Still, there is evidence that suppliers are often…
Abstract
Purpose
Reverse factoring (RF)–a form of supply chain finance (SCF)–is widely recognised as a win-win for both buyers and suppliers. Still, there is evidence that suppliers are often hesitant to join RF programmes initiated by their buyers. This study advances our understanding of how suppliers assess the importance of various attributes of a buyer's offer to join RF and discusses the role of programme configuration and digital technology in overcoming impediments to RF adoption.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a choice-based conjoint experimental design validated by experts, we isolate and manipulate the main attributes of a RF programme offer. This enables us to estimate the attributes' importance and to examine suppliers' trade-off behaviour. The authors complement the experimental study with content analysis of respondents' comments.
Findings
This study reveals the importance of behavioural considerations in RF adoption. The main findings are (1) suppliers are willing to reject offers that they perceive to be unfair even if these offers benefit them financially, (2) suppliers are willing to trade-off their financial benefit for non-financial reasons–most notably attributes that relate to trustworthiness of the buyer–and (3) suppliers expect technologies to increase transparency and reduce variability in trade processes.
Research limitations/implications
Non-financial attributes that influence supplier perception need to be considered in the programme configuration. Technologies that reduce information asymmetry, increase trust and transparency, increase the speed of execution and reduce process inefficiencies will have a positive impact on RF offer acceptance.
Originality/value
This research opens new lines of inquiry on the role of digital technologies in influencing behavioural operations management specifically suppliers' adoption of digital SCF solutions.
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Fabienne Chedid, Canan Kocabasoglu-Hillmer and Jörg M. Ries
The importance of the supply network to firm performance is well documented. Until now, the firm and its suppliers have been conceptualized as single entities. Yet, multinational…
Abstract
Purpose
The importance of the supply network to firm performance is well documented. Until now, the firm and its suppliers have been conceptualized as single entities. Yet, multinational corporations (MNCs) are composed of a complex, geographically dispersed internal network of subsidiaries. The supply and internal networks are inherently linked. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the interaction of these networks on firm-level financial performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Building on supply network, internal network and dual embeddedness research, the authors investigate the interaction of these networks using supply network data from FactSet and internal network data from Orbis. We assess the impact at the MNC level, using measures of firm-level financial performance, physical proximity between the two networks and geographic dispersion of the internal network.
Findings
The results show that the performance effect of physical proximity of the firm with its supply network is negatively moderated by the geographic dispersion of the firm's internal network. This effect can be traced back to the diminishing marginal profitability of a firm's assets. Moreover, the benefits of dual embeddedness to the individual subsidiary come at a cost at the firm-level due to the operational challenges of managing a complex subsidiary network.
Research limitations/implications
This study is the first to investigate the supply and internal networks of MNCs simultaneously.
Originality/value
The paper extends supply network literature by considering the internal network of the focal firm and its suppliers. This paper is one of the first studies that offer an understanding of the interaction between supply and internal networks of a focal firm and the effect on financial performance.
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Aneesh Banerjee, Jörg M. Ries and Caroline Wiertz
Online B2B markets offer buyers a new source of information provided by social media signals about suppliers. These signals have not yet received much attention in the supplier…
Abstract
Purpose
Online B2B markets offer buyers a new source of information provided by social media signals about suppliers. These signals have not yet received much attention in the supplier selection literature. This study advances our understanding of how buyers respond to social media signals in the supplier selection process.
Design/methodology/approach
We develop a choice-based conjoint experimental design to isolate and manipulate two signals from social media: volume (the number of ratings) and valence (average evaluation of the ratings). We test how these signals are interpreted in the context of varying deal sizes and price points.
Findings
Both volume and valence are positively correlated with supplier selection. However, (1) the signals exhibit diminishing returns and (2) the efficacy of valence is interpreted in the context of volume. We also find that (3) there is no influence of the deal size and that (4) the relationships between signals and supplier selection are negatively moderated by deviations from the reference price.
Research limitations/implications
Social media signals should be considered in supplier selection decisions as they convey valuable information to the buyer. However, signals go through a process of interpretation which has implications for buyers, suppliers, and owners of online B2B markets.
Originality/value
Our research opens new lines of inquiry in behavioural operations management research regarding the mechanisms by which buyers interpret social media signals and how these ultimately influence their choice.
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Lujie Chen, Antonella Moretto, Fu Jia, Federico Caniato and Yu Xiong
Dieter Stoyle and Jörg Dörffel
Saturated polyesters or so‐called oil‐free alkyd resins have gained increasing importance in recent years for the manufacture of solvent‐contain‐ing stoving paints. Coatings of…
Abstract
Saturated polyesters or so‐called oil‐free alkyd resins have gained increasing importance in recent years for the manufacture of solvent‐contain‐ing stoving paints. Coatings of high industrial use value can be produced from these on metallic objects by crosslinking with melamine/formaldehyde resins. The coatings are hard, scratch‐proof, elastic, stain‐resistant,firmly adherent and resistant to weathering — a combination of properties possessed by only a few other binders. These saturated polyesters are linear or branched condensation products of dibasic or polybasic carboxylic acids and polyalcohols, they carry mainly terminal hydroxyl groups and possess mean molecular weights between about 1,500 and 4,000 (1) (2) (3).
A. Powell, B. Bagilhole, A. Dainty and R. Neale
Current research suggests that increases in the number of women studying engineering and related courses have not been matched by a similar increase in women engineering…
Abstract
Current research suggests that increases in the number of women studying engineering and related courses have not been matched by a similar increase in women engineering professionals. This sug ests that although women are attracted to engineering, their experiences in higher education (HE) discourage them from pursuing their chosen career path. The paper explores whether the masculine culture of the engineering sector permeates the culture and curriculum in engineering HE, and if it does, what impact this has on women engineering students. This is achieved through semi‐structured, qualitative interviews with a range of female engineering students from both the pre and post 1992 university sectors. Findings indicate that while women are not deterred from pursuing their chosen engineering career, the culture and structure of the engineering education system has been designed for a male audience. This suggests that engineering HE does not benefit most female students to the same extent as male students. It is recommended that HE engineering must review its structure, culture, practices and curriculum if it is to retain female engineering graduates and to attract more women into the sector. This paper fulfils an identified gap in research on women in engineering and will be of interest to university engineering departments and faculties and the Engineering Council, as well as to those in the fields of social policy, education and equal opportunities.
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In this chapter, adopting a civil society perspective, the author is reflecting on the development of equality legislation in the European Union and its (lack of) impact on racial…
Abstract
In this chapter, adopting a civil society perspective, the author is reflecting on the development of equality legislation in the European Union and its (lack of) impact on racial equality at the workplace. Presenting the development of the European Network against Racism and its organization, he highlights the thought process that led anti-racist activists to depart from a purely legal approach to discrimination and inequality to engage in a constructive conversation with public and private employers about diversity management. Since 2009, this organization has been through a long cycle of learning and exploration of the challenges of racially and ethnically diversifying a workforce and articulating business cases to that effect, while seeking to remain faithful to its founding principles of inclusion and equality. The author touches upon a variety of issues emerging from the practice of its organization: the difficulties, sometimes reluctance of HR managers to confront racism, their quest for tools, the blockings around equality data collection, the ambivalent role of trade unions as well as post-modern tensions between standardization and individualization which lie at the heart of diversity management.
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The significance of private equity as a form of financing and investing has led to growing interest in the real estate economy over the past few years. Anglo‐American investors in…
Abstract
The significance of private equity as a form of financing and investing has led to growing interest in the real estate economy over the past few years. Anglo‐American investors in particular are currently engaged in large‐scale real estate transactions and have now become the most important group of investors in the European hotel real estate market. However, for private equity funds, the high risk of investing in complex tourism and specialized real estate such as hotels is always coupled with an expectation of returns well above the market average. Yet actually achieving above market returns is not always accomplished. This paper therefore deals with the question of why some real estate private equity investors succeed in getting returns above the total market average even in the overall bear Western European market environment while others fail to do so. It shows that one formula for success includes deliberately exploiting market imperfections und overcoming inefficient information policies.
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Argues that the gold standard is the only monetary regime consistent with the philosophy of free enterprise and assesses the contributions of Friedman, Mundell and Hayek to…
Abstract
Argues that the gold standard is the only monetary regime consistent with the philosophy of free enterprise and assesses the contributions of Friedman, Mundell and Hayek to monetary theory as supporters of the free market but opponents of the gold standard. Critically reviews the basic ideas of each and notes that Greenspan, while apparently endorsing the gold standard, has not actually used his position as chairman of the US Federal Reserve System to move towards it. Lists some economists who support both free enterprise and the gold standard as a “vital aspect of political economy”.