Kaisa Manninen, Minttu Laukkanen and Janne Huiskonen
This study aims to synthesize the body of sustainable value creation (SVC) research within sustainable business model literature through a systematic literature review.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to synthesize the body of sustainable value creation (SVC) research within sustainable business model literature through a systematic literature review.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review of 85 research articles of SVC through business models from 2011 to 2020.
Findings
The systematic literature review allowed the authors to identify five core SVC elements: value forms, stakeholders, temporal view, spatial view and tensions and conflicts. Moreover, a conceptual framework presenting the interrelationships of the SVC elements is proposed.
Practical implications
This study carries implications for practitioners in the form of guiding questions provided in the framework. Those questions help responsible managers to plan, identify and choose strategic sustainability actions and to develop companies’ business models aiming to lead to the creation of long-term sustainable value in different time frames and locations or different parts of the value network. Additionally, the framework guides managers to identify and manage potential tensions and conflicts which can otherwise hinder SVC.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first systematic literature review of SVC through business models with the conceptual development of SVC. The study synthesizes the fragmented literature to identify SVC elements and build basis for conceptualization of SVC through business models.
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Keywords
Erno Salmela and Janne Huiskonen
The purpose of this paper is to promote decision-making structures between the customer and the supplier in a highly uncertain environment. This phenomenon of demand-supply chain…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to promote decision-making structures between the customer and the supplier in a highly uncertain environment. This phenomenon of demand-supply chain synchronisation includes sharing of high-quality and timely demand and supply information in order to improve the quality and speed of decision-making.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was carried out as an abductive case study, which started from empirical observations that did not match the prior theoretical framework. Through abductive reasoning and empirical experiments, the prior framework was extended to a new synchronisation model and tools that better accommodate the observed need.
Findings
A new co-innovation toolbox was developed to create common understanding of demand-supply chain synchronisation between the customer and the supplier. The toolbox includes Demand Visibility Point-Demand Penetration Point, Supply Visibility Point–Supply Penetration Point and Integrative Synchronisation tools.
Research limitations/implications
The study extends the current models and tools of demand-supply chain synchronisation. With the new toolbox, the development needs of decision-making structures can be identified more comprehensively than with the current tools.
Practical implications
The developed visual toolbox helps partners create a common understanding of problems and development possibilities in demand-supply chain synchronisation in a highly uncertain environment. Common understanding is a starting point for changing decision-making structures to improve the overall performance of a demand-supply chain.
Originality/value
The new toolbox is both more comprehensive and more detailed than the previous tools.
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Petri Niemi and Janne Huiskonen
The paper aims to help identify the best logistical practices and to implement them with minimal organizational resistance in an environment with relatively similar business units…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to help identify the best logistical practices and to implement them with minimal organizational resistance in an environment with relatively similar business units utilizing an internal benchmarking approach.
Design/methodology/approach
A stepwise benchmarking process, where the use of basic inventory control practices is complemented with benchmarking analysis among business units that are of the same kind, but not entirely similar. The viewpoint is that of a supply chain specialist, and the main objective of the paper is to present how the analysis should be carried out.
Findings
Four principles were found useful when carrying out the analysis for internal benchmarking: refining stepwise the precision of the analysis, accepting the practical limitations of the data, disaggregating the task to be benchmarked to manageable sub‐areas, and engaging the management and key implementers in the analysis work.
Originality/value
The approach is a complementary approach to the traditional inventory models, which often rely on more or less arbitrary parameter values. The analysis provides realistic, individual inventory objectives and gives suggestions for focused improvement actions.
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Keywords
Jari Huikku, Timo Hyvönen and Janne Järvinen
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the initiation of accounting information system projects. Specifically, it examines the role of the predictive analytics (PA) project…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the initiation of accounting information system projects. Specifically, it examines the role of the predictive analytics (PA) project initiator in the integration of financial and operational sales forecasts.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a field study method to address the studied phenomenon in eight Finnish companies that have recently adopted PA systems. The data are primarily based on 19 interviews in the companies and five interviews with the PA consultants.
Findings
The authors found that initiators appear to play a major role regarding the degree of integration of financial and operational sales forecasts. The initiators from an accounting function have a tendency to pay more attention to the integration than the representatives from other functions, such as operations and sales.
Practical implications
The study also makes a practical contribution to companies in showing and discussing the important role of the accounting department as an initiator of a project if the target is to achieve a tight coupling of financial and operational forecast figures, i.e., “one set of numbers”.
Originality/value
Even though companies have increasingly adopted PA systems in recent years, we still know little about how the initiation affects the design of accounting information systems overall. The central contribution of the paper, therefore, is to show that if a PA project is initiated by the accounting department, data integration becomes more likely. It contributes also to the discussion related to the appropriateness of data integration in the context of forecasting.