Kim Dorling, John Scott and Eric Deakins
To identify the key determinants of successful vendor managed inventory (VMI) and strategic supply chain relationships for industries characterised by oligopolistic competition.
Abstract
Purpose
To identify the key determinants of successful vendor managed inventory (VMI) and strategic supply chain relationships for industries characterised by oligopolistic competition.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used action research in the New Zealand (NZ) food industry supported by a literature review, triangulation and case studies from other industries and countries.
Findings
Seven key industry‐level factors impacting the success of VMI and strategic supply chain relationships were identified. These were integrated into a step‐wise framework that provides a path for practitioners to follow when establishing VMI and strategic supply chain relationships in the NZ food industry.
Research limitations/implications
This research was conducted using action research in the NZ food industry; hence, the research findings may need to be modified and further adapted before applying to other, less concentrated, industries.
Practical implications
A step‐wise framework provides a path for practitioners to follow when establishing VMI and strategic supply chain relationships in the NZ food industry. Detailed practical guidelines are provided for practitioners who wish to improve the profitability of their supply chain.
Originality/value
The key outcome was a working model that identifies the key determinants of successful VMI and strategic supply chain relationships in the NZ food industry, at an industry‐level. A secondary outcome was the contribution to knowledge from an action research perspective.
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Kim Dorling, John Scott and Eric Deakins
To identify the key determinants of successful vendor managed inventory (VMI) and strategic supply chain relationships in the New Zealand (NZ) food industry.
Abstract
Purpose
To identify the key determinants of successful vendor managed inventory (VMI) and strategic supply chain relationships in the New Zealand (NZ) food industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The research primarily used action research, supported by a literature review, triangulation and case studies from other industries and countries.
Findings
Eight key factors impacting the success of organisation‐level VMI and strategic supply chain relationships were identified. These were integrated into a framework that provides a model for practitioners to follow when establishing VMI and strategic supply chain relationships in the NZ food industry.
Research limitations/implications
This research was conducted using action research in the NZ food industry. As a result, these research findings may need to be modified and further adapted before applying to less concentrated food industries in other countries.
Practical implications
Practical guidelines are provided for practitioners who wish to improve their organisation's supply chain activities through VMI and strategic supply chain relationships.
Originality/value
The key outcome was a working model that identifies the key determinants of successful VMI and strategic supply chain relationships in the NZ food industry, at an organisation‐level. A secondary outcome was the contribution to knowledge from an action research perspective.
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Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to develop a generic framework for the assessment of VMI implementation. The framework is used for the analysis of multiple case studies in German…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a generic framework for the assessment of VMI implementation. The framework is used for the analysis of multiple case studies in German hospitals to discuss the feasibility of VMI in the German blood supply chain.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology is twofold. In a first step, the literature is reviewed and a generic theoretical VMI framework is developed. In a second step, the case study methodology is applied to 13 cases to assess the feasibility of VMI in the German blood supply chain.
Findings
The paper contributes a generic framework for assessing the implementation of VMI in seven steps. The research proposed that hospitals hesitate to enter a VMI relationship for critical resources such as blood. Hospitals fear losing control over critical resources.
Research limitations/implications
The unit of analysis is hospitals in Germany and the case studies do not target the suppliers in the supply chain. The paper contributes three propositions regarding VMI in the healthcare/blood supply chain.
Practical implications
A generic framework for assessing the applicability and feasibility of VMI is provided which supports managers with the implementation of VMI in a supply chain.
Originality/value
The paper is one of the first papers targeting inventory and supply chain management in the German blood supply chain. It provides a generic framework for the assessment of the feasibility of VMI.
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Benjamin Kempton and Riikka M. Sarala
This chapter presents a review of the state-of-the-art in the employee perspective on mergers and acquisitions (M&As). The authors’ aim is to enhance the understanding of the role…
Abstract
This chapter presents a review of the state-of-the-art in the employee perspective on mergers and acquisitions (M&As). The authors’ aim is to enhance the understanding of the role of employees in M&As. This chapter contributes by presenting a synthesis of how the employee perspective has been studied by describing the methods, the context (industry and geographic location), and publication outlets. Furthermore, this chapter contributes by synthesizing the employee perspective literature into five distinct research streams: (1) employee reactions; (2) culture; (3) communication; (4) knowledge; and (5) speed. The authors reflect on the main findings of each stream and conclude by proposing future directions for research on the role of employees in M&As to (re)generate interest in the topic.
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Amer Jazairy, Emil Persson, Mazen Brho, Robin von Haartman and Per Hilletofth
This study presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of the interdisciplinary literature on drones in last-mile delivery (LMD) to extrapolate pertinent insights from and into…
Abstract
Purpose
This study presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of the interdisciplinary literature on drones in last-mile delivery (LMD) to extrapolate pertinent insights from and into the logistics management field.
Design/methodology/approach
Rooting their analytical categories in the LMD literature, the authors performed a deductive, theory refinement SLR on 307 interdisciplinary journal articles published during 2015–2022 to integrate this emergent phenomenon into the field.
Findings
The authors derived the potentials, challenges and solutions of drone deliveries in relation to 12 LMD criteria dispersed across four stakeholder groups: senders, receivers, regulators and societies. Relationships between these criteria were also identified.
Research limitations/implications
This review contributes to logistics management by offering a current, nuanced and multifaceted discussion of drones' potential to improve the LMD process together with the challenges and solutions involved.
Practical implications
The authors provide logistics managers with a holistic roadmap to help them make informed decisions about adopting drones in their delivery systems. Regulators and society members also gain insights into the prospects, requirements and repercussions of drone deliveries.
Originality/value
This is one of the first SLRs on drone applications in LMD from a logistics management perspective.
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This paper seeks to investigate the use of cartography in the representation of places and recognise its potential importance in place marketing.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to investigate the use of cartography in the representation of places and recognise its potential importance in place marketing.
Design/methodology/approach
Following a review of the relevant academic literature in the areas of cartography and place marketing, the paper considers the application of cartographic principles in the representation of places for marketing purposes.
Findings
Using models of the marketing communication process, Gilmartin's model of map design influences (incorporating map initiator, reader's needs and map symbolisation) and Gold's three emphases in the study of place promotional messages (i.e. as part of the production system, audience consumption of the media and the messages of the media), a review of various issues relating to the use of maps as a place marketing tool is presented.
Research limitations/implications
This is an exploratory investigation comprising a review of the existing literature. An agenda for further research, focusing on issues in relation to the production and consumption of maps in this context is presented.
Practical implications
Provides place marketing practitioners with some advice as to how the utility of using maps for place marketing/promotional activities may be maximised.
Originality/value
Maps are a commonly used representational mechanism for places, both historically and currently. This paper considers issues relating to the use of this important method of place representation.
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In nature, the adaptable survive best. In human affairs, elites do better than others, much better when they take advantage of both fair and foul means to exercise public…
Abstract
In nature, the adaptable survive best. In human affairs, elites do better than others, much better when they take advantage of both fair and foul means to exercise public authority and influence. Where absolutism prevails, the disadvantaged cannot make much headway unless their betters make concessions to share communal treasures, govern responsibly and accountably, and refrain from abusing social norms. The evolution of the welfare democracy has brought about the greatest success in making communal benefits more accessible and attainable to all, recognizing the universal dignity and rights of every individual, and, above all, curbing corrupt institutions and practices wherever revealed. Although the ideals of the welfare democracy have been confined to relatively few countries, they illustrate what is achievable. They also have been active in convincing the international community to recognize two landmark United Nations conventions concerning both private and public sectors to strive for greater global success in combating corruption, despite unpromising circumstances and the many obstacles that still favor the corrupt and corrupted at everyone’s cost. Context is the most important variable. Success in curbing corruption requires the adaptation of reforms to the specific context. It cannot be imposed without thorough knowledge of the circumstances and devoted agents on the ground.
Debapriya Banik, Niamat Ullah Ibne Hossain, Kannan Govindan, Farjana Nur and Kari Babski-Reeves
In recent times, due to rapid urbanization and the expansion of the E-commerce industry, drone delivery has become a point of interest for many researchers and industry…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent times, due to rapid urbanization and the expansion of the E-commerce industry, drone delivery has become a point of interest for many researchers and industry practitioners. Several factors are directly or indirectly responsible for adopting drone delivery, such as customer expectations, delivery urgency and flexibility to name a few. As the traditional mode of delivery has some potential drawbacks to deliver medical supplies in both rural and urban settings, unmanned aerial vehicles can be considered as an alternative to overcome the difficulties. For this reason, drones are incorporated in the healthcare supply chain to transport lifesaving essential medicine or blood within a very short time. However, since there are numerous types of drones with varying characteristics such as flight distance, payload-carrying capacity, battery power, etc., selecting an optimal drone for a particular scenario becomes a major challenge for the decision-makers. To fill this void, a decision support model has been developed to select an optimal drone for two specific scenarios related to medical supplies delivery.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors proposed a methodology that incorporates graph theory and matrix approach (GTMA) to select an optimal drone for two specific scenarios related to medical supplies delivery at (1) urban areas and (2) rural/remote areas based on a set of criteria and sub-criteria critical for successful drone implementation.
Findings
The findings of this study indicate that drones equipped with payload handling capacity and package handling flexibility get more preference in urban region scenarios. In contrast, drones with longer flight distances are prioritized most often for disaster case scenarios where the road communication system is either destroyed or inaccessible.
Research limitations/implications
The methodology formulated in this paper has implications in both academic and industrial settings. This study addresses critical gaps in the existing literature by formulating a mathematical model to find the most suitable drone for a specific scenario based on its criteria and sub-criteria rather than considering a fleet of drones is always at one's disposal.
Practical implications
This research will serve as a guideline for the practitioners to select the optimal drone in different scenarios related to medical supplies delivery.
Social implications
The proposed methodology incorporates GTMA to assist decision-makers in order to appropriately choose a particular drone based on its characteristics crucial for that scenario.
Originality/value
This research will serve as a guideline for the practitioners to select the optimal drone in different scenarios related to medical supplies delivery.