| 1. |
- Kordestani, Arash Abolghasemi, et al.
(författare)
-
Supply chain process maturity and financial performance study of Swedish steel SMEs
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the 17th Euroma conference.
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The goal of this research is to demonstrate that the financial performance of the current year in Swedish steel SMEs is dependent on the amount of maturity of supply chain processes. This is examined by considering current supply chain process maturities of the firm together with financial performance of prior years. It was found that the delivery process of supply chain processes and prior cost of goods sold (COGS) have an effect on current COGS. Additionally, prior inventory and plan process of the supply chain have a positive and negative effect on inventory turnover respectively.
|
|
| 2. |
- Eklinder-Frick, Jens, et al.
(författare)
-
Negative effects of the bonding and bridging form of social capital in a regional strategic network
- 2011
-
Ingår i: The 27th IMP conference, 31 Aug 2011-03 Sep 2011; University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose of the paper and literature addressedUnderstanding the local socio-economic context is considered by Koschatzky and Kroll (2007) as a precondition for a well designed regional strategic network (RSN). Social capital is often used in research when analyzing such socio-economic contexts (Adler and Kwon 2002, Westlund 2009), and understanding the function and creation of social capital is therefore vital for implementation of policies on cluster initiatives and RSN.Adler and Kwon (2002) claim that there are two different ways of creating valuethrough social capital. These approaches are attributed to James Coleman and Ronald Burt, two key contributors within the field. Coleman (1988) claims that closure of the network structure (bonding) facilitates the emergence of effective norms maintainingthe trustworthiness of others. In contrast to Coleman, Burt (1992) does not stress the utility of consistent norms as the main usage of social capital. He argues that a sparse network including few redundant ties (bridging) often provides greater benefits. Social capital may involve norms and trust, but can also serve as a lock-in that isolates from the outside world by over-embedding a network in its own social context (Uzzi 1997, Gargiulo and Benassi 2000, Parra-Requena et al 2009, Molina-Morales and Martínez-Fernández 2009).Social capital might therefore not only bring positive effects to regional development, as its drawbacks under some circumstances might outweigh the benefits. Slotte-Kock (2009) argues that all network researchers agree that networks of social or business contacts provide both opportunities and constraints.Main contributionMolina-Morales and Martínez-Fernández (2009) and Adler and Kwon (2002) claim that there is a lack of empirical research particularly on the negative effects of social capital. The paper adds to the discourse through a case study focusing on the negative influence of social capital on the RSN process.Research methodRepresentatives of the 15 companies included in an regional strategic network (RSN) project were all interviewed prior to the formation of the project in 2004 and interviewed again six years later (2010) when the formal network project was about to end. The longitudinal aspect of the RSN process is portrayed.Research findingsThe organizational lock-ins and network over-embeddedness that the bonding form of social capital might impose upon a network is exemplified in the studied RSN. It is also evident that existing social norms dominate the decision process within the studied RSN more than economic rationality. The creation of bridging linkages imposed by the management group resulting in low relevance of shared information.
|
|
| 3. |
- Asplund, Anna, et al.
(författare)
-
E-procurement beyond the buyer cost perspective
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the 22nd NOFOMA Conference. - Kolding : University of Southern Denmark. - 9788792471055 ; , s. 483-498
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The objective of this paper is to provide and argue for a comprehensive view of e-procurement that involves both the buyer and suppliers and that goes beyond looking at mere cost reductions on the buyer side. More specifically, the paper describes benefits and barriers of implementing e-procurement solutions for both buyers and suppliers.Design/methodology/approach: This paper reports on a literature review combined with a case study. The case is a public organization in Sweden, which prepares to implement an e-procurement solution. Interviews were also conducted with a selection of suppliers to the case organization.Findings: In e-procurement literature, drivers and barriers are often viewed only from the perspective of a buying organization. Benefits are mainly cost-related for the buying organization, while barriers often include suppliers. It is proposed that benefits and barriers should include both buyers and suppliers. The literature review and the case study findings form the basis for further investigation into this problem area.Research limitations/implications: This study focuses on a public organization in Sweden. Yet, it could have implications for many public or private organizations considering implementing e-procurement systems.Practical implications: This research suggest that organizations to a greater extent should take the supplier´s side into account when implementing e-procurement solutions.Originality/Value: The study highlights a full cycle view on e-procurement taking both buyer and supplier into account.
|
|
| 4. |
- Fregidou-Malama, Maria, 1944-, et al.
(författare)
-
Social enterprises in Sweden : Unitis a successful social cooperative?
- 2011
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This research explores Social Cooperatives focusing on what factors characterize a successful social cooperative. We apply a case for data collection. Semi-structured interviews and direct observation were used to collect qualitative data. A case on Unitis, a Swedish Social Cooperative, developed in 1998 with the main aim to create employment and to empower disable people by setting up a handicraft cooperative owning it together, has been conducted in its real life context. The results indicate that five factors are important for the success of the cooperative. Social well being and members empowerment, networking to identify and exploit business opportunities, financial independence by adapting innovative business ideas, independence from volunteers and trusting on sustainable own human resources and generation of economic wealth using it for the well being of the members. The research contributes to the literature and theoretical development on social enterprises by analysing a Swedish case based on successful factors to sustain social cooperatives. We suggest that networking with stakeholders can contribute to make social cooperatives visible and sustainable. Key Words: Social Enterprises, Unitis, Social Economy, Cooperatives, Sweden.
|
|
| 5. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
-
Coordinating demand and supply processes : Towards demand-supply chain management
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, 2010. ; , s. 512-521
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research explores and describes the demand-supply chain management (DSCM) concept from both a theoretical and practical perspective by determining what key principles that characterize the concept as well as to illustrate its application in practice. The concept is examined through a literature review combined with a qualitative single case study. The research reveals that DSCM is about coordinating demand and supply processes within a particular company and across the demand-supply chain. It can be defined as the alignment of demand and supply processes across intra and inter-organizational boundaries for the purpose of improving the ability of the particular company and the entire demand-supply chain to enhance overall customer value while utilizing resources cost-efficiently. Key principles that characterize the concept are value creation, value delivery, customer orientation, product and supply chain differentiation, lead-time reduction, information management, and responsiveness with respect to existing products as well as changing customer needs.
|
|
| 6. |
- Eriksson, David, et al.
(författare)
-
The Role of Consumer Insight in New Product Development and Its Impact on Supply Chain Management : A Swedish Case Study
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Innovative Process Optimization Methods in Logistics. - Berlin : Erich Schmidt Verlag. - 9783503126835 - 350312683X ; , s. 113-126
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper seeks to explore how a profound consumer understanding may influence the early stages of a new product development (NPD) process. The issue is examined through a qualitative single case study combined with a literature review. The case study shows how the NPD process is structured and executed in a Swedish furniture company as well as the role consumer insight plays in that process. Empirical data have been collected mainly from in-depth interviews with persons representing senior and middle management in the case company. The research reveals that consumer oriented, cross-functional NPD in the case company has a strong impact on internal collaboration, and aligns the goals between different departments and functions within the company. Despite inefficiencies on departmental level, effectiveness on company level is achieved. Early indications show an expected growth in contribution margins by 8 percentage.
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
-
Coordination of the demand and supply side : A case study from the furniture industry
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Modelling Value. - Berlin : Physica-Verlag GmbH & Co. - 9783790827460 ; , s. 281-296
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research work investigates the occurrence of demand-supply chain management (DSCM) components in a Swedish furniture wholesaler that sources most of its products from China. Three of eight main components proposed in the literature were identified in the case company, and one component was not fully applicable. The case company’s strong focus on new product development (NPD) increased the number of end products, while the case company lost sales. The research shows possible caveats of being purely demand-driven and highlights the need to strike a balance between demand and supply chain imperatives.
|
|
| 9. |
- Hilletofth, Per, et al.
(författare)
-
In-Transit Distribution Strategy : Hope for European Factories?
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Rapid Modelling and Quick Response. - London : Springer London. - 9781849965248 - 9781849965255 ; , s. 249-261
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this research the in-transit distribution strategy is investigated by determining and analyzing key principles of the strategy. It is examined through a multiple case study and simulation. This research reveals that the in-transit distribution strategy is about considering goods that are being transported as a mobile inventory and actively dispatching goods to a destination, where there is a predicted demand before any customer orders are received. It can give major competitive advantages by offering rather short lead-times for customers without having to store products locally. This, in turn, gives lower warehousing costs, lower tied-up capital, a less interrupted manufacturing, and steady as well as continous production volumes. It is a workable solution for European manufactures competing in distant market. To be successful with this strategy, it takes good planning, working closely with customers, first-class market kowledge, and a supporting enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Other highlighted requirements are low variation in demand and predictable distribution lead-time. Simulation study of one hypothetical product group verified case study findings, but we find it interesting that especially manufacturing output variance is very sensitive regarding the overall results. Also increasing average customer demand results in undesired outcomes.
|
|
| 10. |
- Jensen, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
-
Supply Chain Planning in Automotive Sector : Swedish Case Study
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the PLAN Research Conference. - Skövde : Logistikföreningen PLAN. - 9789197644440 ; , s. 53-72
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research aims to enhance current knowledge of supply chain planning (SCP) by analyzing the importance of collaboration, information exchange and a supporting information system in its successful execution. The issues are examined through a case study from international manufacturing company, Volvo Powertrain, which operates in automotive industry through its worldwide manufacturing network. This research reveals that collaboration is a complex and important issue of SCP, and occurs simultaneously in vertical and horizontal dimensions. It is important to select strategic partners and to develop structured work processes and routines. The main objective of collaboration is to determine common goals and objectives and to facilitate the exchange of information and these together drives the performance of a supply chain. A sufficient information system supporting the SCP is vital to facilitate collaboration, and information exchange between the different supply chain participants. However, currently in Volvo Powertrain quite many phases of SCP are completed without appropriate and integrated information systems and the process itself contains several manual phases. This study is explorative in nature and more empirical data, from similar and other research settings, is needed to further validate the findings. However, its empirical findings strengthen research discipline knowhow of SCP in global manufacturing companies. This research provides insight to managers and practitioners on how to coordinate operations planning and control (OPC) across organizations within the supply chain to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. The SCP procedures described in this research work also are valuable for Volvo Powertrain and other industrial actors to further develop processes to respond on competitive pressure. This research work empirically demonstrates, as very few before have done so, how OPC can be coordinated across the supply chain.
|
|
