Integration of the buyer–supplier interface for Global sourcing

While global sourcing often implies that the firm needs to, for example, redesign the procurement organization and make decisions on what to centralize and what to manage locally, global sourcing also has direct implications for management of the buyer–supplier interface. This study takes an organization design focus and addresses global sourcing organization design as well as provides illustrations on how to integrate the buyer–supplier interface for global sourcing. Integration is conceptualized as coordination and cooperation. The paper is based on an embedded unit case study of a global technical industrial product and service systems provider, TechInd (pseudonym). Data was collected from TechInd as well as from six of its suppliers. The findings indicate that the global sourcing organization structure, as well as the differences in the buyer’s sourcing and supplier’s sales organizations, pose requirements for management of the interface in terms of coordination and cooperation. Challenges arising particularly due to differences in geographical scope and level of centralization can be managed by introducing the key account role and alignment of incentives.

The Practice of Conflict Management in Construction Projects in Kenya

Conflicts in construction projects seem an increasingly prevalent phenomenon in Kenya, perhaps because of the projects’ uncertainty, complexity, and diversity of participants. Management of these conflicts remains ineffective, an occurrence that creates a major obstacle to the success of project implementation, usually leading to an increase in project cost, delayed project completion, and in worst cases suspension of the project. A review of literature has revealed the negative role played by conflict on project success.This study sought to investigate the practice of conflict management in construction projects in Kenya to develop a schematic framework for managing conflicts, using project harmony potential as a measure of the availability of conflicts or their lack in construction projects. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. Construction projects registered with NCA in the last five years within Nairobi and having the embedded unit of analysis of project participants under this study were sampled using the cluster method. Questionnaires were administered to project developers, contractors, and consultants working in consultancy or contractor firms randomly sampled. The study used inferential analysis of bivariate Pearson’s correlation and Regression analysis to determine the significant factors affecting the project harmony potential as well as establish a predictive model. The study demonstrated that there was a positive and statistically significant linear relationship between project harmony potential and delay management, project team partnering orientation, direct provisions for conflict management in the Project Handbook, promptness of Monitoring and Evaluation work, CPM (Construction Project Manager) technical experience, and communication plan. These factors were considered to be critical factors for the project harmony potential for construction projects in Kenya. A model was established using these variables and was found to explain 69.1% of the project harmony potential. The developed model will be useful in predicting the harmony potential of a project during implementation.

Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers Containing B←N Bonds with Strong Electron Affinity and Extended Absorption

The B←N is isoelectronic to the C–C, with the former having stronger dipole moment and higher electron affinity. Replacing the C–C bonds in conjugated polymers with B←N bonds is an effective pathway toward novel polymers with strong electron affinity and adjustable optoelectronic properties. In this work, we synthesize a conjugated copolymer, namely, BNIDT-DPP, based on a B←N embedded unit, BNIDT, and a typical electron-deficient unit, diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP). For comparison, the C–C counterpart, i.e., IDT-DPP, is also synthesized. In contrast to IDT-DPP, the B←N embedded polymer BNIDT-DPP shows an extended absorption edge (836 versus 978 nm), narrowed optical bandgap (1.48 versus 1.27 eV), and higher electron affinity (3.54 versus 3.74 eV). The Gaussian simulations reveal that the B←N embedded polymer BNIDT-DPP is more electron-deficient in contrast to IDT-DPP, supporting the decreased bandgap and energy levels of BNIDT-DPP. Organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) tests indicate a well-defined p-type characteristic for both IDT-DPP and BNIDT-DPP. The hole mobilities of IDT-DPP and BNIDT-DPP tested by OTFTs are 0.059 and 0.035 cm2/V·s, respectively. The preliminary fabrication of all-polymer solar cells based on BNIDT-DPP and PBDB-T affords a PCE of 0.12%. This work develops a novel B←N embedded polymer with strong electron affinity and extended absorption, which is potentially useful for electronic device application.