Why worker-supported collective bargaining may still fail

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 471-491
Author(s):  
Siqi Luo ◽  
Tao Yang
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Industrial Structure ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Chain Structure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Enterprise Level ◽  
Systematic Understanding ◽  
Supply Chain Structure ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate that some enterprise unions in South China, as strategic labor actors, made local progress in collective bargaining, but further elaborates on why gainful bargaining would require a more systematic understanding of the prevailing industrial structure. Design/methodology/approach This paper is mainly drawn from intensive site visits and 51 in-depth interviews in 2013 and 2014, and several follow-ups up to 2018. Three cases of collective bargaining, featuring different union strategies of assertive negotiation, informal cooperation and direct confrontation, are discussed in detail. Findings The study illustrates that viable collective bargaining with worker-supported unions is possible in China. However, the effectiveness of bargaining does not count on this alone; the supply chain structure also imposes significant constraints, mainly by narrowing the bargaining scope of each supplier and differentiating the structural power of their unions. In these cases, institutionalized union coordination beyond individual suppliers is proposed. Research limitations/implications These cases began as post-strike bargaining in Japanese auto supply chains and became the frontier of industrial relations in China. The impact of the supply chain in different sectors or regions requires further study. Originality/value This paper draws attention to the effect of an “invisible” but increasingly significant factor, industrial structure, on enterprise-level collective bargaining in China, unlike many previous criticisms of unwillingness or incompetence among labor actors.

The impact of additive manufacturing on supply chains

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 954-971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian F. Durach ◽  
Stefan Kurpjuweit ◽  
Stephan M. Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Chain Structure ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Supply Chain Structure ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Am Processes

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer empirical insights on emerging additive manufacturing (AM) processes, barriers to their adoption and a timeline of expected impacts on the supply chain in the manufacturing industry. Design/methodology/approach A multi-stage survey study was conducted with a panel of 16 experts from industry and academia. Findings Only five out of today’s seven AM processes are of future importance, as are two emerging key processes. In total, 15 barriers to their adoption are identified, all of which are expected to be gone within ten years. Eight propositions are derived postulating as to whether and when supply chain impacts can be expected in terms of changes to supply chain structure, customer centricity, logistics and supply chain capability. Research limitations/implications “Soft” barriers are new to the literature, which has traditionally focused on “technical” barriers. Often-discussed barriers such as production speed and costs do not reflect the true concerns of the research panel. Furthermore, some of the supply chain implications discussed in both the academic literature and the media are found to be unlikely to materialize. Practical implications The study summarizes AM processes, technologies, barriers and supply chain implications solicited from experts in the field. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to make empirical contributions to a vastly conceptual discussion. It is also the first study to give insights on a timeline for barriers and supply chain implications.

Impact of product originality and supply chain structure on market share in the pharmaceutical industry

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emre Göllü
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Market Share ◽  
Chain Structure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Market Shares ◽  
Management Perspective ◽  
Convenience Sampling ◽  
Supply Chain Structure ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of supply chain structure on market share and the differences between supply chain structures and market shares of companies in terms of product originality in the pharmaceutical industry. Design/methodology/approach In the design of this research, survey methodology was selected to collect the data. Convenience sampling technique and, as data collection instrument, a questionnaire including dichotomous scales were utilized. Findings Obtained results showed that supply chain structures of pharmaceutical companies in Turkey have a significant impact on their market shares. Other results indicate that there are significant differences between both supply chain structures and market shares in terms of product originality. Research limitations/implications There are three limitations, namely, the study focused on only one sector, convenience sampling method was used in conjunction with Pareto approach and the study encompasses Turkey only. Practical implications Practitioners will benefit from this study through conceptualizing the impact of supply chain structure on market share and the relationships between these both and product originality in terms of creating competitive advantage. Originality/value The importance of this study lies on the investigation of supply chain structure with its impact on market share from supply chain management perspective and on the combination of the relationships between these both constructs and product originality as from management perspective in the pharmaceutical industry as first time.

The relationship between internal supply chain structure and operational performance: survey results from Japanese manufacturers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikihisa Nakano ◽  
Kazuki Matsuyama
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Structural Properties ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Chain Structure ◽  
Operational Performance ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Supply Chain Structure ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the roles of a supply chain management (SCM) department. To achieve that, this study empirically examines the relationship between internal supply chain structure and operational performance, using survey data collected from 108 Japanese manufacturers. Design/methodology/approach Based on a literature review of not only organizational theory but also other fields such as marketing, logistics management, operations management and SCM, this study focused on two structural properties, formalization and centralization and divided operational performance to firm-centric efficiency and customer-centric responsiveness. To examine the analytical model using these dimensions, this study conducted a structural equation modeling. Findings The correlation between centralization of operational tasks and centralization of strategic tasks, the impacts of centralization of both tasks on formalization and the effect of formalization on responsiveness performance were demonstrated. In addition, the reasons for formalization not positively influencing efficiency performance were explored through follow-up interviews. Practical implications Manufacturers need to formalize, as much as possible, a wide range of SCM tasks to realize operational excellence. To establish such formalized working methods, it is effective to centralize the authorities of both operational and strategic tasks in a particular department. In addition, inefficiency due to strict logistics service levels is a problem that all players involved in the supply chain of various industries should work together to solve. Originality/value The theoretical contribution of this study is that the authors established an empirical process that redefined the constructs of formalization and centralization, developed these measures and examined the impacts of these structural properties on operational performance.

Demand-supply balancing in manufacturing operations

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 564-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joakim Coker ◽  
Petri Helo
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Inventory Management ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Chain Structure ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Chain Flexibility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Manufacturing Operations ◽  
Supply Chain Flexibility ◽  
Supply Chain Structure

Purpose – Demand-supply balancing (DSB) strategies and approaches are becoming increasingly important for manufacturing and operations. The purpose of this paper is to analyze practices of manufacturing companies and how they balance demand/supply in operations. Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaire-based interview has been conducted at 20 largest companies having manufacturing/operations in Finland. Findings – Supply chain structure, flexibility, demand management, capacity management, inventory management and revenue management are perceived as key practices for DSB. Research limitations/implications – The results show importance of supply chain-related parameters such as supply chain flexibility and inventory management in addition to production planning and control. The study is delimited to Finland companies but it gives an idea how decision making in operations generally can be perceived. Practical implications – DSB actions should be connected to operations strategy and long-term planning of the company. Originality/value – DSB is a strategic-level operations question which has an impact on several functions of supply chain.

The impact of e-procurement on the supply chain structure

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danny C.K. Ho ◽  
K.F. Au ◽  
Edward Newton
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Chain Structure ◽  
Supply Chain Structure ◽  
The Impact

The Sino-Brazilian beef supply chain: mapping and risk detection

2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Knoll ◽  
Cristiane Soares Simon Marques ◽  
Jiacheng Liu ◽  
Funing Zhong ◽  
Antônio Domingos Padula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Chain Structure ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Platform ◽  
Traceability System ◽  
Supply Chain Structure

Purpose The flow of the Sino-Brazilian frozen beef trade has intensified. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to characterize the supply chain structure, and identify its major fragilities. Design/methodology/approach Supply chain mapping was conducted based on the existing literature and primary data collection. Key stakeholders were detected and questioned through semi-structured interviews, which were later interpreted with content analysis. Findings The results reveal a low degree of chain coordination from the Brazilian farm to the Chinese consumer, arising from an immature traceability mechanism, a limited flow of reliable information between the segments, and low trust between the stakeholders. Research limitations/implications The infancy of the beef trade, the paucity of literature on the topic, and restricted accessibility to key governmental and official materials imposes limits on the available information. Language and cultural barriers might have also impacted the interviewees’ responses. However, the participation of Brazilian and Chinese academics in both the interview analysis and chain mapping mitigates these shortcomings. Practical implications The Brazilian public and private sectors need to establish a reliable traceability system and information platform. This, together with investments in marketing and branding, would facilitate differential responses among traders and consumers, and, hence, improve supply chain sustainability. Originality/value By adopting an inter-country approach and directly sourcing views from specific key figures in the supply chain this study offers some unique insights and contributes to the literature on the emergence of a multi-polar global food trade.

The “snowball effect” in the transmission of disruptions in supply chains

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 1002-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artur Swierczek
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Chain Structure ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Risk ◽  
Supply Chain Structure ◽  
Snowball Effect

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the link between interorganizational integration with respect to its intensity and span, as well as the propagation and amplification of disruptions alongside a supply chain. Design/methodology/approach The paper opted for an exploratory study using a survey of companies. In order to extract the constructs manifesting the span and intensity of integration between companies in supply chains, the principal component analysis was employed. The obtained factor scores were then used as classification criteria in the cluster analysis. It enabled to include similar organizations in terms of intensity and span of supply chain integration. In order to validate the obtained results, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted and regression models were developed. Findings The findings of the study show that there is a relationship between the intensity and span of supply chain integration and the “snowball effect” in the transmission of disruptions. The obtained findings show that the span of supply chain integration is negatively associated with the strength of the “snowball effect” in the transmission of disruptions. In addition, the results suggest that more intense supply chain integration contributes to the “snowball effect” in material flows in the forward and backward transmission of disruptions. Research limitations/implications Although the current study investigates the intensity and span of integration within the basic, extended and ultimate supply chain structure, it still lacks the broader analysis of the “snowball effect” in the transmission of disruptions. The study investigates this phenomenon only within the basic supply chain structure, constituted by the primary members. Another challenge is to examine if the effects of external risk factors (e.g. natural disasters) may also be transferred to other links in the supply chain structure, and what are the similarities and differences (if any) between the mechanism of propagation and amplification of disruptions elicited by internal and external risk factors. Another future direction of study is to define other ways of identification and measurement of the “snowball effect” in order to make cross-industrial and international comparisons of disruptions amplified in the transmission more standardized and objective. In the current study, the phenomenon of the “snowball effect” is anchored in the subjective opinions of managers who may view the problem from different angles. Consequently, the study is limited to individual perceptions of the strength of disruptions affecting the solicited company, its customers and suppliers. Practical implications In practical terms, the findings provide crucial information for the framework of supply chain risk management and therefore enable its more efficient and effective implementation. The better the managers understand the nature of the “snowball effect” in the transmission of disruptions, the easier it is for them to allocate resources and apply necessary managerial tools to mitigate the negative consequences of risk more effectively. The deliverables of the study also confirm that the interorganizational exchange of information accompanying the supply chain integration enables to mitigate the strength of the “snowball effect” in the transmission of disruptions. Another important implication is the broadening of practical expertise concerning the use of integration not only as a means of obtaining and sustaining supply chain effectiveness and efficiency, but also as the way to mitigate the “snowball effect” in the transmission of disruptions. Therefore, nowadays the supply chain managers are facing another challenging task – namely, how to balance supply chain integration in terms of span and intensity to ensure profits from integration and mitigate the negative risk consequences transmitted among the links in supply chains. Originality/value The paper elaborates on the underestimated issue of the “snowball effect” in the transmission of disruptions and its drivers. In particular, the paper attempts at filling the gap in empirical studies concerning the relationships between the “snowball effect” in the transmission of disruptions and supply chain integration.

Layer analysis of CO2 sources in the US economic supply chains: an input output LCA study

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (10) ◽  
pp. 2171-2193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gokhan Egilmez ◽  
N. Muhammad Aslaam Mohamed Abdul Ghani ◽  
Ridvan Gedik
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Chain Structure ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Input Output ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Supply Chain Structure

Purpose Carbon footprint assessment requires a holistic approach, where all possible lifecycle stages of products from raw material extraction to the end of life are considered. The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical sustainability assessment framework to assess the carbon footprint of US economic supply chains from two perspectives: supply chain layers (tiers) and carbon footprint sources. Design/methodology/approach The methodology consists of two phases. In the first phase, the data were collected from EORA input output and environmental impact assessment database. In the second phase, 48 input-output-based lifecycle assessment models were developed (seven CO2 sources and total CO2 impact, and six supply chain tiers). In the third phase, the results are analyzed by using data visualization, data analytics, and statistical approaches in order to identify the heavy carbon emitter industries and their percentage shares in the supply chains by each layer and the CO2 source. Findings Vast majority of carbon footprint was found to be attributed to the power generation, petroleum refineries, used and secondhand goods, natural gas distribution, scrap, and truck transportation. These industries dominated the entire supply chain structure and found to be the top drivers in all six layers. Practical implications This study decomposes the sources of the total carbon footprint of US economic supply chains into six layers and assesses the percentage contribution of each sector in each layer. Thus, it paves the way for quantifying the carbon footprint of each layer in today’s complex supply chain structure and highlights the importance of handling CO2 source in each layer separately while maintaining a holistic focus on the overall carbon footprint impacts in the big picture. In practice, one size fits all type of policy making may not be as effective as it could be expected. Originality/value This paper provides a two-dimensional viewpoint for tracing/analyzing carbon footprint across a national economy. In the first dimension, the national economic system is divided into six layers. In the second dimension, carbon footprint analysis is performed considering specific CO2 sources, including energy production, solvent, cement and minerals, agricultural burning, natural decay, and waste. Thus, this paper contributes to the state-of-art sustainability assessment by providing a comprehensive overview of CO2 sources in the US economic supply chains.

Supply chain management, electronic collaboration tools and organizational innovativeness

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Lefebvre ◽  
Luc Cassivi ◽  
Louis Lefebvre ◽  
Pierre-Majorique Léger ◽  
Pierre Hadaya
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Electronic Mail ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Chain Structure ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Electronic Collaboration ◽  
Collaboration Tools ◽  
Supply Chain Structure ◽  
The Impact

The paper focuses on three critical but under-investigated issues for supply chain management: (i) the inherent dynamics of a multi-layered supply chain, (ii) the deployment, use and relative efficiency of e-collaboration tools within the supply chain, and (iii) the impact of these tools on the innovativeness of individual firms acting at different layers of the supply chain. The research design covers multiple layers of one supply chain and provides empirical evidence obtained from a multiplecase study and an electronic mail survey. Results point to the intrinsic relationships between supply chain structure and the deployment of e-collaboration tools. Further, results indicate that the level of perceived efficiency of e-collaboration tools is lower at the upstream end of the supply chain and that supply chain execution (SCE) e-collaboration tools are more efficient than the supply chain planning (SCP) tools. The overall findings also suggest that e-collaboration tools can improve supply chain members' ability to innovate in terms of processes and relationships but not yet in terms of products.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document