scholarly journals Knowledge exchange and social capital in supply chains

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Indria Handoko ◽  
Mike Bresnen ◽  
Yanuar Nugroho
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Multidimensional Analysis ◽  
Shop Floor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Modes Of Governance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Levels

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute toward a better understanding of the impact of social capital on knowledge exchange within supply chains. An exploratory case study approach is used to identify the effects of social capital across multiple organizational levels and to consider how these effects relate to the mode of supply chain governance. Design/methodology/approach A comparative case study investigation was undertaken of two Indonesian automotive component suppliers. Qualitative research methods were used with data collection involving semi-structured interviews with 64 participants at three different levels within each company (senior managers, middle managers and shop floor staff). Findings Comparisons between the cases highlight the major consequences that internal differentiation within organizations had in moderating the effect of social capital upon knowledge exchange in supply chains. Social capital had both enabling and inhibiting effects and these were dependent upon how social capital was constituted within and between organizations. Interaction effects between levels and with the mode of governance adopted were also important. Research limitations/implications Future research would benefit from a multidimensional analysis of social capital in supply chains which considers potentially disparate and contradictory effects which may be apparent when social capital is examined at different levels of analysis and in relation to different modes of governance. Originality/value The paper uses in-depth exploratory case research to complement existing survey-based work and contributes to the further conceptualization of relationships between social capital, knowledge exchange and modes of governance in supply chains.

Academic consulting – income stream, impact and brand building

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Kinnunen ◽  
Emmi Holm ◽  
Anna-Maria Nordman ◽  
Solveig Roschier
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brand Building ◽  
International Benchmarking ◽  
Income Stream ◽  
Corporate Funding ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Time Limitations

Purpose Universities are expected to accelerate and optimize their role as economic growth engines. Technology transfer is a traditional way of expanding knowledge exchange, and it is typically used in hard sciences. This paper aims to discuss academic consultancy as a novel way to bring especially social sciences, humanities and arts (SSHA sciences) knowledge into the society. In addition, it seeks practical ways to combine both university’s and individual researcher’s needs in consultancy. Design/methodology/approach A case study comprising interviews at two Finnish universities was conducted. Literature on academic consulting was used as background knowledge. International benchmarking was done through interviews and desk top studies. Some background statistics was extracted from the financial database for received research funding from businesses and ministries. Findings Corporate funding is most prominent in hard sciences, and SSHA sciences seem to get their funding mainly from public sources. SSHA researchers provide services for firms, but these relationships are generally private. According to interviews, there is will to consult firms through university, but researcher’s time limitations, remuneration and academic merit related to consultancy are important factors when consultancy guidelines are drawn. The administration view is expanded from only research staff to include the entire university knowledge production ecosystem and its members. Originality/value Acknowledging the value of SSHA sciences is topical because the respect towards humanities and social studies seems to be in decline in some developed countries. However, according to this study, academic consulting could have great potential in bringing the human perspective into the digitalized society. The quantification of knowledge exchange would benefit from formal, institutionalized consultancy sales. More studies are needed to assess the impact of academic consultancy on society.

Kanban-driven parts feeding within a semi-automated O-shaped assembly line: a case study in the automotive industry

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo M. Savino ◽  
Antonio Mazza
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Objective Function ◽  
Assembly Line ◽  
Shop Floor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Loop Layout ◽  
Parts Feeding ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The aim of the present work is to provide a case study where lean production (LP) techniques are implemented in a semi-automated assembly line with O-shaped (closed-loop) layout configuration. The action research has been conducted within an assembly line for automotive components. The work aims to provide insights on the impact of loop layout features with respect to lean principles’ application; operative solutions related to some logistic limit of loop layout; and how kanban technique can be adapted to an O-shaped layout. Design/methodology/approach – The main research methodology is based on action research within an assembly line of oil pumps. The two research questions find answer through literature analysis and implementation of LP in the O-shaped layout. In the A3 step, we identify the main weak points of a loop layout also under the perspective of operators’ feeling. The analysis of the main constraints is conducted in this step, with respect to the most common layout used within LP adoption. Steps A4 and A5 answer to RQ2 by an on-field results’ analysis. Findings – The use of an O-shaped layout may allow to improve ergonomic conditions for workers; to better organize parts feeding through slides and chutes because of the presence of operators outside the line. The new approach to determine the number of withdrawal kanban potentially extends the findings of Tardif et al. (2012): the minimum of the objective function is reached with a higher number of withdrawal kanbans. Research limitations/implications – The approach is applied within a stand-alone line, while in several industrial contexts, we may find several of these lines in the same shop floor. In this case, LP implementation would cope with the several kanban cards circulating, the over-saturation of the logistic operator in supplying all the lines with smaller quantities of materials. Practical implications – The action research resulted in the introduction of a new concept of supermarket, conceived as a decoupling buffer that lies near the line and in the review feeding devices, with the adoption of bins and operators’ feeding chutes. Parts’ feeding systems is reorganized with a two levels of withdrawal kanban. The introduction of line supermarket and the change of supply policies from pallets to bins contributed to the strong reduction of average work-in-progress. Yet, the double-withdrawal kanban and the small quantities supplied may cause an increase of material handling times and meters covered by operators. Social implications – Better working condition of the line operators because of the presence of ergonomic chutes for parts’ feeding. In contrast, we observed a high saturation of logistic operator because of the small quantities of components supplied on the line, with an increased stress of this worker. Originality/value – A decoupled withdrawal kanban (DWK) is developed. In DWK, the first withdrawal is issued to the supermarket that serves the line. The second withdrawal kanban is issued from the supermarket to the central warehouse. Within DWK, we propose a modified dimensioning formula through minimization of the objective function Z(k). Parts’ feeding is now organized with sliding chutes on operators’ workstations to collect components in accordance to kanban dimensioning.

Social capital and integrated reporting

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Casonato ◽  
Federica Farneti ◽  
John Dumay
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Impression Management ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Fashion ◽  
The Impact

Purpose To present the continuation of a case study by Beck et al. (2017) on an Australian bank (CBD) during the period 2004–2013 by examining whether integrated reporting affects relational capital and helps to repair an organisations’ reputation. Both studies examine how a bank rocked by a major scandal in 2004 has attempted to repair its legitimacy through integrated reporting (<IR>). The paper aims to discuss these issue. Design/methodology/approach This study is a post facto analysis based on the original research from Beck et al. (2017). The research process involved a case study approach with an analysis framed by impression management theory to investigate whether the information in CBD’s integrated reports is consistent with other information available to investors. Findings The authors find there is a gap between what CBD discloses in its integrated reports and what is publicly available in other media. CBD’s talk and actions are not aligned, and that asymmetry translates into a decline of trust in CBD. The bank’s integrated reports reveal how management discloses or withholds information to protect their own interests and at their own discretion. These conclusions indicate that the integrated reporting paradigm is being co-opted by IM strategies to improve legitimacy through trust, reputation and social capital. Research limitations/implications Future research needs to reach beyond the organisational boundaries and understand if <IR> adds value for society, or is just a new form of multicapitalism, being an ideology to help the rich become richer? The answers are important if we ever hope to see misconduct disappear from our corporations and for company reports to become documents bearing truth and not espouse rhetoric based on organisational hypocrisy. Originality/value The paper adds to the growing body of research investigating <IR> in practice to understand the impact of <IR> and whether it is a new and useful reporting tool or just another management fashion.

scholarly journals Evolution of the migratory supply chain model

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 603-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Potter ◽  
Denis R Towill ◽  
Martin Christopher
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Original Work ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Chain Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Model ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reflect upon the impact of the original work and provide an updated model to reflect the changing environment for supply chains. In 2000, a migratory model for supply chain evolution was proposed. Design/methodology/approach – The authors start by analysing the content of the papers that have cited the original Christopher and Towill (2000) paper. The development of an updated migratory model is informed by the findings from this, and then demonstrated through a case study of the book supply chain. Findings – Despite being the major contribution, the majority of citing papers actually use other parts of the original work, and some potential reasons for this are proposed. An extra stage is added to the migratory model, reflecting a customer centric strategy. Research limitations/implications – Given that the migratory model appears under-researched, the authors identify this as an opportunity for future research and suggest that methods less common in supply chain management are used. Practical implications – The updated migratory model can be used by supply chain managers to develop appropriate supply chain strategies for their organisations, while emphasising that many of the underlying tools to enable this reflect traditional industrial engineering approaches. Originality/value – The updated migratory model represents a new contribution to understanding the evolution of supply chains.

Exploring vulnerability and resilience of shipping for coastal communities during disruptions: findings from a case study of Vancouver Island in Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samsul Islam ◽  
Floris Goerlandt ◽  
Mohammad Jasim Uddin ◽  
Yangyan Shi ◽  
Noorul Shaiful Fitri Abdul Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Vancouver Island ◽  
Coastal Communities ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study aims to improve understanding of how coastal maritime transport system of Vancouver Island would be disrupted in disaster events, and the strategies could be used to address such risks. Any transport disruption at the maritime leg of the supply chain can affect the needs of vulnerable residents and thus, the supply of many goods to coastal communities.Design/methodology/approachThis case study focuses on the disruption that can be expected to occur for ferries that serves coastal communities of Vancouver Island in Canada. A landslide scenario in the Fraser River (which connects coastal communities) is developed, and interviews and focus groups are used to gain understanding of the vulnerability and resilience of shipping.FindingsThe findings show that the maritime leg of the supply chain for the coastal communities of Vancouver Island is resilient to a landslide disruption of ferries. Besides, there would be no impact on the operability of tugs and barges. This study also offers suggestions for creating the conditions for increasing resilience of maritime supply chains to any such disruption.Research limitations/implicationsA research gap exists with respect to minimizing disruption in maritime supply chains, mainly in regard to lessening the impact on the vulnerable residents of coastal communities. This study contributes to filling this gap in the literature.Practical implicationsThe findings have significant implications for maritime service providers and for people working on disaster preparedness, emergency response and recovery.Originality/valueStudies which focus on alleviating the impact of disruptions in the maritime supply chains and the mitigation strategies for coastal communities are scarce in the literature.

scholarly journals A Case Study of Knowledge Exchange in a Hierarchical Mechanism

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Indria Handoko
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Knowledge Flow ◽  
Shop Floor ◽  
Governance Mechanism ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Different Levels

This research investigates knowledge exchange in an organization applying hierarchical mechanisms, and the influence of social interactions on knowledge flow across different levels of analysis. The research uses a qualitative case study method of an Indonesian automotive component-making company, applying semi-structured interviews, observations, and focus groups at interorganizational, internal company, and shop floor levels. The research main finding is that in an organization applying hierarchical mechanisms, social interactions that exist at one level are able to influence interactions at other levels, and that the interactions can both facilitate and inhibit knowledge exchange across levels and boundaries. The application of any formal mechanism at interorganizational level needs to consider both the dynamics operating at social level and the potentially disparate and contradictory effects it may have if its aim is to promote knowledge flow across levels. The application of in-depth exploratory case study research contributes to the conceptualization of relationships between knowledge exchange, social interactions, and governance mechanism.

Supply chain collaboration for sustainability: a qualitative investigation of food supply chains in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natália Rohenkohl do Canto ◽  
Marilia Bonzanini Bossle ◽  
Luciana Marques Vieira ◽  
Marcia Dutra De Barcellos
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Supply Chain Collaboration ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Capital Perspective

PurposeThis paper investigates how chain members collaborate to ensure the sustainability of supply chains through the social capital perspective.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a case study design, three social capital mechanisms – reach, richness and receptivity – were used as a lens with two eco-innovative food companies and their respective supply chains in Southern Brazil. Data consisted of interviews and other sources of evidence obtained from multiple stakeholders.FindingsResults highlight the importance of a managerial orientation for sustainability and that sustainable chains presuppose a network that is closely linked and with great affinity. Not only does the management of operations improve the green performance of companies for environmental benchmarking but it also expands to include the supply chain. Social capital mechanisms can encourage partners to develop strategic initiatives for sustainability, especially if managers share key drivers for adopting eco-innovations and overall chain sustainability.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to research on collaboration within sustainable supply chain management. Empirical data were gathered from different stakeholders in two food chains in a developing country. Through the lens of social capital mechanisms, the paper shows how different types of companies collaborate in their supply chain for sustainability.

The effects of brokered network governance on relational embeddedness in the triadic supply chains: is there a room for the “Coleman rent”?

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artur Swierczek
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Network Governance ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Structural Hole ◽  
Relational Embeddedness ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore whether brokered network governance, run by the manufacturer, affects relational embeddedness and thus contributes to yielding the Coleman rent in the triadic supply chains. Design/methodology/approach Building upon the theoretical tenets of transaction cost analysis, complemented by the underpinnings of social capital theory, this study involves an empirical investigation that uses survey data collected from the triadic supply chains in Europe. The research covers a two-step analysis. In the first step, the Coleman rent was estimated through the regression analysis with the interaction effects. Then, partial least squares–structural equation modeling was used to estimate the reflective-formative nature of higher component model and test the research hypotheses. Findings The results of the study demonstrate that the distribution of three mechanisms in network governance is relatively even; however, market and hierarchy still emerge as the most impactful dimensions. Interestingly, though, this study shows that social capital can actually coexist with market and hierarchy in the triadic supply chains with the structural hole. Likewise, the research indicates that the impact of brokered network governance on the strength of network relational embeddedness is significant, but relatively weak, whereas network relational embeddedness has a strong and positive effect on the Coleman rent. Research limitations/implications This study makes three major contributions. First, this study is one of very few that explicitly considers brokered network governance, run by the manufacturer positioned on the structural hole in its triadic supply chain. Second, as the triadic perspective is still uncommon in the supply chain studies, this research investigates a triad with the structural hole within the manufacturing setting. Third, the paper seeks to investigate the ability to yield the Coleman rent in the triadic supply chains with the structural hole, although this type of rent is typically linked to another arrangement called closure. Originality/value Given the increasing attention paid to the role of social capital within supply chains, this study investigates how relational embeddedness can be used by the manufacturer, sitting on the structural hole and running the network governance mechanism, to yield the Coleman rent in the triadic supply chain.

scholarly journals ‘I’m not being paid for this conversation’: Uncovering the challenges of artist–academic collaborations in the neoliberal institution

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-333
Author(s):  
Alena Pfoser ◽  
Sara de Jong
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
The Political ◽  
Institutional Pressures ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Collective Response ◽  
And Shifts ◽  
The Impact

Artist–academic collaborations are fuelled by increasing institutional pressures to show the impact of academic research. This article departs from the celebratory accounts of collaborative work and pragmatic toolkits for successful partnerships, which are dominant in existing scholarship, arguing for the need to critically interrogate the structural conditions under which collaborations take place. Based on a reflexive case study of a project developed in the context of Tate Exchange, one of the UK’s highest-profile platforms for knowledge exchange, we reveal three sets of (unequal) pressures, which mark artist–academic collaborations in the contemporary neoliberal academy: asymmetric funding and remuneration structures; uneven pressures of audit cultures; acceleration and temporal asymmetries. Innovations at the level of individual projects or partners can only mitigate the negative effects to a limited extent. Instead this article offers a systemic critique of the political economy of artist–academic collaborations and shifts the research agenda to developing a collective response.

Social capital and national innovation system: a cross-country analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepehr Ghazinoory ◽  
Ali Bitaab ◽  
Ardeshir Lohrasbi
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
National Level ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect

Purpose – In the last two decades, researchers have paid much attention to the role of cultural values on economic and social development. In particular, the crucial role of different aspects of culture on the development of innovation has been stressed in the literature. Consequently, it is vital to understand how social capital, as a core cultural value, affects the innovation process and the innovative performance at the national level. However, to date, the impact of different dimensions of social capital and innovation has not been properly portrayed or explained. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of four different dimensions of social capital (institutional and interpersonal, associational life and norms) on two of the main functions of national innovation system (NIS) (entrepreneurship and knowledge creation) based on over 50,000 observations in 34 countries. Design/methodology/approach – In this regard, national-level data from the World Values Survey database was employed to quantify social capital. Entrepreneurship is, in turn, assumed to consist of three sub-indexes and 14 indicators based on the Global Entrepreneurship Index. Knowledge creation is also measured through US Patent Office applications. Also, exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling approach were used to build the measurement model and investigate the impact that each factor of social capital had on entrepreneurship and knowledge application, respectively. Measurement and structural models were built and their reliability and validity were tested using various fit indices. Research findings suggest the strong positive effect of institutional trust and networking on entrepreneurship. Also, interpersonal trust and networks were shown to have high influence on knowledge development at the national level. Norms appear to have naïve to medium negative effects on both functions. Findings – Research findings suggest the strong positive effect of institutional trust and networking on entrepreneurship. Also, interpersonal trust and networks were shown to have high influence on knowledge development at the national level. Norms appear to have naïve to medium negative effects on both functions. Originality/value – However, to date, the impact of different dimensions of social capital and innovation has not been properly portrayed or explained.

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