The Physical Internet – review, analysis and future research agenda

Author(s):  
Henrik Sternberg ◽  
Andreas Norrman

Purpose The Physical Internet (PI) is an emerging concept that applies the Digital Internet as a design metaphor for the development of sustainable, interoperable and collaborative freight transport. With the aim of aiding researchers and policy makers in their future efforts to develop efficient logistics systems, the purpose of this paper is to present a review of the existing literature on the PI, to critically discuss the concept and to outline a research agenda. Design/methodology/approach The literature review investigates scientific papers, project reports, specifications and other publications related to PI. In total, 46 publications were finally analyzed. The approach used in this paper is technology adoption by firms. The authors examine the PI based on four factors: organizational readiness (technological blueprints), external pressure (promised effects), perceived benefits (business model) and adoption. Findings A growing number of strategies, blueprints and specifications have been developed for PI, yet there are no currently developed models that illustrate how the move from the entrenched logistics business models to the PI could ensue. There is a lack of understanding of the business models needed that can involve critical actors and promote the adoption of the PI concept. Research limitations/implications While using the internet as a metaphor for reimagining physical transports is certainly exciting, this review and analysis suggest that several research questions need to be addressed before further PI blueprint work is carried out. Practical implications The “grand challenge” of sustainability in logistics needs to be addressed and improved, but the authors’ analysis suggests that, to some extent, it is uncertain how the PI will contribute to improving sustainability, and why logistics service providers should engage in PI. Policy makers and practitioners are provided with critical issues to consider in the practical development and adoption of the concept. Originality/value This paper provides an outsider and technology-adoption perspective of PI research, as well as important implications for policy makers and researchers.

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Mezias ◽  
Mohamad Fakhreddin

Purpose – Over the last 15 years, articles about the base of the pyramid (BOP) have begun to appear in scholarly business journals. Although attention was driven initially by claims that corporations could earn a fortune selling to these consumers, it became clear that this is difficult. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – To move beyond this difficulty, the authors emphasize the iterative boundary capabilities built by local, for profit enterprises as the key to creating markets at the BOP. Findings – The authors argue that the evolution of the business models to permit firms to earn profits and have positive social impact requires building iterative boundary capabilities and support this claim by reviewing two cases of community based non-profits. Research limitations/implications – Future research should demonstrate that the process the authors observed in these two cases applies in other contexts. Scaling social impact will require sharing knowledge about iterative boundary capabilities and developing best practices that can help effective allocation of patient capital to share best practice and guide public policy. Practical implications – Social entrepreneurs can conceptualize their own enterprises in terms of iterative boundary capabilities. Social investors can use the framework to assess and advise enterprises in which they may or have invested. Policy makers can enact laws and other legal actions to facilitate the formation of iterative boundary capabilities. Social implications – The authors see the framework as part of a broader move toward business models that pursue both positive social impact and profits. Originality/value – The authors link a structuring approach with an institutional perspective to enhance business models that pursue profit and create positive social impact in BOP communities.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan M. Wagner

PurposeStartups are associated with innovation, emerging technologies, digitalization and disruptive business models. This article aims to provide a better understanding of startups in logistics and supply chain management, organizes the contemporary discussion around startups in the supply chain ecosystem and outlines opportunities for future research.Design/methodology/approachThis study draws on the prior supply chain, logistics and entrepreneurship literature and discusses key themes along the six identified startup issues. Furthermore, it proposes several perspectives and theories for grounding future research.FindingsThis study discusses the roles and success factors of startups in the supply chain ecosystem. It lays out how startups need to organize their own supply chains, how supply chain management (SCM) startups incubate and accelerate their ventures, the financing of SCM startups, as well as their positions as service providers, suppliers and customers.Originality/valueThis research brings together the sparse and dispersed literature on startups in the supply chain ecosystem, motivating scholars to increase the involvement of startups as important stakeholders in SCM research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 911-937
Author(s):  
Sunil Mithas ◽  
Charles F. Hofacker ◽  
Anil Bilgihan ◽  
Tarik Dogru ◽  
Vanja Bogicevic ◽  
...  

PurposeThis paper advances a research agenda for service researchers at the intersection of healthcare and information technologies to improve access to quality healthcare at affordable prices. The article reviews key trends to provide an agenda for research focusing on strategies, governance and management of key service processes.Design/methodology/approachThis paper synthesizes literature in information systems, service management, marketing and healthcare operations to suggest a research agenda. The authors draw on frameworks such as the interpretive model of technology, technology acceptance model, assemblage theories and Baumol's cost disease to develop their arguments.FindingsThe paper situates strategy-related service management questions that service providers and consumers face in the context of emerging healthcare and technology trends. It also derives implications for governance choices and questions related to that.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper discusses service management challenges and concludes with an agenda for future research that touches on governance and service management issues.Practical implicationsThis paper provides implications for healthcare service providers and policymakers to understand new trends in healthcare delivery, technologies and facilities management to meet evolving customer needs.Social implicationsThis paper provides implications for managing healthcare services that touch on many social and societal concerns.Originality/valueThis conceptual paper provides background and review of the work at the intersections of information systems, marketing and healthcare operations to draw implications for future research.


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonidas A. Zampetakis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a consumer taxonomy based on experienced emotions during non-deceptive counterfeit consumption situations, which could be useful for public policy makers, marketers, and anti-counterfeiting service providers trying to devise strategies so as to inhibit the problem of counterfeit consumption. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a questionnaire survey/analysis of a sample of 312 randomly selected consumers. Surveys were administrated individually to consumers, through personal contact by the study authors. Data analysis was conducted in three steps: first, descriptive analyses; second, analysis of variance; and third, hierarchical cluster analysis. Findings – Results suggest that during non-deceptive counterfeit consumption situations, consumers experience complex emotions including both positive and negative affect. Furthermore, four different subgroups of consumers experienced relative specific but different emotional reactions. Research limitations/implications – The reported research relied on self-reports and on a sample from Greek consumers. Moreover, data were cross-sectional and alternatives relationships may exist. Future research should be multinational and longitudinal to test the assumptions of the present study and should encompass variables of actual emotions felt during non-deceptive counterfeit consumption situations. Practical implications – Results suggested that four different subgroups of consumers experienced relative specific but different emotional reactions. As a result, the study may help marketers and anti-counterfeiting service providers to establish more refined and more effective marketing strategies. Originality/value – Results of the present research are original and unique and provide new insights for marketing managers in their efforts to decrease counterfeit consumption of their products.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Perić ◽  
Nicholas Wise ◽  
Daniel Dragičević

Purpose Business models describe how value is delivered to customers/consumers. When considering sport tourism, the focus on delivering value shifts to the sport experiences being offered in a destination. The purpose of this paper is to fulfil a void that links concept of business models to the area of sport tourism management by integrating notions of experience. Design/methodology/approach To merge these areas, a review of literature identifies key approaches and missing links. This paper determines research gaps to propose a new holistic research agenda for sport services – specifically relevant to sport tourism. Findings This paper addresses types of sport experiences, economic dimensions of experiences and business models to determine capabilities of delivering different types of experiences. These inter-related fields of analysis represent a platform for both academic and business stakeholders to shape the future of delivering sport tourism experiences based on seeking a wider range of motivations in a specific spatial and activity context. Originality/value A series of research questions and proposals are identified to support the need for future research. Extending understandings of experience in relation to consumer demand has the potential to result in practical elements of sought after experiences being incorporated into business models – aimed at delivering service value.


2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (5) ◽  
pp. 1505-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Bogers ◽  
Henry Chesbrough ◽  
Robert Strand

PurposeThis paper describes the case of how the Danish beer manufacturer, Carlsberg, developed the Green Fiber Bottle as part of its sustainability program through an open innovation approach in collaboration with complementary partners. It thereby illustrates how a grand challenge associated with sustainability can be effectively addressed through open innovation and reveals the opportunities and challenges that emerge in that context.Design/methodology/approachThe paper summarizes some key elements of the case and, in particular, discusses some of the lessons learned, which can be further explored in future research, practice, and policy.FindingsThe case suggests a number of key issues that are relevant when attempting to address grand challenges, in general, and sustainability in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, in particular, namely: leveraging open innovation in the face of sustainability as a grand challenge; sustainability beyond a solid business case; opportunities and challenges in the face of new business models; the importance of early wins for addressing societal challenges for signals and scaling; and the importance of the Nordic context and long-term vision.Originality/valueThe case describes a recent (and to some extent still ongoing) initiative of how a particular F&B company has explored new approaches to developing its sustainability program. Therefore, it highlights some of the unique characteristics of this case. This paper also lays the groundwork for the establishment of “Sustainable Open Innovation” as a domain in its own right.


2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandip Mukhopadhyay ◽  
Parijat Upadhyay

Purpose Platform-driven business models have witnessed a significant proliferation in emerging economies. Such initiatives bring cost-effective services to a larger section of the population, given the reach of mobile phones. Drawing insights from the institutional theory and theories on the multisided platform, this paper aims to examine the impact of institutional intervention and platform competition on the initial adoption and continuance intention of platform-based payment services. Design/methodology/approach The research model is empirically developed through a unique single-case study covering the high-value banknote demonetization in India that was initiated in November 2016. The research is primarily based on archival data and is supported by a limited number of interviews. Findings The research finds that institutional interventions (in multiple forms) have increased people’s eagerness to use mobile payment. Supportive institutional environment and common citizen’s increased eagerness for mobile payment usage resulted in the emergence of multiple mobile payment platforms. Moreover, competition among multiple payment platforms positively impacts the continuance intention of users to use mobile payments. Originality/value The research supplements the present understanding of the technology adoption challenges. The study highlights that the relative success of technology adoption cannot be attributed only to the users’ economic or technological motives, as embodied in the adoption models. Carefully designed interventions by the institutions can reduce users’ inertia in using new technology and positively influence the emergence of multiple platform-based service providers.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milind Padalkar ◽  
Saji Gopinath

Purpose – This study aims to analyze how Indian management practices have influenced the international management research agenda. International interest in India as a business destination has been growing since the Indian policy-makers began opening up the economy in 1991. India’s continuing economic development and integration with global economy has led to a reassessment of its political, social and commercial relevance by the international community. Design/methodology/approach – The authors choose four management disciplines and examine 40 peer-reviewed international journals for research related to India over the period 1991-2014. From the sample of 217 papers, the authors identify the trends, themes and motivations, and discuss the potential for future research. Findings – The authors find that research on India remains flat for the 1991-2000 decade, and starts growing from 2005 onwards. Organizational behavior remains non-participative in the overall growth of research. The authors find very low levels of qualitative research, and none on endogenous phenomena that have been tested for applicability in non-Indian contexts. Marketing research remains mainly peripheral to Indian contexts. Review of highly cited papers reveals that management research on India is at an early stage, and offers fairly significant opportunities for future researchers. Research limitations/implications – Normal limitations of sample-based literature review apply. Further, the literature search is limited to a select set of highly ranked journals. Originality/value – Studies analyzing themes related to Indian contexts in international publications are sparse. To the best of authors’ knowledge, no study of this nature exists in literature. This study makes a primary contribution for future management researchers across the four areas by informing on the research trends, journal outlets, and the characteristics of the research agenda.


Author(s):  
Helen Rogers ◽  
Norbert Baricz ◽  
Kulwant S. Pawar

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and classify the available types of 3D printing services, with the scope of determining the potential implications that such services could have on the supply chains of manufacturing firms and creating a research agenda for future studies. Design/methodology/approach The authors review the current literature on the potential supply chain impacts of 3D printing and evaluate the 3D printing services provided by 404 firms in selected European markets. Findings The results show that 3D printing services form a rapidly evolving industry, with new service providers entering the market on a regular basis. Evidence from the European markets investigated suggests that services can be classified into three distinct categories: generative, facilitative and selective services. Research limitations/implications This paper represents an attempt to take stock of a fast-moving and potentially paradigm-shifting market. The implications are dynamic as new applications, business models and techniques are continually being developed. Further studies are required to substantiate the findings. Practical implications Three categories of 3D printing services that could significantly impact supply chain configurations of the future are proposed. Several issues specific to 3D printing services raised in the research agenda require further scrutiny and substantiation before services can reach their full potential. Originality/value This paper provides an overview of the growing 3D printing services industry, highlighting how the market might change as additive manufacturing technology matures.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Garry ◽  
Tracy Harwood

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and explore potential applications of cyborgian technologies within service contexts and how service providers may leverage the integration of cyborgian service actors into their service proposition. In doing so, the paper proposes a new category of “melded” frontline employees (FLEs), where advanced technologies become embodied within human actors. The paper presents potential opportunities and challenges that may arise through cyborg technological advancements and proposes a future research agenda related to these. Design/methodology/approach This study draws on literature in the fields of services management, artificial intelligence, robotics, intelligence augmentation (IA) and human intelligence to conceptualise potential cyborgian applications. Findings The paper examines how cyborg bio- and psychophysical characteristics may significantly differentiate the nature of service interactions from traditional “unenhanced” service interactions. In doing so, the authors propose “melding” as a conceptual category of technological impact on FLEs. This category reflects the embodiment of emergent technologies not previously captured within existing literature on cyborgs. The authors examine how traditional roles of FLEs will be potentially impacted by the integration of emergent cyborg technologies, such as neural interfaces and implants, into service contexts before outlining future research directions related to these, specifically highlighting the range of ethical considerations. Originality/value Service interactions with cyborg FLEs represent a new context for examining the potential impact of cyborgs. This paper explores how technological advancements will alter the individual capacities of humans to enable such employees to intuitively and empathetically create solutions to complex service challenges. In doing so, the authors augment the extant literature on cyborgs, such as the body hacking movement. The paper also outlines a research agenda to address the potential consequences of cyborgian integration.


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