Interpersonal and inter-organizational relationship drivers of supply chain integration

2018 ◽  
Vol 118 (6) ◽  
pp. 1170-1191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bill Wang ◽  
Yuanfei Kang ◽  
Paul Childerhouse ◽  
Baofeng Huo
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Personal Communication ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Multiple Case

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how interpersonal relationships (IPRs) and inter-organisational relationships (IORs) interact with each other as driving forces of supply chain integration (SCI). More specifically (the) three dimensions of IPR – personal affection, personal credibility, and personal communication – are examined in regards to how they affect inter-organisational relationships during SCI. Design/methodology/approach The research employed an exploratory multiple case study approach with four New Zealand case companies selected as the empirical basis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews of managerial executives in relation to supply chain activities, which were triangulated with company archival data. Findings The authors found that IPRs are able to interact with IORs to influence the integration of supply chains. More specifically, IPRs influence IORs by initiating organisational relationships in the SCI context; and influences from IPR dimensions on IORs tend to be of differing magnitudes and have different evolutional paths across the whole SCI process. Originality/value This research contributes to knowledge about the roles and mechanisms through which IPRs shape and enable inter-organisational level relationships within the SCI context.

Service supply chain integration: the role of interpersonal relationships

2018 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 828-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bill Wang ◽  
Yuanfei Kang ◽  
Paul Childerhouse ◽  
Baofeng Huo
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Information Integration ◽  
Personal Communication ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Supply Chain

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of interpersonal relationships (IPRs) in service supply chain integration (SSCI) in terms of strategic alliance, information integration, and process integration. Design/methodology/approach The research employs an exploratory/investigational approach to multiple case studies and empirically investigates effects of IPRs in SSCI. The data were mainly collected through semi-structured interviews with senior management staff from four service companies and their suppliers or customers in New Zealand. Archival data from the Internet and company documentations were also applied. Findings The authors find that three dimensions of IPRs influence SSCI in different ways. The effect of IPRs on SSCI is indirect: personal affection acts as an initiator, and personal credibility works as a “gate-keeper” and strengthens the confidence of interactive partners, while personal communication, a facilitator, plays a more important role in SSCI than personal affection and credibility. Practical implications The research provides managers in service supply chains the awareness of the importance of IPRs, as well as the characteristics of IPRs, in order to best utilize available resources. Managers should synergize all three dimensions of IPRs’ resources: make efforts to cultivate personal affection to avoid the instinctive isolation modern technology brings; attempt to accumulate positive personal credibility profiles; focus more on the role of personal communication and retain physical contact in SSCI processes. Originality/value This study contributes to SSCI literature by extending from the inter-organizational relationships (IORs) to interpersonal level relationships to explore the inner influence mechanism. Also, it explores the role of IPRs on all three dimensions of SSCI simultaneously rather than individual dimensions independently. Finally, it contributes to resource orchestration theory (ROT) by synthesizing three dimensions of IPRs resources, and IORs resources in order to achieve capabilities of SSCI. The study develops the individual-level research in supply chain integration (SCI) to a further depth.

The moderating role of remote work in the relationship between organizational culture and OCB: case studies from the financial sector

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoltán Krajcsák ◽  
Anita Kozák
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Organizational Citizenship Behavior ◽  
Financial Sector ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Citizenship Behavior ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Home Office ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to show how remote working affects employees' organizational citizenship behavior (OCB).Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted research on organizations in the financial sector, as this segment was able to easily adapt to the challenges of remote working and teleworking. They used the case study approach: they analyzed organizational documents and management communications related to crisis management back to March 2020, when the pandemic started in Hungary, and conducted semi-structured interviews with managers and subordinates.FindingsThe results highlighted that the dominant organizational culture determines the effects of remote working on OCB. In organizations with a dominant market culture, OCB has changed the least because of the home office, with only a decline in the dimension of civic virtue. In organizations with a dominant clan culture, conscientiousness decreased, while the other three dimensions increased. The dominant hierarchy culture reacted the most unfavorably, excluding the dimension of courtesy, as all dimensions decreased.Originality/valueThe study shows how the pandemic and working in home office have changed the dimensions of OCB in different organizational cultures.

Supply chain integration and coordination for international sourcing in the context of China’s processing trade

2018 ◽  
Vol 118 (9) ◽  
pp. 1730-1748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingu Kang ◽  
Kihyun Park ◽  
Ma Ga (Mark) Yang ◽  
Mark H. Haney
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Processing Trade ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
International Sourcing ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Simple Assembly

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how a foreign invested manufacturing company’s (FIMC) components sourcing process evolves in order to improve its supply chain outcomes in the context of China’s processing trade. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in the theory bases of the international sourcing process and supply chain integration, this study utilizes a single-case-study approach with a small- to medium-sized FIMC engaged in China’s processing trade. Findings This study identifies three stages of the components sourcing process: simple assembly stage, components localization stage and supply chain integration stage. In addition, the case study suggests that the type of processing trade evolves from processing with supplied materials to processing with imported materials as the sourcing process proceeds through the three stages and the internal and external environments change. Originality/value To our knowledge, this paper is the first to focus on an FIMC’s components sourcing process in the context of China’s processing trade. It contributes to a better understanding of how FIMCs progress through the components sourcing process and apply different types of processing trade in China to maximize their supply chain outcomes.

Enablers of supply chain integration: a technology-organization-environment view

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Tian ◽  
Baofeng Huo ◽  
Youngwon Park ◽  
Mingu Kang
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Manufacturing Strategy ◽  
Holistic Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Supplier Integration ◽  
Toe Framework

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to empirically explore the effects and interaction effect of human resources and digital manufacturing technologies (DMTs) on supply chain integration (SCI) and how their roles are influenced by competition.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, this study builds and tests a holistic model based on the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey (IMSS) project database.FindingsThe results show that human resources and DMTs have significant positive effects on three dimensions of SCI. Competition positively moderates the effects of human resources on customer integrations, negatively moderates the effects of human resource on internal integration, but does not moderate the effects of human resources on supplier integration. Besides, the moderating effect of competition has not been found in the relationships between DMTs and three SCI dimensions.Originality/valueBy investigating the effects of human resources and DMTs on SCI practices in the context of competition, this study contributes to the literature on SCI, DMTs and the TOE framework as well as offers practical insights that help manufacturing firms to promote SCI more effectively and efficiently.

Building a business model for a new form of hospitality: the albergo diffuso

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 307-323
Author(s):  
Silvia Fissi ◽  
Alberto Romolini ◽  
Elena Gori
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Opportunity ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Local Traditions ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Village

Purpose In recent years, tourists have become more interested in discovery the authenticity of a destination. The albergo diffuso (AD) is a response to this new requirement of tourist experience. The AD indeed is based on an accommodation solution with rooms distributed in various buildings across a village. The purpose of this study is to analyze the AD business model supporting the development of this emerging business opportunity in the accommodation industry. Design/methodology/approach The research is conducted with a multiple case study approach, collecting data from different sources such as semi-structured interviews and archival research. The cases are all located in Italy where the AD was applied for the first time. Findings The AD business model is based on business idea, value creation and innovation. The business idea is based on the aim to contribute to the renaissance of a village with an emotional link between the entrepreneur and the village. Regarding the value creation, the AD is a form of accommodation that offers more than a hotel experience. The tourist can live like a resident and experiencing local traditions and culture. The innovation is indeed related to the services that are totally different from a traditional hotel. Originality/value Considering the previous studies, this research tries to fill the gap concerning the necessity to define the characteristics of the AD business model and to understand the key elements at the base of this hospitality approach.

An employee-oriented perspective in the value-creating mission of social enterprises

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Quynh-Trang Nguyen ◽  
Ming-Yen Lee ◽  
Yi-Chung Hu
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Contract ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Equal Importance ◽  
Primary Means ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
New Perspective

Purpose This study aims to concentrate on a specific perspective that has mostly been ignored: employees in social enterprises (SEs). It proposes that employees in SEs should be treated with equal importance to outside beneficiaries within the SEs’ value-creating mission. Design/methodology/approach A multiple case study approach is adopted, and semi-structured interviews are the primary means of data collection. Findings The results show that while economic values are fundamental for the employment relationship, social values play the leading role in employees’ motivation; thus, they can significantly affect the organization’s operation and development. Research limitations/implications This work contributes to Maslow’s need theory and psychological contract theory regarding their application to SEs. Practical lessons and suggestions are also provided for SEs’ development. Originality/value By emphasizing the value-creating mission of SEs with the new perspective of including employees in it, this work provides empirical evidence and practical lessons for SEs, especially Asian SEs, in terms of management and strategy.

The impact of organizational culture on supply chain integration: a contingency and configuration approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Cao ◽  
Baofeng Huo ◽  
Yuan Li ◽  
Xiande Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Theoretical Terms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supplier Integration ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – This study aims to bridge the gap in understanding the effects of organizational culture on supply chain integration (SCI) by examining the relationships between organizational cultures and SCI. The extant studies investigating the antecedents of SCI focus mainly on environments, interfirm relationships and other firm-level factors. These studies generally overlook the role of organizational culture. The few studies that do examine the effects of organizational culture on SCI show inconsistent findings. Design/methodology/approach – By placing organizational culture within the competing value framework (CVF), this study establishes a conceptual model for the relationships between organizational culture and SCI. The study uses both a contingency approach and a configuration approach to examine these proposed relationships using data collected from 317 manufacturers across ten countries. Findings – The contingency results indicate that both development and group culture are positively related to all three dimensions of SCI. However, rational culture is positively related only to internal integration, and hierarchical culture is negatively related to both internal and customer integration. The configuration approach identifies four profiles of organizational culture: the Hierarchical, Flexible, Flatness and Across-the-Board profiles. The Flatness profile shows the highest levels of development, group and rational cultures and the lowest level of hierarchical culture. The Flatness profile also achieves the highest levels of internal, customer and supplier integration. Research limitations/implications – This study is subject to several limitations. In theoretical terms, this study does not resolve all of the inconsistencies in the relationship between organizational culture and SCI. In terms of methodology, this study uses cross-sectional data from high-performance manufacturers. Such data cannot provide strong causal explanations, but only broad and general findings. Practical implications – This study reminds managers to consider organizational culture when they implement SCI. The study also provides clues to help managers in assessing and adjusting organizational culture as necessary for SCI. Originality/value – This study makes two theoretical contributions. First, by examining the relationships between organizational culture and SCI in a new context, the findings of the study provide additional evidence to reconcile the previously inconsistent findings on this subject. Second, by departing from the previous practice of investigating only particular dimensions of organizational culture, this study adopts a combined contingency and configuration approach to address both the individual and synergistic effects of all dimensions of organizational culture. This more comprehensive approach deepens our understanding of the relationship between organizational culture and SCI.

The impacts of intra-organizational structural elements on supply chain integration

2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (5) ◽  
pp. 1031-1045
Author(s):  
Yanming Zhang ◽  
Xiande Zhao ◽  
Baofeng Huo
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Supplier Integration ◽  
Human Goodness

PurposeFollowing resource-based view, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of three intra-organizational structural elements on supply chain integration (SCI).Design/methodology/approachBased on data collected from ten countries, this study employs the structural equation modeling method to test the proposed model.FindingsThe results demonstrate that teamwork culture is positively related to three dimensions of SCI. Organizational commitment has positive effects on internal and customer integration (CI), whereas it has no significant effect on supplier integration (SI). Human goodness is only positively related to internal integration, but has no significant effect on SI or CI.Originality/valueThis study contributes to both structural elements literature and SCI enabler literature by operationalizing three human-related components of structural elements and empirically investigating relationships between intra-organizational structural elements and SCI.

Inhibitors and enablers of supply chain integration across multiple supply chain tiers: evidence from Malawi

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kizito Elijah Kanyoma ◽  
Frank Wogbe Agbola ◽  
Richard Oloruntoba
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Focal Firm ◽  
Culture Of Fear ◽  
Major Supplier ◽  
Internal Integration

PurposeThis paper investigates the inhibitors and enablers of supply chain integration (SCI) across multiple tiers in the supply chains of manufacturing-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malawi.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a qualitative approach, data were collected through face-to-face interviews across three supply chains, each consisting of a focal manufacturer, a major supplier and a retailer.FindingsThe research identified interpersonal relationships, supplier cost transparency and joint supply chain management (SCM) investments as key enablers of SCI. Concerning the inhibitors of SCI, the study found that a lack of external integration inhibited internal integration by acting as a source of disruption to intra-firm processes and relationships. Further, the research found weaker links between manufacturer–-retailer dyads than in manufacturer–supplier dyads, which constrained the ability to achieve multi-tier supplier–manufacture–retailer integration. The study also revealed that resource and infrastructural deficiencies, a culture of fear and intimidation within and between firms, corruption in sourcing transactions and a lack of inter-firm trust inhibited SCI.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper extends earlier evidence that internal integration is a prerequisite for external integration demonstrating that a basic level of external integration is necessary to prevent disruptions to internal integration.Originality/valueThis study is one of the few to go beyond the focal firm perspective and explore the inhibitors and enablers of SCI across multiple supply chain positions, and provides new evidence on the role of external integration in achieving internal integration.

An evaluation of supply chain integration across multi-tier supply chains of manufacturing-based SMEs in Malawi

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 1001-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kizito Elijah Kanyoma ◽  
Frank Wogbe Agbola ◽  
Richard Oloruntoba
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Resource Dependence ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Heterogeneous Firms ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Dyadic Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Firm Commitment

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explain the interrelationships in internal and external supply chain integration (SCI) across multiple tiers of manufacturing-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a developing country, Malawi. Design/methodology/approach Utilizing the resource-based view, resource-dependence and network theory perspectives, and drawing on a multiple embedded case-study approach, the research investigated the internal and external linkages within three-tier supplier, manufacturer and retailer SCs and described varying perspectives of SCI across supply chain positions. Findings Firms with strategic intra-firm resources were less committed to external integration, deploying their resources as a source of power to dominate and exploit their dependent partners. The SCI across multiple tiers was impaired by dependence but enhanced by interdependence strategies of firms. Although lack of trust, promotion of non-overlapping self-interests, corruption in sourcing processes and resource constraints negatively affected SCI, firm commitment to external integration promoted greater commitment among firms, thus having a positive effect on SCI. Research limitations/implications Further analysis of SCI of SME triads and a more systematic longitudinal analysis across other market segments should be explored to generalize the conclusions of this study. Practical implications The external influences on dyadic relationships go beyond the interactions of heterogeneous firms in the network to encompass interpersonal interactions across the network, where individuals may potentially prioritize personal connections and sabotage the interests of their firms. Originality/value The research explored the internal and external dimensions of SCI in multi-tier SCs of SMEs, and provided for the first time new evidence to show that firm commitment to engaging with partners complements the mechanisms of SCI within a developing country context. It highlights the need to develop trust, eliminate corruption, promote greater commitment of SC partners and encourage greater investment in firms’ resource capabilities to enhance SCI among SMEs.

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