scholarly journals An emergent form of client-led supply chain governance in UK construction: CLANS

Author(s):  
Stuart Tennant ◽  
◽  
Scott Fernie ◽  

Drawing inspiration and legitimacy from the traditions of organisational theory and in particular alternative mechanisms of organisational governance, the research explores an emergent, clan form of client-led supply chain governance in UK construction. Clan mechanisms of organisational governance are described as hybrid structures of exchange, neither pro-market nor organisational hierarchy. Not to be mistaken with alternative mechanisms of exchange such as networks, clan forms of client-led supply chain management are readily distinguishable by their highly socialised marketplace, enduring relationships and community of practice. A qualitative research strategy is adopted for this exploration of clan forms of client-led supply chain governance. Data collection uses semi-structured interviews, recorded, coded and analyzed. Participants include senior industry figures from a cross-section of construction stakeholder organisations, including client bodies, first tier service providers and construction contractors. In contrast to much of the prevailing work in construction supply chain management research, the findings draw specific attention to a hybrid form of organisational governance rarely discussed: namely clans. In light of challenging economic conditions, the recognition and potential contribution of clans as an alternative mechanism of governance is a timely and valuable contribution to the ongoing construction supply chain management debate.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Tino Herden

Purpose: Analytics research is increasingly divided by the domains Analytics is applied to. Literature offers little understanding whether aspects such as success factors, barriers and management of Analytics must be investigated domain-specific, while the execution of Analytics initiatives is similar across domains and similar issues occur. This article investigates characteristics of the execution of Analytics initiatives that are distinct in domains and can guide future research collaboration and focus. The research was conducted on the example of Logistics and Supply Chain Management and the respective domain-specific Analytics subfield of Supply Chain Analytics. The field of Logistics and Supply Chain Management has been recognized as early adopter of Analytics but has retracted to a midfield position comparing different domains.Design/methodology/approach: This research uses Grounded Theory based on 12 semi-structured Interviews creating a map of domain characteristics based of the paradigm scheme of Strauss and Corbin.Findings: A total of 34 characteristics of Analytics initiatives that distinguish domains in the execution of initiatives were identified, which are mapped and explained. As a blueprint for further research, the domain-specifics of Logistics and Supply Chain Management are presented and discussed.Originality/value: The results of this research stimulates cross domain research on Analytics issues and prompt research on the identified characteristics with broader understanding of the impact on Analytics initiatives. The also describe the status-quo of Analytics. Further, results help managers control the environment of initiatives and design more successful initiatives.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 445
Author(s):  
Wen-Kuo Chen ◽  
Venkateswarlu Nalluri ◽  
Suresh Ma ◽  
Mei-Min Lin ◽  
Ching-Torng Lin

Different sources of risk factors can occur in sustainable supply chain management due to its complex nature. The telecommunication service firm cannot implement multiple improvement practices altogether to overcome the risk factors with limited resources. The industries should evaluate the relationship between risk factors and explore the determinants of improvement measures. The purpose of the present study is to identify and analyze critical risk factors (CRFs) for enhancing sustainable supply chain management practices in the Indian telecommunication industry using interpretive structural modelling (ISM). Risk factors are identified through a literature survey, and then with the help of experts, nine CRFs are identified using a fuzzy Delphi method (FDM). The relationship among these CRFs has been analyzed using ISM, and the driving and the dependence power of those CRFs are analyzed. Results indicate that both “government policies (laws and regulations)” and “the impact of rapid change in technology” are independent or key factors that affect the sustainability of the telecommunications supply chain. In addition, results provide significant managerial implications, including enhanced sustainability, and the government should build justice, fairness, open laws, certainties, and regulations to prevent risk in the telecommunications industry supply chain; service providers should monitor the rapidly evolving technologies and focus on technical learning and organizational capacity development to overcome the impact of technological changes. The contribution of this study is using a novel approach to establish a hierarchical structural model for an effective understanding of CRFs relationships and to explore decisive risk factors that can help telecom service providers to better plan and design effective improvement strategies to enhance sustainability supply chain management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-201
Author(s):  
Anil Kumar Vishnubhotla ◽  
Rupesh Kumar Pati ◽  
Sidhartha S. Padhi

Increase in competition and the strategic move of enhanced outsourcing has made supply chain more complex. Various applications and software solutions are available to better manage this complexity. It has been observed that often such initiatives may not provide the excepted benefits. It has also been reported that an unclear understanding of business needs (including perceived risks) is the main reason of supply chain failure. The present study attempts to capture enterprise level supply chain risk in an oil company (case company) in India and explore if perception of a decision maker favours use of blockchain technology project to reduce the supply chain risk. The study adopts the following methodology: in-depth semi-structured interviews and structured survey was carried out with the top management of the case company to identify various enterprise level risks for supply chain management (SCM) projects which were subsequently clustered under Operations, Finance, Human Resources, and Strategic Business Risk categories. Inputs on the probability of occurrence and impacts of the identified risks on the enterprise-wide supply chain was mapped on the risk severity matrix (heat map) to prioritize the risks. Subsequently, the second round of questionnaire was developed and a similar survey carried out again with the same sample show the change in risk perception due to potential application of blockchain technology. Interesting insights could be gained from the practitioner’s perspective on the value contribution of using blockchain for improving management of SCM risks. It could be observed that a number of the high priority risk (in the initial scenario) could now be eliminated or managed due to specific characteristics of blockchain.. One of the major limitations of the present study is the lack of generalizability of the insights as it is based exclusively on the perspective of the case company towards the blockchain.


2014 ◽  
Vol 665 ◽  
pp. 751-755
Author(s):  
Henry Lau

Logistics management becomes an important competency in today’s highly competitive market; it has been a focus on the research of information systems, which act as the tools to enhance the capability of supply chain network. To compete and survive in this ever-changing global marketplace, individual companies can hardly survive in isolation of their business partners, suppliers, and other service providers. However, the lack of a seamless interchange and efficient data analysis hinders the formation of an effective information infrastructure that serves as the platform for data interchange of the heterogeneous database systems in the supply chain network. This paper proposed an infrastructure of information system that encompasses data mining and workflow management capability by adopting the advanced technologies of Online Analysis Process (OLAP) and workflow management system to facilitate supply chain management.


2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Hosie ◽  
Balan Sundarakani ◽  
Albert Wee Kwan Tan ◽  
Aleksandra Koźlak

Author(s):  
Ferry Jie

A supply chain consists of the flow of products and services from raw materials manufacturers, component and intermediate manufacturers, final product manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers. All are connected by transportation, storage activities, and integrated through information, planning, and integration activities. Many large firms are moving away from in-house Vertically Integrated structures to Supply Chain Management. Supply Chain are the planning and management of all activities involved in sourcing and procurement, conversion, and all logistics management activities. It also includes coordination with channel partners, which can be suppliers, intermediaries, third party service providers, and customers. Supply chain management is the design of seamless value added processes across organization boundaries to meet the real needs of the end customer. Failure to proactively design a SC results in poor coordination of effort, incompatible information systems, long cycle times, communication problems, customer service issues, excessive waste and environmental degradation, relatively high inventories for the level of customer service achieved, and lower the optimal profit. A process map is a graphic representation of the system and contains a sequence of steps that are performed to produce some desired output. The primary goal behind process mapping is to make complex systems visible. The logistics/supply chain design and technology decision is of great strategic importance to logistics, the firm as a whole, and the supply chain. A number of factors may suggest the need to design the logistics/supply chain. A formal, structured process for design and digital tools is preferable; the potential impacts on cost and service justify a significant effort toward following a sound process. Numerous factors including technology may affect the design of a logistics and supply chain and the location of specific facilities within the context of the network.


Author(s):  
Boitumelo Pooe ◽  
◽  
Virimai Mugobo ◽  

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the challenges South African fashion designers experienced when managing their supply chain network in the retail clothing industry. In today’s complex markets, the susceptibility of the supply chain is viewed as an ongoing issue for several industries and it is no different for fashion designers. As a result, in the past, the visibility of South African fashion designers in the retail environment appeared to be minimal, due to a number of challenges. This paper is based on qualitative research that made use of in-depth semi-structured interviews with a total of twenty-four participants, with the sample divided into five groups representing different industry professionals. Semi-structured interviews allowed the participants to answer the questions unreservedly based on their own personal and professional experiences. The findings revealed that South African fashion designers in the retail industry experienced a number of supply chain challenges such as cash flow and funding, fabric, challenges associated with cutting, making and trimming (CMT) companies, skills and knowledge, fashion designer’s business acumen, market access and location, human skilled resources, garment and production quality, fragmentation, costing, marketing, competition, and other isolated challenges that were mentioned by a few participants. The practical implications of this paper include the need for responsible stakeholders to put in place mechanisms to reduce the supply-chain-management challenges South African fashion designers are facing in the retail clothing industry. As a result, close proximity supply chain networks that could support effective communication amongst members of the supply chain are recommended.


Author(s):  
Charles Adusei ◽  
Ramatu Agambire

A qualitative exploratory study was conducted on supply chain and the related risk management at Adutwumwaa Herbal Industries Limited (AHL) in Ghana. The study employed a case study research strategy using semi-structured interview guide as data collection tool. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative interviews involving five senior officers from the company. They served as Key Informants for the study. Major Themes that were derived from supply chain management were supply chain approach, management of risk to avoid supply chain break down and supply chain management pitfalls facing organisations. The supply chain approach involved sourcing of raw materials, route to market and distribution of products. Management of safety stock for its flagship brands, using multiple sourcing and technological innovations were adopted in managing risk to avoid supply chain breakdown. Unreliable supply of packaging and labeling materials from suppliers and disruption from Food and Drug Authority were the key supply chain management pitfalls facing the company. The study suggests that if herbal medicine companies want to retain competitive edge then they must pursue supply chain operational excellence by reassessing and adjusting its distribution capabilities periodically to improve responsiveness.


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