Three major problems facing the Boston retailer - 1958

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston Universit

The impact of the Bullwhip Effect on throughput in an electrical utility in Pietermaritzburg.

Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.In a rapidly-changing globalised economy, companies need to become more competitive to stay ahead of the competition and sustain the advantage of being on the top. Supply chain efficiency and lean production are familiar in supply chain management. However, there are impediments to the extent of success that companies wish to achieve. One such impediment is demand amplification (or the bullwhip effect) through the supply chain. This study investigated the impact of human behaviour on the bullwhip effect, the impact of variability in materials and information flow, and the relationship between the impact of human behaviour and that of materials and information flow on the bullwhip. The research included a case study to validate the findings of the former investigations. A questionnaire survey was conducted using a sample of supply chain role-players for the investigation of human behaviour of the bullwhip. A separate study was conducted on a sample of real-time projects for the investigation of materials and information flow on the bullwhip. A comparison was drawn between the two independent studies. A case study was presented, based on a power-lines refurbishment project, currently in the construction phase. The results on human behaviour revealed that the types of "disabling" behaviour, namely "panic" or "safe harbour" exist amongst supply chain role-players. The findings of the study on real-time projects showed chronic variability in materials and information flow. Similar results have been reported from the findings of the case study. The key conclusion is that there is a relationship between people and processes and both have an impact on the bullwhip. The recommendations made are applicable to a generic company as well as Eskom. An action plan for a way forward for Eskom is included in this study. The key elements of the action plan include revision of the current policy document with suppliers, prioritization of customer projects and optimal use of the warehousing function. Further research is proposed to extend the investigation to other regions and divisions within Eskom and to probe into the suppliers' supply chain to promote efficiency

Demand Estimation at Manufacturer-Retailer Duo: A Macro-Micro Approach

This dissertation is divided into two phases. The main objective of this phase is to use Bayesian MCMC technique, to attain (1) estimates, (2) predictions and (3) posterior probability of sales greater than certain amount for sampled regions and any random region selected from the population or sample. These regions are served by a single product manufacturer who is considered to be similar to newsvendor. The optimal estimates, predictions and posterior probabilities are obtained in presence of advertising expenditure set by the manufacturer, past historical sales data that contains both censored and exact observations and finally stochastic regional effects that cannot be quantified but are believed to strongly influence future demand. Knowledge of these optimal values is useful in eliminating stock-out and excess inventory holding situations while increasing the profitability across the entire supply chain. Subsequently, the second phase, examines the impact of Cournot and Stackelberg games in a supply-chain on shelf space allocation and pricing decisions. In particular, we consider two scenarios: (1) two manufacturers competing for shelf space allocation at a single retailer, and (2) two manufacturers competing for shelf space allocation at two competing retailers, whose pricing decisions influence their demand which in turn influences their shelf-space allocation. We obtain the optimal pricing and shelf-space allocation in these two scenarios by optimizing the profit functions for each of the players in the game. Our numerical results indicate that (1) Cournot games to be the most profitable along the whole supply chain whereas Stackelberg games and mixed games turn out to be least profitable, and (2) higher the shelf space elasticity, lower the wholesale price of the product; conversely, lower the retail price of the product, greater the shelf space allocated for that product

The Structure and Nature of Vertical Co-ordination and Regulation Systems in the Kenyan Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Export Value Chain: Transaction Cost Approach

This thesis was inspired and guided by the question; how have Kenyan smallholder farmers managed to enter and stay in the Kenyan fresh fruits and vegetables export value chain that has high entry and stay barriers? From this question, the study aimed to analyse the structure and nature of vertical coordination and the corresponding regulatory systems in the value chain. Three research questions were then raised in line with the research aim. To explore these questions, Oliver Williamson transaction costs economics and John Braithwaite and Valerie Braithwaite motivational postures theory were applied to respectively analyse the structure and nature of vertical coordination and the regulatory and compliance systems in the value chain. A mixed methods approach was adopted for the study with fieldwork carried out in six counties in Kenya. The study participants included smallholder farmers, non-governmental organisations and public and private organisations. The study found that the structure of vertical coordination of the value chain was nodal whereby two nodes of contracted coordination were identified. The two nodes comprised of European retailers-Kenyan exporters’ node and the exporters-smallholder farmer's nodes. The retailers-exporters node was found to have stable long-term contracts which allowed for transactional relationship to age and mature. Conversely, the exporters-farmers node was found to have unstable and volatile short-termed transactions which inhibited maturity of exchange relationships. Importantly, the study found that the absence of property rights, forced the parties’ to rely on relational contracting anchored on supply reliability. It was for supply reliability reason that the exporters were willing to bear high transaction costs of contracting smallholders, hence enabling smallholders’ entry and stay in the value chain. Regulation was found to be through three pathways including; exporters-farmers, state regulatory and network regulation pathways. Importantly, the study found that responsive regulation was central to exporters and farmers compliance with regulation

Inventory Management with Raw Materials Costs Subject to Quotation: The Analysis of the Jewellery Industry

This thesis has the objective to present the particular inventory management problem in case of procurement of raw materials subject to quotation, a subject that goes beyond traditional stock control policies proposed by literature, where purchase price is typically assumed as a constant and therefore not even considered in the decision of when and how much to order

Staying ahead of the global pack : [creating sustainable competitive advantage in the marketing of South African table grapes to the United Kingdom in the deregulated era]

Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 220-237)

Brand Community Oriented Channel Coordination: An Empirical Study on Chinese Tire Market

Members of traditional tyre marketing channel aims to maximize profit for individual business, even at the cost of overall benefit of tyre marketing channel and tyre manufacturers, resulting in high channel cost. Practice focusing on channel relationship marketing has alleviated the tension among channel members. Yet profit diluted by disorderly competition in this industry has deteriorated channel performance. There is growing need to research on how to enhance channel performance and ensure benefit of channel members. Focus of related research is shifting from customers to relationship marketing, forming a trend in theoretical research on brand relationship. Branding is a fundamental element for competitive advantage and value creation for business today. Setting up a high-value brand in highly-competitive marketing environment has been the focus of marketers. Brand community research based on customer relationship also becomes the new hotspot in theoretical research on brand relationship. Existing research on relationship marketing only takes channel relationship or customer relationship into account. Research on channel relationship seldom consider the influence of final consumers on channel performance while research on final consumers usually ignore the channel relationship, setting apart these two most significant players in relationship marketing rather than combine them together. In fact, channel and end user are interactive. Discontinuity in channel relationships will affect customer experience brought by the products or service to end user, while review and purchase on products or service by final consumers will influence the performance of channel members. Considering the limitations of existing research, this article researched the potential mutual influence between channel relationship and customer relationship for the first time. Based on theory of channel relationship and customer relationship, including the manufacturers’ non-direct-profit relationship investment to end users by leveraging brand community, it proposes the industry brand community-oriented channel relationship model. Integrating these two factors in relationship marketing would bring new perspective and reference for related research. Based on proposed research model, this article gains scale through reference to related research, qualitative analysis and pretest. Based on field research on retailers and end users in replacement market for truck and bus tyre industry in China, using statistical analysis such as CFA(Confirmatory factor analysis), structure equation modeling and regression equation, the findings of positive research on industry brand community-oriented channel relationship model proposed by this article are listed as below. 1) Not only channel relationship influences channel performance, brand community based on end user relationship also influences channel performance, which is consistent with the proposition of this article. 2) Theories regarding channel relationship marketing and customer relationship marketing are applicable to truck and bus tyre industry in China. 3) Non-direct-profit RSIs by manufacturers would indirectly influence channel performance through brand community integration Based on literature review, model proposition and positive finding, the theoretical and practical contribution of this article includes the following aspects. 1) In the research of relationship marketing, not only the interactive influence of different B2B channel players shall be included, end users’ influence shall be considered as well. ‘Push’ strategy shall integrate with ‘pull’ strategy. Research on end users and channels could be integrated through brand community integration, which would be complimentary to existing research, also could be theoretical reference and practical guide to marketing practice. 2) This positive research proves that theories of relationship marketing is applicable to tyre industry in China. China’s market is unique and tyre industry has its own features compared to other industries. This research finds that trust and commitment of channel members and relationship investment by seller significantly influence the channel member performance. External environment has a moderating effect on channel member performance. Therefore, manufacturer shall pay attention to external environment, especially market diversity and changing environment, to adjust strategy accordingly. Manufacturer shall also communicate with agents and retailor to enhance trust and commitment. This article provides positive evidence and reference for relationship marketing theory. 3) This thesis contributes to clarify how manufactures’ non-direct-profit RSIs influence performance by retailor and other channel members. It is proved that although manufactures do not face consumers directly, its non-direct-profit RSIs will affect the end users’ trust and commitment to company and brand, and further influence their brand community identity, and ultimately channel members’ performance. 4) This research proposes comprehensive model on industry goods relationship marketing from theory, which is highly relevant for industry goods relationship marketing in China. Industry goods has its unique features. Manufacturer shall ensure channel member’s performance by outstanding channel relationship marketing, as well as form brand community integration through relationship investment on end user, to improve channel member’s performance and sales. Research has shown that the “push strategy” and “pull strategy” could organically combined and this conclusion provides theoretical guide and practical suggestion for companies’ marketing

Supply Chain

Traditionally supply chain management has meant factories, assembly lines, warehouses, transportation vehicles, and time sheets. Modern supply chain management is a highly complex, multidimensional problem set with virtually endless number of variables for optimization. An Internet enabled supply chain may have just-in-time delivery, precise inventory visibility, and up-to-the-minute distribution-tracking capabilities. Technology advances have enabled supply chains to become strategic weapons that can help avoid disasters, lower costs, and make money. From internal enterprise processes to external business transactions with suppliers, transporters, channels and end-users marks the wide range of challenges researchers have to handle. The aim of this book is at revealing and illustrating this diversity in terms of scientific and theoretical fundamentals, prevailing concepts as well as current practical applications

An Existence Void of Individuality

I argue that as humanity continues on its path of rapid technological developments in the economic and political arenas, the human race becomes less able to choose individually, and submits to a collective society. As each day passes, our civilization loses more of its individuality and assimilates to a larger vehicle. This thesis describes our loss of uniqueness and our assimilation to the technology collective