Managing reverse exchanges in service supply chains

PurposeThis study aims to address the management of reverse flows in the context of service supply chains. The study builds on the characteristics of services production reported in literature to: identify diverse types of reverse flows in services supply chains; discuss key issues associated to the management of reverse service flows; and suggest directions for research for developing the knowledge for management of reverse flows in service contexts. Design/Methodology/ApproachThis study first provides an overview of the theoretical background which supports the identification and the characterization of the flows, and the reverse flows, involved in service production. A short summary of each paper accepted in this special issue is also provided to give readers an overview of the various issues around reverse exchanges in service supply chains that authors have attempted to address. FindingsIn this study we identify distinct types of reverse flows in services production building on the analysis of the characteristics of service production and delivery reported in the literature. Our discussion highlights the fact that service supply chains can be quite diverse in the type of exchanges of inputs and outputs that take place between customers and providers, showing that often there can be substantial flows of items to return. In particular, and differently from manufacturing contexts, we highlight that in service supply chains providers might need to handle bi-directional reverse flows. Research limitations/implicationsThe lack of research on reverse service supply chains is to a great extent a consequence of dominant paradigms which often identify the absence of physical product flows as a key distinguishing feature of service supply chains, and therefore lead to the misbelief that in services there is nothing to return. This special issue therefore aims to clarify this misunderstanding through the limited selection of eight papers that address various issues around reverse exchanges in service supply chains.Originality/valueWhile theoretical and empirical research in supply chain is abundant, management of reverse exchanges in service supply chain is sparse. In this special issue we aim to provide a first contribution to understand how the characteristics of service production raise new issues for the management of reverse flows in service supply chains, and to foster the development of adequate management strategies

Service modularity and architecture – an overview and research agenda

Purpose Services are highly important in a world economy which has increasingly become service driven. There is a growing need to better understand the possibilities for, and requirements of, designing modular service architectures. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the roots of the emerging research stream on service modularity, provide a concise overview of existing work on the subject, and outline an agenda for future research on service modularity and architecture. The articles in the special issue offer four diverse sets of research on service modularity and architecture. Design/methodology/approach The paper is built on a literature review mapping the current body of literature on the topic and developing future research directions in service modularity and architecture. Findings The growing focus on services has triggered needs to investigate the suitability and implementation of physical-product-focused modularity principles and theories in service contexts, and to search for principles/theories that enhance services. The expanding research stream has explored various aspects of service modularity in empirical contexts. Future research should focus on service-specific modularity theories and principles, platform-based and mass-customized service business models, comparative research designs, customer perspectives and service experience, performance in context of modular services, empirical evidence of benefits and challenges, architectural innovation in services, modularization in multi-provider contexts, and modularity in hybrid offerings combining service and tangible product modules. Originality/value Nine areas are recommended for further research on service modularity and architecture. The introductory piece also discusses the roots of service modularity and provides an overview of current contributions

Economia da Experiência como uma Filosofia Irracional nos Serviços Turísticos e Hoteleiros em Sistemas Socio-Econômicos em Transformação

The aim of this concepotual paper is to develop recommendations for the implementation of a strategy for marketing impressions in tourism and hospitality enterprises, thereby emphasizing the importance of the role of the impressions economy in the provision of tourist and hotel services in the context of the transformation of socio-economic systems. The strengthening of the concept of impressions economy is a certain reaction to the changing conditions in the service economy.The article analyzes a new type of relationship between the brand and the consumer - marketing of impressions, as well as the conditions that contribute to the successful functioning of tourism and hospitality enterprises, thereby emphasizing the fact that there is a mass process in the consumption of hotel and tourist services and the formation of certain value positions. Analyzing the problem of the role of impressions marketing in the provision of tourist services and hotel products in the context of the transformation of socio-economic systems, it was revealed that the concept of impressions economics at the beginning of the 21st century strengthens its position, which is manifested in the limitless nature of postmodern hedonism among modern consumers of the service sector.Este ensayo teórico se dedica a elaborar recomendaciones para la aplicación de una estrategia de comercialización de las impresiones en las empresas de turismo y hostelería, destacando así la importancia del papel de la economía de las impresiones en la prestación de servicios turísticos y hoteleros en el contexto de la transformación de los sistemas socioeconómicos. El fortalecimiento del concepto de economía de las impresiones es una cierta reacción a las condiciones cambiantes de la economía de los servicios. El artículo analiza un nuevo tipo de relación entre la marca y el consumidor - el marketing de impresiones, así como las condiciones que contribuyen al buen funcionamiento de las empresas turísticas y de hostelería, destacando así el hecho de que existe un proceso de masas en el consumo de servicios hoteleros y turísticos y la formación de determinadas posiciones de valor. Al analizar el problema del papel del marketing de las impresiones en la prestación de servicios turísticos y productos hoteleros en el contexto de la transformación de los sistemas socioeconómicos, se reveló que el concepto de economía de las impresiones a principios del siglo XXI refuerza su posición, que se manifiesta en el carácter ilimitado del hedonismo posmoderno entre los consumidores modernos del sector de los servicios.O objetivo deste ensaio teórico é desenvolver recomendações para a implementação de uma estratégia de marketing de impressões em empresas de turismo e hotelaria, enfatizando assim a importância do papel da economia das impressões na prestação de serviços turísticos e hoteleiros no contexto da transformação dos sistemas socioeconômicos. O reforço do conceito de economia das impressões é uma certa reação à mudança das condições na economia dos serviços. O artigo analisa um novo tipo de relação entre a marca e o consumidor - marketing de impressões, bem como as condições que contribuem para o bom funcionamento das empresas de turismo e hospitalidade, enfatizando assim o fato de haver um processo de massa no consumo de serviços hoteleiros e turísticos e a formação de certas posições de valor. Analisando o problema do papel do marketing de impressões na prestação de serviços turísticos e de produtos hoteleiros no contexto da transformação dos sistemas socioeconômicos, revelou-se que o conceito de economia de impressões no início do século XXI reforça a sua posição, que se manifesta na natureza ilimitada do hedonismo pós-moderno entre os consumidores modernos do setor dos serviços

A decade of architectural and urban research published in 'Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research'

This article commemorates a decade of discourse and published research on architecture and urbanism in ArchNet-IJAR (March 2007-March 2017). While the journal does not publish regular editorials associating each issue, it is believed that offering key highlights of growth since the inception of the journal is now due. The article presents the current position of ArchNet-IJAR within the international provision of journals in architecture and urban studies in key databases and index-bases. This is substantiated by key statistics of submissions, published contributions, and acceptance rates during the past 10 years. Coupled with analytical discussion on the global reach of the ArchNet-IJAR, the article identifies 11 research fields, which were covered in 10 volumes since the journal’s inception. Analytical discussions of recent two theme issues as well as latest developments and contributions during the past few years are presented to reflect on the rigor and quality of the journal while depicting its thrust and interest. The article concludes by key aspects relevant to the future aspirations of ArchNet-IJAR while highlighting initiatives and prospective endeavours

Evaluating IMF intervention ten years after the Russian crisis: modelling the impact of macroeconomic fundamentals and economic policy

The ongoing global financial crisis has become prominently visible since September 2008. This crisis affected the whole world and enhanced the importance of policy implementation to mitigate financial crises in future. Many academics blamed insufficient domestic regulation as the reason of crises, others pointed to the lack of overseas financial regulation and inappropriate actions by international organizations, such as the IMF and World Bank. This whole discussion encouraged a look back and analyzes of a previous crisis in a small country such as Russia. This paper evidently shows the inefficiency of IMF policy during the Russia Crisis in 1998 by implementing a new monetary balance- of-payment model in Russian data. This model identified the role of macroeconomic fundamentals and international economic policy implications on the likelihood and the timing of the currency crisis in Russia. For the period from December 1995 to December 1998 it was found that, the increase in domestic credit growth gradually undermined confidence in the fixed exchange rate regime. The most dangerous point was at the end of 1998, when the collapse probability was above 90 percent. This result called to doubt the IMF’s July packet 1998 and revealed the political aspects of this financial help