New Product Development and Product Supply Within a Network Setting: The Case of the Chilled Ready-Meal Industry in the UK

This paper analyses inter-organizational networks that link together firms operating in the food processing and distribution industry in the UK. In doing so, the paper draws on insights recently developed by Mark Casson that treat inter-firm networks as an institutional response to the changing costs and opportunities of information management. Detailed analysis of product innovation and supply chain management issues within the industry, exemplified by the growth of chilled ready-meals, leads to the identification of two distinct but complementary inter-firm networks: a network of control and a network of innovation. In each case, the study finds that the critical information is derived from the retailers’ interface with consumers and thus that these information-based networks are effectively controlled by the leading supermarket chains. The study’s conclusions are considered in relation to the recent findings of the Competition Commission following its investigation into grocery retailing in the UK

Transaction Costs, Innovation and Learning

transaction costs;innovation;learning;inter-organizational relations;networks

le réseau supply chain: approches pratiques et de confiance pour la réussite à long terme (supply chain network: trust and practical approaches to longterm success)

La Chaîne d’Offre (Supply Chain) fait partie de la coopération interentreprises et de la dynamique organisationnelle de nombreuses activités, processus et systèmes. C’est le défi pour chaque partenaire d’établir une stratégie de définition des facteurs clés de la réussite et de connaissance sur les façons dont lui et les autres partenaires interagissent. Etant donné que chaque relation joue un rôle crucial, tous les partenaires ont le même poids dans la satisfaction ininterrompue de la demande. La confiance est le connecteur le plus important du point de vue de réussite. Toutes les autres relations sont fondées sur la confiance. Par conséquent, ce papier considère le réseau de la chaîne d’offre comme un réseau de valeurs et met l’accent sur les différentes facettes de la confiance, sur les stratégies fondées sur la confiance et fait de propositions sur l’utilisation de la confiance comme facteur clé dans la réussite opérationnelle, tactique et stratégique d’un réseau de chaîne d’offre. The Supply Chain (SC) falls within the scope of inter-company co-operation and the organizational dynamic of new organizational forms and comprises many activities, processes and systems. It is the duty of each partner (participant) to get to know the key factors to success and how each interacts with the others. The connectors, given that each relationship plays a crucial role, are of equal value in continuously satisfying demand. Trust is the most important connector with a view to success. All the other relationships made are based on trust. Consequently, this paper lays stress on the Supply Chain network as a “network of values” and on the different dimensions of shared trust, the strategies based on trust and the suggestions for using trust as the key factor in the operational, tactical and strategic success of an SC network.the supply chain, trust, inter-company, cooperation

Supply chain management and the Romanian transition

The purpose of this paper is to perform a systemic analysis of the Supply Chain Management, and to show what are the essential aspects of such a complex process. Actually, it is an integral perspective of intra- and interorganizational management activities aiming at the optimization of all important tangible and intangible fluxes and forces acting in a multifield framework. In the same time, we are looking at the Romanian transition and show how such a new perspective can be applied to the business environment. The analysis is challenging, since Romania is in a deep change process from a centrally planned economy toward a free market economy.management, supply chain management, system analysis, transition economy.

Increased Supply Chain Flexibility by Changes in Information Sharing with Suppliers - The FAIS Roadmap

Due to a shifting competitive landscape, companies have realized that in order to meet the new market trends, they need to be flexible not only within their own link but throughout their supply chain. One factor that has proved to have great impact on supply chain flexibility is information sharing. The purpose of this thesis was to add to the knowledge on how organizations can increase their supply chain flexibility by changes in information sharing with suppliers. The objective of this thesis was twofold: To develop a roadmap for analyzing the need and possibilities to increase supply chain flexibility by changes in information sharing with suppliers. With support of this roadmap, present recommendations aiming at increasing the flexibility in Axis’s supply chain by changes in information sharing with suppliers. The study was conducted using a systems approach. Through combining theories about supply chain flexibility, information sharing in supply chains and an empirical investigation in an abductive manner, the FAIS Roadmap was developed. The preliminary FAIS Roadmap was tested using a case study on Axis Communications AB. The developed FAIS Roadmap is a tool that can be used in order to specify what changes that should be made regarding information sharing with suppliers in order to increase the supply chain flexibility. After testing the developed roadmap, some refinements were done, resulting in a final version of the FAIS Roadmap. Furthermore, the test resulted in five recommendations for Axis: understand suppliers’ real need for information, simplify and synchronize internal information processes, make sure that high quality information is passed on further up the chain, benefit from extensive information sharing in early stages of product development, and share additional information in order to decrease lead times

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND THE ROMANIAN TRANSITION

Supply Chain Management (SCM), defined here as the construction of productive systems spanning over organizational borders with suppliers and customers and integrated via human-based and information technology systems to satisfy final customer requirements, is introduced as a key concept to accelerate Romania’s economic transition as it approaches EU membership, as well as to develop a modern supplier network. We introduce SCM from a system perspective along three broad areas: input, operations, output and system integration activities. We close by introducing constraints to SCM implementation in Romania. The first major constraint involves a lack of appropriate physical and human capital. Modernization of antiquated equipment and training employees in modern operations practices are prime requisites. The second major constraint, and perhaps the more difficult to change, deals with a lack of social capital among Romanian firms and adapting to appropriate managerial and worker values and attitudes.Supply Chain Management; Social Capital; Transition Economy; Economic Development.

Supply chain management and the Romanian transition

Supply Chain Management (SCM), defined here as the construction of productive systems spanning over organizational borders with suppliers and customers and integrated via humanbased and information technology systems to satisfy final customer requirements, is introduced as a key concept to accelerate Romania’s economic transition as it approaches EU membership, as well as to develop a modern supplier network. We introduce SCM from a system perspective along three broad areas: input, operations, output and system integration activities. We close by introducing constraints to SCM implementation in Romania. The first major constraint involves a lack of appropriate physical and human capital. Modernization of antiquated equipment and training employees in modern operations practices are prime requisites. The second major constraint, and perhaps the more difficult to change, deals with a lack of social capital among Romanian firms and adapting to appropriate managerial and worker values and attitudes.Supply Chain Management; Social Capital; Transition Economy; Economic Development

Regulation, competition, and liberalization

In many countries throughout the world, regulators are struggling to determine whether and how to introduce competition into regulated industries. This essay examines the complexities involved in the liberalization process. While stressing the importance of case-specific analyses, this essay distinguishes liberalization policies that generally are pro-competitive from corresponding anti-competitive liberalization policies

The Future of Retail Operations

Retailing consists of all the activities associated with the selling of goods to the final consumer. In this article, we review the research on retail operations published in Manufacturing & Service Operations Research (M&SOM) since 1999. We then discuss the current retail landscape and the new research directions it offers, in which M&SOM can play a prominent role