Industrial Symbiotic Relations as Cooperative Games

In this paper, we introduce a game-theoretical formulation for a specific form of collaborative industrial relations called "Industrial Symbiotic Relation (ISR) games" and provide a formal framework to model, verify, and support collaboration decisions in this new class of two-person operational games. ISR games are formalized as cooperative cost-allocation games with the aim to allocate the total ISR-related operational cost to involved industrial firms in a fair and stable manner by taking into account their contribution to the total traditional ISR-related cost. We tailor two types of allocation mechanisms using which firms can implement cost allocations that result in a collaboration that satisfies the fairness and stability properties. Moreover, while industries receive a particular ISR proposal, our introduced methodology is applicable as a managerial decision support to systematically verify the quality of the ISR in question. This is achievable by analyzing if the implemented allocation mechanism is a stable/fair allocation.Comment: Presented at the 7th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Systems Management (IESM-2017), October 11--13, 2017, Saarbr\"ucken, German

Transnational economic governance

What role do contract enforcement institutions provided by the state play for economic development? This question has often been addressed. However, empirical research in this field looks predominantly at transactions that are conducted domestically. Less research exists regarding the enforceability of contracts in cross-border transactions. In other words, research that addresses the institutional foundations of international exchange processes is still in its infancy. The following case study investigates the contract enforcement institutions that enable German customers to purchase software in Asian and East European Countries. This paper`s main argument is that nation states are not capable of providing a workable legal infrastructure for cross-border transactions. Instead, economic actors create their own informal mechanisms in order to enforce their contracts. Particularly important are relational contracts and reputational networks. Furthermore, the empirical evidence shows that German enterprises comprehensively use the opportunities offered by new developments in information and communication technology, when it comes to the initiation and control of their foreign business relations. Due to such technical innovation, it therefore seems that both reputational networks and relational contracts gain more and more efficiency compared to state private law. --

Towards Design Principles for Data-Driven Decision Making: An Action Design Research Project in the Maritime Industry

Data-driven decision making (DDD) refers to organizational decision-making practices that emphasize the use of data and statistical analysis instead of relying on human judgment only. Various empirical studies provide evidence for the value of DDD, both on individual decision maker level and the organizational level. Yet, the path from data to value is not always an easy one and various organizational and psychological factors mediate and moderate the translation of data-driven insights into better decisions and, subsequently, effective business actions. The current body of academic literature on DDD lacks prescriptive knowledge on how to successfully employ DDD in complex organizational settings. Against this background, this paper reports on an action design research study aimed at designing and implementing IT artifacts for DDD at one of the largest ship engine manufacturers in the world. Our main contribution is a set of design principles highlighting, besides decision quality, the importance of model comprehensibility, domain knowledge, and actionability of results

E-Commerce Cooperation Strategy Research based on the Preference of Consumers

In this paper, on the basis of the classification of the market and customer, we set the basic assumptions of participant in the EC cooperation. We take some of the assumptions which were used to study grey marketing into the game analysis. And then, on the basis of the Hotelling model, we argue the cooperation strategy choice mechanism between electronic distributors and traditional distributors in the EC cooperation，explore the benefits and costs of all parties in the alliance, found that it can bring more profit and cost advantage of the alliance is an important factor to decide whether or not ally with each other

Farmers' Supply-Purchasing Practices

Farmers' purchasing characteristics, reasons for choosing suppliers, and purchasing strategies were different for fertilizer, fuel, feed, and pesticide purchases of 100 commercial sized farmers. With fuel, few price discounts were received and few supplier changes made. More price adjustments and supplier changes occurred with fertilizer and pesticide purchases. Distribution systems influenced feed purchases. Fertilizer and pesticide purchases with quantity discounts or supplier negotiations were twice as large. Large farmers have more purchasing options. Cooperatives were valued as business organizations. Farmer purchasing strategies affect cooperatives and other supply organizations.Purchasing practices, farm supplies, buying strategies, price discounts, cooperatives, Agribusiness,

Supply chain management in industrial production. A retrospective view

The article presents a retrospective review on key-issues about how the management discipline evolved up to the current view about supply-chain management (SCM) in industrial production. Specifically, the article resumes: a) the reasons that led to the transition from the traditional procurement policies to the SCM approach, b) the variables involved in the process of defining SCM relations and c) the key managerial principles underlying SCM policies and strategies. In the manufacturing industry the problem of organizing and managing firm’s relationships with supplier has recently become of an unprecedented complexity. The evolution of production systems started around the ‘80s, with the shift from the “flexible” paradigm to the “lean” one, has increased dramatically the intricacy of product and process architecture.. At the same time, the opportunities brought by the technological hybridization of products (that is: opportunities deriving from incorporating complementary technologies within products so to enhance its features and performance) gained a critical role as a competitive advantage. In our view supply chain management, as well as others managerial areas, has undergone a profound change; indeed, in the last 30 years the evolution of the industrial competitive environment has deeply modified the reference framework of supply-chain relationships even in common procurement and/or routine contracts. In the attempt to give an adequate response to changes in the competitive environment, supply policies evolve to become articulate relational strategies based on the strategic assessments of the role and the relevance of the various suppliers. The traditional approach to procurement management is combined with a perspective of value creation, a perspective that goes beyond the traditional “make-or-buy” criteria, since it introduces principles for the assessment of the strategic capability of the suppliers to create value for customer rather than to be able to fulfill its task for the firm. In such a view, firms operating in the same value-chain coordinate their strategies with a view to increase the overall value rather than compete for the allocation of the existing one. Firms’ network of suppliers and the relational capabilities assume a critical role in order to coordinate the value creation processes within the chain.Supply chain management, industrial management

Alternative contracting for informal economy financing

The informal economy in South Africa is a source of considerable debate. Academics and practitioners struggle to define, characterize, measure and place the informal economy in South Africa's macroeconomic picture. Despite the polemic, it is generally agreed that the informal economy is important. Every collection of ideas regarding the South African economy includes some thoughts on the informal economy. The compelling point is that these thoughts are generated in a wide variety of disciplines. The informal economy features in collections addressing economics, politics, history, urban planning and even literature. Christian Rogerson and Eleanor Preston-Whyte' s recent collection, "South Africa's Informal Economy", is testament to the broad application of the informal economy. Beyond the debate of definitions and characteristics is the debate on how to assist the informal economy. Leiman suggests that one of the major constraints on the informal economy is "blocked access”. Blocked access refers to limited access to product and factor markets. In the case of the informal economy this reference means limited access to raw materials, skills and capital. In South Africa the limited resources directed to informal economy activity can be largely attributed to past government policies that were hostile to the informal economy's existence and development. As such, the role of informal economy development was left to non-governmental and welfare organizations