Analysis of the Project Supply Chains: Coordination and Fair Allocation

This research investigates how project contracts can coordinate the supply chain between a project manager and contractor and if the solutions can be ensured as equitable. The main features of this type of supply chain are the trade-offs between the selection of a higher rate of resource consumption with a consequent higher cost to the contractor and a lower rate of resource consumption leading to later delivery and a reduction of the project-reward to the project manager. This broader problem could lead to a coordination problem for the overall supply chain. This research proposed a solution to this broader problem in two different scenarios: Take it or leave it scenario and negotiation scenario. Finally, the fair allocation of the risks and benefits and the related decision-making issues are addressed as one of the behavioural barriers to the supply chain coordination. The coordination issues in a take it or leave it scenario are addressed using time-based and fixed price project contracts using Stackelberg games. Models of coordination were proposed with time-based contracts, but the fixed price contracts failed to coordinate. The coordination problems in negotiation scenario are addressed with the Nash's bargaining, the Kalai Smorodinsky bargaining, and the utilitarian approach. A cost plus contract has been found to dominate the solutions over any cost sharing contract and fixed price contract for Nash's bargaining and Kalai Smorodinsky bargaining cases. Finally, the issues of fairness of allocation of risks and benefits as one of the challenges of supply chain coordination, have been investigated. The fixed price contracts were found to coordinate the supply chain under consideration alongside the time-based contracts if the members had fairness concern. Some of the key features of this research include the incorporation of various probability distributions for the project completion time and cost, the inclusion of various forms of risk preference, and addressing the challenges of fair allocation in project supply chains

The Consumer\u27s Rent vs. Buy Decision in the Rentailer

In this paper, we focus on the perspective and business model of the rentailer — a retail outlet that rents and sells new and used home video titles. This requires predicting the consumer\u27s decision to rent or buy a particular title, segmenting its customer base, and pricing new and used titles. We develop a new model based on a simple heuristic found in the behavioral marketing literature of how people predict their own usage of a service. We estimate the model using a unique panel dataset obtained from a large rentailer, and find it provides a good fit to the data. Using the model estimates we obtain a metric indicating a latent customer tendency to buy at full price (compared to buying at a lower price or renting). Other diagnostic information from the model may help convert renters into buyers. First, expected viewing may be pitched to the consumer in order to persuade consumers that the movie will be well utilized. Secondly, we use the model to generate customized new and used title prices

Application of Marketing Mix Strategies and the Effect on Market Performance of Motor Vehicle Dealers in Kenya

The environment in which organizations operate is constantly changing with different micro and macro-economic factors influencing the organization’s performance. Coping with the increasingly competitive environment has called on firms to rethink their marketing strategies. The need to respond to market changes on a daily basis, and the difficulty of predicting the direction of such changes means that organizations must strategically focus on their core competences and capabilities. The World Bank report (2015) clearly indicates that motor vehicles imports in Kenya have increased with 2.0% in the year 2015. However, this ratio keeps on changing depending on macro-economic factors such as increase or decrease on imports duty. Entry of new competitors into the market has caused a drastic change not only to the specific companies operations, but also to their products and services in the demanding market. The competition in the markets has created an attention for these companies to review their marketing strategies in order to remain relevant in the market. One of the determinant of performance is marketing mix focusing on the product, its price, its position and how well it is known by its customers. Studies show that application of marketing mix strategies influence the level of sales. However, minimal research exists on this relationship. Therefore, this study sought to establish the effect of marketing practices on market performance of Motor vehicle Dealers in Kenya. The study adopted four major practices namely; product strategies, price strategies, positioning strategies and promotion strategies and market performance as the dependent variable. Porters Five forces model, Resource based view model, stakeholders’ theory and pricing theory were applied to explain the empirical literature. The study area was in Nairobi County, while target population of the study was the 7 major Dealers in cars. The study sampled at least one respondent from each management offices in the marketing department. Therefore, the study target a total of 21 respondents. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations will be used to analyse the data. A regression model was used to measure and explain the relationship of the study variables. The study concludes that the four strategies namely; product strategies, price strategies, positioning strategies and promotion strategies had a significant effect on performance. The study recommends that to achieve a high output, there is need to utilise all the four strategies as each has a specific contribution to the performance. Keywords: Marketing mix, Product, Pricing, Positioning, Promotion, market performance, motor vehicle dealers DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-27-06 Publication date:September 30th 201

Assessment of Factors Affecting Sales Volume: A Case Study of Mesfin Industrial Engineering PLC

This project paper entitled “Assessment of Factors Affecting Sales Volume: A Case Study of Mesfin industrial engineering PLC” has been formulated by five leading research questions. The objective of this study is to assess the internal and external environmental factors affecting sales volume of Mesfin Industrial Engineering PLC. Taking this view in to account, the internal factors like price, product quality, place, and promotion mix elements, level of inventory of MIE has been discussed. In addition to this, the external environmental factors like natural, economical, technological, political-legal ,and the nature of competition in the market have been assessed &described and also the way these factors are affecting the company has been described. Further more, the sales trend of the company and the type of promotion tools that company employ have been assessed. Finally, based on the findings, some suggestions on how to improve the existing situation have been forwarded. This study was conducted using the case study method in the form of descriptive research. To carry out this study both primary and secondary data have been used. For the theoretical foundation and analysis, the existing literatures were investigated. To collect the primary data from the customers of the company, questionnaire has been employed. In addition to this, an interview was conducted face-to-face and questions were asked according to the interview schedule. It was carried out in the form of discussion with the sales division manager and the general manager of the company. For the purpose of this study both qualitative and quantitative data were obtained. The quantitative data were analyzed using different types of descriptive statistics by applying Microsoft Excel where as qualitative data were analyzed qualitatively .The major findings that the researcher has come up with are poor delivery, no close proximity with suppliers of raw materials, no sales professionals, absence of adequate training to sales persons and higher price. Further more, the company employees advertising as a method of promotion tool where as sales promotion and public relation are not extensively used. Personal selling as a promotional tool is not well used and nothing has been done on this area. The company’s sales volume was fluctuating for the last eight years due to longer lead time, interruption of electric power, lack of order from customers and shortage of raw materials. Based on the findings of this study, the researcher has put valuable recommendations on what the company should do to improve its existing conditions and to play a great role in the metal manufacturing industry

A Review on various E-business and M-business models & Research Opportunities

A business model is a set of process/activities that results in sustainable profit through desired revenue and customer value. The business model spells out how a company makes money by specifying its position in the value chain. A business model which uses electronic communication technology such as internet for exchanging information is called e-business model. The e-business model includes the roles and relationships among a firm's customers, allies, and suppliers; the major flows of product, services, information, and money; and the major benefits to the participants. This paper contains review on various business models used in e-business, m-business, and m banking. All the major E-commerce business models which fall under 3 main categories : B2B - Business to business, B2C - Business to consumer, C2C - Consumer to consumer are also discussed with their benefits and limitations. Based on business model framework, various research agenda and opportunities are identified and elaborated

SUPPLY CHAIN COMPETENCY: RECIPE FOR CEREAL AND LIVESTOCK MARKETING IN ALBERTA?

This study examines the nature of Supply Chain Management (SCM) in the Canadian barley industry, economic theories related to SCM, identifies SCM drivers and reviews the Canadian barley marketing system. Two surveys were conducted; one on the feed barley segment of the market; another on the malt barley segment of the market. These surveys provide an outline of the attributes sought by buyers of feed barley in Alberta and by buyers of malt barley in Canada and the United States. A further goal of these surveys was to assess the extent of motivations for SCM in the barley supply chain. Study methods include scaling, factor analysis and stated preference techniques to analyze purchasers' preferences for specific product attributes, business relationships and product source. The major attributes of feed barley sought by Alberta feed manufacturers appear to be physical characteristics such as moisture level, absence of foreign material, high bushel weight and uniform appearance of kernels. Features identified as of moderate importance included levels of certain key amino acids, starch level in the barley sample, as well as such seller characteristics as whether the seller was personally known to the buyer, and willingness of the seller to enter into a long-term supply contract. At the level of the Alberta feed mill industry, results therefore indicate that physical, readily identifiable attributes dominate in the selection of feed barley. As a result, the study identified that SCM is not yet a part of the awareness of barley buyers at feed mills. Among buyers of malt barley, physical or easily assessed attributes such as size of kernel, germination percentage, variety and location where produced ranked highly in a factor analysis as important to malt barley buyers. While results from the sample of Canadian and US buyers did not indicate strong potential for SCM in the malt barley sector, the study found there to be differences in attributes desired by US versus Canadian malt purchasers. Main differences were the concern of US buyers with the region where the barley was grown, and the apparently much higher willingness of US buyers to obtain their malt barley from more than one source. These differences may suggest a potential for SCM in malt barley focused on procuring supplies from regions identified as preferred locations for barley used in malt production.Industrial Organization,

Supply chain contract design in supplier- versus buyer-driven channels

In the context of supply contract design, the more powerful party has the lib- erty of withholding private information which also improves its bargaining power. Traditionally, the supplier (e.g., manufacturer) has been more powerful, and, hence, the existing literature in the area emphasizes supplier-driven contracts. However, in some current markets, such as the grocery channel, the bargaining power has shifted to the buyer (e.g., retailer). For example, in the United States, large retailers, such as Wal-Mart, exert tremendous market power over their suppliers. Also, with the advent of the Internet, buyers have gained access to much more information about multiple potential suppliers. Hence, this dissertation takes into account the recent trends in power shifting between suppliers and buyers, and it attempts to provide a comparison of optimal supply contract designs in supplier- versus buyer-driven chan- nels. This research is unique in that we explore the impact of both power shifting and information asymmetry while designing optimal supply chain contracts under supply uncertainty and competition. Placing an emphasis on the cases of stochastic and/or price-sensitive demand, we work on several novel problems in stochastic mod- eling, nonlinear and dynamic optimization, and game theory. Hence, this research has roots in applied probability, optimization, inventory theory, game theory, and eco- nomics. The goal is to advance our practical knowledge of designing implementable contracts because such knowledge is crucial for optimizing supply chain performance in the real world. This dissertation provides insights about * the individual and joint impacts of the power structure and information asym- metry on supply chain performance, * the value of information for contract design in supplier- versus buyer-driven channels, * the impact of supply uncertainty and supplier competition on contract design in supplier- versus buyer-driven channels