Conceptual Framework for Managing Uncertainty in a Collaborative Agri-Food Supply Chain Context

[EN] Agri-food supply chains are subjected to many sources of uncertainty. If these uncertainties are not managed properly, they can have a negative impact on the agri-food supply chain (AFSC) performance, its customers, and the environment. In this sense, collaboration is proposed as a possible solution to reduce it. For that, a conceptual framework (CF) for managing uncertainty in a collaborative context is proposed. In this context, this paper seeks to answer the following research questions: What are the existing uncertainty sources in the AFSCs? Can collaboration be used to reduce the uncertainty of AFSCs? Which elements can integrate a CF for managing uncertainty in a collaborative AFSC? The CF proposal is applied to the weather source of uncertainty in order to show its applicability.The first author acknowledges the partial support of the Program of Formation of University Professors of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport (FPU15/03595). 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The assessment of engagement of logistic service providers functioning on polish market in social activities implied by CSR concept

Koncepcja społecznej odpowiedzialności zyskuje coraz większą popularność wśród polskich firm. W ciągu ostatnich kilku lat do grona firm deklarujących zainteresowanie CSR i gotowość do wypełnienia jej założeń dołączyli usługodawcy z sektora TSL. Podkreślają swoje zaangażowanie w działania CSR poprzez wywiady, reklamy lub strony internetowe. Koncepcja społecznej odpowiedzialności zakłada szereg działań w trzech obszarach: ekonomicznym, społecznym i środowiskowym. W artykule przedstawiono rozważania na temat społecznych praktyk realizowanych przez dostawców usług logistycznych, a także oceniono ich zaangażowanie w kontekście osiągania celów społecznych.Nowadays, the idea of social responsibility gains significant popularity among Polish companies. During last few years logistics service providers also joined the group of businesses declaring their interest in CSR and willingness to fulfill its assumptions. They emphasize their engagement in CSR activities through interviews, commercials or websites. However the social responsibility concept implies range of activities in three areas: economics, social and environmental, both in specialist literature and practitioners' declarations the last mentioned area seems to be dominative. In spite of this rather common tendency authors of this paper make effort to highlight social aspects of CSR. In particular, the main aim of this paper is to present results of researches made by authors covering socially oriented practices realized by logistics service providers as well as assessment of those providers' engagement in the achievement of CSR social goals. To attain this aim the results of quantitative analysis are presented and social practices of chosen logistics service providers are stated

Determinanty współpracy logistycznej w łańcuchu dostaw - wybrane wyniki badania opinii usługodawców logistycznych i ich klientów

Introduction: The paper is focused on some selected aspects of the cooperation between logistics service providers and their customers and considers the results of comparative analysis of importance assessment of the variables determining: the scope and nature of that cooperation, quality of providers' sales offer as well as changes in their customer service policy. Methods: To analyze the underlying problem direct research was conducted, i.e. a survey based on a questionnaire among 50 logistics service providers and 50 shippers. The sample was determined on special purpose. In the statistical analysis chi-square independence test, U Mann-Whitney's test as well as Cramer's V and Spearman's rho correlation ratios were used. Results: There were observed significant statistical differences between analyzed groups in the way the cooperation is perceived. The most vital discrepancies are related to customers' satisfaction degree and the assessment of the influence the providers' prices and competencies have on the cooperation. For the customers, declaring higher degree of the satisfaction from the cooperation, service quality was the most important factor. However, for the service providers, price factor was the most important one. Moreover, some differences in the answers related to changes in the service were observed, mainly with reference to: logistics capacity, out-of-loss shipments and communication. Conclusions: The group of customers revealed to be little demanding about logistics service. They tended to order mainly routine services, not demanding special skills from the service providers. This is the most probable reason why customers/providers preferred cooperation with greater number of entities. The customers, unlike service providers, also didn't have the need to develop more advanced forms of cooperation. Moreover, the observed differences related to the importance hierarchy of the cooperation determinants as well as service standards, should be considered by the logistics service providers when continuing their cooperation with customers.Wstęp: Artykuł koncentruje się na wybranych aspektach współpracy usługodawców logistycznych z klientami, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem wyników analizy porównawczej oceny znaczenia determinant odpowiedzialnych za jej zakres i charakter, a także jakości świadczonych usług oraz zmian w polityce obsługi klienta. Metody: Podjęty problem badawczy zrealizowano na podstawie badań bezpośrednich, które przeprowadzono z zastosowaniem metody wywiadu kwestionariuszowego wśród 50 usługodawców logistycznych oraz 50 przedsiębiorstw zlecających obsługę logistyczną. Próbę badawczą dobrano w sposób celowy. W analizie statystycznej wykorzystano test niezależności chi-kwadrat, test U Manna-Whitneya oraz współczynniki korelacji V Cramera i rho-Spearmana. Wyniki: Odnotowano istotne statystycznie różnice w sposobie postrzegania współpracy pomiędzy badanymi grupami. Główne rozbieżności dotyczyły poziomu zadowolenia klientów oraz oceny wpływu cen świadczonych im usług i kompetencji obsługujących ich pracowników na przebieg współpracy. Dla klientów, deklarujących większą satysfakcję z tytułu współpracy z usługodawcami, najważniejsza była jakość usług. Z kolei usługodawcy największą wagę przypisywali głównie cenie. Odnotowano także różnice w odpowiedziach dotyczących zmian w obsłudze, zwłaszcza w odniesieniu do: potencjału logistycznego, bezszkodowości dostaw oraz wymiany informacji. Wnioski: Grupa usługobiorców okazała się mało wymagająca pod względem obsługi logistycznej. Klienci zlecali głównie usługi rutynowe, których świadczenie nie wymagało od usługodawców szczególnych umiejętności. Najprawdopodobniej właśnie dlatego, dostawcy/odbiorcy ładunków utrzymywali relacje z większą liczbą podmiotów. Nie odczuwali oni także potrzeby budowania bardziej zaawansowanych poziomów współpracy, na czym zależało przedstawicielom drugiej grupy. Odnotowane w badaniu różnice, zarówno te dotyczące hierarchii ważności poszczególnych determinant, jak i te odnoszące się do standardów obsługi, powinny zostać uwzględnione przez usługodawców podczas ich dalszej współpracy z klientami

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