Divisibility, Technology, and the Competitive Potential of Regional Airlines

During the 12 years following deregulation of the airline industry, tremendous change has taken place involving both industry structure and industry competition. Much of the discussion concerning these changes has not fully considered the factor supply side of the industry, especially with respect to emerging technology and factor indivisibility. However, new technology airframe and engine design (turboprop and turbofan) and the use of new materials promises to mitigate the problems associated with aircraft size. The availability of this new technology will enable regional air carriers to implement new competitive strategies such as regional hubbing and hub bypassing. This paper discusses the impact of technology on the competitive potential of regional airlines, looking at the benefits of and impediments to such competition

Cultural and structural forces: A potentially symbiotic or dysfunctional relationship in the journey towards supply chain collaboration

Despite its promises to generate superior supply chain performance, supply chain collaboration remains an elusive goal for many organizations. While much research has explored various facets of successful management of supply chain relationships, the complexity of factors that can impact the quality of collaboration make implementation difficult to achieve. This paper uses a series of case studies of twelve exemplary European firms from a supply chain standpoint to explore potential frameworks that can better categorize those factors that lead to exemplary supply chain collaboration. Both barriers and initiatives to overcome those barriers are identified and categorized as either structural or cultural. The study reveals an interesting relationship between these categories and provides a series of propositions that can inform future confirmatory studies in supply chain collaboration

Requirements and Benefits of Implementing Just-In-Time Manufacturing for Small-Firm Manufacturers

This study explores the applicability of Just-In-Time (/IT ) manufacturing elements for small-firm manufacturers.  A survey of small-firm electronic firms  was undertaken  to identify  and  document  the level of /IT implementation alread y underway. Integrating concepts necessary for  successful  /IT  implemen­ tation along with the benefits of /IT are also discussed . It is suggested that /IT  manufacturing  is a viable and  useful strategy  to enhance the competitive  position  of small  manufacturing  firms

A Longitudinal Study of the Utilization of Production Management Techniques by Small Electronics Firms

This study is a longitudinal examination of the changes that have taken place in the utilization of production management tools and techniques through the 1981-1988 time period. Results suggest that small electronic manufacturing firms are actively attempting to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their manufacturing  process. Of particular interest is the apparent emphasis on seeking  to contain costs while simplifying  the manufacturing process.

Emerging as a Major Carrier: A Case Study of America West Airlines

The increasing concentration and turbulent financial environment of the U.S. airline industry raise serious questions regarding the efficacy of airline deregulation. The deregulatory experience has brought into question many of the critical assumptions of entry freedom and contestable markets upon which much of deregulation was based. The current environment poses the important question: How does a smaller or new carrier compete with today\u27s increasingly global megacarriers? The evolution of America West Airlines in its struggle to build a strong market niche provides an interesting case study of one start-up carrier\u27s strategies and policies

Mapping logistics practice using the product life cycle

The dynamic nature of today\u27s global economy places a premium on a firm\u27s ability to anticipate and to respond to customer needs as well as changing competitive pressures. Within this environment, developing a successful logistics strategy can be critical to the firm\u27s long-term competitive success. This paper looks at the potential for using the product life cycle (PLC) as a strategic framework in the logistics strategy planning process. Results of an empirical study that investigated the appropriate use of 43 logistics techniques across PLC stages are reported. The implementation status of the various logistics techniques is also considered

Relational architecture and relational capability: organisational levers to support strategic supplier relationships

The resource based view of strategy suggests that competitiveness in part derives from a firms ability to collaborate with a subset of its supply network to co-create highly valued products and services. This relational capability relies on a foundational intra and inter-organisational architecture, the manifestation of strategic, people, and process decisions facilitating the interface between the firm and its strategic suppliers. Using covariance-based structural equation modelling we examine the relationships between internal and external features of relational architecture, and their relationship with relational capability and relational quality. This is undertaken on data collected by mail survey. We find significant relationships between both internal and external relational architecture and relational capability and between relational capability and relational quality. Novel constructs for internal and external elements of relational architecture are specified to demonstrate their positive influence on relational capability and relationship quality

An Empirical Analysis of the Financial Impact of Supply Chain Management on Small Firms

In this article we test the value proposition hypothesis of supply chain management (SCM) by examining survey results of 570 US managers. First, we find that large firms use SCM initiatives significantly more than small firms. Second, in univariate and multivariate tests, we find that SCM leads to significant improvements in asset utilization, revenue generation, and competitive performance, regardless of firm size. These two major findings suggest that managers at small firms that are not actively engaged in SCM should reevaluate their opportunity to capture the competitive benefits of SCM that many large firms currently enjoy

Why Supply Chain Collaboration Fails: The Socio-Structural View Of Resistance To Collaboration Strategies

Purpose The relational view posits that supply chain integration can be a source of competitive advantage. Few firms, however, successfully co-create value to attain supernormal relational rents. We therefore elaborate theory regarding the reasons why collaboration strategies fail. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a quasi-longitudinal, multi-case interview methodology to explore the reasons why collaboration strategies fail to deliver intended results. We interviewed managers at 49 companies in Period 1 and managers at 57 companies in Period 2. Fifteen companies participated in both rounds of interviews. Findings This paper builds and describes a taxonomy of relational resistors. We then explore how sociological and structural resistors reinforce each other to undermine collaborative behavior. Specifically, the interplay among resistors 1) obscures the true sources of resistance, 2) exacerbates a sense of vulnerability to non-collaborative behavior that reduces the willingness to invest in relational architecture, and 3) inhibits the development of essential relational skills and organizational routines. Originality/value This research identifies and describes the behaviors and processes that impede successful supply chain alliances. By delving into the interplay among relational resistors, the research explains the detail and nuance of inter-firm rivalry and supply chain complexity. Ultimately, it is the re-enforcing nature of various resistors that make it so difficult for firms have to realize relational rents

Using neuroevolution for predicting mobile marketing conversion

This paper addresses user Conversion Rate (CVR) prediction within the context of Mobile Performance Marketing. Specifically, we adapt two main neuroevolution methods: Neuroevolution of Augmenting Topologies (NEAT) and Hypercube-based NEAT (HyperNEAT). First, we discuss two mechanisms for increasing execution speed (parallelism and data sampling); a strategy for preventing excessive network complexity with NEAT; and a rolling window scheme for performing an online learning. Then, we present experimental results, using distinct datasets and testing both offline and online learning environments.ThisarticleisaresultoftheprojectNORTE-01-0247-FEDER-017497,supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This work was also supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2019