A Position Paper on What is Supply

Supply is an important topic which needs to be well researched for providing insight about the needed characteristics for fulfilling the customer supply needs. Researched topics are mainly focused on specific features of supply. This research is aimed at providing an understanding of the supply characteristics relevant to the 21st century. In order to understand these characteristics, journal articles relevant to the topic were researched and analysed. The study resulted in collating a supply definition which incorporates the various views of supply identified in the research. The study also proposed a hypothetical supply model that supports the new definition. Having a clear understanding of what is supply in the 21st century is crucial in order to be able to fulfill the customer needs. The world is changing and the importance of sensing and responding to customer requirements is becoming crucial. Sourced supplies will need to meet the evolving supply requirements which include things such as minimum impact on the environment. It is these supply characteristics which will decide if future supplies are going to meet the customer requirements

A comparison of supply integration and end-to-end communication theory and practice - an Australian perspective

The concept of supply chain integration and end-to-end communication are well established in supply chain theory. Typically, because of the depth of publications, an axiom has developed that all supply networks are fully integrated and have end-toend communication protocols. Recent research into Australian supply networks has highlighted a somewhat different scenario, where many networks are fragmented and lack the connectivity that would be expected. This paper offers a comparison of theoretical supply chain management and the actual practices found in Australian businesses. As a result of this grass root research, a scenario is offered that suggest there is a significant gap between the theory and practice of supply integration and communication that in turn, generate risk in these supply networks

Obstacles to fulfilling the care mission of a Lebanese not-for-profit organisation: A study using stickiness theory

A good flow of knowledge is important in all organisations including not-for-profits (NFPs). It helps improve the quality of services provided to customers and, in the case of NFPs, to people in need, by improving competitiveness and overall effectiveness. Limited research has explored stickiness, defined as difficulties in transferring information or knowledge, in NFPs. This study uses stickiness as a lens to explore difficulties in transferring information or knowledge in a NFP, The Lebanese Association of SOS Children’s Villages (LebSOS), and the impact of this on LebSOS’s ability to reach its goals. LebSOS is a subsidiary of SOS Children’s Villages International (SCVI), a global NFP that provides alternative care to children and assists families who suffer from hardship and find caring for their children difficult. The study adopts an exploratory inductive approach, analysing qualitative data from multiple sources to understand how the NFP operates. The results reveal stickiness issues in four LebSOS processes: P1: Raising Children, P2: Fundraising, P3: Accounting, and P4: Family Strengthening. Fourteen stickiness sources are identified, none of which appears in all four processes. However some sources affect multiple processes, including limited training and shortage of employees which prevent the transfer of knowledge which used to occur in the past, and reduce recipients’ motivation. Each of these appears in two processes. The remaining 11 sources are found in one process each. They include difficulties in sharing information using the available media, and operating in dangerous environments. These sources were found in the fundraising and family strengthening processes respectively. From these findings, I suggest how LebSOS could address stickiness and how the findings could apply to similar organisations

A comparison of supply integration and end-to-end communication theory and practice - an Australian perspective

The concept of supply chain integration and end-to-end communication are well established in supply chain theory. Typically, because of the depth of publications, an axiom has developed that all supply networks are fully integrated and have end-to-end communication protocols. Recent research into Australian supply networks has highlighted a somewhat different scenario, where many networks are fragmented and lack the connectivity that would be expected. This paper offers a comparison of theoretical supply chain management and the actual practices found in Australian businesses. As a result of this grass root research, a scenario is offered that suggest there is a significant gap between the theory and practice of supply integration and communication that in turn, generate risk in these supply networks

A conceptual framework of the supply of human knowledge capital within the service delivery arena

Typically, there has been little focus on the sustainability of human supply within the technology or service delivery arena of corporations. Early research suggests that there is a gap in supply that is typically triggered by traditional methods of sourcing as a consequence retaining knowledge rich employees has often been influenced by the need to immediately reduce costs constraints with little insight into medium term value generators. The performance of organisations is closely linked to how technology is exploited throughout the supply network. Of itself, technology is not enough for achieving total enterprise sustainability, however, it is the lack of technology, combined with formal business systems that will directly impact an organisations ability to be sustainable in the long term. Findings from this early stage research indicate that, although a costly and high risk process, it is typically current recruitment processes that initiate risk that leads to human capital failure over time in many organisations. Furthermore, it would appear that the recruitment strategies of many organisations are built around reducing costs while minimising investments in knowledge growth for current employees and ultimately the organisation

Exploring mind mapping techniques to analyse complex case study data

This paper discusses using mind mapping techniques as a viable and complementary approach for analysing the complex qualitative data collected during a research project. Using a case study methodology to undertake the investigation, data collecting focused on conducting semi structured interviews with employees of the Lebanese Association of SOS Children‟s Villages. This was followed by an exploratory exercise to analyse ten of the interviews conducted by using mind mapping techniques and assess the possible suitability of the technique for conducting qualitative data analysis. The study concludes that mind mapping is a suitable technique for analysing large amounts of qualitative research data collected from face to face semi structured interviews during a research project. The themes from these interviews could be presented visually and relied upon for communicating back the findings with ease. Detailed information about the themes and sub themes noted on mind maps could be recorded on a spreadsheet. This delivers an audit trail and facilitates conducting an in depth written discussion about the findings. This research adds to the limited quality mind mapping research data to date and suggests why considering the technique as a viable and complementary approach for analysing complex qualitative data is advantageous

A sustainable decision framework for maintaining engagement between corporations and community stakeholders: breaking down the barriers of supply

Traditional lines of supply have, over time, developed natural barriers that reduced the supply network efficiency and the opportunity to develop a win-win environment between corporations and community stakeholders. This situation originates from the early stages of a new program integration regardless of stakeholders intent. As such, early program integration is crucial for having any meaningful improvement away from traditional arms length supply relationships. The performance of organisations within the supply network is intertwined. For successful integration, information will need to flow efficiently throughout the supply network and be accessible to community stakeholders who represent a node within the supply network. Having timely and accurate information will help supply networks minimise costs and concentrate on being customer-centric. However, this creates pressure on supply nodes to increase collaboration that breaks down the natural barriers typical to many networks. However, most supply networks rely on legacy systems that jeopardise the networks ability to innovate and deliver early and therefore successful program integration. To exacerbate the problem, most community and corporate departments become highly involved in day-to-day operational needs that limit program success. Typically most models of early supplier engagement are coupled with standard requests for tender processes that do not address potential risks inherent with what has become the outsourcing of strategic intent. By drawing on current case study materials, this paper discusses the inherent risk to organisations who continue to attempt overlaying integration programs into classical hierarchical structures and delivers a novel decision framework for maintaining engagement between corporations and community stakeholders