ARDD 2020: from aging mechanisms to interventions

Aging is emerging as a druggable target with growing interest from academia, industry and investors. New technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced screening techniques, as well as a strong influence from the industry sector may lead to novel discoveries to treat age-related diseases. The present review summarizes presentations from the 7th Annual Aging Research and Drug Discovery (ARDD) meeting, held online on the 1st to 4th of September 2020. The meeting covered topics related to new methodologies to study aging, knowledge about basic mechanisms of longevity, latest interventional strategies to target the aging process as well as discussions about the impact of aging research on society and economy. More than 2000 participants and 65 speakers joined the meeting and we already look forward to an even larger meeting next year. Please mark your calendars for the 8th ARDD meeting that is scheduled for the 31st of August to 3rd of September, 2021, at Columbia University, USA

Developing eco-innovations: a three stage typology of supply networks

This paper uses grounded theory to develop and deepen our understanding of eco-innovation. It presents, through a series of four propositions, a three-stage supply network typology to help scholars and managers consider how best to develop these innovations. This typology was constructed by reviewing existing sustainability frameworks that argued that innovation was a key factor in sustainability. Moreover we found little consideration given on how to discover and develop eco-innovations. The literature proposes that a firm with strong ties with a few strategic suppliers will benefit from the knowledge and technology that spills over from suppliers to the firm during the new product development process. In contrast, the network literature explains that the creation of multiple weak ties to non-strategic suppliers may increase opportunities for identifying innovation. The network literature further suggests a third and potentially more promising route: building weak ties to suppliers that bridge ‘structural holes’ in the network. We suggest that strong ties with strategic suppliers will lead to the development of incremental eco-innovations while weak ties with multiple suppliers and with suppliers that bridge structural holes will tend to lead to radical eco-innovations. Finally, we suggest that once eco-innovations are developed they should be embedded in the operational processes of other suppliers to increase the sustainability performance of the focal firm

Supply relationship evaluation: the relationship assessment process (RAP) and beyond

In this article we argue that the common purchasing and supply management practice of evaluating supplier performance may be inappropriate in situations of supply partnerships, as it focuses on evaluating the performance of the supplier rather than the supply relationship. We explore a conceptual framework for supply relationship evaluation, discussing lessons from past attempts to develop relationship evaluation models, focusing particularly on the so-called Relationship Assessment Process (RAP) model (Lamming et al, 1996). The article critically evaluates the RAP model, discussing experiences of implementation from 1995 onwards. Building on the reflections on RAP, we propose a new conceptual framework for supply relationship evaluation. This is constructed on the basis of a synthesis of literatures grounded predominantly in industrial marketing and purchasing (IMP), and purchasing and supply management (PSM) research, and thus adopts a network rather than a dyadic perspective on relationship evaluation. We conclude by discussing the implications of the proposed framework

Strategic operations management

This is a substantial new edition of a successful textbook which continues to have a sensible and 'easy to read' style

Supply relationship evaluation:: The relationship assessment process (RAP) and beyond

Summary In this article we argue that the common purchasing and supply management practice of evaluating supplier performance may be inappropriate in situations of supply partnerships, as it focuses on evaluating the performance of the supplier rather than the supply relationship. We explore a conceptual framework for supply relationship evaluation, discussing lessons from past attempts to develop relationship evaluation models, focusing particularly on the so-called Relationship Assessment Process (RAP) model (Lamming et al., 1996). The article critically evaluates the RAP model, discussing experiences of implementation from 1995 onwards. Building on the reflections on RAP, we propose a new conceptual framework for supply relationship evaluation. This is constructed on the basis of a synthesis of literatures grounded predominantly in industrial marketing and purchasing (IMP), and purchasing and supply management (PSM) research, and thus adopts a network rather than a dyadic perspective on relationship evaluation. We conclude by discussing the implications of the proposed framework.Supply relationships Conceptual framework Relationship evaluation Assessment Networks

Horses for courses: explaining the gap between the theory and practice of green supply

Researchers and policy-makers have become increasingly enthusiastic about greening purchasing and supply management activities. In theory, greening supply should both limit environmental damage from industrial activities and deliver bottom-line benefits to implementing firms. However, compared with other environmental initiatives, few firms have implemented extensive green supply programmes. This paper seeks to resolve the apparent paradox between the desirability of green supply in theory and the slow implementation of green supply in practice. Using data from a recent series of interviews and a questionnaire in the UK, we examine the green supply practices adopted by particular types of firm and their performance implications. We cluster the operating units in our sample into four archetypal groups of green supply adopters and examine the characteristics of each group. We conclude that explaining the gap between the theory and practice of green supply requires looking beyond the aggregate pattern across firms. Firms are not ignoring the potential private benefits from green supply. On the contrary, they are rational actors playing to their own strengths and designing appropriate packages of green supply activities within their own corporate environmental, procurement and performance contexts