An Analysis of the Impact of Reputation on Supply Webs

In long-term, recurring contractual relationships, which are common in the B2B-area, reputation and trust play an outstanding role. The impact of reputation and price-based assessment of suppliers on the material flow in the supply chain will be investigated in this analysis. Positive reputation proves to be a key factor to reach a market dominating position. We observed in our simulation, that the assessment of suppliers towards a reputation-based choice has a positive effect on supply chain stabilitiy. In the worst case, a strong reputationbased choice leads to the formation of monopolies. The Bullwip-Effect, that could be observed as a second phenomenon in our simulation setting, represents a countertendency to the reputation-based monopoly effect. This countereffect is observed to be even stronger for members of tiers with a high fluctuation of order rates

Drivers and Inhibitors for Outsourcing Financial Processes - A Comparative Survey of Economies of Scale, Scope, and Skill

Economies of scale, scope, and skill are known to be major drivers or inhibitors for outsourcing business processes but they may play different roles for outsourcing primary or secondary processes. In this paper, based on two empirical surveys with Fortune 1,000 non-banks and Fortune 500 banks in Germany, a comparative analysis reveals different appreciation of (the impact of) economies of scale, scope, and skill by managers responsible for outsourcing financial processes in non-banks and banks. Consistent with the theory, economies of scale and skill are identified as drivers for outsourcing business processes while economies of scope represent an inhibitor. Overall, Chief Credit Officers estimate scale and skill effects due to outsourcing to be higher than non-bank Chief Financial Officers do. Furthermore, economies of scope, which inhibit selective sourcing, are evaluated as being less problematic. As a result, Chief Credit Officers are more likely to outsource (parts of) their - primary - financial processes. The surveys also suggest that quite in contrast to common perception German banks are on the verge of industrialization and modularization

The Role of Information Technology Business Alignment in Value Creation: A Multiple Case Study among German Banks

A key question in Information Systems research is how information technology creates business value. In this paper, our aim is to help reveal the role of alignment between IT and business resources in business value creation. In particular, we propose that the contribution of IT to business process performance should be investigated in the context of actual IT usage, with IT business alignment as a moderating variable. Also, IT flexibility should be explicitly considered. Using five case studies from the German financial services industry based on a causal model of IT business value creation reveals that the process of IT business value creation indeed strongly depends on the alignment between business and IT. But it also turns out that actual presence of business competencies is crucial and that even superior IT cannot compensate for business competency deficiencies

The role of Antarctic overwintering teams and their significance for German polar research

Germany has been operating permanently crewed research stations in Antarctica for more than 45 years. The opening of the Georg Forster Station (1976) and Georg von Neumayer Station (1981) initiated a period of continuous environmental monitoring that allowed both the former East Germany and West Germany to become contracting parties in, and achieve consultative status with, the framework of the Antarctic Treaty. This marked a milestone in German polar research. Continuous research at the Neumayer Station III, its two predecessors, and the now-dismantled former German Democratic Republic (GDR) Georg Forster Station is undertaken by teams of so-called “overwinterers”, presently with nine members, who stay at the base for longer than an entire Antarctic winter. Their long-term stay in Antarctica is defined by isolation, separation from civilization, routine work to sustain long-term scientific observations, and unique personal experiences. This article is dedicated to them and outlines their part and role in the German Antarctic research landscape

The role of Antarctic overwintering teams and their significance for German polar research

Germany has been operating permanently crewed research stations in Antarctica for more than 45 years. The opening of the Georg Forster Station (1976) and Georg von Neumayer Station (1981) initiated a period of continuous environmental monitoring that allowed both the former East Germany and West Germany to become contracting parties in, and achieve consultative status with, the framework of the Antarctic Treaty. This marked a milestone in German polar research. Continuous research at the Neumayer Station III, its two predecessors, and the now-dismantled former German Democratic Republic (GDR) Georg Forster Station is undertaken by teams of so-called "overwinterers", presently with nine members, who stay at the base for longer than an entire Antarctic winter. Their long-Term stay in Antarctica is defined by isolation, separation from civilization, routine work to sustain long-Term scientific observations, and unique personal experiences. This article is dedicated to them and outlines their part and role in the German Antarctic research landscape