Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques

Models and Methods in Social Network Analysis presents the most important developments in quantitative models and methods for analyzing social network data that have appeared during the 1990s. Intended as a complement to Wasserman and Faust’s Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications, it is a collection of original articles by leading methodologists reviewing recent advances in their particular areas of network methods. Reviewed are advances in network measurement, network sampling, the analysis of centrality, positional analysis or blockmodeling, the analysis of diffusion through networks, the analysis of affiliation or “two-mode” networks, the theory of random graphs, dependence graphs, exponential families of random graphs, the analysis of longitudinal network data, graphic techniques for exploring network data, and software for the analysis of social networks.

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Models and methods in social network analysis

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to classify the research to-date on Supply Chain Finance (SCF) according to the main themes and methods, and to propose directions for future research.,The review is based on 119 papers mainly published from 2000 to 2014 in international peer-reviewed journals and in the proceedings of international conferences.,The articles that provide a definition of SCF reflect two major perspectives: the ‘finance oriented’ perspective - focused on short-term solutions provided by financial institutions, addressing accounts payable and receivable - and the ‘supply chain oriented’ perspective - which might not involve a financial institution, and is focused on working capital optimisation in terms of accounts payable, receivable, inventories, and sometimes even on fixed asset financing.,While efforts were made to be all-inclusive, significant research efforts may have been inadvertently omitted. However, the authors believe that this review is an accurate representation of the body of research on SCF published during the specified timeframe, and feel that confidence may be placed on the resulting assessments.,The paper presents a comprehensive summary of previous research on this topic and identifies the most important issues that need to be addressed in future research. On the basis of the identified gaps in the literature, four key issues have been highlighted which should be addressed in future research.

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Supply chain finance: a literature review

Logistics’ contribution to corporate performance has increased over recent years, particularly due to supply chain innovations. Opposed to common innovations focusing on the improvement of product or information flow, supply chain finance (SCF) targets the financial flow and allows buying firms and their suppliers to improve working capital and reduce costs. However, the adoption process of SCF is complex and rather unexplored in academia. This article provides an early step in building knowledge about SCF and in particular how firms adopt SCF, why they adopt differently, and what role suppliers play in the adoption process. The objective was therefore to close the gap between our knowledge on product and information flow oriented innovations and financial flow innovations along the supply chain, namely SCF. For this explorative research, we opted for an inductive multiple case study approach with six European firms. Based on our findings, four sets of propositions are posited and an extended SCF adoption framework is proposed revolving around the interrelated adoption processes of buying firms and their corresponding supplier bases.

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Managing the Innovation Adoption of Supply Chain Finance-Empirical Evidence From Six European Case Studies

Purpose




Recently, in response to the credit crunch and the increased costs of financing, new solutions for supporting the financial management of supply chains, known as supply chain finance (SCF), have been developed. They exploit the strengths of supply chain links to optimise working capital. The purpose of this paper is to provide a reference framework that links together the objectives leading to the adoption of SCF solutions and several moderating variables.




Design/methodology/approach




This paper adopts a multiple case study methodology, analysing 14 cases of the application of SCF solutions among Italian companies.




Findings




The main findings are the identification of the different objectives leading to the adoption of SCF; the analysis of the impact of moderating variables (the level of inter- and intra-firm collaboration, the level of the trade process digitalisation and the bargaining power and financial strength of the leading firm) on SCF adoption; and the formulation of a reference framework supporting the effective adoption of SCF solutions.




Research limitations/implications




This contribution is exploratory in nature; theory-testing contributions should be the focus of further research. Also, the sample is limited to Italian companies. Finally, the service provider’s point of view has been marginally taken into consideration in this study.




Originality/value




The article addresses the need for more empirical research on SCF. It provides a reference framework focused on the objectives and moderating variables leading to effective SCF adoption, providing a theory-building contribution on the general topic of SCF and on the specific topic of the adoption process of different SCF solutions.

Does finance solve the supply chain financing problem

Supply chain finance is undergoing a transformation. Supply chains are often so tightly coupled that the domino effect of suboptimal working capital management can lead to financial glitches at a single supplier and even bankruptcy. Thus, each working capital management decision should consider every upstream and downstream partner within the supply chain. The cash conversion cycle (CCC) is therefore an excellent measure of a firm's performance. Results indicate a significant negative relationship between the CCC and return on capital employed (ROCE). We argue that the optimal level of CCC for responsive supply chains must be assessed holistically, and conclude that the right working capital management depends on the business model, its specific supply chain design configurations, and risk aspects within the supply chain.

What is the right cash conversion cycle for your supply chain

Strategically aligned and efficiently implemented spare parts logistics can differentiate a business from its competitors, lower costs, increase revenues, and thus help firms generate greater value for customers and ultimately increase profits. Based on multiple case studies with manufacturers in the machine and plant construction industry, this article examines the key components of a superior spare parts logistics strategy. The study suggests that an efficient spare parts logistics strategy can be developed with a three-step model that consists of nine components.

A Strategic Framework for Spare Parts Logistics

Aftermarket sales and profits have become an increasingly important part of an Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) business model. The attractiveness of the after-sales business, however, has a...

Relationship archetypes in aftermarkets

Kurzfassung Auf Grund der Wirtschaftskrise mussten zahlreiche Industrieunternehmen in den vergangenen Monaten erhebliche Absatzruckgange im Primarproduktgeschaft hinnehmen, da viele Kunden Neu- und Ersatzinvestitionen infolge knapper liquider Mittel nicht mehr tatigten oder verschieben mussten. Eine Untersuchung bei sechs Industrieunternehmen aus verschiedenen Branchen zeigt, dass die aktive Vermarktung von After-Sales-Services und die Nutzung der Potenziale des After-Sales-Geschafts diese Umsatz- und Gewinnverluste kompensieren konnen. Das After-Sales-Geschaft kann wesentlich zum Unternehmenserfolg in wirtschaftlich turbulenten Zeiten beitragen, so das Ergebnis der Untersuchung. Ausgehend von dieser Erkenntnis identifizieren die Autoren Erfolgsfaktoren des After-Sales-Managements in der Wirtschaftskrise.

Ruben Jönke

Papers

What is the right cash conversion cycle for your supply chain

A Strategic Framework for Spare Parts Logistics

Relationship archetypes in aftermarkets

After-Sales-Geschäft als Retter in Krisenzeiten

Der Einfluss zukünftiger makroökonomischer Entwicklungen auf die Logistik