François Fulconis

Bio: François Fulconis is an academic researcher from University of Avignon. The author has contributed to research in topics: Supply chain & Service provider. The author has an hindex of 13, co-authored 73 publications receiving 590 citations. Previous affiliations of François Fulconis include Aix-Marseille University & University of Nice Sophia Antipolis.

La prestation logistique : origines, enjeux et perspectives.

Abstract: La prestation logistique prend une importance grandissante en Europe, en Amerique du Nord, en Asie et, plus recemment, en Afrique du Nord et en Amerique du Sud. Au cœur de ce secteur en cours de structuration, de puissantes entreprises, denommees prestataires de services logistiques (PSL), couvrent desormais un large spectre d’activites pour le compte d’industriels et/ou de distributeurs. Omnipresents dans le management des flux physiques et d'informations, depuis les usines des fournisseurs jusqu’aux lineaires des magasins, en passant par les unites d’assemblage, les PSL les plus performants sont loin de se cantonner a de simples operations de transport et d’entreposage. Au contraire, ils n’ont cesse, depuis la fin des annees 1980, d’elargir leur offre de services a valeur ajoutee. C’est cette realite meconnue, veritable terra incognita pour le consommateur, et pourtant essentielle, qui est traitee de maniere systematique et originale dans cet ouvrage, le premier dans la litterature academique en langue francaise a se consacrer exclusivement a la prestation logistique. Integrant un tres grand nombre d’illustrations et de cas d’entreprises, tout en s’appuyant sur des grilles d’analyse eprouvees, l’ouvrage s’adresse a un public d’etudiants d’Universites et d’Ecoles de Commerce et d’Ingenieurs, en Licence d’economie et gestion, en Master de management specialise en logistique, mais aussi en strategie, en systemes d’information, en controle de gestion ou en marketing. Se demarquant des « recettes » a la mode, il interessera egalement les chercheurs et les praticiens (managers, consultants) qui souhaitent aborder, de facon critique, les origines, les enjeux et les perspectives strategiques les plus significatives en matiere de prestation logistique.

Exploring new competences in the logistics industry: the intermediation role of 4PL

Abstract: Networking strategies continue to develop in most industries. They lead manufacturing and/or retailing firms to specialize in a few core competences and to become “brokers” who entrust external partners with peripheral activity management. This is one of the explanations for the rise of logistics service providers (LSPs), described in all modern textbooks dealing with supply chain management. Very recently, a new trend has emerged in Western countries: Some LSPs are becoming brokers, capable of organizing supply chain networks thanks to their perfect command of information systems. The LSPs called fourth-party logistics (4PL) have taken control of the intermediation function, positioning themselves at the heart of the networked economy. The use of the conceptual framework “transactional center” helps to better understand 4PL governance, and more generally the evolution of the logistics industry.

Strategy dynamics in the logistics industry: a transactional center perspective

Abstract: Purpose – The paper puts forward a transactional center approach to the four-party logistics (4PL) development. For about ten years, the European logistics industry has indeed been undergoing massive changes by which dematerialized logistics service providers, also called 4PL, have become more and more important. Special emphasis is placed on their role of intermediary between the supply chain members, on the basis of the implementation of inter-organizational information systems (IOS). Design/methodology/approach – The paper goes over the research literature on 4PL referring to the info-mediation and intermediation processes. The accent is on the electronic brokerage application and on the main hindrances to 4PL development. Three propositions are put forward concerning a relevant research program. Findings – Understanding 4PL’s strategy dynamics requires going into the specific details of the role of transactional center. Thus, thanks to the effective management of IOS, some 4PL could become the hub firms of network organizations. To do that, they will have to acquire a thorough expertise on selecting network members and monitoring supply chain interfaces. Originality/value – A preliminary framework provides elements of discussion to enable a better understanding of the transformation process of the logistics industry. The interest for managers and academics is to illustrate how 4PL are becoming the agents for strategic change, while an excessive importance is usually attached only to manufacturers and large retailers in the academic literature.

Piloter des entreprises virtuelles. Quel rôle pour les prestataires de services logistiques

Abstract: A l’oppose de l’image de simples operateurs de transport qui leur est parfois associee, certains prestataires de services logistiques (PSL) ont su developper un metier d’ensemblier capable de prendre en charge une large palette d’operations logistiques et para-industrielles pour de multiples clients. Loin d’etre demunis face a l’emergence des entreprises dites virtuelles, ils leur apportent une competence de gestion des interfaces qui participe activement a la mise a disposition des produits dans les meilleures conditions de cout, de delai et de qualite de service. L’article explore cette realite organisationnelle en soulignant comment certains PSL, composante essentielle des entreprises virtuelles, pourraient gravir une nouvelle marche en devenant, a terme, leur veritable pilote.

Vers une dilution des frontières de l’organisation : le prestataire de services logistiques (PSL) comme pilote aux interfaces

Abstract: L’irruption de la notion de reseau en sciences de gestion revele, depuis pres de 25 ans, que des entreprises peuvent creer collectivement de la valeur, c’est-a-dire en « faisant ensemble », tout en depassant l’alternative originelle « marche vs hierarchie » fondee sur la notion de frontieres de l’organisation. Le rapprochement de diverses entreprises autour d’un projet commun, dont la mise en tension des flux conditionne la reussite, a fait emerger de nouveaux besoins et de nouveaux metiers, au premierrang desquels celui de prestataire de services logistiques (PSL). Tout au long des chaines logistiques multi-acteurs, ces derniers se positionnent comme de veritables pilotes aux interfaces. La reflexion s’attache ici a caracteriser et a analyser ce phenomene a partir d’une revue de la litterature et d’exemples recents.

An Overview of Innovation

Abstract: Models that depict innovation as a smooth, well-behaved linear process badly misspecify the nature and direction of the causal factors at work. Innovation is complex, uncertain, somewhat disorderly, and subject to changes of many sorts. Innovation is also difficult to measure and demands close coordination of adequate technical knowledge and excellent market judgment in order to satisfy economic, technological, and other types of constraints—all simultaneously. The process of innovation must be viewed as a series of changes in a complete system not only of hardware, but also of market environment, production facilities and knowledge, and the social contexts of the innovation organization.

Competing for the Future

Abstract: Everybody knows that digital technology has revolutionized our economy and our lifestyles. But how many of us really understand the drivers behind the technology – the significance of going digital; the miniaturization of electronic devices; the role of venture capital in financing the revolution; the importance of research and development? How many of us understand what it takes to make money from innovative technologies? Should we worry about manufacturing going offshore? What is the role of India and China in the digital economy? Drawing on a lifetime’s experience in the industry, as an engineer, a senior manager, and as a partner in a global venture capital firm, Henry Kressel offers an expert personalized answer to all these questions. He explains how the technology works, why it matters, how it is financed, and what the key lessons are for public policy.