Showing papers in "International Journal of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management in 2014"

Supply Chain Management Practices, Competitive Advantage and Organizational Performance: A Confirmatory Factor Model

Abstract: Supply chain is the process of continuous flow of products or services from source to the destination. Supply chain management has become an effective tool now a day to survive in this competitive world. Organizations do their best to harvest profits by adopting better supply chain management practices for competitive advantage and organizational performance. In this paper an attempt has been made to understand the relationship among supply chain practices, competitive advantage, and organizational performance using structural equation modelling. This research conceptualizes and develops five secondary dimensions of supply chain practices (Use of technology, SC speed, Customer satisfaction, SC integration, and Inventory management). The research also identifies four primary competitive advantage components (Inventory management, Customer satisfaction, Profitability, and Customer base identification) and six primary organizational performance components (Financial Performance, Market performance, SC competencies, Customer satisfaction, Stakeholder satisfaction, and Innovation and learning). The data for analysis was collected from top 10 non-livestock organized retail players operating in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, New Delhi and, Gurgaon in India. The relationships in the proposed framework were tested using structural equation modelling. The results indicate that Indian retailers know that competitive advantage has high impact on SCP but they have less understanding in matching SCP and competitive advantage with organizational performance.

Assessing Effectiveness of Coordination in Food Supply Chain: A Framework

Abstract: Agriculture sector plays very crucial role in the economic growth of India. For sustaining its further growth, supply chain of agriculture sector needs to be strengthened. Agriculture sector is facing lot of challenges due to poor infrastructure, unorganised retail market, poor adoption of modern technology and overall inefficient supply chain. There is strong need to develop linkages between farmers and food processors and markets. Lack of coordination is the major problem in food supply chain. It is causing major loss to country as a whole. This study has tried to identify major factors responsible for coordination in the food supply chain. Further, a framework has been developed to quantify the effectiveness of coordination in the supply chain. This has been further illustrated with a case of food supply chain. This framework can be also useful for supply chains from other sectors to quantify its effectiveness and further improve their respective performance.

Investigating Adoption of E-Procurement Systems: An Empirical Study

Abstract: This paper attempts to provide insights into current E-procurement practices. A survey was conducted among 342 members of Institute of Supply Management –Western Washington (ISM-WW), the local chapter of the Institute of Supply Management (ISM). This paper reports on the findings of the survey conducted. The research helped the author to identify numerous critical success factors to effective implementation, key factors in making the decision to implement E-procurement systems, problems encountered during the implementation, and unanticipated things that were not considered in a company's original plan to implement E-procurement systems as well as the benefits that the companies gained as a result of successful E-procurement implementation. The author's aspiration is that the results of the survey will help companies develop a better understanding of use and implementation of E-procurement systems and avoid the problems encountered by other firms.

Developing a New Theory of Integer-Valued Data Envelopment Analysis for Supplier Selection in the Presence of Stochastic Data

Abstract: Supplier selection has a strategic importance for every company. Hybrid integer data is one of the models in data envelopment analysis (DEA). In many real world applications, data are often stochastic. A successful approach to address uncertainty in data is to replace deterministic data via random variables, leading to chance-constrained DEA. In this paper, a chance-constrained hybrid integer data envelopment analysis (CCHIDEA) model is developed and also its deterministic equivalent which is a nonlinear program is derived. Furthermore, it is shown that the deterministic equivalent of the CCHIDEA model can be converted into a quadratic program. In addition, sensitivity analysis of the CCHIDEA model is discussed with respect to changes on parameters. Finally, a case study demonstrates the application of the proposed model.

Analysis of Passengers' Perception of Public Transport Quality and Performance

Abstract: This research investigates the passengers' level of satisfaction from the use of diverse public transport systems. The aim is to uncover factors that drive their modal choices and to assess the quality implications of the variability of the users' perceived satisfaction through the use of two statistical methods ordered logit and linear mixed models and comprehensive diagrammatic techniques. Five transit systems in the two major cities in Greece, Athens and Thessaloniki, have been examined. The analysis demonstrated that the most important satisfaction attributes are service frequency, followed by waiting conditions and network coverage, punctuality and in-vehicle transport conditions. A gender-based market segmentation analysis provided further insight into the differences among groups of the population. According to this analysis, female respondents tend to place their attention on punctuality, waiting conditions and driver behavior, while male respondents on in-vehicle transport conditions and the existence and quality of transfer information.

Airports Environmental Management: Results from the Evaluation of European Airports Environmental Plans

Abstract: Although airports contribute to region's economic development, they have a negative impact on the environment and on the communities around them. Environmental impacts such as noise, air and water pollution, and natural resources consumption are some of the implications resulting from the operation of airports that have the ability to constrain airports further development. In addition, increased public concern, regarding climate change, imposes more restrictions on carbon use and greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, many airports can no longer make full use of their capacity, especially when the mitigating cost is quite high. This paper is about airports environmental management and presents the results related to key components of the environmental plans that have been adopted in eight European regional airports. Key issue of the research is to investigate the differences and common practices in applied environmental strategies and systems. Even though most of the airports recognize the need to specify an environmental management strategy, not many regional airports have set specific targets about their environmental performance. Airports that serve more than five million passengers per year seem to have a more detailed environmental strategy; airports located in countries that do not have applied specific sustainable development strategies focus on facilitating growth, rather than taking measures to control their environmental disturbance.

Modeling Carrier Interactions in an International Freight Transport System

Abstract: This paper presents a novel multi-level hierarchical approach which models carrier interactions in international maritime freight transportation networks. Ocean carriers, land carriers and port terminal operators are considered. Port terminal operators, providing transportation services within a port complex, are regarded as a special type of the carrier, based on their behavior. The carriers make pricing and routing decisions at different parts of the multimodal network, having hierarchical relationships. Ocean carriers are regarded as the leaders in a maritime shipping market. Port terminal operators are the followers of ocean carriers as well as the leaders of land carriers. The individual carrier problem is formulated at each level using Nash equilibrium to find the optimal service charge and routing pattern for which each carrier obtains the greatest profit. Interactions among different types of carriers are captured in a three-level model. The concept of multi-leader-follower game is applied to a multi-level game. A numerical example is used to demonstrate the validity of the developed three-level model.

Supply Chain Risk Management: A Conceptual Framework and Empirical Validation

Abstract: Increasing globalization of the supply chains is making them increasingly vulnerable to various supply chain risks. Effective management of these risks is essential to prevent minor as well as major risks that may occur in day-to-day operations of the firm. In this paper an attempt is made to bring out a schema for analyzing supply chain risks faced by the firm and develop a risk management action framework that would serve as a guide for practitioners to identify the level at which their firms are operating and the strategies they need to employ to combat or prevent supply chain risks. The data is collected by means of an online as well as an event survey from logistics managers of various supply chain firms. Indeed Singaporean firms need to properly document these supply chain risks. Moreover, there are gaps in specific areas where Singaporean firms can improve themselves and thus become globally effective corporations.

Achieving Flexibility via Contingency Planning Activities in the Supply Chain

Abstract: Supply chain disruptions significantly impact businesses worldwide. Many organizations work towards improving flexibility so as to prepare for such disruptions and maintain competitive advantage. This research effort examines four activities that are associated with the contingency planning process to determine which, if any, of these processes are ultimately supportive of organizational flexibility. These activities are: information sharing, external collaboration, internal collaboration, and information technology usage. A survey method is employed to examine the perceptions of 103 contingency planners to determine which of these potential determinants are positively related to organizational flexibility. The data are analyzed using partial least square regression, and reveal that information technology use and external collaboration are significant determinants of organizational flexibility. Implications of our findings are discussed and future research to support this burgeoning area of supply chain management is proposed.

Sourcing Decision in a Multi-Period Model under Demand and Supply Uncertainty

Abstract: Determining the optimum number of suppliers and the optimum quantities to order from each of them is a critical problem for any supply chain. This paper has mathematically arrived at conditions to identify the appropriate sourcing strategy in a multi-period scenario for a stochastic supply and a stochastic demand environment. It has also obtained the total order quantity, optimum number of suppliers and order allocation to each of the suppliers under both uncertain demand and supply in the multiple-period context. Through a numerical analysis this work could bring interesting managerial insights about the sourcing strategies.

Building a Natural Disaster Risk Index for Supply Chain Operations

Abstract: Risk for an organization is associated with uncertainties in all areas of its operations. As firms move toward global sourcing, supply chain risk increases dramatically, which is linked to lower financial performance and market value. One major type of supply chain risk is disruptions caused by natural or man-made disasters. In this paper, major factors causing supply chain disruptions are identified based on resource dependency theory and contingency theory. As a result of the study, a comprehensive supply chain risk index for natural disasters is proposed by including two major factors (i.e. location and single source). Actions are suggested for supply chain managers to lower disruption risks within a supply chain when they use the risk index as a measure.

Two Heuristics for the Basic EOQ and EPQ with Partial Backordering

Abstract: This paper describes two heuristics for the basic economic order quantity and economic production quantity with partial backordering that use the time between orders and the percentage of demand filled from stock as the decision variables. Tests of the heuristics on a set of problems generated by using different values for six situational characteristics indicate that both heuristics should perform well as long as the critical value of the backordering rate is positive and very well if it is at least 0.50.

Review of Solution Approaches for the Symmetric Traveling Salesman Problem

Abstract: In this paper, the main known exact and heuristic solution approaches and algorithms for the symmetric Traveling Salesman Problem TSP, published after 1992, are surveyed. The paper categorize the most important existing algorithm to 6 main groups: i Genetic algorithms, ii Ant colony methods, iii Neural Methods, iv Local search algorithms and Tabu search, v Lagrangian methods and vi Branch and bound and branch & cut algorithms.

Factors Affecting RFID Adoption: An Exploratory Study

Abstract: In marketing, a customer purchases a product while a consumer uses the product; which means that an adopter of an innovation behaves like a consumer of a new product. But surprisingly no initiative has been made to relate/integrate an adopter with a consumer. This article has done this. Technological, organizational, environmental factors as well as "expectations" from using the technology are important for the acceptance and continued use of a technological innovation. This paper integrates the effect of innovation characteristics along with the expectation on RFID adoption, in the context of Australian livestock industry. To do this, this study first presents a theoretical analysis then presents the outcomes from eight interviews which were conducted among livestock farms in Australia. Finally, it proposes a research framework while proposing eleven propositions related to RFID adoption. Contribution-wise, policy makers may compare their experience with this study, evaluate the past, and find the future direction.

Mapping Communication along the Supply Chain in a Reputation-Sensitive Environment: Preliminary Insights

Abstract: This exploratory qualitative study is aimed at depicting communication support to Supply Chain (SC) management, emphasizing how relationships and processes are affected by communication flows. It provides a preliminary comprehensive communication mapping, highlighting key stakeholders involved in SC management, communication roles enhancing logistics performances, and channels supporting information and physical flows among partners. It is based on a literature review, multidisciplinary academic meetings, interviews with SC directors of two global companies operating in a reputation-sensitive environment, and desk analysis of companies' documental flows. Findings reveal that communication accomplishes four basic functions: 1) it helps embedding and spreading cultural values along internal SC units; 2) it supports conflict resolution and compensation among different managerial logics; 3) it encourages development and maintenance of relationships with SC partners; 4) it enhances the fine-tuning among SC phases and activities, supporting alignment and integration of procedures and routines. Finally, the study points out that communication is typically face-to-face when it has to support the strategic SC phases, whereas it is typically computer-mediated when supporting SC operational phases.

Supply Chain Coordination through a Revenue-Sharing Contract with Two Kinds of Fuzzy Demand

Abstract: This paper studies a supply chain coordinated by a revenue-sharing contract in fuzzy environment. Two kinds of fuzzy programming models are discussed: revenue-sharing contract with fuzzy linear demand model and fuzzy iso-price-elastic demand model. Supply chain coordination in both centralized decision setting and centralized decision setting are achieved by obtaining the optimal solutions in the discussed settings.

Lateral Collaboration in Semiconductor Industry Supply Networks: A Procurement Perspective

Abstract: The interactive emphasis of vertical and horizontal collaboration in the semiconductor industry supply chain (SSC) support the buyer(s) performing procurement activities with supplier(s) through joint planning and decision-making, information sharing, resource sharing and incentive alignment. The paper proposes a framework to explore the resource sharing conditions under which enterprises are motivated to collaborate and the conditions in which such collaboration would be successful. A lateral collaboration scheme is proposed, which can be operated by the e-market intermediary to motivate buyers and suppliers to collaborate under competion. The results of this study demonstrate that the proposed collaboration mechanism yields an effective infrastructure for each members of the supply chain that supports efficient exchange of information and resources among all members. It is expected that the proposed scheme would enable the optimal capacity decision among competing suppliers for minimum expected total cost of the supply chain by appropriate selection of ordering quantity and penalty cost as imposed by the e-market intermediary. It is argued that the managerial decision-making in procurement perspective contribute to the matching between supply and demand for gaining mutual benefits.

Expanding the Knowledge Capability of Suppliers through Supplier Development Programs

Abstract: As firms increasingly outsource to focus on their core competencies, effective supplier development has become a major strategic decision in order to maintain a network of competent suppliers. Supplier development can be seen as a capability-enhancing activity that an organization undertakes to improve its suppliers' performance. This study conceptualizes supplier development as a knowledge-intensive and collaborative program, and explores how knowledge creation processes can be facilitated through different supplier development activities. A qualitative inquiry with a thematic analysis that focuses on five companies that are the suppliers of the largest motorcycle firm in Taiwan is presented in order to identify how different supplier development activities facilitate the knowledge creation process through the SECI modes and ba. The results show that these supplier development activities facilitate different types of knowledge conversion processes that can expand the knowledge capability of suppliers in a so-called center-satellite supply chain.

Management of Environmental Issues in Port Activities: The Hellenic Caste Study

Abstract: ?t is internationally observed that the environmental questions concerning ports gain continuously the attention of their administrations. This comes as a result of pressures that are mainly exercised from the legislation, the market and the society itself that, as a whole, show continuously higher interest for the environmental issues. It is also a result from factors such as gain of comparative advantages, reduction of operational cost, improvement of port profile, environmental sensitization of leadership. As the various port operations can lead to a variety of environmental and human effects, the need for a firm coexistence of financial development and environmental protection urges ports to the application of sustainable systems, plans and policies. The aim of this paper is to point out the need for an integrated environmental management of ports, to highlight the preconditions for the management of port environmental consequences through the development of appropriate Environmental Management Systems, to summarize and discuss the Hellenic reality concerning this issue and present a set of appropriate procedures and measures which could lead the Hellenic ports to the total environmental management in a cost-effective way.

Reverse logistics supply chain network design: models and issues

Abstract: Environmental concern from customers, government and international institution such as EU and others urge the manufacturer to take back their products after use. We address eight different network design configurations from which the manufacturer can select the design for their reverse logistics system based on their requirements. The dominant literatures on reverse logistics network design are based on mixed integer program model and few center around subjective decision making approach like analytic hierarchy process, but none has integrated both approaches in the same context. In this paper, we explore two different methodologies- mixed integer program model and analytic hierarchy process, for the same business scenario using the real data and further conduct the extensive sensitivity analysis for three levels of volume i.e. high, medium and low. In addition, we discuss practical implications of our findings from two different methodologies and we provide insights on network design for reverse logistics system.