The article investigates the factors that make businesses postpone integrating the performance di... more The article investigates the factors that make businesses postpone integrating the performance dimension of sustainability in global agrifood supply chains. Based on literature-based conceptual reasoning, the article conceptualizes a double company lens distinguishing between substantial supply chain management and mere public relations endeavors as a major obstacle for businesses pursuing comprehensive supply chain performance in global agrifood chains. We point out that many supply chain performance attributes represent, in fact, credence attributes that cannot be verified by the consumer, hence entailing an information asymmetry between the company and its consumers. Rational business responses to this situation tend to focus on symbolic actions and communication efforts by means of sustainability reports and other brand-enhancing marketing tools that may be decoupled from substantial operations and supply chain improvements. The research propositions developed have partly been corroborated by a content analysis of annual and sustainability reports of four major agrifood companies (Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Mondelez International). The conceptual arguments and empirical analysis presented in the article may serve as the basis for managers and academics to develop innovative inter-and intraorganizational business processes that reconcile trade-offs between various agrifood supply chain performance dimensions, thus pushing the performance frontier outward, and that provide the necessary transparency for overcoming the currently adverse setting of incentives inherent in the food production, processing, retailing, and consumption system.
Purpose
– In search of new perspectives on sustainable food production, this paper focuses on th... more Purpose
– In search of new perspectives on sustainable food production, this paper focuses on three fields of literature, namely corporate responsibility (CR), supply chain management (SCM) and strategy. The purpose of this paper is to identify the recent theoretical developments and then integrate them in a framework for studying and managing corporations.
Design/methodology/approach
– Conceiving socio‐cultural and economic systems within the ecosystem, this paper call for research in the food sector that takes the planetary boundaries into consideration and places the essential needs of the world's poor onto the research agenda of CR, SCM and strategy.
Findings
– First, a new perspective on CR could be “holistic and beyond responsive”, as it emphasizes the focal actor's role. Second, SCM could be strengthened at its interface with sustainability by the “bottom of the pyramid” view, as it looks for new ways to make business models and operations beneficial for poor communities. And third, in examining the strategies for these two, the strategy‐as‐practice perspective might prove useful, as it is not only limited to organizational practice but also includes the concepts of organizational praxis and practitioners.
Research limitations/implications
– This paper argues that these new perspectives are promising avenues for managing and studying business in the food sector, and thus have implications for both academia and industry.
Originality/value
– The framework provided in the paper combines three important areas of business research for sustainable development, namely CR, SCM and strategy.
Disaster preparedness has been recognized as a central element in reducing the impact of disaster... more Disaster preparedness has been recognized as a central element in reducing the impact of disasters worldwide. The usual methods of preparedness, such as pre-positioning relief inventory in countries prone to disasters, are problematic because they require high investment in various locations, due to the uncertainty about the timing and location of the next disaster. Investing in disaster management capabilities, such as training staff, pre-negotiating customs agreements with countries prone to disasters, or harmonizing import procedures with local customs clearance procedures, has been recognized as a way to overcome this constraint. By means of system dynamics modeling, we model the delivery process of ready-to-use therapeutic food items during the immediate response phase of a disaster, and we analyze the performance of different preparedness scenarios. We find that pre-positioning inventory produces positive results for the beneficiaries, but at extremely high costs. Investing in disaster management capabilities is an interesting alternative, as it allows lead time reductions of up to 67% (18 days) compared to a scenario without preparedness, at significantly lower costs than pre-positioning inventory. We find that the best performance can be achieved when combining both preparedness strategies, allocating part of the available funding to disaster management capabilities and part to pre-positioning inventory. We analyze 2828 such combined scenarios to identify the best mix of preparedness strategies for different levels of available funding. On the basis of our findings, we provide recommendations for relief organizations on how to allocate their preparedness budget.
Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2011
What are the management challenges and opportunities of bio-energy chains for both running their ... more What are the management challenges and opportunities of bio-energy chains for both running their business efficiently and effectively and fostering the relationships with most relevant external stakeholders? This question is approached by systematically reviewing papers at the interface of bio-energy and supply chain or logistics issues. The review conducted as content analysis is based on an analytic framework that conceives
There is an ongoing and controversial debate about the current state of maturity of supply chain ... more There is an ongoing and controversial debate about the current state of maturity of supply chain management (SCM) as research discipline and its future development. Openness to theory of other fields is on the one hand welcome and on the other hand denounced as arbitrariness hampering the progression of SCM. This paper contributes to this debate outlining one promising framework that structures the field and provides guidance for its evolution.
ABSTRACT Reputational risks because of child labor allegations drove Syngenta to forge for-profit... more ABSTRACT Reputational risks because of child labor allegations drove Syngenta to forge for-profit and not-for-profit sector alliances with the Fair Labor Association, which was directed toward raising social standards in its Indian hybrid vegetable seed supply chain. This case study, informed by expert interviews and complementary document analysis, gives an account of various sustainable supply chain management (SCM) practices implemented by Syngenta and its partners in this pilot project. By being located in one specific industry and world region, this study contributes a piece of evidence to the neglected issue of how to include the social dimension of sustainability into SCM.
Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 2012
ABSTRACT Purpose ‐ Inconsistent research output makes critical literature reviews crucial tools f... more ABSTRACT Purpose ‐ Inconsistent research output makes critical literature reviews crucial tools for assessing and developing the knowledge base within a research field. Literature reviews in the field of supply chain management (SCM) are often considerably less stringently presented than other empirical research. Replicability of the research and traceability of the arguments and conclusions call for more transparent and systematic procedures. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the importance of literature reviews in SCM. Design/methodology/approach ‐ Literature reviews are defined as primarily qualitative synthesis. Content analysis is introduced and applied for reviewing 22 literature reviews of seven sub-fields of SCM, published in English-speaking peer-reviewed journals between 2000 and 2009. A descriptive evaluation of the literature body is followed by a content analysis on the basis of a specific pattern of analytic categories derived from a typical research process. Findings ‐ Each paper was assessed for the aim of research, the method of data gathering, the method of data analysis, and quality measures. While some papers provide information on all of these categories, many fail to provide all the information. This questions the quality of the literature review process and the findings presented in respective papers. Research limitations/implications ‐ While 22 literature reviews are taken into account in this paper as the basis of the empirical analysis, this allows for assessing the range of procedures applied in previous literature reviews and for pointing to their strengths and shortcomings. Originality/value ‐ The findings and subsequent methodological discussions aim at providing practical guidance for SCM researchers on how to use content analysis for conducting literature reviews.
A major issue in all risk communication efforts is the distinction between the terms "risk" and "... more A major issue in all risk communication efforts is the distinction between the terms "risk" and "hazard." The potential to harm a target such as human health or the environment is normally defined as a hazard, whereas risk also encompasses the probability of exposure and the extent of damage. What can be observed again and again in risk communication processes are misunderstandings and communication gaps related to these crucial terms. We asked a sample of 53 experts from public authorities, business and industry, and environmental and consumer organizations in Germany to outline their understanding and use of these terms using both the methods of expert interviews and focus groups. The empirical study made clear that the terms risk and hazard are perceived and used very differently in risk communication depending on the perspective of the stakeholders. Several factors can be identified, such as responsibility for hazard avoidance, economic interest, or a watchdog role. Thus, communication gaps can be reduced to a four-fold problem matrix comprising a semantic, conceptual, strategic, and control problem. The empirical study made clear that risks and hazards are perceived very differently depending on the stakeholders' perspective. Their own worldviews played a major role in their specific use of the two terms hazards and risks in communication.
Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2010
... Philip Beske studied Economic Science at the Universities of Oldenburg, Germany, and Salamanc... more ... Philip Beske studied Economic Science at the Universities of Oldenburg, Germany, and Salamanca, Spain. ... Dyllick and Hockerts (2002) conceive corporate sustainability as the business case (economic), the natural case (environmental) and the societal case (social). ...
ABSTRACT Purpose ‐ In search of new perspectives on sustainable food production, this paper focus... more ABSTRACT Purpose ‐ In search of new perspectives on sustainable food production, this paper focuses on three fields of literature, namely corporate responsibility (CR), supply chain management (SCM) and strategy. The purpose of this paper is to identify the recent theoretical developments and then integrate them in a framework for studying and managing corporations. Design/methodology/approach ‐ Conceiving socio-cultural and economic systems within the ecosystem, this paper call for research in the food sector that takes the planetary boundaries into consideration and places the essential needs of the world's poor onto the research agenda of CR, SCM and strategy. Findings ‐ First, a new perspective on CR could be "holistic and beyond responsive", as it emphasizes the focal actor's role. Second, SCM could be strengthened at its interface with sustainability by the "bottom of the pyramid" view, as it looks for new ways to make business models and operations beneficial for poor communities. And third, in examining the strategies for these two, the strategy-as-practice perspective might prove useful, as it is not only limited to organizational practice but also includes the concepts of organizational praxis and practitioners. Research limitations/implications ‐ This paper argues that these new perspectives are promising avenues for managing and studying business in the food sector, and thus have implications for both academia and industry. Originality/value ‐ The framework provided in the paper combines three important areas of business research for sustainable development, namely CR, SCM and strategy.
This paper presents selected findings from a representative consumer survey of the German populat... more This paper presents selected findings from a representative consumer survey of the German population exploring the image of timber as a construction material in general, and of timber frame houses in particular. The study found that prejudice regarding the deficiency of timber as a construction material and of timber frame houses, in terms of fire resistance, durability and stability, persists
Within the concert of renewable energy technologies, bio-energy can play a decisive role during t... more Within the concert of renewable energy technologies, bio-energy can play a decisive role during the next decades, when smartly designed and applied under favorable conditions. In this respect, efficient and effective supply chain and logistics management represent one key parameter. This paper presents a literature review of articles published in English-speaking peer-reviewed journals from 2000 to 2009, which cover the
Identifying, building, and maintaining partnerships with non-business actors are crucial challeng... more Identifying, building, and maintaining partnerships with non-business actors are crucial challenges for multinational companies (MNCs) when implementing Base of the Pyramid (BoP) projects. Using a multiple-case study we analyze such partnerships through the lens of the relational view, focusing on resources generating inter-organizational value and on mechanisms for governing the partnerships. The cross-case analysis suggests that proficiency in identifying appropriate partners featuring non-tangible synergy-sensitive resources is vital for BoP ventures. MNCs compensate their lack of local knowledge, contacts, and legitimacy by recruiting non-business actors for this consultancy and brokering function. Once a suitable network of partners has been identified, these resources need to be explored and exploited by developing personal relationships, communication routines, common goals, and partnerspecific capacity building. Synergy-sensitive resources facilitate performance and long-term maintenance of BoP partnerships by establishing well-adapted and well-informed management practice and by creating a lock-in that works as an informal self-enforcing governance mechanism.
International Journal of Production Research, 2014
ABSTRACT The paper develops a combined dynamic procurement and transport model for performance ev... more ABSTRACT The paper develops a combined dynamic procurement and transport model for performance evaluation by explicitly considering fluctuating prices of raw material, alternative transport modes as well as contract types. In a dynamic environment the procurement managers face (i) the challenge to select the ‘right’ strategy (i.e. transport mode and contract type) and (ii) in each period the decision whether to procure or not, depending on the price; in case of procurement, the price-dependent quantity must be determined. For tackling the decision problems of procurement, contract price and transport mode, we propose an approach motivated by demand models depending on the reservation price which is derived from revenue management. Alternative strategies are characterised by the contract type (short-term, long-term and portfolio), by the possibility to hold speculative inventories or not, and by the modes of transport including intermodal and multi-mode transport. Based on the procurement, transport and inventory costs, the performance of selected strategies is illustrated for a real supply process in the chemical industry using dynamic process analysis. The findings show that the most efficient strategies lead to reduction of average total procurement costs between 8 and 18%. Subsequently, managerial guidelines are derived for the selection of the most appropriate strategy.
International Journal of Production Economics, 2013
Disaster preparedness has been recognized as a central element in reducing the impact of disaster... more Disaster preparedness has been recognized as a central element in reducing the impact of disasters worldwide. The usual methods of preparedness, such as pre-positioning relief inventory in countries prone to disasters, are problematic because they require high investment in various locations, due to the uncertainty about the timing and location of the next disaster. Investing in disaster management capabilities, such as training staff, prenegotiating customs agreements with countries prone to disasters, or harmonizing import procedures with local customs clearance procedures, has been recognized as a way to overcome this constraint. By means of system dynamics modeling, we model the delivery process of ready-to-use therapeutic food items during the immediate response phase of a disaster, and we analyze the performance of different preparedness scenarios. We find that pre-positioning inventory produces positive results for the beneficiaries, but at extremely high costs. Investing in disaster management capabilities is an interesting alternative, as it allows lead time reductions of up to 67% (18 days) compared to a scenario without preparedness, at significantly lower costs than pre-positioning inventory. We find that the best performance can be achieved when combining both preparedness strategies, allocating part of the available funding to disaster management capabilities and part to pre-positioning inventory. We analyze 2,828 such combined scenarios to identify the best mix of preparedness strategies for different levels of available funding. On the basis of our findings, we provide recommendations for relief organizations on how to allocate their preparedness budget.
International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2009
ABSTRACT This paper presents a cluster analysis defining eight consumer types with regard to thei... more ABSTRACT This paper presents a cluster analysis defining eight consumer types with regard to their disposition of choosing timber as predominant construction material for newly constructed houses in Germany. This typology is based on findings from a representative survey among the German population about people's attitudes towards general social issues, environment, wood, forestry, timber as construction material and wooden framehouses. The paper identifies eight consumer types according to their attitudes towards these topics and complements them by specific information about their past and anticipated buying behaviour and their socio-demographic characteristics. Four clusters (47% of the population) can be regarded as promising target groups for framehouse marketing.
The article investigates the factors that make businesses postpone integrating the performance di... more The article investigates the factors that make businesses postpone integrating the performance dimension of sustainability in global agrifood supply chains. Based on literature-based conceptual reasoning, the article conceptualizes a double company lens distinguishing between substantial supply chain management and mere public relations endeavors as a major obstacle for businesses pursuing comprehensive supply chain performance in global agrifood chains. We point out that many supply chain performance attributes represent, in fact, credence attributes that cannot be verified by the consumer, hence entailing an information asymmetry between the company and its consumers. Rational business responses to this situation tend to focus on symbolic actions and communication efforts by means of sustainability reports and other brand-enhancing marketing tools that may be decoupled from substantial operations and supply chain improvements. The research propositions developed have partly been corroborated by a content analysis of annual and sustainability reports of four major agrifood companies (Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Mondelez International). The conceptual arguments and empirical analysis presented in the article may serve as the basis for managers and academics to develop innovative inter-and intraorganizational business processes that reconcile trade-offs between various agrifood supply chain performance dimensions, thus pushing the performance frontier outward, and that provide the necessary transparency for overcoming the currently adverse setting of incentives inherent in the food production, processing, retailing, and consumption system.
Purpose
– In search of new perspectives on sustainable food production, this paper focuses on th... more Purpose
– In search of new perspectives on sustainable food production, this paper focuses on three fields of literature, namely corporate responsibility (CR), supply chain management (SCM) and strategy. The purpose of this paper is to identify the recent theoretical developments and then integrate them in a framework for studying and managing corporations.
Design/methodology/approach
– Conceiving socio‐cultural and economic systems within the ecosystem, this paper call for research in the food sector that takes the planetary boundaries into consideration and places the essential needs of the world's poor onto the research agenda of CR, SCM and strategy.
Findings
– First, a new perspective on CR could be “holistic and beyond responsive”, as it emphasizes the focal actor's role. Second, SCM could be strengthened at its interface with sustainability by the “bottom of the pyramid” view, as it looks for new ways to make business models and operations beneficial for poor communities. And third, in examining the strategies for these two, the strategy‐as‐practice perspective might prove useful, as it is not only limited to organizational practice but also includes the concepts of organizational praxis and practitioners.
Research limitations/implications
– This paper argues that these new perspectives are promising avenues for managing and studying business in the food sector, and thus have implications for both academia and industry.
Originality/value
– The framework provided in the paper combines three important areas of business research for sustainable development, namely CR, SCM and strategy.
Disaster preparedness has been recognized as a central element in reducing the impact of disaster... more Disaster preparedness has been recognized as a central element in reducing the impact of disasters worldwide. The usual methods of preparedness, such as pre-positioning relief inventory in countries prone to disasters, are problematic because they require high investment in various locations, due to the uncertainty about the timing and location of the next disaster. Investing in disaster management capabilities, such as training staff, pre-negotiating customs agreements with countries prone to disasters, or harmonizing import procedures with local customs clearance procedures, has been recognized as a way to overcome this constraint. By means of system dynamics modeling, we model the delivery process of ready-to-use therapeutic food items during the immediate response phase of a disaster, and we analyze the performance of different preparedness scenarios. We find that pre-positioning inventory produces positive results for the beneficiaries, but at extremely high costs. Investing in disaster management capabilities is an interesting alternative, as it allows lead time reductions of up to 67% (18 days) compared to a scenario without preparedness, at significantly lower costs than pre-positioning inventory. We find that the best performance can be achieved when combining both preparedness strategies, allocating part of the available funding to disaster management capabilities and part to pre-positioning inventory. We analyze 2828 such combined scenarios to identify the best mix of preparedness strategies for different levels of available funding. On the basis of our findings, we provide recommendations for relief organizations on how to allocate their preparedness budget.
Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2011
What are the management challenges and opportunities of bio-energy chains for both running their ... more What are the management challenges and opportunities of bio-energy chains for both running their business efficiently and effectively and fostering the relationships with most relevant external stakeholders? This question is approached by systematically reviewing papers at the interface of bio-energy and supply chain or logistics issues. The review conducted as content analysis is based on an analytic framework that conceives
There is an ongoing and controversial debate about the current state of maturity of supply chain ... more There is an ongoing and controversial debate about the current state of maturity of supply chain management (SCM) as research discipline and its future development. Openness to theory of other fields is on the one hand welcome and on the other hand denounced as arbitrariness hampering the progression of SCM. This paper contributes to this debate outlining one promising framework that structures the field and provides guidance for its evolution.
ABSTRACT Reputational risks because of child labor allegations drove Syngenta to forge for-profit... more ABSTRACT Reputational risks because of child labor allegations drove Syngenta to forge for-profit and not-for-profit sector alliances with the Fair Labor Association, which was directed toward raising social standards in its Indian hybrid vegetable seed supply chain. This case study, informed by expert interviews and complementary document analysis, gives an account of various sustainable supply chain management (SCM) practices implemented by Syngenta and its partners in this pilot project. By being located in one specific industry and world region, this study contributes a piece of evidence to the neglected issue of how to include the social dimension of sustainability into SCM.
Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 2012
ABSTRACT Purpose ‐ Inconsistent research output makes critical literature reviews crucial tools f... more ABSTRACT Purpose ‐ Inconsistent research output makes critical literature reviews crucial tools for assessing and developing the knowledge base within a research field. Literature reviews in the field of supply chain management (SCM) are often considerably less stringently presented than other empirical research. Replicability of the research and traceability of the arguments and conclusions call for more transparent and systematic procedures. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the importance of literature reviews in SCM. Design/methodology/approach ‐ Literature reviews are defined as primarily qualitative synthesis. Content analysis is introduced and applied for reviewing 22 literature reviews of seven sub-fields of SCM, published in English-speaking peer-reviewed journals between 2000 and 2009. A descriptive evaluation of the literature body is followed by a content analysis on the basis of a specific pattern of analytic categories derived from a typical research process. Findings ‐ Each paper was assessed for the aim of research, the method of data gathering, the method of data analysis, and quality measures. While some papers provide information on all of these categories, many fail to provide all the information. This questions the quality of the literature review process and the findings presented in respective papers. Research limitations/implications ‐ While 22 literature reviews are taken into account in this paper as the basis of the empirical analysis, this allows for assessing the range of procedures applied in previous literature reviews and for pointing to their strengths and shortcomings. Originality/value ‐ The findings and subsequent methodological discussions aim at providing practical guidance for SCM researchers on how to use content analysis for conducting literature reviews.
A major issue in all risk communication efforts is the distinction between the terms "risk" and "... more A major issue in all risk communication efforts is the distinction between the terms "risk" and "hazard." The potential to harm a target such as human health or the environment is normally defined as a hazard, whereas risk also encompasses the probability of exposure and the extent of damage. What can be observed again and again in risk communication processes are misunderstandings and communication gaps related to these crucial terms. We asked a sample of 53 experts from public authorities, business and industry, and environmental and consumer organizations in Germany to outline their understanding and use of these terms using both the methods of expert interviews and focus groups. The empirical study made clear that the terms risk and hazard are perceived and used very differently in risk communication depending on the perspective of the stakeholders. Several factors can be identified, such as responsibility for hazard avoidance, economic interest, or a watchdog role. Thus, communication gaps can be reduced to a four-fold problem matrix comprising a semantic, conceptual, strategic, and control problem. The empirical study made clear that risks and hazards are perceived very differently depending on the stakeholders' perspective. Their own worldviews played a major role in their specific use of the two terms hazards and risks in communication.
Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2010
... Philip Beske studied Economic Science at the Universities of Oldenburg, Germany, and Salamanc... more ... Philip Beske studied Economic Science at the Universities of Oldenburg, Germany, and Salamanca, Spain. ... Dyllick and Hockerts (2002) conceive corporate sustainability as the business case (economic), the natural case (environmental) and the societal case (social). ...
ABSTRACT Purpose ‐ In search of new perspectives on sustainable food production, this paper focus... more ABSTRACT Purpose ‐ In search of new perspectives on sustainable food production, this paper focuses on three fields of literature, namely corporate responsibility (CR), supply chain management (SCM) and strategy. The purpose of this paper is to identify the recent theoretical developments and then integrate them in a framework for studying and managing corporations. Design/methodology/approach ‐ Conceiving socio-cultural and economic systems within the ecosystem, this paper call for research in the food sector that takes the planetary boundaries into consideration and places the essential needs of the world's poor onto the research agenda of CR, SCM and strategy. Findings ‐ First, a new perspective on CR could be "holistic and beyond responsive", as it emphasizes the focal actor's role. Second, SCM could be strengthened at its interface with sustainability by the "bottom of the pyramid" view, as it looks for new ways to make business models and operations beneficial for poor communities. And third, in examining the strategies for these two, the strategy-as-practice perspective might prove useful, as it is not only limited to organizational practice but also includes the concepts of organizational praxis and practitioners. Research limitations/implications ‐ This paper argues that these new perspectives are promising avenues for managing and studying business in the food sector, and thus have implications for both academia and industry. Originality/value ‐ The framework provided in the paper combines three important areas of business research for sustainable development, namely CR, SCM and strategy.
This paper presents selected findings from a representative consumer survey of the German populat... more This paper presents selected findings from a representative consumer survey of the German population exploring the image of timber as a construction material in general, and of timber frame houses in particular. The study found that prejudice regarding the deficiency of timber as a construction material and of timber frame houses, in terms of fire resistance, durability and stability, persists
Within the concert of renewable energy technologies, bio-energy can play a decisive role during t... more Within the concert of renewable energy technologies, bio-energy can play a decisive role during the next decades, when smartly designed and applied under favorable conditions. In this respect, efficient and effective supply chain and logistics management represent one key parameter. This paper presents a literature review of articles published in English-speaking peer-reviewed journals from 2000 to 2009, which cover the
Identifying, building, and maintaining partnerships with non-business actors are crucial challeng... more Identifying, building, and maintaining partnerships with non-business actors are crucial challenges for multinational companies (MNCs) when implementing Base of the Pyramid (BoP) projects. Using a multiple-case study we analyze such partnerships through the lens of the relational view, focusing on resources generating inter-organizational value and on mechanisms for governing the partnerships. The cross-case analysis suggests that proficiency in identifying appropriate partners featuring non-tangible synergy-sensitive resources is vital for BoP ventures. MNCs compensate their lack of local knowledge, contacts, and legitimacy by recruiting non-business actors for this consultancy and brokering function. Once a suitable network of partners has been identified, these resources need to be explored and exploited by developing personal relationships, communication routines, common goals, and partnerspecific capacity building. Synergy-sensitive resources facilitate performance and long-term maintenance of BoP partnerships by establishing well-adapted and well-informed management practice and by creating a lock-in that works as an informal self-enforcing governance mechanism.
International Journal of Production Research, 2014
ABSTRACT The paper develops a combined dynamic procurement and transport model for performance ev... more ABSTRACT The paper develops a combined dynamic procurement and transport model for performance evaluation by explicitly considering fluctuating prices of raw material, alternative transport modes as well as contract types. In a dynamic environment the procurement managers face (i) the challenge to select the ‘right’ strategy (i.e. transport mode and contract type) and (ii) in each period the decision whether to procure or not, depending on the price; in case of procurement, the price-dependent quantity must be determined. For tackling the decision problems of procurement, contract price and transport mode, we propose an approach motivated by demand models depending on the reservation price which is derived from revenue management. Alternative strategies are characterised by the contract type (short-term, long-term and portfolio), by the possibility to hold speculative inventories or not, and by the modes of transport including intermodal and multi-mode transport. Based on the procurement, transport and inventory costs, the performance of selected strategies is illustrated for a real supply process in the chemical industry using dynamic process analysis. The findings show that the most efficient strategies lead to reduction of average total procurement costs between 8 and 18%. Subsequently, managerial guidelines are derived for the selection of the most appropriate strategy.
International Journal of Production Economics, 2013
Disaster preparedness has been recognized as a central element in reducing the impact of disaster... more Disaster preparedness has been recognized as a central element in reducing the impact of disasters worldwide. The usual methods of preparedness, such as pre-positioning relief inventory in countries prone to disasters, are problematic because they require high investment in various locations, due to the uncertainty about the timing and location of the next disaster. Investing in disaster management capabilities, such as training staff, prenegotiating customs agreements with countries prone to disasters, or harmonizing import procedures with local customs clearance procedures, has been recognized as a way to overcome this constraint. By means of system dynamics modeling, we model the delivery process of ready-to-use therapeutic food items during the immediate response phase of a disaster, and we analyze the performance of different preparedness scenarios. We find that pre-positioning inventory produces positive results for the beneficiaries, but at extremely high costs. Investing in disaster management capabilities is an interesting alternative, as it allows lead time reductions of up to 67% (18 days) compared to a scenario without preparedness, at significantly lower costs than pre-positioning inventory. We find that the best performance can be achieved when combining both preparedness strategies, allocating part of the available funding to disaster management capabilities and part to pre-positioning inventory. We analyze 2,828 such combined scenarios to identify the best mix of preparedness strategies for different levels of available funding. On the basis of our findings, we provide recommendations for relief organizations on how to allocate their preparedness budget.
International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2009
ABSTRACT This paper presents a cluster analysis defining eight consumer types with regard to thei... more ABSTRACT This paper presents a cluster analysis defining eight consumer types with regard to their disposition of choosing timber as predominant construction material for newly constructed houses in Germany. This typology is based on findings from a representative survey among the German population about people's attitudes towards general social issues, environment, wood, forestry, timber as construction material and wooden framehouses. The paper identifies eight consumer types according to their attitudes towards these topics and complements them by specific information about their past and anticipated buying behaviour and their socio-demographic characteristics. Four clusters (47% of the population) can be regarded as promising target groups for framehouse marketing.
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Papers by Stefan Gold
– In search of new perspectives on sustainable food production, this paper focuses on three fields of literature, namely corporate responsibility (CR), supply chain management (SCM) and strategy. The purpose of this paper is to identify the recent theoretical developments and then integrate them in a framework for studying and managing corporations.
Design/methodology/approach
– Conceiving socio‐cultural and economic systems within the ecosystem, this paper call for research in the food sector that takes the planetary boundaries into consideration and places the essential needs of the world's poor onto the research agenda of CR, SCM and strategy.
Findings
– First, a new perspective on CR could be “holistic and beyond responsive”, as it emphasizes the focal actor's role. Second, SCM could be strengthened at its interface with sustainability by the “bottom of the pyramid” view, as it looks for new ways to make business models and operations beneficial for poor communities. And third, in examining the strategies for these two, the strategy‐as‐practice perspective might prove useful, as it is not only limited to organizational practice but also includes the concepts of organizational praxis and practitioners.
Research limitations/implications
– This paper argues that these new perspectives are promising avenues for managing and studying business in the food sector, and thus have implications for both academia and industry.
Originality/value
– The framework provided in the paper combines three important areas of business research for sustainable development, namely CR, SCM and strategy.
– In search of new perspectives on sustainable food production, this paper focuses on three fields of literature, namely corporate responsibility (CR), supply chain management (SCM) and strategy. The purpose of this paper is to identify the recent theoretical developments and then integrate them in a framework for studying and managing corporations.
Design/methodology/approach
– Conceiving socio‐cultural and economic systems within the ecosystem, this paper call for research in the food sector that takes the planetary boundaries into consideration and places the essential needs of the world's poor onto the research agenda of CR, SCM and strategy.
Findings
– First, a new perspective on CR could be “holistic and beyond responsive”, as it emphasizes the focal actor's role. Second, SCM could be strengthened at its interface with sustainability by the “bottom of the pyramid” view, as it looks for new ways to make business models and operations beneficial for poor communities. And third, in examining the strategies for these two, the strategy‐as‐practice perspective might prove useful, as it is not only limited to organizational practice but also includes the concepts of organizational praxis and practitioners.
Research limitations/implications
– This paper argues that these new perspectives are promising avenues for managing and studying business in the food sector, and thus have implications for both academia and industry.
Originality/value
– The framework provided in the paper combines three important areas of business research for sustainable development, namely CR, SCM and strategy.