Andrew D. White

The role of emergent information technologies and systems in enabling supply chain agility

In many markets it is becoming impossible to remove or ignore sources of turbulence and volatility. Hence, supply chain managers must accept uncertainty, but still need to develop a strategy that enables them to match supply and demand at an acceptable cost. The ability to achieve this has been termed supply chain agility. Information and, importantly, agile information systems have been recognised as being a critical factor in achieving agility in the supply chain. To date studies have suggested that high levels of coordination between organisations, necessary for improved supply chain performance, demand high levels of integration between partners information systems. However, these high levels of integration reduce the ability to frequently and rapidly make changes to trading relationships, something that is a prerequisite of the agility paradigm. This paper seeks to explore how a number of emergent information systems offer the possibility of both deep integration and increased flexibility. This paper is exploratory in nature. A single case study of an organisation seeking to improve supply chain agility is reported. Existing literature and the insights provided by the case study are combined to identify a number of themes for further study.

The future of inter-organisational system linkages: findings of an international Delphi study

To perform effectively in markets that are becoming increasingly turbulent and volatile, organisations should form information system linkages with their business partners. This study seeks to produce a ‘vision’ for the future of such linkages. A number of recent developments in information systems and technology (IS/IT) appear to promise the ability to make improvements in this domain. These are electronic hubs, web services, widespread adoption of common enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and enterprise portals. This study, which is carried out by means of the Delphi technique, explores the expected future role and use of these information systems. The expert participants in the study believe that the focus of enterprise systems is shifting from an internal to an external orientation. They suggest that ERP systems may be reaching a structural limit concerning their capabilities and adjunct technologies will be required to integrate multiple inter-organisational operations. The participants expect that the three other systems and technologies considered can provide those necessary adjunct technologies, either used singly, or more likely in combination. Finally, we find that the transition to a greater external orientation is expected to include an extension in the types of organisations that will be integrated electronically into networks.

The adoption of consortium B2B e-marketplaces: An exploratory study

Despite the considerable number of electronic B2B marketplaces formed and the benefits cited as arising from their use, many have gone out of business. This exploratory study seeks to provide a qualitative exposition of the specific factors influencing the adoption of consortium-owned B2B e-marketplaces. The study is based upon case studies of twelve companies trading through three different consortium B2B e-marketplaces. Twenty-six specific factors are identified and their impact on adoption is discussed. The identification of a significant number of factors specific to this domain provides real meaning and depth to those interested in the future of e-marketplaces. In particular, the factors identified provide those that operate such e-marketplaces with a detailed and actionable understanding of the issues they should address in order to survive, and provide users or potential users of consortium marketplaces with a practical framework with which to assess individual marketplaces. The factors can also form the basis of future studies of other types of marketplaces and of quantitative studies of adoption.

A framework for the sustainability of e‐marketplaces

Electronic marketplaces have promised many benefits to participants, and hence have aroused considerable interest in the business community. However, the failure of some marketplaces and the success of others have led business managers to question which marketplaces will be successful in the future, and even whether the entire idea is viable. This question is particularly pressing for those considering sponsoring or participating in a marketplace. This exploratory study seeks to address these issues by proposing a framework of the factors that help explain the sustainability of e‐marketplaces. The framework proposed is based upon the findings of interviews carried out with 14 managers based in 11 companies active in the field of e‐marketplaces, and findings from the current literature from this domain. The framework proposed identifies seven factors that can be categorised according to three levels of influence, i.e. the macroeconomic/regulatory level, the industry level, and the firm level. Further work to validate the proposed framework would provide practitioners with additional insight to apply to their e‐marketplace strategies.

The impact of e‐marketplaces on dyadic buyer‐supplier relationships: evidence from the healthcare sector

This study seeks to explore the impact of e‐marketplaces on dyadic buyer‐supplier relationships in the healthcare sector. In particular it seeks to determine if the “move to the middle” hypothesis put forward by Clemons et al. will be supported in this domain. Case studies of four buying organisations in the healthcare sector (hospitals) and two suppliers (medical device companies), representing eight dyadic buyer supplier relationships were undertaken. It was found that the adoption of e‐marketplaces is associated with a reduction in the number of suppliers used by the buying organisations; a deepening of the relationship with the remaining suppliers and an increased “blurring of the boundaries” between the two parties.

An innovative model of supply chain management: a single case study in the electronic sector

This paper will report and analyse a case study on the utilisation of information systems by one of the largest global manufacturers of high-technology/electronic products. It will focus on their adoption of the services of an electronic marketplace called E2open and is based on 12 semistructured interviews undertaken with both organisations. The paper will make three contributions. It will firstly show how a new type of organisational entity is emerging, which challenges the validity of current ontologies for the organisational actors within the supply chain. Secondly, it will consider how the connectivity between buyer and supplier may be following a similar pattern to the transportation of material goods between these entities, in that it is emerging as an activity that will increasingly be managed by a third party. Finally, it will show how the use of the application service provider model of software provision is being used to enable the development of information systems which manage the supply chain and not just the operations of individual organisations. The extant theory will then be used to interpret the findings, as well as eliciting from the findings what the implications of this case are for further research in this field and for supply chain managers.

Exploring the role of third parties in inter‐organizational Web service adoption

Web services promise the ability to reduce the time and cost involved in developing, supporting and integrating the internal information systems within a single organization. They also promise the ability to quickly and effectively integrate information systems with those of customers, suppliers and other business partners, and use these integrated systems as a basis for developing shared business processes. This paper discusses the potential role of third party organizations in facilitation of inter‐organizational Web service adoption and use. An empirical case study of such a third party, E2open is presented. The challenges and future potential for such third parties is considered in light of the evolution of inter‐organizational systems in general and from the ASP and electronic marketplaces sectors, in particular. Since the adoption of Web services is a new phenomenon, the role of third parties in that adoption is highly emergent. This study is therefore exploratory in nature and should be considered as providing a basis for further research in this area.

Electronic marketplaces: an empirical study in the UK healthcare sector

Healthcare providers are seeking to limit the significant growth in the cost of healthcare provision and are increasingly seeking to use information technology to reduce costs. In the UK in particular, a recent major government report has caused a focus on the improved use of IT in the National Health Service (NHS), including the use of electronic procurement and electronic marketplaces in order to reduce the significant amounts spent on goods and services each year. This study seeks to explore the current provision and use of electronic marketplaces in the UK healthcare sector. Interviews were carried out with managers of healthcare electronic marketplaces operating in the UK, suppliers and buyers in those marketplaces and policy makers in the NHS. The study finds that, to date, the focus of healthcare electronic marketplaces operating in the UK is on the purchasing process. A number of benefits are being realised from this, some of which may not have been expected, such as an improvement in buyer–supplier relationships.

The impact of e-marketplaces on buyer supplier relationships: a cross industry perspective of the "move to the middle" hypothesis

Interest in, and the use of, electronic marketplaces, if less than at the height of the dot.com boom, appears to be enduring, and is therefore an important area for continuing academic study. Electronic marketplaces were heralded as allowing buyers to find new suppliers more easily, compare their offerings and if appropriate switch between them. However, sellers have proved reluctant to participate in marketplaces where they perceive the over-riding criterion for comparison with competitors is that of price, contributing to the failure of a number of marketplaces. This study seeks to explore the impact of electronic marketplaces on the relationship between buyers and suppliers. In particular, it seeks to determine if the move to the middle hypothesis put forward by Clemons et al. will be supported in this domain. Case studies of buying organisations, in four distinct industries, that are participating in electronic marketplaces were undertaken. It was found that the adoption of electronic marketplaces has led to a reduction in supplier numbers and to the deepening of relationships with them. Rather than replace human relationships, the establishment of electronic communications between organisations has resulted in increased person-to-person communication. The findings of this study suggest that electronic marketplaces can form an important part of an IT enabled supplier relationship management strategy.

Co-evolution of Supply Chain Strategies and Technologies

This paper proposes a framework that seeks to denote the relationship and promote a better alignment between the evolution of supply chain strategies and technologies. In the supply chain strategy, the focal shift in strategy has been from lean supply chain to a combination of lean and agile supply chain, whereas in supply chain technology the focal shift has been from individual and dyadic to global, inter-organisational systems. Examples of these systems include Vendor-Managed Inventory and Web-based Electronic Data Interchange. These systems increase visibility of information within the supply network and require a high level of trust between the trading partners. Since most inter-organisational systems are developed by IT vendors, the concepts of visibility and trust must be understood by these vendors and translated into the systems they develop. The proposed framework emphasizes the focus on fit and alignment between progress in supply chain strategies and IT strategies that would potentially enable agility as well as trust and visibility within the supply network.