Ann-Charlott Pedersen

Learning in Networks

Abstract During the last decades, competence and knowledge have become increasingly focused as means for increasing the competitiveness of industrial companies. Organizational learning accordingly has become an important issue both in research and in managerial considerations. One important way to learn is through others. Companies have as one consequence devoted much interest into building special relationships with universities and other knowledge producers, such as lead users, to knit together special knowledge networks. However, the same interest has not been devoted to how the existing business relationships with customers or suppliers in general are taken care of from a learning perspective. In this article, we will present the results from a study of learning within business relationships formed around an ordinary construction project. One major conclusion is that the extent to which learning takes place seems to be highly related to the existence of connections between the relationships. The more each single relationship is part of a network the more the company in average seems to learn from it. The results can have managerial implications for both buying and selling companies.

Why relationships do not fit into purchasing portfolio models—a comparison between the portfolio and industrial network approaches

Abstract Purchasing portfolio models have received a great deal of attention during the last two decades. The simplicity of application and the focus on power-dependence balancing has been appreciated by practitioners and academics alike. In this paper we argue that using ‘given’ products as a port of departure, in addition to a dyadic perspective on purchasing management, may be counterproductive where purchasing efficiency is concerned. First, the object of exchange is not ‘given’ when firms interact, but may be subject to continuous joint development. Second, the dyadic perspective may obscure potentials for enhancing productivity and innovativeness since both parties have other relationships that impact on the collaboration between them.

Supply network initiatives – a means to reorganise the supply base?

Purpose – While numerous articles have stressed the importance of developing and maintaining supply networks, there is still a dearth of studies that address how supply networks arise and change over time. The purpose of this article is to describe and conceptualise how a firm initiates the development of a supply network, and how the structure of the firms supply network and supply base change over time as a consequence of the type and duration of initiative taken?Design/methodology/approach – Empirically, the article is based on a longitudinal, single case study, which is real‐time, theory‐led and contextual. The case study concerns the efforts of a main contractor (within the construction industry) who changed its sourcing strategy, initiated the development of a supply network, and restructured part of its supply base. Theoretically, the article reviews both supply base and supply network management literature, highlights important issues related to both concepts, and discusses similarities and diffe...

Exploration of customer horizons to measure understanding of netchains

The importance of a market orientation as the basis for meeting customer expectations is well known in marketing. In applying this concept to networks or netchains, the concept “customer horizon” is proposed to measure the ability to name or identify downstream customers and their requirements. A case study of five organizations in a netchain is examined to determine each companys customer horizon in terms of “breadth” and “length”. Based on the findings, it is suggested that companies can choose between alternative configurations of customer horizons. It is argued that it may be important to watch out for narrow and short customer horizons – especially when customer satisfaction is low, end consumer requirements are changing and/or these changes are not being communicated upstream to suppliers.

1 Initiation of Business Relationships in Start Ups

During the last few years, several authors have recognised the need for more research into how start-ups or new business ventures initiate new relationships. Aaboen, Dubois and Lind (2011) studied how start-up firms develop their initial customer relationships and resource base in close interaction with customers. Furthermore, La Rocca, Ford and Snehota (2013) argued that even though developing new business relationships is demanding for all types of firms, it is particularly critical for start-ups because their offerings are likely to be less developed than the offerings of established firms. Thus, it is a newly developed interest to study, understand and manage the process of initiating business relationships for start-ups.

Creating relationship continuity across projects in the construction industry: Deliberate, emergent and deliberately emergent strategies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship continuity across projects among actors in the construction industry, and to discuss why and how such continuity takes place. Design/methodology/approach The authors draw on the results from four in-depth case studies illustrating different strategies for pursuing relationship continuity. The results are analysed and discussed in light of the oft-mentioned strategies suggested by Mintzberg (1987): emergent, deliberate and deliberately emergent strategies. Furthermore, the ARA-model is used to discuss why the relationship continuity strategies are pursued, and which factors might enable and constrain the relationship continuity. Findings The main findings are twofold. First, the authors found that the strategy applied for pursuing relationship continuity may, in one-time period, contain one type of strategy or a mix of strategy types. Second, the type of strategy may evolve over time, from one type of strategy being more pronounced in one period, to other strategies being more pronounced in later periods. The strategies applied by construction firms and their counterparts can thus contain elements of emergent, deliberate and deliberately emergent strategies, in varying degrees over time. It is also shown that the strategies of the involved actors co-evolve as a result of interaction. Also, the main reasons for pursuing continuity appear to lie in the re-use and development of important resources and activities across projects to create efficiency and the possibility to develop mutual orientation, commitment and trust over time, and thus reduce uncertainty. Research limitations/implications Further empirical studies are needed to support the findings. For managers, the main implication is that relationship continuity can arise as part of an emerging interaction pattern between firms or as part of a planned strategy, but that elements of both might be needed to sustain it. Originality/value The authors combine Mintzberg’s strategy concepts with the ARA-model to bring new light to the widely debated issue of discontinuity and fragmentation in the construction industry.

How relationships can influence an organic firm’s network identity

ABSTRACT A main challenge when organic food actors cooperate with conventional food actors is to maintain their identity in the relationship. In this paper, we analyse such a relationship through the use of the industrial marketing and purchasing perspective (IMP). The aim is to increase knowledge about changes in relationships that occur through growth processes and about how new relationships influence the identity of a quality-oriented firm. We use a case-study method when examining the relationship between the organic Røros Dairy and the retail chain Coop, and its effects on relationships within the dairy network. Results show that the focal relationship influences, and in turn is influenced by, the dairy’s network. Because of the dairy’s strong identity that preceded its formal cooperation with Coop, as well as its reputation for quality production and continuous product development, the dairy has strengthened its position in the network. We conclude that the IMP perspective contributes a valuable framework in this study of an organic food network. For business managers, our results highlight the importance of considering possible effects of relationships on the identity one would want to convey.