Mert Tokman

Supply chain networks and service‐dominant logic: suggestions for future research

Purpose – The service‐dominant (S‐D) logic views supply chains as value co‐creation networks. These networks promote knowledge growth amongst network members via resource deployment and coordination. The exchange of knowledge and utilization of operant resources among the network members leads to co‐created service offerings and value proposals for the end‐users, with the ultimate goal of transforming end‐user experiences to perceptions of superior value‐in‐use. The purpose of this paper is to develop an illustration of the value co‐creation concept and use this illustration as guide to examine the research gaps that are yet to be tapped in the area where supply chain networks and S‐D logic intersects.Design/methodology/approach – The literature on S‐D logic is reviewed and research gaps are identified and categorized in three specific groups.Findings – Three categories of research gaps in S‐D logic and supply chain management (SCM) areas include: gaps in utilization of internal operant resources by suppl...

Monitoring Reverse Logistics Programs: A Roadmap to Sustainable Development in Emerging Markets

This manuscript develops a reverse logistics monitoring system for controlling reverse flows of materials through marketing channels in emerging economies. Institutional theory is incorporated to show that both positive and negative impacts on environmental sustainability can be predicted. A partner control framework and scales are then developed for use by managers and researchers in furthering their understanding of the effective management of global reverse logistic networks

Retail service‐based operant resources and market performance

Purpose – The service‐dominant logic (SDL) concept is reshaping the view of business‐to‐business research and practice. Thus, understanding the role of knowledge‐based operant resources, a key component of the SDL paradigm, in the ability of supply chains to shape competitive advantage and performance outcomes is vital. Further, operant resources have a hierarchical structure, with differing effects in building value for a supply chain. This research seeks to explore the effects of different levels of hierarchical operant resources in a retail supply chain setting.Design/methodology/approach – A survey was collected from 300 retailing informants who deal with both key suppliers and customers. The data were examined using hierarchical regression to explore the influence of internal and external operant resources on market performance, subject to the moderating effects of top management support and relationship quality.Findings – There is a positive relationship between internal and external operant resourc...

End-User Contribution to Logistics Value Co-Creation: A Series of Exploratory Studies

ABSTRACT Recently, retailers have been investing in technology-based platforms such as mobile applications to involve more of their customers in logistical value co-creation activities. Therefore, it would be important to guide these efforts by providing the retailers with a list of various consumer logistics value co-creation activities and help them better organize their technological investments by categorizing these functions. The objective of this study is to explore the logistics activities through which the end users can contribute to co-creation of value based on the notions of Service-Dominant Logic. A series of 4 exploratory survey studies revealed 10 end-user logistics functions and important implications for practice.

SME supply chain portfolios: firm satisfaction and organization resources

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to investigate the combination of relational and organizational resource factors that influence small‐to‐medium‐sized firm satisfaction with their supply chain portfolio performance.Design/methodology/approach – This research employs two complementary theoretical lenses frequently used in the explanation of relationship performance, resource‐based view of the firm and strategic behavior theory. The authors then used an international survey based in three Northern European countries to test their hypotheses with hierarchical linear regression.Findings – The quantitative analysis supports all three hypotheses indicating that supply chain portfolio flexibility is an important determinant for small‐to‐medium‐sized firm satisfaction with supply chain portfolio performance. Additionally, firm alliance orientation and entrepreneurial orientation both significantly influence the relationship between supply chain flexibility and performance satisfaction.Research limitation...

Resource commitment and sustainability: a reverse logistics performance process model

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to extend existing and motivate future sustainable supply chain management (SCM) and logistics research by examining a structure-conduct-performance framework linking resource commitment to sustainable SCM, reverse logistics, and operational performance. A sustainable reverse logistics capability is investigated as mediating the performance benefits associated with resource commitments to sustainable SCM. Design/methodology/approach Survey methods and structural equation modeling were used to collect and analyze data from 180 supply chain professionals. Findings The results of a mediated model suggest that resource commitments may be used to develop a sustainable reverse logistics capability, reducing the environmental impact of reverse logistics activities. A strong sustainable reverse logistics capability results from resources committed specifically to sustainable reverse logistics and a commitment to the sustainability of the supply chain. Research limitations/implications This study applied a purposefully general sampling procedure. Specific industries may have additional constraints (e.g. risk, transparency, governance factors) that directly impact reverse logistics. These constraints are limitations of the study as well as opportunities for future research. Resource commitment is critical to the success of an overall firm strategy to build a sustainable supply chain, especially when considering reverse logistics. Practical implications As managers examine the benefits of sustainable SCM, they must consider the resources required. For firms engaging in sustainable SCM, developing a sustainable reverse logistics capability is a key success factor for improved performance. Originality/value Given the growing acceptance and importance of sustainable SCM, this research provides insights to managers and academics regarding the key mediating role of a sustainable reverse logistics capability when integrated into existing and future supply chain research frameworks and processes.

A Strategic Choice Theory Taxonomy of Retailers’ Strategic Orientations

Grounded in strategic choice theory and employing a latent class analysis model of 371 retailers, this study provides a classification of retailer strategic orientations so that the retailers’ choice of cooperation levels and ultimately their growth performance can be assessed by their suppliers. The results suggest three major classes of retailers based on their strategic orientations: premium, hybrid, and emergent classes. The outcome of this study guides the supplier partners of retailers in developing and maintaining various levels of cooperative relationships based on uniqueresource needs and expectations of each retailer strategic group.

Towards an Integrated Theory of Logistics Service Competency: Orienting Firms Towards Service Excellence

The objective of this manuscript is to encourage marketing and logistics managers/researchers to embrace a multi-level approach to build a logistics service competence. Theoretical and empirical support has been detailed to integrate two strategic competencies, the internal and external market orientation required for superior long-term logistics gains.

Interconnected Operant Resources and Market Performance: The Retailers’ Perspective

Service Dominant Logic (SDL) has changed the face of marketing research over the past five years. SDL emphasizes not only service in the experience building process, but also the importance of operant resources in achieving sustainable competitive advantages. Following this focus on operant resources, this article examines service related operant resources in the retailing context and their impact on retailers’ market performance. This research not only explores operant resources that are internal to the organization (customer orientation and service culture), but also studies operant resources that involve external relationships (collaborative communication and relationship quality) and their impact on value creation. A survey is conducted with 300 key retailing informants. The results indicate that service related operant resources perform more efficiently when reinforced by other operant resources like relationship quality and top management support.

An Empirically Derived Taxonomy of Manufacturer–Retailer Channel Structures

Despite efforts at channels theory integration, observers note that this literature lacks a systematic taxonomy of channel systems that reflects the literatures diversity. This study advances a framework that depicts channel structure as being composed of two dimensions: operational integration and joint decision-making. It also illustrates the sociopolitical, economic, and strategic antecedents to channel structure. Using finite mixture regression, differences in various types of manufacturer–retailer channel structure are explored. Based on this analysis, six classes of manufacturer–retailer channel structures are identified.