Taras Gagalyuk

Measuring Asymmetrical Power Distribution in Supply Chain Networks: What Is the Appropriate Method?

The research topic of asymmetrical power relationships has been receiving increasingly more attention lately. However, only a few scientific works have studied power in the context of supply chain networks. Consisting of collaborative interactions among numerous firms, such networks possess a focal actor represented by a well-branded company. The other network actors are dependent on the focal company because of long-lasting explicit or implicit contracts. Hence, asymmetrical power relationships are observable. On one side, such asymmetry can lead to opportunism by the other network actors and can hinder the development of effective supply chain relationships. On the other side, power can be used by the focal actor as an effective tool in coordinating and promoting harmonious relationships, resolving conflicts, and, therefore, enhancing performance of the whole network and its individual members. In this context the aim of our work is to identify how capable existing power measurement efforts are of producing complete and objective measures. Considering the fact that power is a complex construct, fulfillment of our aim should provide an understanding of how strongly it is conceptualized and empirically tested. Thus, we review the literature on power measurement efforts undertaken in political, sociological, management, and marketing studies.

Managing supply chains successfully: an empirical testing of success of supply chain networks in the German fish sector.

Abstract Increasing consumer requirements for quality, safety, and environmental sustainability of seafood products are recognized as the driving forces of vertical cooperation in the fish sector. Cooperation among the participants of the fish chain becomes apparent in the formation of so-called supply chain networks (SCNs) that obviously address more than just the goals of individual organizations. This requires that SCNs are successfully managed. Yet, it is not clear up to now what the success of SCNs is and how it can be measured. Therefore, we develop and test the model of the SCN success in this study. We test the model empirically using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling based on the survey of leading specialized fish retailers in Germany. We discuss our results and derive implications for fish chain management.

Impact of Retail Internationalization on Agribusiness: The Case of Ukraine

This article aims to reveal the impact of the retail internationalization process on the Ukrainian agribusiness. Building on an in-depth survey, we delineate major changes that occur owing to the process. Talking about global retailers, an essential part of their business is connected with selling high-quality products. Because (food) quality and thereby food safety processes are considered to be the highest priority, we concentrate on the agri-food business. Our interest in Ukraine is kindled by ongoing verticalization addressed by foreign retailers and imitated by local firms. As a result, overall quality improvements are observed.

Strategic role of corporate transparency: the case of Ukrainian agroholdings

The paper argues that transparency of large corporate farms operating in transition economies is the factor that affects their competitive position as it helps to preserve access to international equity markets and to reduce uncertainty that arises from imperfect local input markets. We demonstrate that the corporate transparency of large farms is an issue of both public interest and private investor interest and decompose the construct of transparency respectively. Because firms tend to exhibit heterogeneous transparency strategies when facing common sets of pressures, we draw upon four case studies of different Ukrainian agroholdings using the suggested decomposition of the transparency construct. We find that large farms may benefit substantially in the long run if they establish effective corporate governance mechanisms and provide more evidence that they contribute positively to corporate social responsibility and rural development.

Asymmetrical Power Distribution in Supply Chain Networks: Is There a Right Measurement Method?

The research topic of asymmetrical power relationships has been receiving increasingly more attention lately. However, only a few scientific works have studied the questions of asymmetrical power distribution in the context of supply chain networks. The aim of our work is to identify how capable the existing power measurement efforts are of producing complete and objective measures. Considering the fact that power is a complex construct, fulfillment of our aim should provide an understanding of how strongly it is conceptualized and empirically tested. Thus, we conduct a literature overview on power measurement efforts undertaken in political, sociological, management and marketing studies.

Why are Network Goals Important for Chain Management

Nowadays products are increasingly produced in supply chain networks. The questions dealing with strategies and management of such networks have been widely addressed in literature. However, the importance of network goals for the network’s strategy and management is undisclosed. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to provide the theoretical elaboration on the role of network goals in strategic chain management.

Networks and Their Goals: Implications for Strategic Chain Management

As suggested by the proponents of the relational view of strategic management, the advantages of an individual firm are often linked to the advantages of the network of relationships in which the firm is embedded (Dyer and Singh, Acad Manage Rev 23:660–679, 1998). The aim of this study is to develop and test a model of goal achievement in chain networks. The model includes the relationships between goal achievement at firm level and network level, the network management’s goal achievement and its determinants. We test our model in the context of supply chain networks in the food industry. In particular, our study examines the relationships (1) between a food manufacturer and its independent (upstream) suppliers and (2) between the food manufacturer and its independent (downstream) customers.