Zoran Perunovic

Deployment of vendor capabilities and competences throughout the outsourcing process

Purpose – A vendors capabilities are recognized as one of the most important factors for success in outsourcing. However, there is a lack of understanding of how vendors manage their capabilities throughout the outsourcing process. With an aim to contribute to filling this existing gap, the purpose of this paper is to explore how vendors deploy their capabilities in order to win, run and renew the outsourcing contracts.Design/methodology/approach – The research question has been derived by integrating a resource‐based view theory with a model of a vendors process in outsourcing. A multiple‐case study of three contract electronic manufacturers has been employed to explore the research question.Findings – The results show that for achieving their outsourcing objectives, vendors use different capability mixes: the winning, the running, and the renewing. These mixes are created through utilization of different portfolios of competences (balanced, unit‐dominant, and versatile) and capabilities (permanent and...

An analysis of vendor innovation capability in the contract electronics manufacturing industry

Abstract Limited academic research has been given to analysing the innovation capabilities of vendors in outsourcing contracts. This paper seeks to address this gap in the literature by enhancing our understanding of how the innovation capability of vendors is deployed to win, run and renew outsourcing contracts with their customers. Employing the resource-based view as a theoretical basis and undertaking in-depth case study analysis of three vendors in the electronic manufacturing services industry, the research shows that to achieve the outsourcing objectives of winning, running and renewing the contract, vendors can use different configurations of the competitive priorities of cost, quality, delivery and flexibility. The research aggregates the capabilities that influence the innovative capability of a vendor into the innovation-related capabilities (IRCs) of design, new product introduction and manufacturing. Three strategies are identified for vendors on how to deploy these IRCs, and a number of propositions are developed to indicate the suitability of the three deployment strategies for different operational contexts.

Environmental Regulation and Innovation Dynamics in the Oil Tanker Industry

The maritime industry is widely seen as less permeable to innovation than other industries. However, the industry is now recognizing that demands for increased environment protection can only be achieved by more innovation. This study demonstrates that environmental innovation has played a significant role in changing the industrys innovation paradigm. It has also been transformed over time.