Networking capability in supplier relationships and its impact on product innovation and firm performance

Analyzing technological competencies in the patent-based supplier portfolio: introducing an approach for supplier evaluation using semantic anchor points and similarity measurements

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the development of a patent-based supplier portfolio that can be used to evaluate and select suppliers on account of their technological competencies.

Design/methodology/approach

In addition to traditional approaches, the authors develop a supplier portfolio that characterizes suppliers according to the similarity between supplier's and OEM's technological competencies as well as their technological broadness. These variables are measured on the basis of patents, which constitute a valuable source of information in technology-driven industries. Contrary to existing binary measurement approaches, the authors’ portfolio uses semantic analyses to make use of the specific information provided in the patents' texts. The authors test this method in the field of gearings, which is a key driver for the automotive industry.

Findings

The authors identify six generic positions, characterizing specific risks for an OEM to become either technologically dependent or dependent on suppliers' production capacities. For each position the authors develop specific management strategies in face of the aforementioned risks. The approach helps OEMs navigate in the competitive landscape based on the most recent and publicly available information medium.

Originality/value

This work explicitly applies the construct of technological competencies to supplier evaluation and selection on the basis of portfolio approaches. Furthermore, the authors improve the use of patents for supplier evaluation in two respects: First, the authors analyze OEMs and upstream suppliers on an organizational level. Second, the authors utilize advanced semantic analysis to generate variables for the measurement of the criteria mentioned above.

Supply chain resilience in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic: A resource orchestration perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions to global operations and supply chains. While the huge impact of the pandemic has nurtured important literature over the last couple of years, little is being said about the role of resource orchestration in supporting resilience in highly disruptive contexts. Thus, this study aims to this knowledge gap by proposing an original model to explore supply chain resilience (SCRE) antecedents, considering supply chain alertness (SCAL) as a central point to support resilience. This study focuses on the resource orchestration theory (ROT) to design a conceptual model. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) served to validate the model, exploring data from the UK supply chain decision-makers. The study reveals a number of both expected and unexpected findings. These include the evidence that supply chain disruption orientation (SCDO) has a strong positive effect on the SCAL. In addition, SCAL plays a strong positive effect in resource reconfiguration (RREC), supply chain efficiency (SCEF) and SCRE. We further identified a partial mediation effect of RREC on the relationship between SCAL and SCRE. Surprisingly, it appeared that SCAL strongly influences SCEF, while SCEF itself does not create any significant effect on SCRE. For managers and practitioners, the importance of resource orchestration as a decisive approach to adequately respond to huge disruptions is clearly highlighted by our results. Finally, this paper helps to grasp better how important resource orchestration in operations and supply chains remains for appropriate responses to high disruptions such as the COVID-19 impacts.

Proposal for a Preliminary Model of Integrated Product Development Process Oriented by Green Supply Chain Management

For sustainable product development, activities related to the selection of raw materials, product design, manufacturing, packaging, and distribution must be considered in a way that respects environmental limits and implements alternatives to reduce the consumption of natural resources. Due to this context, companies have sought to create environmentally sustainable alternatives for products and processes, once exposed to government, market, and regulatory pressures. Given this scenario, the question of this study is presented: Is it possible to define a conceptual model from existing models in the literature that guides companies in their Integrated Product Development Process (IPDP) and is oriented by Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM)? To answer the research problem question, a preliminary model integrating the IPDP and GSCM themes was presented. The elaboration of the preliminary model was only possible from the systematic literature review and content analysis previously carried out and presented in the general data in this article. The general aim of the study is to present a preliminary model in which IPDP is oriented to GSCM. As specific objectives, this study intends to present models previously published that have some relation to the IPDP related to green design, green purchase, green manufacturing, green distribution, and reverse logistics, which are related to GSCM; in addition, it presents guidelines to integrate the stages of product development and GSCM to reduce the environmental impact. The contribution of the preliminary model for companies is to present criteria that reduce the environmental impact of products in different GSCM activities within the IPDP. The contribution of this study is to present an analysis of the existing models, which will be the basis for the development of a conceptual model.

Covid-19 pandemic and consumer-employee-organization wellbeing: A dynamic capability theory approach

The consumers, employees, and organizations have been deeply impacted by Covid-19 pandemic. The present study offers a detailed coping mechanism for organizations based on the extant literature and content analysis of responses of senior management executives. The study is based on semi-structured long interviews with senior executives from various industries. Various measures have been identified for firms as a coping strategy for crisis management and customer well-being. Covid-19 has changed the way individuals live. This study suggests that firms should come forward for well-being of their employees in this new normal. One of the major shifts due to pandemic is in consumer behavior and their consumption habits. Pandemic made consumers go for digitization, think for hygiene, sustainability, and local products. And firms should keep the changed consumer behavior in mind while manufacturing the products. Furthermore, present study suggests that firms can create a positive image of their company by doing CSR activities for society's well-being.

Supply chain resilience in mindful humanitarian aid organizations: the role of big data analytics

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the nomological network of associations between collective mindfulness and big data analytics in fostering resilient humanitarian relief supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conceptualize a research model grounded in literature and test the hypotheses using survey data collected from informants at humanitarian aid organizations in Africa and Europe.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that organizational mindfulness is key to enabling resilient humanitarian relief supply chains, as opposed to just big data analytics.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine organizational mindfulness and big data analytics in the context of humanitarian relief supply chains.

Managing supplier capabilities for buyer innovation performancein e-business

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the connections between the capabilities of suppliers, buyer operations and the innovation performance of buyers in service-based supply chains. In particular, the authors use a construct of supplier capabilities comprising the capabilities needed to produce an online store and divided into capabilities related to the product, capabilities related to service delivery and capabilities related to the buyer-supplier relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected with cross-sectional, random sampling from Finnish companies that have an active online store. A survey was used to collect data on managerial assessments of capabilities of a supplier, the operations of buyers and the innovation performance of buyers. Multiple regressions were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results reveal that capabilities related to the buyer-supplier relationship are positively connected with the innovation performance of the buyer, but those related to the product and service delivery do not significantly influence the innovation performance of the buyer. The results show that the moderating influence of buyer operations on the relationship between capabilities related to the product and the innovation performance of the buyer is negative. The moderating influence of buyer operations on the relationship between capabilities related to service delivery and the innovation performance of the buyer is positive.

Research limitations/implications

Forming tight relationships with online store suppliers appears to be a successful way to attain innovation performance for online store operators. Online store operators should not expect supplier capabilities related to online store functionality and characteristics of online store delivery alone to improve their innovation performance.

Originality/value

Few studies use an e-business operations model to comprehend the role played by supplier capabilities in buyer innovation performance in service-based supply chains. Building on a resource-based view with inter-organizational management and e-business literature streams, the authors focus on three supplier capabilities and buyer operations to investigate their effects in terms of enhancing innovation performance.

How small-and-medium transportation companies handle asymmetric customer relationships under COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-method study

The COVID-19 outbreak has created major challenges for transportation companies. Grounded in the dynamic capabilities view theory, this paper adopts a multi-methodological operations management approach to derive scientifically sound insights with regard to handling key customer relationships in the crisis. To be specific, first, qualitative interviews with representatives of small carriers and forwarders as well as an examination of their social media posting are conducted. The qualitative research reveals the customer relationships situation of transportation companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. What specific actions build relational capabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic is uncovered. The research model is then tested based on the survey with one hundred Polish SME carriers. Several insights are generated. First, this study provides evidence that among various available networking routines, companies should concentrate on relationship monitoring, conflict handling, and selective relationship downsizing, while initiating new partnerships does not appear to be beneficial. Second, this study suggests that the positive influence of relational caps on company performance is moderated positively by contracts signed between partners and negatively by the financial debt of focal companies. Finally, this study discusses its results with regard to other studies on business relationships in dramatic environmental changes and highlights the corresponding implications.

Performance effects of entrepreneurial orientation, strategic intent and absorptive capacity within coopetitive relationships

Purpose

While the significance of organizational resources and capabilities is widely discussed, little is known about their interrelationships as well as benefits for firms that are involved in coopetitive relationships. Against this backdrop, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance effects of entrepreneurial orientation, strategic intent and potential absorptive capacity as well as their complementarity effects on operational and innovation performance for firms involved in horizontal coopetitive relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon the resource-based-view, dynamic capabilities and the relational view theories, this study forwards numerous hypotheses between the constructs of interest. The proposed hypotheses are tested utilizing survey data collected from 313 horizontal coopetitive relationships.

Findings

The results clearly suggest that entrepreneurial orientation, strategic intent and potential absorptive capacity could positively impact innovation and operational performance outcomes independently. In addition, the authors also find strategic intent and potential absorptive capacity to have differential moderating effects on the relationships between entrepreneurial orientation and the performance outcomes.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that although strategic intent and potential absorptive capacity could lead to performance benefits independently, when it comes to coopetitive relationships, the use of both these capabilities may not substantially increase the positive impact of entrepreneurial orientation on performance outcomes. Specifically, given that these capabilities could intensify competitiveness as well as hostility between partners, they seem to affect the firm's performance differently.

MARKET ORIENTATION AND NEW PRODUCT SUCCESS RELATIONSHIP: THE ROLE OF INNOVATION CAPABILITY, ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY, GREEN BRAND POSITIONING

We explored the mediating role of innovation capability in the relationship between market orientation and new product success; the moderating role of realised absorptive capacity in the relationship between market orientation and innovation capability; and finally, the moderating role of green brand positioning in the relationship between innovation capability and new product success. Empirical analysis was based on 329 manufacturing firms. Various validity and reliability checks were conducted before the presentation of the actual analysis, which was conducted using the ordinary least squares approach in SPSS (v.20). Findings supported all our three hypotheses for the study, thereby showing innovation capability, realised absorptive capacity and green brand positioning, are very critical in the market orientation-new product success relationship.

The development of innovative capacity as a strategic resource in technology-based incubation activities

Purpose

To identify the instruments and organizational mechanisms that provide the development of the innovative capacities of companies that (i) no longer work with technology-based incubators, and (ii) are associated with the community universities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical research, qualitative approach and descriptive nature, conducted through multiple case studies in 21 companies from IEBTs in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Data were organized and analyzed through content analysis.

Findings

Results show that the development of IC occurred through behaviors and skills, routines and processes and mechanisms of learning and knowledge governance that support the development of product, process and behavioral dimensions. It became evident that the companies that are emerging from IEBTs need innovation capacity to survive in the market. These innovations are related to product, process and behavioral innovations.

Research limitations/implications

The study cannot be generalized to other segments, since it was restricted to a set of IEBT egress companies, with specific realities and based on the perception of the managers of these companies.

Practical implications

The mechanisms and instruments for the development of innovative capacity can be used by companies from different sectors to make them more competitive before the current economic scenario.

Originality/value

It is justified by the scarcity of studies related to the dynamic capacity component (DC) elements, constituting a theoretical gap regarding the innovative capacity.

Networking competence and its impact on the employability of knowledge workers

Purpose

Studies show that employability is fast becoming a significant subject when managing contemporary careers. Indeed, employee networking is a prerequisite for career success, but the literature lacks findings regarding the impact of networking on employability. Meanwhile, network organizations in the knowledge economy are gaining popularity and bringing rise to the number of knowledge workers in the labor force. The purpose of this paper is to show the impact of employee networking competence on the employability of knowledge workers, particularly in the wider context of network organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to verify our theoretical model, data was collected among a controlled sample of 1189 knowledge workers using a Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) surveying technique. Our model was verified through a series of structural equation models (SEM).

Findings

Results show positive effects of network organizations and knowledge work on the networking competence of knowledge workers. The employability of knowledge workers does not just increase as these workers perform high-quality knowledge work. In order for employability to rise, knowledge workers must also exhibit networking competence. However, our study findings show that networking competence plays only a mediating role in the employability of knowledge workers.

Originality/value

This study focuses on the employability of knowledge workers in network organizations, which is an increasingly important concept for contemporary management. The paper contributes to the literature through its furthering of network and career management theories.

The role of social media in managing supplier attractiveness

Purpose

Managing attractiveness is a constant challenge to mobilize relationship-specific investments, especially in a business environment increasingly enhanced by social media (SM) activities. There is limited knowledge on how SM activities contribute to supplier attractiveness, so decisions about strategizing with SM and consequent resource allocations become highly uncertain. The purpose of this paper is to examine how suppliers’ SM activities influence supplier attractiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

Altogether, 57 senior managers were interviewed: 32 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with senior managers in strategic decision-making roles regarding SM on the supplier side, along with 20 senior managers responsible for purchasing or looking after supplier development; one-to-one interviews were complemented by a focus group with 5 senior managers on the buyer side.

Findings

The study reveals an inverse U-shaped relationship between the intensity of the supplier’s SM activity and its attractiveness and offers a set of propositions about the influence of SM on supplier attractiveness, with special regard to the perceived risks of increased transparency and becoming “too social” on SM.

Practical implications

The study highlights SM management results for supplier attractiveness and their impact areas on business growth and supply chain development.

Originality/value

This paper provides in-depth insights into the role of SM in managing supplier attractiveness. Various effects of SM activities are identified that aim to contribute to the body of literature on supplier attractiveness as well as SM management in buyer–supplier relationships.

Social media usage and commercialization performance: role of networking capability

Purpose

This paper aims to propose and test a research model that links social media usage with networking capabilities on the commercialization performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The target population of this study consisted of 530 managers and experts in knowledge-based firms in Science and Technology Parks of Isfahan (Iran), which were active in the electronics and electronic engineering, bio, renewable energy, nano and information and communication technologies. To determine the effects of the social media and networking capability on the commercialization performance in knowledge-based firms, this study collected the data through a questionnaire survey with knowledge-based firms and conducted statistical analysis. The unit of analysis is the entire firm. The random sampling method was applied in this study. This study mainly uses the validated existing scales of previous studies on Likert-type scales with response options ranging from 1 to 5. To increase the response rate and accuracy, the researchers in this study also conducted phone and e-mail survey. A total of 230 questionnaires were conducted to remove the questionnaires with inadequate or missing answers, and the final 220 cases were selected as valid samples.

Findings

First, this research confirmed that social media usage can positively improve commercialization performance. Second, this research confirmed the mediating role of the networking capability on the relationship between social media usage and commercialization performance. In fact, social media tools represent a potential vehicle to help firms create better relationships with partners and increase commercialization performance via these mechanisms.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature by integrating the domains of social media usage and business networks perspective. Social media has revolutionized the way firms interact with business partners. A salient characteristic of today’s business setting is that partners use social media to nurture and sustain their network relationships with others (Kim et al., 2016). Moreover, based on the dynamic capability theory and business networks perspective, the authors introduce the impression management capability as a networking capability dimension that has been neglected and mentioned only briefly.

MARKET ORIENTATION AND NEW PRODUCT SUPERIORITY AMONG SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMEs): THE MODERATING ROLE OF INNOVATION CAPABILITY

The study explored the effects of the individual dimensions of market orientation on the superiority of new products introduced unto the market by SMEs, as well as the moderating role of innovation capability on these relationships. Analysis was based on 373 SMEs whose respondents were either employee-managers or owner-managers. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to check for validity and reliability of the observed items. A hierarchical regression model was estimated to test the various hypotheses set for the study. Findings revealed that customer orientation and inter-functional coordination had a positive and significant effect on new product superiority; however, competitor orientation had no significant effect. Innovation capability positively moderated the effects of customer orientation, competitor orientation and inter-functional coordination on new product superiority. This indicates the crucial role of SMEs’ innovative capability in leveraging the effect of competitor orientation on new product superiority.

When more is less

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of a specific mechanism for cross-functional integration (CFI) in the relationship between product innovation and firm performance. It takes a contingency perspective, accounting for how these relationships vary depending on the degree of organizational knowledge complexity.

Design/methodology/approach

Hypotheses are tested via regression analysis with interaction effects in a sample of 105 wineries from Spain, using both objective and subjective firm performance data.

Findings

The results obtained confirm the existence of significant triple interaction effect of CFI, knowledge complexity and product innovation on firm performance. CFI has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between product innovation and performance and this effect varies according to the degree of organizational knowledge complexity.

Research limitations/implications

This paper looks at variables that have been hitherto studied at the project or product level, at the firm level, in an attempt to untangle the relationship between innovation, CFI, knowledge complexity and firm performance. Study’s main limitations lie in the use of a cross-functional design and its focus on a single industry.

Practical implications

Firms dealing with complex organizational knowledge could use this CFI mechanism in the development of new products when their size and resources do not allow the creation of more formal temporal structures, such as cross-functional teams. However, unless the winery has to deal with a high degree of knowledge complexity, involving the oenologist in several functional areas for the purpose of coordination, may detract resources from product innovation effort and lead to a poorer performance.

Originality/value

This study showcases a mechanism of CFI not explored in previous research, but used in practice at many firms, i.e. the cross-pollination of ideas across different functional areas through the participation of the responsible for the product development, and tests its role in the relationship between product innovation and different types of firm performance.