The role of guanxi in buyer–supplier relationships in Chinese small- and medium-sized enterprises – a resource-based perspective

This paper examines the role of guanxi (personal relationships or connections) in buyer–supplier relationships in Chinese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), through exploratory research that gained access to companies actually using guanxi. The resource-based view provided a systematic approach for analysing the role of guanxi in terms of its potential to be a source of sustained competitive advantage. Business guanxi connections were identified as possessing the potential to be considered an organisational resource. This study identified several valuable attributes of guanxi at the organisational level. However, the guanxi-based advantage can only be sustained under certain conditions. SMEs should create an organisational environment that encourages their employees to actively establish and maintain guanxi connections within the company and beyond. However, companies in China need to recognise that firms that possess superior technological skills or capabilities have a stronger bargaining power, as they are able to deliver quality at competitive prices over the long run.     

Application of a novel PROMETHEE-based method for construction of a group compromise ranking to prioritization of green suppliers in food supply chain

The food sector has a prodigious focus and is constantly gaining in importance in today’s global economic marketplace. Due to an increasing global population, society faces a greater challenge for sustainable food production, quality, distribution, and food safety in the food supply chain. Adopting green supply chain management (GSCM) elements is essential for utilizing the food supply chain in an environmentally benign way. As a solution to the above challenge, the economic and green characteristics for supplier selection in green purchasing are studied in this paper. For an organization, the evaluation and selection of the green supplier is a vital issue due to several tangible and intangible criteria involved. Accordingly, we apply multiple criteria decision aiding techniques.We propose a hybrid approach that combines the revised Simos procedure, PROMETHEE methods, algorithms for constructing a group compromise ranking, and robustness analysis. At first, the revised Simos procedure is used to derive the criteria weights. Next, the PROMETHEE method is applied to rank the suppliers according to each Decision Maker׳s (DM׳s) preferences. Then, the compromise ranking is constructed to minimize the distance of the individual׳s rankings from the solution adopted by the whole group. For this purpose, we introduce and apply some original procedures based on Binary Linear Programming. Finally, the results are validated against the outcomes of robustness analysis. The applicability and efficiency of the proposed approach is endorsed with a case study in an Indian food industry.     

A structural analysis of greening the supplier,environmental performance and competitive advantage

A clear research need has been identified to confirm the structural relationships between greening the supplier, enhanced environmental performance and improved competitive advantage, to provide an impetus for firms to green their suppliers. A mail survey was conducted and empirical data of 119 ISO 14001 manufacturing firms in Malaysia was gathered for this study. Structural equation modelling technique was applied in this research article. Results from the analysis, reveal the existence of a positive and significant linkage between green suppliers with both environmental performance and competitive advantage. At the same time, environmental performance has also been shown to positively and significantly affect competitive advantage; while environmental performance plays a partial mediating role between greening the supplier and competitiveness. Such significant finding is especially essential for the manufacturing sector registered with ISO 14001 who intend to enhance their environmental performance and carve a niche competitive edge in the business arena.     

基于供应中断风险防范的供应商评价研究

供应链业务的全球展开、精益理念的发展,导致企业对供应商的依赖程度逐渐加大。然而,受现实风险因素影响,供应商通常是不可靠的,一旦发生供应中断,将会给企业造成巨大损失。供应商评价是防范供应中断风险的有效措施,为此,建立了基于供应中断风险防范的供应商评价指标体系,运用熵值法与模糊综合评价法构建评价模型,并通过实例计算出各供应商的综合实力,为企业选择合格供应商提供理论依据。     

零售企业的盈利模式与价值链优化

零售企业盈利模式是企业在为顾客创造价值并帮助供应商实现利润的同时,实现在利益分配中占据主导地位、获取利益的一种盈利方式。现有的零售企业盈利模式主要有"商品毛利"模式、"后台毛利"模式和"资本经营"模式三种。这三种盈利模式在竞争日趋激烈的买方市场下呈现出局限性,未来零售企业必须通过优化价值链也就是优化整合"与供应商信息分享—自有品牌开发—信息和物流系统建立—为顾客提供增值服务—与竞争者建立合作关系"等整个过程,来寻找新的利润增长点。     

关系激励管理对供求企业绩效影响的实证研究

有效的供求关系激励管理方式设计,以及这种管理方式如何影响供求双方的绩效,是目前国内理论界和企业界都十分关注的问题之一。本文试图从采购企业角度出发探讨关系激励管理方式对供求企业绩效的影响。首先解释了激励型供应商管理方式的指标测度体系,然后通过对国内近百家企业问卷调查的统计分析,得出了如下两个主要结论:激励型管理方式与采购企业业绩之间存在正相关关系;激励型管理方式与供应商业绩之间存在正相关关系。这不仅证实了合作能够创造"双赢"局面的理论观点,而且也为国内企业供应商管理的具体实践提供了理论上的指导。     

Real‐Time Revision of Order Quantities with Capacity Constraint: A Single Period Model

Manufacturing firms would like to maximize customer satisfaction by providing them with what they need when they need it. This, however, would mean continual variations in production quantities, and component orders from suppliers. A flexible manufacturing system can help alleviate costs related to modification of production quantities. The capacity of such a system, however, has to be limited because of high investment cost. Further, unless there is a long‐term relationship, suppliers may levy a high surcharge for last minute changes in order size. We model a hybrid control policy comprising an advance (pre‐production) order size agreed upon with suppliers, and a provision for real‐time order revision at a given rate of surcharge. We show that a rank‐order of products can be used for real‐time revisions, and that a strong buyer‐supplier relationship that keeps these surcharges low can actually help increase profits for both parties. We study issues such as compatibility between JIT and flexibility, and the impact of market conditions on overall profitability.     

云制造环境下基于本体和模糊QoS的供应商匹配方法

云制造环境下的服务匹配具有资源数量大、语义信息不对称、QoS多样化和模糊化的特点,同时企业有自主选择匹配结果的需求。为此,提出基于本体和模糊QoS聚类的三阶段供应商匹配模型。首先构建本体模型和供应商服务描述模型,运用语义本体既消除了信息的不对称性,又增加了语义信息的完整性。此外,对QoS的多属性信息进行三角模糊化处理,结合模糊偏好和优化的模糊C均值聚类（FCM）算法按需聚类,提高了收敛速度和精度,得出基于匹配度排序的结果集合。实例验证结果表明：本文匹配方法较传统方法有更高的适应性和查准率。     

用户在线知识付费研究综述

互联网知识经济时代,在线知识付费平台因能帮助用户解决知识过载带来的知识焦虑等问题,受到了用户的高度关注,得到了极大发展。通过总结国内外用户在线知识付费研究取得的成果与存在的不足,发现已有研究中关于用户在线知识付费的类型、途径等方面的研究还较为欠缺。未来研究可基于在线知识付费平台参与者视角深入探讨相关问题,包括用户视角、平台视角、知识供给者视角和关系视角。