Description
Book Synopsis* Supply Network Strategies deals with how companies activate relationships with suppliers in order to become more efficient and innovative. In recent years, increasing emphasis has been placed on the ways in which these relationships link companies in supply chains and networks.
Table of ContentsPreface vii
PART I SUPPLY NETWORK CHALLENGES 1
Chapter One Purchasing Faces New Challenges 3
The Significance of the Supply Side 4
Purchasing as Isolated Buying Decisions 5
Purchasing as Management of Supply Networks 8
Rethinking Purchasing 14
The Aims and Outline of the Book 17
Chapter Two The Supplier Base 19
Basic Characteristics of the Supplier Base 20
Window Manufacturer Ltd and Its Supplier Base 22
Analysing the Supplier Base 26
Key Challenges in the Handling of the Supplier Base 29
Implications for the Supply Side 34
Chapter Three Physical Flows in Supply Networks 37
The Impact of the Flow of Goods 37
Basic Characteristics of Physical Flows 39
Physical Flows in AlLight Limited 42
Key Challenges in the Handling of Physical Flows 45
Implications for the Supply Side 51
PART II SUPPLY NETWORK ANALYSIS 53
Chapter Four Purchasing and the Combining of Resources 55
Central Features of Resources 56
Resource Combining 58
Recombining Through Resource Cooperation 68
Recombining Through Resource Confrontation 71
Dynamic Resource Structures and the Role of Purchasing 76
Chapter Five Purchasing and the Configuring of Activities 81
Central Features of Activities 82
Configuring of Activities 83
Reconfiguring Through Changing Similarities 94
Reconfiguring Through Changing Complementarities 98
Efficient Activity Configurations and the Role of Purchasing 101
Chapter Six Purchasing and the Positioning of Actors 105
Central Features of the Actor Layer 106
Positioning in the Actor Layer 109
Repositioning Through Interaction in a Relationship 120
Repositioning Through Networking in the Supplier Base 123
Interactive Positioning and the Role of Purchasing 126
PART III SUPPLY NETWORK STRATEGIES 131
Chapter Seven Relating – Developing Relationships with Suppliers 133
Relationships Matter 134
Characteristics of Buyer–Supplier Relationships 136
Perspectives on Relationships 145
Relating in Supply Networks 153
Relating and the Supplier Base 161
Relating and Physical Flows 164
Chapter Eight Bounding – Setting the Border around the Buying Firm 169
Boundaries Matter 170
Make or Buy? – An Old Decision in a New Light 173
Bounding in Supply Networks 176
Bounding and the Supplier Base 189
Bounding and Physical Flows 191
Chapter Nine Organising – Designing Internal–External Couplings 195
Organising Matters 196
Internal Organising 197
External Organising 199
Organising in Supply Networks 208
Organising and the Supplier Base 222
Organising and Physical Flows 224
Chapter Ten Strategising – Applying the Supply Network Perspective 227
Step 1: Interpreting the Current Approach to Purchasing 228
Step 2: Determining the Objectives – Identifying Key Outcomes 229
Step 3: Determining the Network Strategy 231
Step 4: Calibrating the Elements of Strategy 234
Step 5: Restructuring the Supply Network 238
Epilogue 241
References 245
Index 255
