Abstract

In large organizations, local use of innovations is not enough; extracting the full use of the innovation requires deployment across the organization. The purpose of this paper is to explore strategies for the deployment of service innovations and factors influencing success. We adopt an inductive theory-building approach with a longitudinal embedded case study of ten successful service innovations. We find two deployment strategies: required adoption, in which subsidiaries are required to adopt innovations, and voluntary adoption, in which adoption is not compulsory—innovations are showcased, but the adoption decision is left to the subsidiaries. We have investigated the factors influencing deployment, including the decentralized nature of service innovation, fit with the internal and external context, extrinsic and intrinsic motivations, and handovers. Based on analyses of case evidence, we put forward research propositions accordingly. This study provides managerial guidance for multidivisional organizations to extract full value from service innovations. Although some results may be particular to the Chinese context, research in other contexts can broaden the generalizability of the findings.

Keyword

Deployment strategies ;  innovation diffusion ;  ,longitudinal case study ;  multidivisional organizations ;  service innovation

Abstract

Purpose This paper assesses whether communication via interpersonal and IT channels accounts for short-term financial performance and long-term orientation and how these effects are influenced by contract completeness and technology usage in platform builder-platform participant relationships. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual model and hypotheses are validated through a moderated regression of 384 survey responses from platform participant. Findings The empirical results indicate that interpersonal and IT-enabled communication contribute to both short-term financial gains and long-term orientation. The coexistence of interpersonal communication and IT-enabled communication has a synergetic effect on long-term orientation. Contract completeness positively moderates the effect of interpersonal communication on short-term performance while negatively moderating its effect on long-term orientation. Furthermore, contract completeness undermines the effect of IT-enabled communication on short-term performance. Technology usage enhances the effectiveness of interpersonal communication in generating long-term orientation. Originality/value First, diverging from the extant research treating communication as a single dimension construct, this study differentiates communication on media channels and shows their separate and synergetic effects on short-term performance and long-term orientation. Second, our empirical findings indicate that the effects of communication are influenced by governance practices, which extends the communication literature. Third, previous studies have presented conflicting results concerning the role of governance mechanisms in inter-firm relationships. By showing that governance mechanisms also either support or suppress communication in generating performance for platform participants, this study extends the existing research on governance mechanisms. Finally, by regarding technology usage as a transactional governance mechanism, this study furthers our understanding of the role of technology in interfirm relationships.

Keyword

Interpersonal communication ;  IT-enabled communication ;  Contract completeness ;  Technology usage ;  Short-term performance ;  Long-term orientation

Abstract

Supply chain quality management (SCQM) has been viewed as a critical method for a manufacturer's management of product recalls. This study aims to empirically investigate the impact of SCQM practices on product recall capability using a sensemaking perspective. We adopt a multi-method approach by combining case study and quantitative survey methods. This study selects three manufacturers from the food, automobile and pharmaceutical industries to conduct an exploratory case study. The findings reveal that product recall capability includes tracking and traceability and formal process, and the manufacturers use quality management teamwork, supplier qualification and supplier involvement as the key SCQM practices. A conceptual framework of the relationships between SCQM practices and product recall capability is developed based on the findings of the case study. The hypotheses are empirically tested using structural equation modelling, bootstrapping method and data collected from 400 manufacturers in China. We find that quality management teamwork and supplier qualification are positively associated with product recall capability. Quality management teamwork is positively associated with supplier qualification and involvement. In addition, supplier qualification partially mediates the effect of quality management teamwork and fully mediates the effect of supplier involvement on product recall capability.

Keyword

Multi-method research ;  Product recall ;  Sensemaking ;  Supply chain quality management

Abstract

Purpose The accounts receivable pool (ARP) is an e-invoice management system that provides suppliers with easy access to financial service. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the strength and weakness of ARP mechanism and suggest efficient methods to identify creditworthy borrowers. Design/methodology/approach By decomposing the sales records of 348 ARP borrowers and predicting the occurrence of overdue incidences, this study first portrays the creditworthy borrowers by sales features. Then, content analysis was applied to measure the loadings of soft and hard information, and examined the effectiveness of different information structures in creditworthiness assessment. Findings For ARP borrowers, upward trend and low volatility reveal their creditworthiness. In order to identify creditworthy borrowers beforehand, ARP financiers who have elaborated more soft information and less hard information can perform better. Originality/value This study first discussed ARP finance from a critical perspective and underlines borrower assessment to eliminate the defect of loose recourse. The empirical evidence presents the sales features of creditworthy borrowers. Moreover, the results suggest an efficient approach for ARP financiers to conduct better assessment.

Keyword

Accounts receivable pool finance ;  Information structure ;  Sales information

Abstract

Third-party logistics (3PL) user-provider integration is attracting increasing attention from both academics and practitioners. However, it remains unclear how best to adopt governance mechanisms to safeguard 3PL user-provider integration (e.g., information sharing and process coordination). Based on transaction cost economics and social exchange theory, this study examined the individual and joint effects of contractual (e.g., detailed contracts and contract application) and relational governance (e.g., trust and relational norms) on 3PL user-provider integration for operational performance. We conducted a survey involving 247 3PL service users and analyzed the conceptual model using the method of structural equation modeling. The results showed that process coordination improved operational performance, while information sharing alone did not significantly improve operational performance but complemented the role of process coordination in improving operational performance. In addition, having detailed contracts was positively related to process coordination, while contract application was positively related to information sharing. Trust was not significantly related to information sharing or process coordination, while relational norms were positively related to both. Finally, three joint effects on 3PL user-provider integration were found. Two of them were substitutional (detailed contracts and relational norms; contract application and trust), and one was complementary (detailed contracts and trust). This study makes several theoretical contributions and provides novel guidelines for 3PL relationship development.

Keyword

3PL user-provider integration ;  China ;  complementary ;  contractual governance ;  relational governance ;  substitutional relationship

Abstract

Superior innovation performance is vital for enterprises to survive and maintain competitiveness, especially in Internet related industries which are rapidly growing and changing. However, not all innovations can survive to later stages and bring benefits for enterprises. From a staged process perspective, we divide innovation performance into three stages: development performance (cost/time efficiency and experience/solution effectiveness), deployment performance, and financial/non-financial performance, and aim to examine the relationship between modes of service innovation (business model, service process, and service product) and their performance implications in different stages.

Keyword

financial/non-financial performance ;  modes of service innovation ;  new service development performance ;  new service development process

Abstract

本案例为霸蛮系列案例，由A、B两个子案例构成，聚焦消费升级和互联网时代背景下，餐饮企业如何进行商业模式创新，在消费端，如何利用社群营销和全渠道有效触达消费者，在供应端，如何实现高效的供应链管理和精细化运营。 A、B案例以霸蛮发展中第一次遭遇较大的供应链管理难题为分界点。A案例回顾了霸蛮的创业经历，前期通过单品策略和社群营销成功跻身新式餐饮“网红”。随着规模的扩大，开始尝试打破传统餐饮门店的时空界限，通过外带、外卖和零售业务，满足消费者随时随地吃正宗湖南牛肉粉等诉求。同时，餐饮和零售、线上线上渠道相互引流，打出了“立体作战模式”的组合拳。但由于餐饮和零售完全是两套供应链逻辑，随着霸蛮零售品类的增加，库存成本越来越高，占用了大量资金，导致供应链在2017年底时出现“阵痛”。 B案例介绍了霸蛮在意识到供应链管理的重要性后，如何在近两年时间里逐步提高供应链管理能力，优化从供应到交付的供应链网络。其做法包括在战略层面建立相对明确的供应链战略，在战术层面对餐饮和零售供应链进行细分和差异化的梳理，在策略层面通过多种方法和工具的使用来持续改善供应链中不同环节的运作效率、减低成本和缩短提前期。案例最后提出开放讨论：霸蛮如何在未来管理好体量更大、环节更多、也更加复杂多变的供应链，进一步提升供应链的效率？ 本案例从一家初创企业切入，较为全面的介绍了商业模式创新，以及供应链如何支持商业模式的方方面面，以小见大，为其他餐饮/零售企业的供应链及商业模式创新提供借鉴。

Keyword

餐饮 ;  零售 ;  社群 ;  全渠道 ;  供应链管理 ;  商业模式创新

Abstract

本案例为霸蛮系列案例，由A、B两个子案例构成，聚焦消费升级和互联网时代背景下，餐饮企业如何进行商业模式创新，在消费端如何利用社群营销和全渠道有效触达消费者，在供应端如何实现高效的供应链管理和精细化运营。 A、B案例以霸蛮发展中第一次遭遇较大的供应链管理难题为分界点。A案例回顾了霸蛮的创业经历，前期通过单品策略和社群营销成功跻身新式餐饮“网红”。随着规模的扩大，开始尝试打破传统餐饮门店的时空界限，通过外带、外卖和零售业务，满足消费者随时随地吃正宗湖南牛肉粉等诉求。同时，餐饮和零售、线上线上渠道相互引流，打出了“立体作战模式”的组合拳。但由于餐饮和零售完全是两套供应链逻辑，随着霸蛮零售品类的增加，库存成本越来越高，占用了大量资金，导致供应链在2017年底时出现“阵痛”。 B案例介绍了霸蛮在意识到供应链管理的重要性后，如何在近两年时间里逐步提高供应链管理能力，优化从供应到交付的供应链网络。其做法包括在战略层面建立相对明确的供应链战略，在战术层面对餐饮和零售供应链进行细分和差异化的梳理，在策略层面通过多种方法和工具的使用来持续改善供应链中不同环节的运作效率、减低成本和缩短提前期。案例最后提出开放讨论：霸蛮如何在未来管理好体量更大、环节更多、也更加复杂多变的供应链，进一步提升供应链的效率？ 本案例从一家初创企业切入，较为全面的介绍了商业模式创新，以及供应链如何支持商业模式的方方面面，以小见大，为其他餐饮/零售企业的供应链及商业模式创新提供借鉴。

Keyword

餐饮 ;  零售 ;  社群 ;  全渠道 ;  供应链管理 ;  商业模式创新

Abstract

Purpose Technology has dramatically changed the nature of interorganizational relationships and the ways partners interact with each other. In the new platform business model, platform technology usage seems to work as a governance mechanism to regulate operations and manage platform builder-platform participant relationships. To respond to these changes, this study aims to examine how platform technology usage in platform operations influenced the relationship quality between the platform builder and platform participants by promoting perceptions of three types of justice (procedural, distributive and informational). Design/methodology/approach The authors propose that it is through the perception of three types of justice (procedural, distributive and informational) that platform technology usage exerts its governance effect on the platform relationship. In doing this, the authors seek to answer the following two related research questions in the platform setting: How does platform technology usage drive relationship performance via different types of justice perceptions? Which type of justice affects relationship performance most effectively? Findings The results from a survey of 384 participant firms from two of the largest digital platforms for mobile/PC application in China reveal that platform technology usage leads to better relationship performance through enhanced perceptions of procedural, distributive, and informational justice. The positive impacts of procedural justice and distributive justice on relationship performance are greater than that of informational justice, while the impacts of procedural justice and distributive justice show no significant differences. Originality/value These findings provide novel insights into the role and mechanisms of platform technology usage in platform relationship management.

Keyword

Distributive justice ;  Informational justice ;  Platform; Platform technology usage ;  Procedural justice ;  Relationship performance

Abstract

怡亚通是一家在供应链服务领域摸爬滚打多年的企业，凭借对供应链大刀阔斧的改革与持之以恒的创新试验，怡亚通的体系越发展越庞大，涵盖的业务也越来越繁多。它致力于打造一条完善的端到端供应链，并将每个供应链环节发散为独立的垂直业务子平台，使得自身升级为“平台的平台”。 本案例将聚焦怡亚通在发展过程中所直面的三个关键问题：第一，怡亚通如何通过技术对传统供应链服务进行改造？第二，如何进行供应链整合与服务创新？这些供应链整合与创新如何为客户创造价值？第三，怡亚通的服务生态系统庞大全面，如何管理这些星罗棋布的子平台使其保持形散而神不散？如何进行不同业务模块的协调，保持庞大体系的灵活性？通过以上问题，本案例展示了怡亚通供应链服务创新实践的详细步骤，引导学员理解传统供应链服务模式转型升级的策略、工具、挑战及解决方案。

Keyword

供应链服务商 ;  供应链生态圈 ;  商业模式创新 ;  平台