1. Offshoring Decisions: A Comprehensive and Conceptual Framework
    • Amulya Gurtu
    • Ramesh Saxena
    • Nilesh Sah
    The paper presents complexities involved in offshoring decisions and provides a comprehensive framework for making a reliable decision for offshoring. There is a need for a holistic approach to offshoring decisions. The paper identifies various drivers, categorizes them as revenue or cost drivers, and analyzes their impact on the offshoring outcomes. The framework rationalizes the extremes of unprecedented successes and unexpected failures among organizations engaged in offshore outsourcing. The proposed framework is expected to improve the quality of offshoring decisions. The proposed framework approaches offshore outsourcing decisions at a strategic level and will improve organizations’ performance on the triple bottom line.
    @article{amulyagurtu-2019-1449,
      title={Offshoring Decisions: A Comprehensive and Conceptual Framework},
      author={Amulya  Gurtu and Ramesh  Saxena and Nilesh  Sah},
      journal={Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal},
      year={2019},
      volume={12},
      number={3},
      pages={118--128},
      doi={10.31387/oscm0380236}
    }
    Amulya  Gurtu, Ramesh  Saxena, Nilesh  Sah (2019). Offshoring Decisions: A Comprehensive and Conceptual Framework. Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 12(3), 118-128. https://doi.org/10.31387/oscm0380236

  2. Supply Chain Incentive Alignment: The Gap between Perceived Importance and Actual Practice
    • Andreas Norrman
    • Dag Naslund
    Incentive alignment is discussed as one of the key factors for successful implementation of supply chain management. However, there is a lack of empirical research regarding implementation as well as evaluation of the effects of alignment mechanisms in practice. The purpose of this study is therefore to explore and describe the current practice and to identify gaps of Supply chain incentive alignment. The study is an explorative and descriptive survey study based on forty-eight responses from members, supply chain officers, of the Swedish Supply chain panel. The theoretical lenses are based on literature discussing incentive alignment in supply chains, e.g. principal-agency theory and supply chain contracting, but also on literature discussing internal process based management and rewards for goal congruence. The study shows a clear gap between perceived importance and realized practice of both external (inter-organizational) and internal (cross-functional) incentive alignment. Very few of the existing sophisticated coordinating mechanisms proposed in theory were used to any significant extent. In fact, the internal incentive structures seem to counter act, and not support, supply chain orientation. This finding relates not only to non-logistics departments but also to functions in “the logistics family”. The major challenge, both externally and internally, is to be able to define incentives that drives behavior in the right direction. The study clearly shows gaps between practitioners’ intent and current practice, and it provides a broad range of more sophisticated and coordinating mechanisms than the ones mainly used today.
    @article{andreasnorrman-2019-1450,
      title={Supply Chain Incentive Alignment: The Gap between Perceived Importance and Actual Practice},
      author={Andreas  Norrman and Dag  Naslund},
      journal={Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal},
      year={2019},
      volume={12},
      number={3},
      pages={129--142},
      doi={10.31387/oscm0380237}
    }
    Andreas  Norrman, Dag  Naslund (2019). Supply Chain Incentive Alignment: The Gap between Perceived Importance and Actual Practice. Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 12(3), 129-142. https://doi.org/10.31387/oscm0380237

  3. An Exploration of the Measurement of Relational Capital in Supply Chains
    • Barbara Ocicka
    • Grayna Wieteska
    The aim of the paper is to identify and systemise dimensions and measures that can be used to evaluate buyer-supplier relational capital (RC). The authors used a literature review methodology composed of the following phases: question formulation, keyword search in databases, screening and analysis of articles. As a result, 44 articles were selected and finally analysed in detail. It was found that several theories can help to explain how buyer-supplier relationships contribute to a company’s value and competitive advantage. Furthermore, RC as an element of social capital deserves more investigation in a supply chain management context. Accordingly, to date there has been no relevant in-depth studies exploring the measurement of relational capital in supply chains. On the base of the review of research articles published between 2004 and 2018, the list of items used by researchers to measure the relational capital was explored. Then, authors proposed a construct for relational capital consisting of 5 items such as: trust, close interaction, respect, reciprocity and commitment, that were shortly discussed. Taking them all into account, an authorial definition of supply chain relational capital was proposed. Although, the final results contribute to the study of RC measurement within buyer-supplier relationships in supply chains, the analysis still has some shortcomings that need to be addressed in further literature studies and empirical research.
    @article{barbaraocicka-2019-1451,
      title={An Exploration of the Measurement of Relational Capital in Supply Chains},
      author={Barbara  Ocicka and Grayna  Wieteska},
      journal={Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal},
      year={2019},
      volume={12},
      number={3},
      pages={143--152},
      doi={10.31387/oscm0380238}
    }
    Barbara  Ocicka, Grayna  Wieteska (2019). An Exploration of the Measurement of Relational Capital in Supply Chains. Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 12(3), 143-152. https://doi.org/10.31387/oscm0380238

  4. Proposing a Framework for Developing Supply Chains of Medical Devices
    • Kun Liao
    • Xiaodong Deng
    • Yan (Grace) Wang
    • Ozden Bayazit
    To help develop supply chains for a medical device, this study proposed a framework based on literature review and the unique characteristics of medical devices. The framework first evaluates the structure of the medical device, the suppliers of raw materials or components, and the emerging technologies and manufacturing processes to be used to build the device. It then assesses the quality regulations and standards for the device and the manufacturing processes, the location of the suppliers, and the operation and maintenance of the device along the supply chain. This framework was applied to a case where supply chains were developed through Porter’s cluster mapping technique for two medical devices: an ultrasound machine and a prosthetic ankle. The preliminary results suggested that the features of the medical devices influenced the choice of their supply chains. In particular, a research-oriented device with customized components should have a localized supply chain (e.g., within Washington State in this case) while the consumer-oriented device with standardized components could have a national or even a global supply chain. Future research directions are suggested.
    @article{kunliao-2019-1452,
      title={Proposing a Framework for Developing Supply Chains of Medical Devices},
      author={Kun  Liao and Xiaodong  Deng and Yan (Grace)  Wang and Ozden  Bayazit},
      journal={Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal},
      year={2019},
      volume={12},
      number={3},
      pages={153--164},
      doi={10.31387/oscm0380239}
    }
    Kun  Liao, Xiaodong  Deng, Yan (Grace)  Wang, Ozden  Bayazit (2019). Proposing a Framework for Developing Supply Chains of Medical Devices. Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 12(3), 153-164. https://doi.org/10.31387/oscm0380239

  5. Application of Queuing Theory to Optimize Waiting-Time in Hospital Operations
    • Deepak Yaduvanshi
    • Ashu Sharma
    • Praful Vijay More
    Waiting time is inherent to the healthcare service sector in India and a major challenge faced by almost every big hospital is queuing. Long waiting time can be a reflection of inefficiency in hospital operations. The out-patient department (OPD) has the biggest queue as compared to other departments in hospital operations. This study comprises of in-depth analysis of OPD from different dimensions. Like in many big hospitals across India, the OPD of Fortis Escorts Hospital in Jaipur, India is managed using experience and rule of thumb rather than strategic research-based techniques such as queuing theory. The Fortis Escorts Hospital in Jaipur receives a large number of patients each day which results in longer waiting time for patients due to long queues. To address this challenge, a SWOT analysis was conducted for the OPD of Fortis Escorts Hospital Jaipur (FEHJ) which resulted into dissecting the queuing problem and coming out with solutions knowing where the hospital operations can excel and where there is a scope of improvement to make the working and processes better. Additionally, after examining the problem analytically and applying queuing theory, measures were suggested to improve the delay points and make the OPD more efficient in order to gain a high patient satisfaction rating.
    @article{deepakyaduvanshi-2019-1453,
      title={Application of Queuing Theory to Optimize Waiting-Time in Hospital Operations},
      author={Deepak  Yaduvanshi and Ashu  Sharma and Praful Vijay  More},
      journal={Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal},
      year={2019},
      volume={12},
      number={3},
      pages={165--174},
      doi={10.31387/oscm0380240}
    }
    Deepak  Yaduvanshi, Ashu  Sharma, Praful Vijay  More (2019). Application of Queuing Theory to Optimize Waiting-Time in Hospital Operations. Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 12(3), 165-174. https://doi.org/10.31387/oscm0380240

  6. Achieving Market Orientation Through Cross-Functional Integration
    • Ana Beatriz Murillo-Oviedo
    • Márcio Lopes Pimenta
    • Per Hilletofth
    • Ewout Reitsma
    The purpose of this study is to understand how cross-functional integration contributes to the market orientation of a company that strives to increase market responsiveness. A case study in the Brazilian beverages industry was conducted and empirical data was collected through fourteen in-depth interviews from various functions within the company. The findings indicate that cross-functional integration enables the company to achieve market orientation through two main processes: product launch and customer complaints. Cross-functional integration enables a company to disseminate knowledge about organizational dynamics at both departmental and individual levels, to generate interdependency, to improve the awareness about the internal needs, and to improve the internal knowledge about the customer. This study shows that practitioners need to establish cross-functional integration, as it contributes to the market orientation of a company. Internal knowledge enables practitioners to create value through products and services, while still preserving the corporate image. It also shows that cross-functional teams and meetings are necessary to achieve market orientation in a company.
    @article{anabeatrizmurillo-oviedo-2019-1454,
      title={Achieving Market Orientation Through Cross-Functional Integration},
      author={Ana Beatriz  Murillo-Oviedo and Márcio Lopes  Pimenta and Per  Hilletofth and Ewout  Reitsma},
      journal={Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal},
      year={2019},
      volume={12},
      number={3},
      pages={175--185},
      doi={10.31387/oscm0380241}
    }
    Ana Beatriz  Murillo-Oviedo, Márcio Lopes  Pimenta, Per  Hilletofth, Ewout  Reitsma (2019). Achieving Market Orientation Through Cross-Functional Integration. Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 12(3), 175-185. https://doi.org/10.31387/oscm0380241