Developing supply base strategies
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine and discuss the responses and strategies firms use in relation to their supply base when dealing with current trends in the business landscape, and the different options that they have.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on case study research of a company within the international health care sector to illustrate the relationship between trends, supply base characteristics and supply base strategies.
Findings
The paper presents a framework for a systematic approach that companies can use to develop supply base strategies. The framework illustrates that developing supply base strategies is a dynamic process that not only involves individual actions by the buying company, but also requires close interaction with suppliers.
Originality/value
Previous literature has not specified how different trends affect a company’s supply base in terms of increased complexity and (inter)dependence, and which supply base strategies companies use and the options that they have. The research presented here contributes to fill this void.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research has benefited from discussions with other attendees of the IMP journal seminar in Gothenburg 2012, and valuable comments and suggestions provided by reviewers of this journal. The authors would also like to pay gratitude to the managers of the case company, Handicare, who inspired the research and provided the data.
Citation
Bygballe, L.E. and Persson, G. (2015), "Developing supply base strategies", IMP Journal, Vol. 9 No. 1, pp. 64-84. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMP-01-2015-0003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited