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Viewing lean supply from the IMP perspective

Leandro D.B. dos Santos (Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway)
Elsebeth Holmen (Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway)
Ann-Charlott Pedersen (Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway)

Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing

ISSN: 0885-8624

Article publication date: 16 October 2019

Issue publication date: 8 January 2020

519

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss key elements of lean supply (LS) in light of core concepts in the Industrial Marketing and Purchasing Group (IMP) perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the authors examine the literature on LS and identify and discuss important characteristics and key elements of LS. Second, the authors present key concepts in the IMP Perspective, in particular the dyad versus network levels, and the ARA model, capturing activities, resources, and actors. Third, the authors cross-fertilize the concepts from these two streams of research.

Findings

The authors identify 12 key LS elements. Relating these to core IMP frameworks, they identify areas of LS that can be expanded. First, the authors found that key elements in LS mainly focus on the dyadic level and that the network level is addressed to a much lesser extent and primarily captures serial “chain” connections among relationships. Second, it was found that key elements in LS predominantly focus on the activity layer and pay much less attention to resources and actors.

Research limitations/implications

The authors suggest that LS theory and practice can benefit from taking a network perspective, and by paying more attention to resource and actor concepts and issues. The study is purely theoretical.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous studies combine LS and the IMP perspective. The authors add to LS by elaborating how 12 key elements in LS can be expanded.

Keywords

Citation

dos Santos, L.D.B., Holmen, E. and Pedersen, A.-C. (2020), "Viewing lean supply from the IMP perspective", Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Vol. 35 No. 1, pp. 172-182. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBIM-02-2019-0066

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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