Purpose – The paper seeks to provide a framework for analyzing business relationships and networks within organizational, spatial, relational and network contexts. Design/methodology/approach – A single case study method is applied to highlight the applicability of the relationship/network...

Describes a new approach to improving customer/supplier partnerships. Asserts that Western managers tend to perceive every other company as a potential threat. Contends that Japanese companies have realized that global battles are between groups of companies acting in networks or extended supply...

Purpose – China's emerging multinationals (CEMs) have gained attention for their increasing activities in mergers and acquisitions (M&As) within the global arena. Harnessing previous studies about the significance of their cultural baggage and an underlying strategic intent in reverse...

The article will examine an extended case study (over 14 years) of the challenges of operating a mode 2 academic research project (which generated a unique diagnostic tool for use in business to business relationships) and then of converting academic theory into a practical application which has...

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to report on research to date concerning the creation of a hybrid model for managing performance and decision making with elements of an IBM supply chain. Design/methodology/approach – As part of a wider research programme this paper utilises survey,...

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the complexity of collaborations in supply chain networks, particularly the influence of horizontal collaborations (e.g. international joint ventures) on vertical collaborations (e.g. supplier–manufacturer partnering relationships)....

This paper reflects on a three‐year EPSRC research project (1994‐1997), called "Implementing Partnering in the Supply Chain", that studied the development of collaboration between two companies, IDV Operations Ireland Limited and Killeen Corrugated and the complex processes involved in...

There is much debate about the nature of strategy formulation as content or process. This paper takes a process view informed from insights from non‐linear dynamics, complexity and chaos theory and applies it to a well tested management of change process in cooperative supply chain management...