Value Chain Management Research Articles

Going from attitude to action: Analyzing how the orientations of sustainable food businesses influence their business strategies

AbstractFollowing an increasing interest in sustainable food systems, businesses have begun to look for ways to incorporate sustainability practices into their business models and strategies. However, the ability to follow through with their ambitions is obstructed by the attitude–behavior gap, a phenomenon that refers to the discrepancy between a decision‐maker's attitudes and beliefs and their resulting actions. This research studies the attitudes (including motives and intentions) of food‐related businesses in Thailand and their subsequent business decisions by conducting semi‐structured interviews with companies of varying sizes and types. The aim is to analyze possible gaps between attitudes and behaviors along the value chain management and explore relevant business practices. This study categorizes firms into profit, performance, and partnership orientations towards sustainability and concludes that different orientations result in differing degrees of attitude–behavior gap and divergent business strategies. Furthermore, business strategies in various markets are proposed to transition between sustainability orientations.

Power Symmetry in Global Value Chains: Evidence from the Russian Retail Market

Value chain management actively studies sources and types of interfirm power because increasing power symmetry between partners fosters innovativeness and adaptability to a market context. This study focuses on global value chains (GVCs) as a special type of value chains that experiences substantial influence of collective power. In the analysis I attempt to demonstrate higher power symmetry between partners inside a GVC than in other value chains. This hypothesis is based on a combination of resource dependence, mutual dependence, and social exchange/social embeddedness approaches with the analysis of structure in a GVC. The paper uses data from four waves of a survey conducted in Russia between 2010–2019 that include more than 2.700 managers of both buyers and suppliers. (OLS) and logit regression models were built for the analysis. The results demonstrate that partners inside GVCs share trade margins more symmetrically, have more equal negotiation power, and are more intensively involved in social exchanges through informal support.

The Requirements Enhancement Based on a Problem Domain Model

The paper deals with the problem of the requirements enhancement related to a particular problem domain. New requirements related with problem domain (user, customer study program) are elicited and compared with the old requirements which are documented before. The modified Value Chain Model (VCM-based) framework for the refinement of new requirements, assessment and enhancement of old system requirements is developed and discussed. Enterprise management information interaction is specified as an Elementary Management Cycle (EMC), linking enterprise management function and process by a feedback loop. A modified Value Chain and Elementary Management Cycle model was created to describe management knowledge updating process. Proposed hierarchical modified Value Chain Model and Elementary Management Cycle model allows to structure domain knowledge identification and updating processes.

Value chain management versus supply chain management

Value chain management versus supply chain management

A fuzzy logic assessment framework for collaborative development of product-service systems

The development and value chain management of product-service systems (PSS) requires companies to look for new capabilities, regarding the disparate components of a PSS. However, interfirm collaboration in this context presents several particularities which may be challenging for the stakeholders and can lead to project failure. In this regard, there is still limited literature addressing frameworks and tools to manage the collaborative aspects of PSS from an organisational point of view. This paper presents a methodology to develop a framework to support companies in choosing suitable partners in a PSS development project and to improve collaboration. Thus, an assessment model is built using key performance indicators (KPIs) based on important collaboration performance factors, with the help of a fuzzy logic tool. This model is then tested and validated in two different PSS case studies.

The Effects of Value Chain Management on Organizational Performance: Reviewing Literature

The Effects of Value Chain Management on Organizational Performance: Reviewing Literature

Assessing performance of horticultural farmers producer companies: Comparative case study

Every year the horticultural sector of India faces huge quantity of food wastage due to lack of processing, value addition and post-harvest handling. Farmers Producer Company (FPC) can mitigate the loss through ensuring better value chain management. There are several horticulture based FPCs established in different parts of India. They have grown very fast and competing with agro-industries. The present study aimed to assess the performance of FPCs working in horticulture sector. The study was conducted in Maharashtra State of India by selecting three FPCs working in horticultural sector. Performance of these FPCs was assessed through Effectiveness Index developed for this study. Seven components viz. functional effectiveness, increase in income, increase in farmers share in consumers rupees, inclusiveness, sustainability of company, farmers satisfaction and empowerment were included in the index by following standard index forming protocol. Sahyadri Farms was found the best performing one among the selected FPCs, regarding effectiveness with a mean index score of 63.69 followed by Vasundhara Agro Producer Company Limited (50.20) and Junnar Taluka FPC Ltd. (41.29).

VALUE CHAIN MANAGEMENT AS A KEY FACTOR OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

Over the world, during last two-three decades, sustainable rural development has become a priority goal of developed economies’ state programs because of recognizing a substantial value and a key role of rural economy in shaping the framework of both national and international trade relations and in furthering economic development of a country as a whole. Thus, the development of sector of agriculture in the framework of sustainable rural development has become one of primary objectives of the developing countries’ national strategies. For example, in the Kyrgyz Republic sustainable rural development can be achieved through effective and systematic value chain management.

Tuopai Shede Co., Ltd. Based on Value Chain on Working Capital Management

Working capital is like the relationship between blood and people for the production and operation of enterprises, and the quality of working capital management also directly affects the success or failure of enterprises. In order to be noticed in their respective industries, many companies continue to change and innovate the way they manage working capital. Among them, value chain theory has been accepted by most enterprises. By combining value chain management with enterprise working capital management, we can not only break the traditional way in management ideas and methods, but also strengthen capital management at the strategic level of sustainable development of enterprises, so as to complete the integration of enterprises. Based on the theory of value chain management, combined with literature research and case study, this paper systematically and comprehensively discusses the current situation of brand working capital management in value chain. It is hoped that this article can provide effective help for China's small and medium-sized enterprises in managing working capital.

Impact of blockchain and distributed ledger technology for the management of the intellectual property life cycle: A multiple case study analysis

The purpose of this paper is to examine how blockchain and in general distributed ledger technology can help to solve intellectual property challenges of today´s era of digitization. We investigate business ventures leveraging blockchain technology to manage the intellectual property life cycle, in other words how intellectual properties are created, protected, managed and monetized. Our research method is a multiple case study examining a total of 120 use cases. across all primary types of intellectual properties including copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, industrial design and geographical indications. The empirical validation is based on an in-depth within-case analysis of 26 applications which were selected from the initial 120 cases based on business maturity and popularity criteria. Our goal is to understand which intellectual property challenges distributed ledger technology is trying to solve and how. We also investigate which blockchain benefits, in terms of technological security, immutability, decentralization, tokenization or disintermediation are promoted by these applications. We triangulate our case study results using a PESTEL coding framework to better understand how the blockchain ecosystem manages the intellectual property life cycle and to provide scholarly researchers and practitioners with insights on how enterprises can use distributed ledger technology to enhance the management of the intellectual property value chain. Moreover, we validate theoretical findings through the evidence collected from our multiple case study analysis, and finally we provide strategic guidance in investigating the current and anticipated challenges of blockchain entrepreneurs to drive further distributed ledger innovation.

Time for Revitalisation of Value Chain Management: A Reassessment of Porter’s View on Procurement

Purpose: In the light of recent disruptive events, global supply chains have displayed their vulnerability, which has stressed the importance of procurement in modern practice. This study aims to analyse if the procurement function can be reconsidered as aprimary activity in Porter’s (1985) value chain. Design/methodology/approach: The study utilises secondary data analysis. Data were collected on the basis of searches with nine keywords, which led to a discovery of 63 sources. Findings: The study has found that the procurement function cannot be regarded as a primary activity. However, it is identified that the unification of fragments of the two activities, inbound logistics and procurement, creates the foundation for a new activity, which mitigates exposure to volatility. Consequently, the findings urge to incorporate procurement logistics into the value chain as a re-modified primary activity.

Value Stream Analysis and Middlemen Impact of Skipjack Tuna and Smoothbelly Sardinella Dried Fish Value Chains in Sri Lanka

Value-added activities, chain structures, and middlemen impact are incomprehensible in the dried fish economy. Processors have a significant impact at the initial stage of the value chain, but little control over value chain management; however vastly monopolized by intermediaries. Yet, the processors receive poor returns compared to other actors in the value chain. Value stream analysis visualizes the value additions incorporated by all the actors and agents in the value chain. Despite the literature states of different returns along the value chain, a comprehensive mapping is needed to assess the contribution by actors and agents over Value Added (VA), Necessary Value Added (NVA) and Non-Necessary Value Added activities (NNVA). This will enable fair and efficient functions in the value chain. The same scenario is common in dried fish value chains in Sri Lanka which is inadequately researched. This study aims to conduct a value stream analysis, middlemen impact assessment, and their relationship for skipjack tuna and smoothbelly sardinella dried fish value chains representing the highest per-capita consumption dried fish varieties in Sri Lanka. Hambantota, Matara, Puttalam, and Gampaha were selected to conduct the study representing the highest dried fish production districts. A quantitative data collection method was adopted employing a pre-tested structured questionnaire. A simple random sampling technique was used to draw the sample from processors, wholesalers and retailers where the sample sizes were 100, ,40, and 40 respectively. Secondary data were collected from reputed published materials. Data were analyzed mainly using descriptive techniques. The number of VA, NV,A and NNVA activities are approximately decreased through the skipjack tuna value chain as processor (VA-10, NVA-01, NNVA-02), wholesaler (VA-2, NVA-1, NNVA-4) and retailer (VA-02, NVA-01, NNVA-01) and for smoothbelly sardinella processor (VA-08, NVA-01, NNVA-02), wholesaler (VA-02, NVA-01, NNVA-02) and retailer (VA-01, NVA-01, NNVA-02) levels. Time spent for each activity is decreased through value chain for both dried fish varieties. The market margins for skipjack tuna and smoothbelly sardinella are 46.64% and 38.19% respectively. Profit margins are increased along the value chain at the processor, wholesaler and retailer levels for skipjack tuna (9.63%, 15.25%, 27.22%) and smoothbelly sardinella (12.53%, 14.23%, 20.98%) respectively. In contrast, profit gain was not fairly distributed along the value chain proportionately contribution to activities and times spent by actors. This recommended an effective mechanism for fair profit sharing for dried fish actors based on their contribution to value addition and time spent on each activity.

Value Chain Analysis in the Context of Funeral Service: A Research Note

This research note focuses on an issue that is not often addressed in value chain management: the cremation vs. burial alternative after the death of an individual. Any funeral service is indeed based on a set of material and human elements deployed to design, create and develop the service that a company or organization wishes to offer on the market, according to a level of cost and quality chosen by the client (here, most often, the family). For several years now, work has been done on an ecological approach to the cremation vs. burial alternative, emphasizing the importance of calculating the ecological footprint of each of the two options. The main finding of the research note is to propose elements of reflection to contribute to the debate on the desirable future of the value chains associated with funeral service.

Role of Professional Skills in Promoting Healthcare System: A Performance Perspective

This paper aims to investigate the impact of sustainable practices especially sustainable production and sustainable supplier management on supply chain performance. This empirical study demonstrates the contextual examination of sustainable practices especially with reference to an emerging economy like Pakistan. Survey was employed to collect data from 100 Food Manufacturing Firms. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Structure Equation Modeling were used through AMOS to test hypothesis. The results reveal that sustainable production and sustainable supplier management both significantly impact triple bottom line. However, sustainable production generates stronger impact on social performance, while, sustainable supplier management significantly effects environmental performance. Additionally, the findings provide valuable insights regarding the use of sustainable production and sustainable supplier management and their impact on supply chain performance. Finally, it propagates utility of ecological value chain management mentioning the impact of couple of sustainable practices on tipple bottom line.

Analysis of Micro Value Flows in the Value Chain of Eco-Innovation in Agricultural Products

The purpose of this research is to develop a value chain management model for agricultural eco-innovation that can encompass different aspects to create value. It employs the Graphical Evaluation and Review Technique (GERT), which translates the remanufacturing operational process into a stochastic network. A GERT network covers two main points: its probability component and its parameter component. With the function of the GERT network, it can accomplish a certain state transition, which is presented to the extent of randomness in the process of occurrence. For this system, the number of resources in the GERT network may serve as a reference throughout its entire transition phase in order to show the complete transmission relationship between each node. The main contribution of this research is: Instead of analyzing the value flow mechanism of the eco-innovation value chain of agricultural products, we provide a theoretical basis for the application of multi-objective planning in the value flow of agricultural green innovation, which is conducive to the long-term development of the value chain of agricultural eco-innovation.

Construction of New Value Chain Management and Various BOMs for Research Project of SDGs Food Loss Reduction: Case Studies on Circular Economy Sweets Product Planning, Sales Event Holding, and Questionnaire Surveys

Construction of New Value Chain Management and Various BOMs for Research Project of SDGs Food Loss Reduction: Case Studies on Circular Economy Sweets Product Planning, Sales Event Holding, and Questionnaire Surveys

Identification of Problems of Sweet Orange A Case Study from Pyuthan Municipality, Pyuthan

In view of suitable climatic condition in mid hill of Nepal, sweet orange is emerging as a new enterprise for farmers, for which the government of Nepal has also given priority to this crop. In the light of these facts, a case study was conducted in Pyuthan municipality of Pyuthan district to identify the problems related to sweet orange in Pyuthan municipality. All of the farmers had their own land for Sweet orange production. Majority of the respondents (80%) had the annual income below NRs. 20000. Farmers were able to increase their higher education, household expenses, health and savings from Sweet orange production. Transportation, irrigation, citrus greening disorder and green stinky bug were major problem in Sweet orange production in study area. Study suggested that concerned stakeholders should focus their program on quality seedling production, input use, and human resource management, and scientific orchard management, capacity development of farmers, insect pest management, scientific value chain management and post-harvest loss reduction for overall development of sweet orange industry in Pyuthan district.
 Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 10(2): 134-139.

Research on Enterprise Value Chain Management Based on Competitive Strategy

With the rising cost of labor factors in China, several multinational companies that rely on labor-intensive industries have withdrawn their production lines from China, which has had a huge impact on the development of Chinese enterprises. Under the guidance of national policies, many enterprises have begun to climb to the high end of the value chain. This paper analyzes the main function of value chain management by studying the composition of industry value chain management from the perspective of competitive strategy. In view of the lack of enterprise value chain management, this paper discusses from three aspects: product, technology, and price. Product homogeneity has been found to greatly reduce the market competitiveness of products, which is not conducive to the value-added and sustainable development of enterprises. Based on this, corresponding strategies have been proposed, in which enterprises should maximize the advantages of value chain management through scientific and efficient information management techniques.

Is banana value chain in East Africa sustainable? Evidence from Ethiopia

Banana is an essential commercial fruit for smallholder farmers in East Africa including Ethiopia. It is also lifeblood of the majority of the farmers in Arba Minch district of Ethiopia. However, this sector is experiencing many constraints with limited investment on sustainable value chain management. Thus, this study aims to examine the sustainability performance assessment of the banana value chain by comparing and analyzing 25 attributes through triple bottom-line indicators. The critical aspects of the qualitative data were analyzed using Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems version 3.0 at Ethiopian context. The results show that banana product flow from the farmer and ends with the consumer through three market channels which link farmers directly with rural retailers, traveling traders, and farmer cooperatives. Largest volume of banana was sold through the traveling trader channel while the smallest volume was sold via the rural retailer channels. The banana payment flow begins from consumers and ends with input suppliers. Farmers have limited access to alternative markets for their banana products, but wholesalers have many connections and marketing options across the country. The results of the banana value chain sustainability assessment also reveal that the economic, social, and environmental indicators have moderate sustainability performance in the study area. The value of the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.7993 which shows that the five-point scale items of the experts’ judgment on the sustainability of banana value chain are consistent and reliable. The chain has several advantages in terms of profitability, emission of air pollutants, employment, and constraints in terms of coordination, profit margin, value share, market diversity, transportation, product and market information, safety and hygiene, and waste management. Thus, Government and non-governmental organizations give due attention towards the sustainable banana value chain. • Ethiopia is one of major banana producing country in East Africa. • The banana product flow starts from producers and ends with consumers. • Farmers have limited access to alternative markets for their Banana products in Ethiopia. • Banana value chain has moderate sustainability performance in Ethiopia.

Marketing Approach in Non-Manufactured Somali Product

This study intends to create and assess market-driven value chain management solutions by using a comprehensive marketing strategy to identify the primary bottlenecks and opportunities in the cattle value chain. The effectiveness of these measures will be determined. Additionally, ideas for changing the non-manufactured stock value chain and strengthening quality control are reviewed in order to enhance the cluster's overall performance. Infrastructure development for non-manufactured commodities has a variety of objectives, including enhancing post-harvest processing facilities, meeting quality criteria, and boosting the non-manufactured stock trading system's competitiveness