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PULS-Tjenesteyting, handel og logistikk

Distribution networks in transition

Tildelt: kr 4,5 mill.

Two important characteristics of today’s emerging supply systems are an increased dependency between different activities and a growing specialization of the companies. Due to these developments, individual companies in many industries are facing major ch allenges related to their role in the value creation process, aud strategie choices concerning core, relationships and coorperation models. In several industries we can observe major repositioning among the actors leading to a change in industry structure . This can be observed in the electronics industry, the building industry, the transportation industry, among others. Hence, a reasonable starting point for an analysis is to consider today’s logistics and distribution systems as networks, where effective division of labour and increased cooperation are important prerequisites for cost effectiveness aud value creation. The industrial network approach has developed through a cooperation between different research groups in Western Europe, particularly in Sweden aud Englaud. A cornerstone of this theory base is that companies through close and long-term interaction ultima tely will find new forms of adaptions to each other’s operations in order to increase the effectiveness both in day-to-day operational activities and in development aud innovation (Håkansson 1982). In this project we will apply the network theory to expla in transitions in distribution networks. Three different structures are identified in the central theory: the activity structure, the resource structure, and the actor structure. In this study we will consentrate on the activity aud the actor structures. As the empirical studies are concerned two basic research steps will be applied. One will be studies of the industry structure in relation to the three participating companies. By this approach, the intention is to describe the industry, the transition pr ocesses in the industry, driving forces for changing positions, trends and patterns concerning the transition etc. The second step will be studies of the distribution networks in which the participating companies take part. By this approach, we intend to explore issues concerning proporties of distribution networks, contingencies for design of logistics and distribution networks, embeddedness as au contingency for specialization aud integration etc. We will include three industries in the case studies: th e construction industry, the electronics industry, aud global shipping. The output of the project will include: a) two PhD-thesis within the targeted industries b) a book with the working title 'Distribution Networks in Transition' (for John Wiley & Sons) c) articles in scientific journals based on the cases involved in the study The project will also give an important base to courses aud educational programs at BI (specifically the new major in Supply Chains aud Networks) and at other business schools and universities.

Budsjettformål:

PULS-Tjenesteyting, handel og logistikk