The contemporary view of competitiveness and strategy is based on the foundation that customer value is created by firms working together for common aims and not created by firms working in isolation. Therefore there is increasing recognition that firms who engage in co-operative long-term...

This paper reports the findings from two exploratory case studies of retailer-led quality assurance schemes (QAS) for beef in Germany and Italy. The focus is on the potential for QAS to reduce the risks associated with fresh beef, as perceived by consumers. Results of two consumer surveys are...

This study offers an alternative to the traditional Transaction Cost Economics view of the treatment of information by viewing co-ordinated supply chains as a series of Principal-Agent relationships, and draws on Perceived Risk Theory to explain both consumer and organisational behaviour. Using...

Analysis of secondary data and information gathered from interviews with downstream wool supply chain members suggests that problems exist with the sourcing of raw wool for the apparel textile industry. Specific problems relate to 'hard' attributes, such as contaminated fibres and fibre...

The paper describes how long-term forecasts of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) can be generated using qualitative information. Following an explanation of the methodology adopted, the discussion focuses on the analysis of a Delphi survey on the future of the CAP, carried out between January...

This paper outlines the general theoretical approach adopted in the power regime perspective on sourcing and relationship management. The paper focuses on the art of the possible. This means that managers have to develop sourcing relationships that are appropriate given the circumstances in...

We devise a decision tool to help economic researchers select a causal detection method compatible with real-world dynamics of an economic system under investigation. We apply it to test for dynamic causality between promotions and sales of a case-study beer brand in England. We find evidence...