A technical basis for the definition of services, using the so-called IHIP characteristics, is rejected in favour of one based on institutional arrangements. Mundane Transaction Costs and the notion of qualification are discussed in relation to making services tradable. The evolution of the...

This thesis explores the relationship between a firm's supply chain and a firm's degree of market orientation and economic performance. The results suggest that certain types of supply chain design - in particular those models that make for close links with the firm's customers - lead to...

Purpose of the paper: The aim of this paper is to describe and explain the flexibility offered by different business models adopted by different firms as they strive to achieve higher levels of business performance. Research Method: Cross-sectional research is used to investigate a matched pair...

The growing academic attention given to outsourcing and offshoring reflects a trend to develop offshore business models that capitalises on both the effectiveness and efficiencies that might be offered by the business network. Recent innovations in information communications technologies have...

Network pictures have been perceived as providing a picture of a company's position within a network ([Ford, D., Gadde, L.E., Håkansson, H., and Snehota, I. (2002), “Managing Networks,” IMP Group in Asia, 11th–13th December.]; [Ramos, C., Ford, D. and Naudé, P., (2005), “Developing...

Companies face difficult decisions regarding their management of business relationships; how much resource should they commit, when and with whom? The decisions managers make about these issues provide a ‘frame’ for their business relationships and thus a structure for their surrounding...

Critical incidents, such as horizontal mergers and acquisitions (M&A), force companies to re-think their business models and ‘reframe’ the way they develop and manage their business relationships. Through M&A companies enter into a set of new business relationships with other firms; thus...

Network pictures are perceived as providing a picture of a company's position within a network and as providing managers with a framework for strategic decision making. This exploratory paper sets out to investigate the application of network pictures of individuals from two companies involved...