The services industry, especially the professional sector in the auditing, accounting, and financial consulting, was and still is moving toward globalization. This move was characterized by the cooperation between headquartered US firms such as the Big‐five and other related firms all over the...

The emergence of a global manufacturing and outsourcing network and the real time transparency of information via the Internet have redefined the business performance management process. New metrics are emerging as externally focused and adaptive for competing in the collaborative economy of...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify, quantify and establish relationship (i.e. cause and effect) among various supplier development program enablers (SDPEs) in a specific manufacturing environment. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed methodology runs into four phases,...

Purpose – This paper aims to propose a way of addressing unresolved issues in international business theory. Design/methodology/approach – A new model of the multinational enterprise as a coordinator of supply chains is presented. Findings – This paper identifies a new market‐seeking...

This paper explores the regionalisation of the European Union’s supply chains and the impact of enlargement by looking at trends in trade in intermediate products between 1995‐2007. The findings show that enlargement has not significantly impacted overall levels of regionalization although...

Based on the results of an ongoing study into the impact of e‐commerce on UK business. The authors have provided input from both academic and commercial viewpoints. The intention is to monitor the changing landscape of the commercial world over a period of time and this study provides...

Over the last number of years, outsourcing has become an important issue for many organisations. The potential for outsourcing has moved from peripheral activities such as cleaning and catering to critical activities such as design and manufacturing. However, there is evidence to suggest that...

Green purchasing has seen an increase of attention from researchers but as yet few case studies are available. The responsibility being placed on local councils to consider not only the economic but also social and environmental impacts sets a new agenda. Both these changes suggest a new role...

Discusses the importance of achieving alignment between buyers and sellers, with specific emphasis on efforts by buyers to improve the performance of their suppliers. Describes common barriers and presents strategies and methods that were successful in educating and developing suppliers’...

There has been little conceptual work that comprehensively examines the changing role of the corporate transportation function in the modern business environment. Successful managers today require a broad view of transportation management’s role and responsibilities in an integrated supply...