Over the last few decades, the status of a supplier changed from a simple supplier of goods to a strategic partner. Numerous companies have recognised this development and drive for collaboration with their suppliers, in order to enable mutual growth.
The literature review will firstly discuss supply chain management in general, followed by a presentation of the different SCM practices for supply chain improvement. The strategic supplier partnership will be further discussed, and the different buyer-supplier relationships will then be presented. Multiple studies will be listed which disclose the positive impact of a successful and long-term buyer-supplier relationship.
Nevertheless, should exceptional long-lasting buyer-supplier relationships not be seen as a universal key to success, therefore a management system for supplier relationships will be introduced. The results from the literature review will be compared with the collected primary data. The primary research consists of 5 semi-structured interviews with representatives from global acting companies, which have an implemented SRM system.
The findings of the research show, that all of the involved organisations see their suppliers as strategic partners, but at the same time allocate different relationship types to their different suppliers. In addition, the numerous processual and organisational impacts on the supply chain after the implementation of an SRM system have been disclosed.
These include the centralisation and standardization of processes and supplier data as well as a significant increase in companywide transparency. Furthermore, a positive impact of an SRM system on the company’s performance has been identified, throughout the completion of the research project. Therefore, an SRM system should be seen as a tool that promotes and extracts the benefits of a successful buyer-supplier relationship.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 1.1 Background to the Research Topic
- 1.2 Research Topic
- 1.3 Background to the Research Area
- 1.4 Research Aims and Objectives
- 1.5 Dissertation Structure
- 2 Literature Review
- 2.1 Introduction to the Literature Review
- 2.2 Supply Chain Management
- 2.2.1 Introduction
- 2.2.2 Supply Chain Management Definitions
- 2.2.3 SCM Practices
- 2.2.4 Measure System
- 2.2.5 Supply Chain Collaboration
- 2.2.6 Results from previous Studies
- 2.3 Strategic Supplier Partnership
- 2.3.1 Buyer-Supplier Relationships
- 2.3.2 Strategic Buyer-Supplier Relationship
- 2.3.3 Transaction Cost Theory
- 2.3.4 Factors to measure the Success of a Buyer-Supplier Relationship
- 2.3.5 Results from previous Studies and Critics
- 2.4 Supplier Relationship Management
- 2.4.1 Supplier Relationship Management System
- 2.4.2 The Process of Supplier Relationship Management
- 2.4.3 Summary and Literature Limitations
- 3 Methodology
- 3.1 Introduction
- 3.2 Research Philosophy
- 3.3 Research Strategy
- 3.4 Interviews
- 3.5 Interview Questions
- 3.6 Sampling
- 3.7 Ethical Consideration
- 3.8 Limitations
- 3.9 Data Analysis
- 3.10 Summary
- 4 Research and findings
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Organisational Problems without an SRM System
- 4.3 SRM System
- 4.4 Organisational wide Changes with the Implementation of an SRM System
- 4.5 Criticism of the implemented SRM System
- 4.6 Buyer-Supplier Relationship
- 4.7 Strategic Supplier Management
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This dissertation aims to investigate the impact of a Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) system on the supply chain and a company's overall performance. It explores the evolution of supplier relationships from transactional to strategic partnerships and analyzes how SRM systems facilitate this shift.
- The role of SRM systems in improving supply chain efficiency and effectiveness.
- The impact of SRM systems on buyer-supplier relationships.
- The relationship between SRM system implementation and company performance.
- The various types of buyer-supplier relationships and their impact on supply chain management.
- Process and organizational changes resulting from SRM system implementation.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the dissertation by establishing the research topic's background and significance. It defines the research problem, outlines the research aims and objectives, and provides a roadmap for the dissertation's structure. It briefly touches upon the changing nature of supplier relationships in modern business contexts, laying the foundation for the in-depth exploration of SRM systems in subsequent chapters.
2 Literature Review: This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of existing literature related to supply chain management (SCM), strategic supplier partnerships, and supplier relationship management (SRM). It explores different SCM practices and definitions, focusing on the development of buyer-supplier relationships from transactional to strategic collaborations. It discusses relevant theories, such as transaction cost theory, and examines prior research findings on the positive impacts of successful and long-term buyer-supplier relationships, setting the theoretical context for the empirical research to follow. The chapter also identifies gaps in the existing literature that the dissertation seeks to address.
3 Methodology: This chapter details the research methodology employed in the dissertation. It describes the research philosophy and strategy used, explaining the choice of qualitative research methods and specifically, semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection technique. The chapter outlines the process of interview design, participant selection (sampling), ethical considerations, data analysis strategies, and potential limitations of the research, providing a transparent and rigorous account of the research process.
4 Research and findings: This chapter presents the findings from the primary research, which comprised semi-structured interviews with representatives from organizations that have implemented SRM systems. The analysis explores the organizational challenges faced before SRM implementation, the process changes observed after implementation (such as data centralization and standardization), and the overall impact on buyer-supplier relationships and company performance. It also critically examines the implemented SRM systems, identifying both successes and shortcomings, leading to a richer understanding of the real-world application and implications of SRM systems.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Buyer-Supplier-Relationship, Supplier-Relationship Management, IT-based SRM System, Supply Chain Management, Strategic Partnerships, Company Performance
Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the purpose of this dissertation?
This dissertation investigates the impact of a Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) system on a company's supply chain and overall performance. It examines how SRM systems transform supplier relationships from transactional to strategic partnerships.
What are the key themes explored in this dissertation?
The key themes include the role of SRM systems in improving supply chain efficiency and effectiveness; the impact of SRM systems on buyer-supplier relationships; the relationship between SRM system implementation and company performance; the various types of buyer-supplier relationships and their effects on supply chain management; and the process and organizational changes resulting from SRM system implementation.
What topics are covered in the Literature Review chapter?
The Literature Review comprehensively covers existing literature on supply chain management (SCM), strategic supplier partnerships, and supplier relationship management (SRM). It explores various SCM practices and definitions, focusing on the evolution of buyer-supplier relationships. Relevant theories, like transaction cost theory, are discussed, along with prior research findings on the benefits of successful buyer-supplier relationships. The chapter also highlights gaps in existing literature addressed by this dissertation.
What methodology is used in this research?
The research employs a qualitative methodology, specifically using semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection method. The chapter details the research philosophy and strategy, interview design, participant selection (sampling), ethical considerations, data analysis strategies, and potential research limitations.
What are the key findings of the research?
The research findings, based on semi-structured interviews, explore organizational challenges before SRM implementation, process changes after implementation (e.g., data centralization), and the impact on buyer-supplier relationships and company performance. The analysis critically examines the implemented SRM systems, highlighting both successes and shortcomings.
What is the structure of the dissertation?
The dissertation follows a standard structure: Introduction (setting the research context and objectives), Literature Review (exploring existing research), Methodology (detailing the research approach), and Research and Findings (presenting the results and analysis). Each chapter is thoroughly detailed in the provided preview.
What are the key words associated with this dissertation?
The key words are: Buyer-Supplier-Relationship, Supplier-Relationship Management, IT-based SRM System, Supply Chain Management, Strategic Partnerships, Company Performance.
What does the Table of Contents include?
The Table of Contents provides a detailed breakdown of the dissertation's structure, outlining each chapter and sub-chapter, offering a clear overview of the content and its organization.
What is the overall aim of this research?
The overall aim is to understand the impact of implementing an SRM system on a company's supply chain management and overall performance, specifically focusing on the transformation of buyer-supplier relationships from transactional to strategic.
Where can I find more details about specific chapters?
Chapter summaries are provided in the preview, offering a concise overview of the content and focus of each section of the dissertation.
- Citar trabajo
- Anonym (Autor), 2018, The Impact of an SRM System on the Supply Chain and a Company's Performance, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/432623
