Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate which elements constitute inter-organizational dependence and how inter-organizational dependence influences the relationship between GGP Sweden AB and Stoeryd AB. Background: The notion of arm's length relationships relying on market competition has been replaced with a new ideal consisting of closer, mutually beneficial relationships with extensive collaboration, cooperative actions, and long-term orientation. The benefits of more collaborative supply chains have also been questioned. Collaborative relationships can bring numerous positive outcomes but also conveys reliance on resources or competences of others. Intensified, collaborative relationship is connected to higher dependence, generating vulnerability when depending on others for survival. Several perspectives in social science lay grounds for the research on inter-organizational dependencies. Dependence is regarded to be an important concept for understanding buyer-supplier relationships. Method: This case study investigates the relationship and inter-organizational dependence of GGP Sweden AB and their supplier, Stoeryd AB. Various perspectives within business research have laid grounds for a framework by which to investigate dependence. Empirical material of the two case companies has been collected with aim to provide further insights and reflections about inter-firm dependence and the elements affecting it. Conclusion: A revised framework is presented in the shape of a model including the elements of dependence. The study recognizes the significance of regarding several elements for assessing dependence and that these must be seen in relation to other elements. Further, the behavioral factors of the relationship and intangible characteristics of the offering have been determined to significantly affect dependence. Finally, even if inter-organizational dependence is created within a relationship, elements must be seen in relation to alternative relationships. The connection between higher level of dependence and increased collaboration as apparent also in the case relationship. Trust, commitment and mutual interest are factors apparent in the relationship that may help to control the vulnerability striving from dependence. / Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilka element som utgör beroende mellan företag samt hur beroende influerar relationen mellan GGP Sweden AB och Stoeryd AB. Bakgrund: Det finns en utveckling som tyder på att affärsrelationer inte längre bygger på rena transaktioner där företag låter marknadskrafterna styra. Istället visar trenden på att långvariga, djupare relationer som är gynnsamma för båda parterna till högre utsträckning prioriteras. Dessa affärsrelationer karaktäriseras av omfattande samarbete med en strävan mot gemensamma mål. Forskare har även ifrågasatt fördelarna med denna typ av relation i leverantörskedjan. Relationer med hög grad av samarbete bidrar till en rad positiva följder, men bidrar även till ökat beroende av kompetens och resurser från utomstående parter. Detta i sin tur leder till en större sårbarhet då verksamhetens överlevnad beror på en annan aktör. Flertalet perspektiv inom den samhällsvetenskapliga litteraturen ligger till grund för studier om beroendeförhållanden. Beroende ses som ett viktigt koncept för att förstå förhållanden i leverantörskedjan. Metod: Denna fallstudie syftar till att undersöka förhållandet och beroendet mellan företagen GGP Sweden AB och Stoeryd AB. Flertalet perspektiv inom företagsekonomisk forskning har tagits i beaktning och grundat det teoretiska ramverk studien baseras på. Det empiriska material som samlats in syftar till att ge större insikt om beroendeförhållande mellan aktörer i leverantörskedjan och faktorer som påverkar detta förhållande. Slutsats: Ett reviderat ramverk presenteras i from av en modell, innehållande de element som påverkar beroende mellan företag. Studien påvisar att dessa element måste ses i förhållande till varandra för att ge en helhetsbild av beroendet. Det upptäcktes också att det fanns en länk mellan beroendet och beteendet i relationen. Även om det inter-organisatoriska beroendet skapas inom förhållandet, så visar studien att elementen ska ses i relation till alternativa förhållanden. Det påvisades också att en högre grad av beroende kan kopplas ett mer omfattande samarbete. Förtroende, engagemang och gemensamma intressen är faktorer som kan minska sårbarheten och öka kontrollen av beroendet.

Syftet med undersökningen är att studera och öka förståelsen för relationen mellan bemanningsföretagens konsultchefer och deras kontaktpersoner vid kundföretagen. Genom att beskriva och analysera hur kontakten mellan konsultchefer och kundföretag ser ut är målet att besvara följande frågor: vem som ansvarar för vad, hur ser konsultchefen respektive kundföretaget på sin och den andra partens roll samt hur de ser på den överlappning som uppstår i ansvar och ledning av konsulterna. Undersökningen är kvalitativ och intervjuer har används för att samla in empiri. Fem personer intervjuades: tre konsultchefer på bemanningsföretag och två kontaktpersoner på kundföretag som hyr in personal av bemanningsföretag. I intervjuerna framkom att faktorer som har betydelse för hur relationen mellan konsultchef och hans eller hennes kontakt vid kundföretaget utvecklas är tid och volym på antalet konsulter som hyrs in. I vilken utsträckning konsultchef och kontaktpersonen vid kundföretaget delar ledarskap tycks hänga samman med om relationen över tid förblir formell eller om det tillkommer mer informellt utbyte. Undersökningen visar att när kundföretagen hyr in konsulter från samma bemanningsföretag under längre tid eller hyr in många konsulter finns större möjlighet till ömsesidigt utbyte i betydelsen att de kan diskutera fram beslut, dela på arbetsuppgifterna och ansvaret gentemot konsulterna samt byta erfarenheter som ökar lärandet. / The purpose of this study is to analyze and increase the understanding of the relationship between consultant managers in temporary work agencies (TWA) and their contacts in the client companies. The study aims to describe and analyze how they stay in contact with each other, who is responsible for what, how they view their own and the other's role and how they see the overlap that occurs in the responsibility and guidance of the agency workers. The study is qualitative and interviews were used to collect empirical data. Five people were interviewed: three consultant managers in TWA and two contacts who work in the client companies that hire TWA. The interviews revealed that the factors that are relevant to how the relationship between the consultant manager and his or her contact at the client company is developing are time and volume of the number of agency workers. The extent to which the consultant manager and contact person at the client company share leadership appears to be related to if the relationship over time remains a formality, or if there will be more informal exchange. The study shows that when the client companies hire agency workers from the same TWA for a longer time or hire many consultants, there are greater opportunities for mutual exchange in the sense that they can discuss the decisions, share tasks and responsibilities with regard to consultants, and share experiences that increase learning.

It is visible in the innovation literature the tendency to evolve the innovation process into a moreopen and flexible model where innovators of all types can interact freely. This fairly recentparadigm known as Open Innovation is a phenomenon with still a considerable amount of opengaps and challenges. Therefore the question of how integration is achieved between differenttypes of outside innovators remains unanswered. Many organizations, some in more extent thanothers, are already applying Open Innovation within networks; however there is still not a clearunderstanding or a formal theory that describes the mechanisms that can help integrate theinnovation activities with other actors. To address this challenge, we conducted an exploratorystudy in 7 different organizations representing two types of innovators (private firms andacademic institutions) and a nexus agency that acts as an integrator between them. The first partof the results consist of an extensive list of 27 integration mechanisms applicable in openinnovation projects later categorized in 5 new main categories for their practical study anddiscussion. More abstractly, as relationships between these integration mechanisms and interorganizationalnetworks have not been analyzed yet, we want to propose a framework that canprovide an initial notion of their role and interaction in Open Innovation Projects. Thisframework is valuable to consider the applicability of the proposed integration mechanismscategories in different OI settings and supports the understanding of how the harmonization ofOI efforts occurs with different types of innovators. Having a framework of this typeconsiderably extends the understanding of integration in the Open Innovation field and providesas well a guide for organizations to identify how to integrate open innovation efforts.

ABSTRACT EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUPPLY NETWORK CONFIGURATION, INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION SHARING AND PERFORMANCE By MARCIA DALEY August 2008 Committee Chair: Dr. Subhashish Samaddar Major Department: Decision Science Critical to the success of a firm is the ability of managers to coordinate the complex network of business relationships that can exist between business partners in the supply network. However many managers are unsure on how best to leverage their resources to capitalize on the information sharing opportunities that are available in such networks. Although there is significant research on information sharing, the area of inter-organizational information sharing (IIS) is still evolving and there is limited research on IIS in relation to systemic factors within supply networks. To help fill this gap in the literature, a primary focus of this dissertation is on the relationship between the design of the supply network and IIS. The design of the supply network is characterized by the supply network configuration which is comprised of (1) the network pattern, (2) the number of stages in the supply network, and (3) where the firm is located in that supply network. Four different types of IIS are investigated, herein. These types of IIS are a function of the frequency with which information is shared and the scope of information shared. Type 1 (Type 2) IIS is the low (high) frequency state where only operational information is shared. Similarly, Type 3 (Type 4) is the low (high) frequency state where strategic information is shared. The argument is that the type of IIS varies depending on the configuration of the supply network and that this relationship is influenced by the coordination structure established between firms in the network. The second focus of this dissertation deals with the relationship between IIS and performance. Research findings on the benefits to be gained from IIS have been ambiguous, with some researchers claiming reduced cost in the supply network with IIS, and others finding minimal or no benefits. To add clarity to these findings, the role that uncertainty plays in the relationship between IIS and performance is examined. The thesis presented is that the positive relationship between IIS types and the performance of the supply network is impacted by process uncertainty (i.e. the variability in process outcomes and production times), and partner uncertainty. Social network theory and transaction cost economics provide the theoretical lens for this dissertation. A model is developed and will be empirically validated in a cross-sectional setting, utilizing a sampling frame randomly selected and comprised of supply management executives from various industries within the United States.

This paper explores a Master of Social Work (MSW) student's experiences in engagement with structural social work during an advanced practicum with a perinatal mental health project in Northeastern Ontario. The goals of the advanced practicum were to: (a) improve reflexive practice, (b) improve understanding of structural social work, specific to social justice, and (c) improve understanding of the role of structural social workers within inter-organizational collaborations. Deconstruction of the engagement with each of the goals and the challenges in facilitation of the objectives are reviewed. Though there are issues and dilemmas facing those who wish to engage in structural social work, this advanced practicum experience was successful in improving the student's engagement with structural social work praxis.

Dans une économie de la connaissance mondialisée, les organisations sont invitées à ne plus se reposer essentiellement sur leurs connaissances internes pour innover, mais à en puiser en externe. Le projet collaboratif labellisé par un pôle de compétitivité est un levier permettant une innovation ouverte sur lequel les acteurs doivent être en mesure de capitaliser. De nombreux modèles mettent en évidence les manières de procéder pour capitaliser sur les connaissances dans des dynamiques intra-organisationnelles. Toutefois, à l’échelle inter-organisationnelle, les méthodes de capitalisation au sein des projets collaboratifs ou des clusters restent inexplorées. Les enjeux de réutilisation des connaissances créées dans un projet collaboratif sont pourtant clés afin d’assurer une continuité dans le développement des activités des entreprises et leurs innovations, et pour créer une valeur partagée entre les partenaires. Il s’agit ainsi de se questionner sur l’opérationnalisation de la capitalisation des connaissances inter-organisationnelle au sein des clusters. Pour analyser ce phénomène, une investigation empirique de nature qualitative, sur le modèle d’une étude de cas multi-sites, a été menée sur 4 pôles de compétitivité. À l’issue de 67 entretiens semi-directifs avec des acteurs directement impliqués dans le processus de capitalisation, et l’observation de 5 évènements-clés de la vie des pôles de compétitivité, deux capacités dynamiques inter-organisationnelles complémentaires sont identifiées. La première relève des cellules d’animation des pôles de compétitivité qui, à travers leur rôle de boundary-spanner, accompagnent les projets collaboratifs jusqu’à leur valorisation. La seconde se réfère à la capacité des membres d’un projet collaboratif à s’appuyer collectivement sur les résultats d’un partenariat pour développer un nouveau projet. / In a globalized knowledge economy, in order to innovate, organizations are invited to no longer rely mainly on their internal knowledge, but also to draw on new knowledge from external sources. Collaborative projects, labeled by French Competitiveness Clusters, can act as a lever for open innovation on which actors must be able to capitalize. Many models identify how to capitalize on knowledge in intra-organizational dynamics. However, at the inter-organizational level, such knowledge capitalization methods within collaborative projects or clusters have yet to be explored. Nevertheless, the knowledge reuse issues created within collaborative projects are key to ensure a form of continuity in the development of business activities and innovations, and to create a shared value between partners. It is therefore essential to question how inter-organizational knowledge capitalization can be operationalized within clusters. To analyze this phenome-non, a qualitative empirical investigation, on the basis of a multi-case study, was conducted over 4 French clusters. The results stem from 67 semi-structured interviews among different actors directly involved in the capitalization process, and by observing 5 key events in the life of clusters. Two complementary dynamic capabilities are identified. The first is the responsibility of the cluster coordination unit that acts as a boundary-spanner by accompanying collaborative projects from their initiation until their valorization. The second refers to the ability of collaborative project members to collectively build a new project based on the results of their partnership.

Le potentiel de création de valeur dans une supply chain ne peut être réalisé que grâce à une gestion efficace des relations inter-organisationnelles (Madhok et Tallman, 1998). Xu et Beammon (2006) insistent sur la nécessité de disposer d'un ensemble de moyens et d'outils pour gérer les interdépendances et prendre des décisions cohérentes tout en mettant en avant l'importance des mécanismes de coordination. Ainsi, l'objectif de cette thèse est de faire ressortir les différents éléments qui composent les coordinations inter-organisationnelles dans la supply chain. En outre, nous analysons comment les mécanismes de coordination relationnels et contractuels contribuent à la gestion des intérêts mutuels des relations inter-organisationnelles et permettent la résolution des conflits. Plus spécifiquement, la question de recherche auquel ce travail cherche à répondre est : Quelle est l'influence des mécanismes de coordination relationnels et contractuels sur la coordination inter-organisationnelle de la supply chain ? Afin de mieux comprendre ce phénomène, une étude qualitative a été menée auprès de quinze professionnels dans la supply chain management. Une analyse de contenu thématique a permis de définir de façon plus précise les différents éléments composant la coordination inter-organisationnelle. Les matériaux collectés ont été confrontés à l'analyse de la littérature puis testés auprès d'un échantillon de 216 répondants dans le domaine de la supply chain management. Les données quantitatives collectées ont été analysées à l'aide d'une analyse en composantes principales afin d'épurer nos échelles de mesure. Ensuite, nous avons fait appel aux modèles d'équations structurelles PLS-PM (régressions aux moindres carrées partiels) pour estimer la validité convergente ainsi que la validité discriminante des échelles de mesures. Cette méthode nous a permis de valider nos hypothèses de recherche relatives au modèle de coordination inter-organisationnelle de la supply chain. Les résultats de cette recherche mettent en évidence le lien entre les mécanismes de coordination relationnels et contractuels et leurs impacts sur la collaboration, leurs rôles dans la maitrise des difficultés de coordination ainsi que leurs poids sur l'évaluation de l'efficacité du contrat. Nous avons également étudié un impact du type de partenaire (stratégique, non stratégique) sur la coordination inter-organisationnelle de la supply chain. / In a supply chain, the value creation potential can only be achieved through effective management of inter-organizational relationships (Madhok and Tallman, 1998). Xu and Beammon (2006) underline the need for a set of resources and tools to manage interdependencies and take consistent decisions while emphasizing the importance of coordination mechanisms. Thus, the objective of this thesis is to figure out elements that make up the inter-organizational coordination in the supply chain. Moreover, we analyze inter-organizational coordination between supply chain partners and the role of contractual and relational mechanisms for managing their interests and resolve conflicts. More specifically, through this Dissertation we seek to answer the following question: What is the impact of coordination mechanisms and contractual relationship on inter-organizational coordination of the supply chain? To better understand this phenomenon, a qualitative study was conducted with fifteen professionals in supply chain management field. A thematic content analysis helped define more accurately the various components of inter-organizational coordination. The collected materials were confronted with the analysis of the literature and then tested on a sample of 216 respondents in the field of supply chain management. Quantitative data collected was analyzed using a principal component analysis in order to purify our scales. We then used the PLS -PM of structural equation models (Partial Least Squares Regression) to estimate the convergent and discriminant validity of the measurement scales validity. This method allowed us to validate our research hypotheses concerning the model of inter-organizational coordination of the supply chain. The results of this research highlight the link between the mechanisms of coordination and contractual relationship and their impact on collaboration, their roles in mastering the difficulties of coordination and their weight on the evaluation of the effectiveness of the contract. We also studied an impact on the type of partner (strategic, non-strategic) on inter-organizational coordination of the supply chain.

Purpose: The purpose is to investigate and analyse the impact of intra-organizational purchasing synergy on periodic price adjustment (PPA) process. Specifically, paper provides a view on how  purchasing process synergy through an operational IT platform can increase process reengineering opportunities within PPA.  Methodology: So, to fulfil the purpose of the research, the in-depth case study approach is chosen as a strategy that goes along with exploratory nature of the study, aimed at gaining rich insights in the context in which the phenomenon happens. Findings: The findings emphasize the importance of global process standardization and balanced governance among regional affiliates in successful implementation of PPA process synergy. We also identify a set of specific process reengineering needs  in PPA such as company wide information sharing,  standardization of part specifications and cost bases, and joint world-wide cost reduction activity within global buyer community (BGC). Then it is observed that all these process reengineering initiatives will not be possible without solid and flexible IT infrastructure  to improve buyer productivity and support their further development.   Research limitations/implications: Primarily, this study was conducted on single in-depth case study which makes it difficult to completely generalize the findings. Next, there are many factors impacting intra-organizational pricing processes besides global synergy projects. In fact, regional and organizational contexts are of high importance, which are addressed but not analysed in detail in the current study.   Practical implications: Together, the findings contribute to our understanding of the step-by-step pricing activity from industrial customer perspective and how buyers can improve cost competitiveness through various tangible and commercial part cost reduction activities.   Originality/value: Current study has addressed the pricing process from industrial customer perspective. It has two main theoretical contributions: (1) Detailed step-by-step description of PPA process between OEMs and their suppliers happening after SOP; and (2) groundwork for implementation guidance on intra-organizational price revision process synergy.

The aim of this case study is to draw a picture about the present situation and highlight constraints and challenges to the implementation of National Environment Policy (NEP) in Rwanda by identifying limits and prospects for improving the ongoing implementation process. we found that environmental management at the local level is subject to the compounded effects of the obstacles faced by the local administration, the complex nature of environmental management, and the lack of assimilation of environmental issues at the national level. Environmental conditions suffer as a result, and there is a need for substantial modifications to improve the situation. Improved functions should lead to the enhancement of the local environment through: Higher investments from the regulated community subjected to more targeted enforcement, Private investments in infrastructure through the privatization of functions traditionally borne by the District, Pollution prevention through forward-looking planning, Greater efficiency in using available resources and justified requests to the central budget / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-02T21:42:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jose Antonio Massaroppe.pdf: 1690773 bytes, checksum: 7ef4605f233683514e32687fd57c76ea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-13 / Brazil, lies at the start of decade 2010, within an worldwide economic environment that shows characteristics of broad market globalization and high competitiveness of the organizations comprising this system and indicating the need for professionals acting like transformation agents, in these dynamic contexts load of challenges. In most countries the maturity of the innovation system is linked to investment in Research and Development (R & D) and the volume of generating Intellectual Property (IP). Brazil, despite having a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) concentrated in the sectors of agriculture and services, reveals a very low level of innovation, generated by the productive sector and its consequent investment in R & D, when compared to the evolution of that same GDP, denoting, thereby, that companies tend to look in their home countries, for solutions already developed and patented for its development work, or seek to shift the burden of producing records of innovations and patents to the Academy. The interaction between academic and business cultures is able to generate mutual benefits, improving the country s competitiveness; in other words, is the way to transform knowledge into social wealth. This paper relating the education-research and business practices concepts, intends to study, from the standpoint of the reality presented by the Greater ABC Region s Strategic Regional Plan and the guidelines of the National Postgraduate Program 2011-2020 (PNPG 2011-2020), the integration of the scientific knowledge processes, between the Business Entities (BE) and Universities in this specific region. Through the research methodology of case study, will be analyzed the strategies proposed by universities and the industry business practices, in order to understand the possible barriers identified as restrictions, on interactions between them. Our study focused on the analysis of the relationship between these two actors, pointed out the main barriers to the optimization of the partnership, such as access to resources, increase competitiveness via increased credibility in University Business relationship, the recognition of the realities regional and the latent gap between academic thinking and business realities. Moreover, our study showed the need for a wider dissemination, discussion and implementation of the sectorial, regional and national government documents, which clarify and provide strategic foundations for the development of health relations, between universities and businesses, as a way to optimize the process of transforming knowledge into social wealth. / O Brasil situa-se, no início da década de 2010, dentro de um sistema econômico mundial que apresenta características de ampla globalização dos mercados e alta competitividade das organizações que compõe esse sistema, e que sinalizam a necessidade de profissionais que sejam agentes de mudança nesses contextos dinâmicos e repletos de desafios. Na maioria dos países, a maturidade do sistema de inovação está ligada ao investimento em Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (P&D) e ao volume de geração de Propriedade Intelectual (PI). O Brasil, apesar de apresentar um Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) concentrado nos setores de agropecuária e de serviços, revela um nível de inovação gerado pelo setor produtivo e o seu consequente investimento em P&D muito baixos em comparação com a evolução desse mesmo PIB, denotando com isso que as empresas buscam, em seus países de origem, soluções já desenvolvidas e patenteadas para seu desenvolvimento ou procuram transferir a responsabilidade de produzir registros e patentes de inovações à academia. A integração da cultura acadêmica com a cultura empresarial é capaz de gerar benefícios mútuos, melhorando a competitividade do país; em outras palavras, é uma maneira de transformar o conhecimento em riqueza. Este trabalho relacionando os conceitos ensino-pesquisa e prática empresarial pretende estudar, sob o enfoque da realidade apresentada pelos Planos Estratégicos Regionais (PER) da Região do Grande ABC Paulista e das diretrizes do Plano Nacional de Pós-Graduação 2011-2020 (PNPG 2011-2020), o processo de integração do conhecimento científico existente entre as Entidades Empresariais (E-E) e as Universidades dessa mesma região. Através da metodologia de pesquisa de estudo de caso, analisaram-se as estratégias propostas pelas universidades e a prática do setor empresarial e as possíveis barreiras apontadas como restrições às interações entre eles. Nosso estudo enfocou a análise da relação entre esses dois atores e apontou as principais barreiras para a otimização dessa parceria, tais como o acesso a recursos, o aumento da competitividade via aumento da credibilidade na relação Universidade Empresa (U-E), o reconhecimento das realidades regionais e o latente descompasso entre o pensamento acadêmico e a realidade empresarial. Além disso, constatou-se a necessidade de uma mais ampla discussão, disseminação e implementação dos documentos setoriais, regionais e nacionais que regulam, esclarecem e fornecem bases estratégicas para o desenvolvimento da relação U-E, como forma de otimização do processo de transformação do conhecimento em riqueza social.