The purpose of this paper is to explore how the logistics organisation and operations support embeddedness in retailers’ geographical expansion. More specifically, this study identifies four key logistics characteristics that are crucial for geographical expansion and describes how each of these supports retailers’ embeddedness related to their geographical expansion. The findings illustrate how the characteristics: Centralised logistics control, Centralised logistics structure, Standardised logistics operations and Continuous learning and improvement, support societal, network and territorial embeddedness related to the geographical expansion of retailers. The paper is empirically grounded in an explorative, qualitative, multiple case study of three Swedish retailers that have geographically expanded their businesses. Company visits and interviews with a variety of informants, ranging from company owners to operational logistics staff, have been conducted.

För att kunna möta nya utmaningar och tillvarata alla de möjligheter som ges av den allt intensivare digitaliseringen behöver näringslivet och samhället i stort förnyas. I ett sådant utvecklingsarbete blir logistikdriven affärsutveckling en viktig ledstjärna. Ökad flödes­orientering bidrar till bättre lönsamhet och tillväxt, men också till att lösa större samhällsutmaningar i form av miljöpåverkan och social hållbarhet.

I den här boken sätts logistiken in i ett strategiskt sammanhang där konkurrenskraft är i fokus, snarare än de traditionella logistiska måttstockarna kostnad, service och ledtid. Med det som grund diskuteras logistikutmaningar för fyra olika sektorer: detaljhandeln, industrin, transportbranschen och den offentliga sektorn. Författarna diskuterar även den högsta ledningens och styrelsens viktiga roller i logistikdriven affärsutveckling.

Boken vänder sig såväl till studenter vid tekniska högskolor och handelshögskolor som till styrelser, företagsledningar och logistik­ansvariga i näringslivet och i offentlig sektor.

Purpose

This paper aims to purport deeper understanding of, and instigate theoretical elaboration to, multidimensional value created through different reverse supply chain (RSC) relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

By capturing the relationships (and their differences) constituted and embedded in three “extreme” case studies from global used clothing supply chain, the sources of multidimensional values are explored in line with Dyer and Singh’s (1998) relational theory.

Findings

In the RSC, when downstream relationships are typically more opportunistic, value is created using inter-personal ways of knowledge sharing and through use of informal safeguards. In contrast, the upstream RSC relationships are more symbiotic, and value is created through more seamless (and routinized) knowledge sharing practices, and additional use of more formal transaction-specific controls or financial incentives as safeguarding instruments.

Research limitations/implications

The use of consolidated case studies may affect the consistency in the findings presented. Another limitation relates to deriving propositions per each source presented in relational theory.

Practical implications

Practitioners particularly from industries whose global RSCs include different natures of relationships and multiple value incentives can be benefited through this study.

Originality/value

The paper extends the original sources of value creation prescribed in relational theory by contextualizing them in RSCs. It depicts how multidimensional values are created relationally by dyadic partners as the nature of relationship differs between upstream and downstream.

Market-oriented aspects of retail internationalisation have received a lot of research attention since the 1990s. However, beyond these aspects lies also supply-chain oriented capabilities that are necessary for retailers to successfully internationalise into foreign sales markets. By using a perspective based on resource-based theories, this paper explores supply-chain oriented capabilities that facilitate retail internationalisation. The research is based on a multiple case study of three Swedish retailers. Through the perspective of research based theories, specifically capabilities, the empirical data is studied in a single-case as well as a cross-case analysis. Findings reveal three supply chain-oriented capability categories (leadership capability, integration capability and learning capability) of importance for retail internationalisation. Resources necessary for the capabilities are to be found internally at the retailer, but also externally at other firms. This research adds to the market-oriented knowledge on retail internationalisation by adding a supply-chain oriented perspective. Further, it provides an understanding of the early phases of retail internationalisation.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the processes of value creation and appropriation among companies in a reverse clothing supply chain. Design/methodology/approach – This research is based on an inductive case study approach at fashion retailers, charity organisations, commercial recyclers, and specialised sorting companies involved in take-back schemes for used clothes in the reverse clothing supply chain.

Findings – Value creation and appropriation processes are illustrated for different members of the reverse clothing supply chain. Results of different types of value and value co-creation explain the relatively high degree of collaboration among members in the “beginning” of the reverse supply chain. Here, collaboration outmanoeuvres the traditional value appropriation mechanism of price negotiation.

Research limitations/implications – This research does not cover all tiers in this global industry, and practices among different regions may hamper the generalisability of the findings presented. Practical implications – This research allows a comprehensive picture of the members in the reverse clothing supply chain and outlines some of the major processes involved, decisive for value creation, and appropriation.

Originality/value – The research draws upon the value concept and combines processes of value creation and appropriation in one, single empirical study. By doing that, the research disseminates the reverse clothing supply chain in a new way and facilitates improved understanding of the structure and rationales for members taking part in it. 

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review existing research on retail supply chain responsiveness, develop categories to be included in a retail-specific responsiveness framework, and identify future research areas within the scope of retail supply chain responsiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents an inductive systematic literature review of 46 academic, peer-reviewed articles. Based around the two major review questions on retailers’ role in the creation of supply chain responsiveness and future research areas, an inductive, qualitative, content analysis was conducted. Further analysis was conducted by using the software NVivo 11.

Findings

Existing research are grouped into a framework of four categories that together span the existing research. The categories are labelled supply chain orchestration, market orientation, supply chain operations and supply management. Two to three subthemes in each category are presented. Thereafter, promising future research areas are outlined, covering methodological issues, theoretical underpinnings, inclusion of context variables and outcomes of retail supply chain responsiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The conducted systematic literature review has been limited to academic, peer-reviewed articles.

Practical implications

The findings of the paper constitute a promising initial step towards a retail-specific framework on retail supply chain responsiveness.

Originality/value

The paper questions the comprehensiveness of established models in responsiveness, and argues that existing “general” literature on supply chain responsiveness gives little guidance and structure to retailers’ specific role and involvement in supply chain responsiveness. In particular, the paper focusses on the retailers’ role for creation of supply chain responsiveness, which has not previously been addressed in research.