Horizontal collaborative purchasing (HCP) has often been cited as a way for hospitals to address the challenges of the rising healthcare costs. However, hospitals do not seem to utilize horizontal collaborative purchasing on any large scale, and recent initiatives have had mixed results. Focusing on Dutch hospitals, in this paper we present major impediments for collaborative purchasing, resulting in a first component of our proposed electronic horizontal collaborative purchasing model for hospitals; as a second component it contains a collaborative purchasing typology. A first validation round with hospital purchasing professionals, described separately in Kusters and Versendaal (2011), confirmed four applicable purchasing types and fourteen salient collaborative purchasing impediments. The model is operationalized by including possible information technology (IT) solutions that address the specific fourteen impediments. This model is validated through methodological triangulation of four different validation techniques. We conclude that IT has the potential to support, or overcome, the impediments of HCP. The validation also reveals the need to distinguish between more processrelated, as opposed to social-related, obstacles; the immediate potential for IT solutions is greater for the process-related impediments. Ultimately, we conclude that the collaborative epurchasing model (e-HCP) and implementation roadmap can be used by healthcare consortia, branche organizations, partnering healthcare institutes and multi-site healthcare institutes as a means to help identifying strategies to initiate, manage and evaluate collaborative purchasing practices
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The benefits of collaborative purchasing are many, yet in the healthcare sector, in particular at hospitals, it is still uncommon. In this paper we identify major impediments for collaborative purchasing, resulting in a first component of our proposed collaborative e-purchasing model for hospitals; as a second component it contains a collaborative purchasing typology. After analysis of a first validation round with hospital purchasing professionals, the results show four applicable purchasing types and fourteen collaborative purchasing impediments that are perceived as important for hospitals. The model is further extended by possible IT solutions, identified by experts, addressing the specific fourteen impediments. We conclude that the collaborative e-purchasing model can be used by healthcare consortia, branche organizations, partnering healthcare institutes and multi-site healthcare institutes as a means to help identifying strategies to initiate, manage and evaluate collaborative purchasing practices.
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ABSTRACT Purpose of this paper This paper aims to study different aspects of a logistics purchasing process from both the buyer's and supplier's perspective to compare literature and practice. Design/methodology/approach A multiple case study approach is chosen based on the exploratory character of the study. Seven recent logistics purchasing projects are studied by means of semi-structured interviews and company documents. Findings Literature review makes clear that the complexity of outsourced logistics services increased. As a result, buyers of these services should adapt their purchasing process to thoroughly think through its purchasing processes before going on the market, and to fully benefit from the expertise of service providers. Nevertheless, the cases show that most buyers still follow a traditional purchasing approach and process where service providers are not involved in defining the specifications of the logistics services. As a result shippers do not fully benefit from the expertise and possibilities of the service providers. Research limitations/implications The research is qualitative in nature and therefore limited to making theoretical propositions and to generalizing the findings to the total population. This must be accomplished through additional empirical verification. Practical implications The paper shows that both shippers and logistics service providers could improve their competitive position by changing the purchasing process and approach for logistics services. What is original/value of paper Our research differs from existing publications on logistics outsourcing for two reasons: 1) Existing publications do not primarily focus on the aspect of supplier involvement in purchasing logistics services. 2) Our study involves both the buyer's and the supplier's perspective.
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Paper for the WION - Werkgemeenschap Inkoop Onderzoek Nederland - 2015, 3rd version.Purchasing within Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) is important for the overall SME firm performance. However, purchasing within SMEs is not the same as purchasing within larger organisations and there is limited conclusive research on how to improve the purchasing performance of SMEs. This article describes research done by four bachelor students on the purchasing function within four Dutch manufacturing SMEs.
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This paper analyzes the institutional context of maintenance purchasing in higher education. It aims to provide insights into the institutional complexities of smart maintenance purchasing in higher education institutes. In a case study, six external institutional fields and two internal institutional logics are identified. They create two types of institutional complexities that impede innovation if not treated correctly. Three ways are discussed to deal with those institutional complexities, 1) negotiating institutional field boundaries, 2) creating new institutional logics and practices, and 3) implementing institutional changes.
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Aims: identify and explain purchasing-oriented patterns in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) via case study research.Scope: Using a conceptual framework and empirical research this article proposes a series of purchasing-oriented patterns in SMEs. These patterns align activities to achieve the SMEs proposed value proposition towards customers and activities to purchase resources needed for realizing the value proposition.Structure: This paper introduces the research topic. It discusses a conceptual framework and theory. It then continues with the methodology to collect and analyse case study data and describes empirical finding. It discusses these findings related to the framework and literature and ends with summarizing first conclusions.Conclusion: The SMEs in the dataset use four types of purchasing-oriented patterns related to their customer value propositions These SMEs can strive for low transaction costs can but invest in extrinsic product attributes to realize their value proposition. Both the transaction cost theory and the resource based view help to explain the purchasing-oriented patterns. Further research is needed to strengthen and validate findings.
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Posterpresentatie Ondernemerschapsmiddag KCO, gehouden op 16 november 2015.Main research question:To what extend does the purchasing activity of incremental and radical innovations of SMEs differ from that of larger companies in the construction sector in the Netherlands?
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This paper discusses risk and uncertainty aspects and proposes an assessment tool leading to identification of critical control points (CCPs) within purchasing-oriented activities of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Identifying such CCPs is the basis for developing SME purchasing instruments to support purchasing-oriented activities. The identification of such CCPs will be theoretically approached from a systems perspective using four management functions which are needed to operate as a viable system: implementation, control, intelligence and coordination. When applied to the development of purchasing instruments, these instruments can be used for supporting one of these four management control functions.
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This survey is about recognizing patterns in the way Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) organize their procurement activities. The scope of the survey is limited to the key commodities of the SME.A key commodity is defined as the purchased product or service group which is essential for realizing the value proposition for the customers of the SME.Prior outcome of our research indicated the existence of four procurement oriented patterns in SMEs. 4 Procurement Oriented Patterns where part of the study: Pattern 1 Focal company: ICT turn-key designerValue proposition of the focal company: ICT Design and assembly of offices on a high quality level at a reasonable price. Operational excellence: standardization in commodities, low transaction costs internally and externallyPurchased key commodity: Standard ICT software and hardwarePattern 2 Focal company: Horse shoes manufacturerValue proposition of the focal company: Standard horse shoes assortment at reasonable prices in a competitive environmentPurchased key commodity: Standard quality iron, reliable deliveryPattern 3 Focal company: IT innovation driven companyValue proposition of the focal company: Developing innovative software made applicable for practical usage in devices at a reasonable pricePurchased key commodity: Delivering applicable solutions on the bases of regular soft- and hardware, to enable the companies’ innovative software function in practicePattern 4 Focal company: designer and manufacturer of trailersValue proposition of the focal company: Designing and manufacturing trailers tailor made for specific requirements of customersPurchased key commodity: Designing and manufacturing axles which align to the specific trailer wishes of the customer of the focal companyFINDINGS Pattern recognitionAbout 50 % of the respondents recognized the four presented patterns from own experience and/or read literature. Respondents also suggested pattern variants. It is concluded that this Delphi study strengthens the view that these patterns exist in SMEs. Further research may include further empirical testing of these patterns and their variants. Perceived strengths or weaknesses. Respondents mentioned a wide variety of strengths and weaknesses of the patterns. No clear conclusions can be drawn from this data. Adequacy of the pattern descriptions. One of the outcomes of this Delphi study is an improved conceptual framework for describing procurement activity patterns. This framework can be used for collecting SME data in future research, for example by modifying the existing survey questions which are used in the WIM research program to describe SME procurement activities. The improved model includes more variables and values than the initial model. Thus future research may lead to more detailed patterns descriptions. Missing patterns and pattern variantsApart from the suggested pattern variants, respondents do not miss patterns which are quite different from the four patterns suggested by the research team. Methodological remarksThe Delphi study method did not allow for fast feedback on panel member contributions and fast group think processes. For the future it is advised to consider other methods in similar cases, for example the World Cafe method.
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Aims: identify and explain purchasing-oriented patterns in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) via case study research.Scope: Using a conceptual framework and empirical research this article proposes a series of purchasing-oriented patterns in SMEs. These patterns align activities to achieve the SMEs proposed value proposition towards customers and activities to purchase resources needed for realizing the value proposition.Structure: This paper introduces the research topic. It discusses a conceptual framework and theory. It then continues with the methodology to collect and analyse case study data and describes empirical finding. It discusses these findings related to the framework and literature and ends with summarizing first conclusions.Conclusion: The SMEs in the dataset use four types of purchasing-oriented patterns related to their customer value propositions These SMEs can strive for low transaction costs can but invest in extrinsic product attributes to realize their value proposition. Both the transaction cost theory and the resource based view help to explain the purchasing-oriented patterns. Further research is needed to strengthen and validate findings.
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