Examining E-SCM Adoption and Growth in UK E-Business: A Case Study

This PhD proposal examines the adoption and growth of electronic supply chain management (E-SCM) by e-businesses, specifically focusing on UK-based companies. The research aims to understand the meaning and concepts of E-SCM and e-business, assess the reasons for E-SCM's growth, and ev...Read More

PHD PROPOSAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Motivation to the study and methods...........................................................................................3
Research Aim and Objectives......................................................................................................3
Objectives....................................................................................................................................3
Research Questions......................................................................................................................4
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................5
Anticipated outcomes..................................................................................................................5
Contribution of the study.............................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Supply chain management means organizing, forecasting, controlling, procurement,
inventories and deliveries of products and services to the customers. It can be defined as a
backbone of e-business these days (Vakharia, 2002). However, electronic supply chain
management is all about optimizing the business processes as well as its overall value in every
corner of the enterprise starting from supplier's supplier to customer's customer. The concept
makes use of e business as well as web technology so as to manage the operations that are
upstream and downstream. The approach thus makes an attempt to unite all the steps that are the
part of business cycle. This starts from initial phase of product design to procuring raw materials.
This takes place through shipping, distribution and warehousing and ends until the finished good
has not been delivered to the consumer.
By taking this concern into consideration, majority of UK based organizations are
adopting electronic supply chain (E-SCM) management in their existing operations. The
concepts combine elements of e-business and supply chain management. With the help of this,
company can depict the way in which trade channel members are working together just to
optimize the resources and opportunities (Johnson and Whang, 2002).
In this regard, the present study is based on the reasons for the growth of electronic
supply chain management as well as it’s an adoption by e-business. This study takes place for the
analysis of different organizations of UK. With the adoption of E-SCM they can minimize their
cost and also integrate business enterprise closely with all the other players involved in the
process.
Motivation to the study and methods
There has been a rapid growth in the area of e-commerce which has enhanced my interest
towards the given subject area. I further wish to make my career in this field hence I am
interested to know about advancement of business processes. Moreover, I lack proper knowledge
in this subject area. Hence I wish to learn about the intricacies of the same.
Research Aim and Objectives
To examine the adoption and growth of electronic supply chain management (E-SCM) by e-
business: A case study of UK based companies

Objectives
1. To understand the meaning and concepts of electronics supply chain management and e-
business.
2. To assess the reasons for the growth of electronic supply chain management
3. To examine the support provided to e-business through application of electronic SCM.
Research Questions
 How e-supply chain management aids in boosting the performance of e-business?
 What are the various reasons for the growth of E-SCM in context of e-business?
LITERATURE REVIEW
Pulevska and Kaleshovska (2013) carried out a study on Implementation of e-Supply Chain
Management. The study concluded that the development and evolution of internet as well as IT
has brought a change in the traditional way by which supply chain of companies is managed. It
has thus presented the organization with novel opportunities and strategic possibilities.
According to Ballou (2007) E-SCM uses various e-business concepts and web
technology in order to manage beyond the enterprise. This can be defining as a strategic
approach carries initial product design and procurement of raw material through shipping to the
delivery point of consumers. With the help of adoption of E-SCM, e-businesses can improve its
relations with channel partners and better control their investment. However, the use of internet
has allowed easy access to any type of information as well as better coordination among B2B
and B2C. According to Monczka and et.al., (2008) e-commerce develop the traditional supply
chain process by increasing its capabilities for the betterment of various organizations. It is quite
essential for different firms these days is to enable the comprehensive supply chain processes.
With the help of this, they are able to compete successfully in the marketplace today and better
serve the customer demands. With the help of the Internet, most of the organizations can easily
access any type of information and exchange it in a more quick way and more cheaply than ever
before.
Study by Giménez and Lourenço, (2010) has further made an attempt to converge the
areas of Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Internet. The study thus concluded that internet
has enhanced the overall working of Supply Chain Management by ensuring that there is
availability of real time information and collaboration between partners.

There are various reasons due to which organizations are using E-SCM such as changing
their business policies for the betterment of business operations. Company can also develop its
positive brand identity in the mind-set of customers by managing better relationship with them.
Johnson and Whang (2002) stated that adoption of electronic supply chain management is the
most effective tool for increasing business performance and managing business operations in a
more effective way. E-SCM is not just a process of increasing technology but also it involves the
course of changes in management policies as well as performance metrics and business process
across the supply chain. It is the most effective through which companies can improve their
customer service and develop better relationship with them. Electronic supply chain management
(E-SCM) is the best process which develops through the collaborative use of Internet just to
enhance the Business-to Business (B2B) and Business-to-Customer (C2C) processes (Power,
2005). It is another most effective way which helps in improving the speed, agility, real-time
control, and customer satisfaction.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
As per the given subject matter, there are different research methodologies that will be
incorporated. With the help of appropriate selection of research methods researcher can gather
best and an appropriate information (Wilson, 2010). Here, in this scenario, Inductive research
approach will be the most suitable as it helps in making in depth analysis about the adoption and
growth of electronic supply chain (E-SCM) management by e-business (Jones, 2004). It helps
the researcher in drawing an appropriate conclusion without framing any hypothesis. In addition
to this, Interpretivism will be taken into consideration as no hypothesis will be developed.
Moreover, there are mainly two sources of data collection i.e. primary as well as secondary. In
this concern, data and information will be gathered by the primary as well as secondary source.
In order to collect primary information, questionnaire survey technique will be entailed. This
questionnaire will be filled by the sample population. In order to select appropriate sample size,
purposive sampling technique will be incorporated. This technique helps in boosting the overall
efficiency of the study.
In this regard, sample size of 100 officials of different e-commerce business within UK
will be taken into consideration (Neubauer, 2009). They can give better response for the reason
behind adoption of E-SCM within their business as well as support provided to them. On the

other hand, secondary data will be gathered from secondary sources such as online articles,
books as well as past studies done by various authors. Further, one of the most essential task for
researcher is to analyse most effective findings and draw a better conclusion. As per the given
subject matter, primary data will be analysed by the way of quantitative techniques. In order to
analyse quantitative data, SPSS tool will be used in which various methods will be incorporated
such as frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, cross tabulations etc. (Petersen, 2012). This is
the most effective technique through which researcher can reach from the valid findings and
frame a better conclusion.
Anticipated outcomes
As per the anticipated outcomes, the reasons for growth of E-SCM in context of e-business
are various reasons for the growth of E-SCM in context of e-business are due to movement of
companies towards creating a positive brand identity and managing better relationship with
consumers. It has further been regarded as an effective tool for increasing business performance
and managing business operations in a more effective way.
Contribution of the study
The study can contribute towards making the general public aware about How e-supply
chain management aids in boosting the performance of e-business as well as assessing the
various reasons for the growth of E-SCM in context of e-business.

REFERENCES
Ballou, R. H., 2007. Business Logistics/Supply Chain Management. Pearson Education India.
French, S., 2009. The deductive frame. Journal of Management Development. 28(3). pp.242 –
266.
Giménez, C., and Lourenço, H.R., 2010. E-SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT: REVIEW,
IMPLICATIONS AND DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH. [Online]. Available
through: <http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?
doi=10.1.1.134.7705&rep=rep1&type=pdf>. [Accessed on 2nd April 2016].
Johnson, M. and Whang, S., 2002. E‐Business And Supply Chain Management: An Overview
And Framework*. Production and Operations management. 11(4). pp.413-423.
Jones, A., 2004. Logic: Inductive and Deductive an Introduction To Scientific Method. Kessinger
Publishing.
Monczka, R. and et.al., 2008. Purchasing and supply chain management. Cengage Learning.
Neubauer, D., 2009. Acceptance Sampling in Quality Control. CRC Press.
Petersen, J., 2012. Statistical Methods in Customer Relationship Management. John Wiley &
Sons.
Power, D., 2005. Supply chain management integration and implementation: a literature
review. Supply chain management: an International journal. 10(4). pp.252-263.
Pulevskamm L. I., and Kaleshovska, N., 2013. Implementation of e-Supply Chain Management.
TEM Journal. 2(4). pp. 314-322.
Vakharia, A. J., 2002. E‐business and supply chain management. Decision Sciences. 33(4).
pp.495-504.
Wilson, J., 2010. Essentials of Business Research: A Guide to Doing Your Research Project.
SAGE.