Comparative Research Analysis of Supply Flexibility in the B2B Market

This assignment presents a comparative research analysis focused on ensuring flexibility and continuity of supplies in the B2B market. It reviews a research article, examining the author's references to other works, the methodologies employed (including in-depth interviews with manufacturing company representatives), and whether the research was qualitative or quantitative. The analysis delves into the research depth, exploring findings related to building a reliable supplier base through Supplier Performance Management, addressing issues of supply flexibility across different countries and industries, and highlighting the importance of supplier selection, audits, and partnerships. The study also differentiates between single and multiple sourcing strategies, factors affecting sourcing choices, and the assessment of manufacturing capacities, ultimately emphasizing the need for cooperation with intermediaries during crises. Desklib offers this document as part of its collection of solved assignments and study resources for students.

1 COMPARATIVE RESEARCH ANALYSIS
1.1 LITERATURE REVIEW (100 WORDS)
1.1.1 Ensuring the Flexibility and Continuity of Supplies in The B2B Market
(Research Article A)
To Provide Summary and to also answer the following:
 Did the author of the research article refer to other research articles?
 Theories or conclusions the author used from such other research articles, to support his own article
The discussion is based on how the supply flexibility issues affect the company performance. It also reflects the
dimensions of operations like the time, cost and quality. The focus is on how the mitigation of the supply or
demand disturbances result from the changes in the macro-environment and help in dealing with supply chain
risks.
The author has taken the reference from other articles as well where he discussed about the commonality, JIT
(Just-In-Time) purchasing etc. With this, the theories are mainly to deal with the internal and external risks for
sourcing facilities like the multiple sourcing, alternative transportation modes and internal collaboration with
integration to logistics.

1.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY (MARKET RESEARCH) (200 WORDS)
 Did the research comprise online surveys, face-to-face interviews or simply a review of other research
articles?
The in-depth interviews were conducted with reviewing the representatives of the manufacturing company who
operate in different sectors.
 Was the research qualitative versus quantitative? Sample size (number of data points) etc?
The research included the quantitative verification where the focus was mainly on conducting the interviews with
researched issue in more accuracy to determine supply flexibility and continuity. Sample size was 3 with different
managers in different manufacturing companies.
 Are the research methodologies very different for the different articles?
The research methodologies included the literature review and the interviews, whereas some of them also
included the clear check on the online surveys as well to understand the problems faced in the business.
 Why? What was the reason that the authors decided to use the same /different research methodologies?
For example:
To map the accuracy, the research is based on relationship with suppliers, and to make sure that there is a
flexibility and supply continuity in the business. The interview tool was effective enough to check on different
manufacturing companies who operate in B2B market.
 Was it because of the nature of the industry (e.g. Specialised industry), the size of industry, or sample size
of respondents (eg. Too small to get meaningful data from survey; so in-depth interviews were used)?
Yes, the in-depth interviews were important to check the views of different respondents in large and medium
manufacturing companies. The major criteria were to check whether there is a need for a mature approach with
operations in automotive, clothing etc.
 Was it because the author wanted more in-depth data from interviews (rather than online survey), with
more opportunities to ask more related questions if the respondents' answers trigger a follow-up
questions?
The author wanted to focus on the different operations in different sectors for both the domestic and foreign
markets. This would have only been possible through in-depth data.
 Or did the author prefer to obtain more “mass data” from a survey?
- Was it because of the time of research?
The data obtained by the author mainly focused on the ensuring of flexibility of supplies, its continuity with the
criteria set for the item, order value, location.

1.3 RESEARCH DEPTH
1.3.1 Findings and Conclusions (200 Words)
The findings are based on building a reliable supplier base which require the Supplier Performance Management.
The respondents seem to perform the preliminary and periodical audits in supplier plants to assess the technical
infrastructure and quality control systems. The different countries, industries and organisations had issues with
the flexibility of supply and segmentation for accepting the future demand production plans. The involvement of
the flexibility is in supplier selection, audits and partnership with providing a complete cooperation with source of
added value.
1.3.2 Similarities
Advantages of Single Sourcing:
It will ensure a better responsiveness of the supplier, administrative efficiency, lower inventory cost and improved
product quality that needs to be set with access to new technology as well.
Constant Sourcing Perspective in Basis of Time:
The focus is on multiple sourcing, alternative transportation modes with focus on integration with logistics and
proximity of suppliers. The sourcing strategies help in maintaining the supply continuity with underlining the need
to create the possibility of cooperation with intermediaries when the crisis arise.
1.3.3 Differences
Factors Affecting the Selection of The Type of Sourcing:
The location, trading regulations, finances, time to market and the value-added services are some of the factors
which affect the sourcing.
Type of Study:
The study is based on how the buyers are able to assess the manufacturing capacities of potential parties in terms
of production capacity.

2 INFERENCES:
Wieteska, G. (2017). Ensuring the flexibility and continuity of supplies in the B2B market. Journal of Economics &
Management, 29, 118-138. http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.rmit.edu.au/10.22367/jem.2017.29.07