Business Commons^™

Burgerville: Sustainability And Sourcing In A Qsr Supply Chain, Darrell Brown, Phil Berko, Patrick Dedrick, Brie Hilliard, Joshua Pfleeger

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Jack Graves is considering buying chicken. More precisely, Jack is considering where to buy chicken. He needs to make a recommendation to the purchasing team soon, and the decision is complicated. Jack is a long-time employee of the Burgerville restaurant chain, a quick-serve restaurant chain in the Northwest USA. Burgerville prides itself in being true to its long-held values while maintaining profitability and growth. Graves’ primary job at Burgerville is to assure that the company’s values are embedded in all its actions, including its relationships to its supply chain. His current concern is the dilemma of which values to promote. …

Tropical Salvage: From Recession To Expansion, Scott Marshall, Lisa Peifer, Erin Ferrigno

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Tim O’Brien, founder of Tropical Salvage, was preparing for another warehouse clearance sale of his unique, handcrafted hardwood furniture. It had been an enormously challenging year and it was important to reduce inventory before the next container arrived from Indonesia. The market for fine furniture had begun to decline steadily in early 2008 following the stock market crash of the prior September. The company survived a difficult period, but not without suffering a decline in sales. O’Brien had spent ten years building a sustainable business model based on environmental stewardship, worker empowerment and unique, high quality product. As the economy …

Product Safety And Security In The Global Supply Chain: Issues, Challenges And Research Opportunities, Ann Marucheck, Noel Greis, Carlos Mena, Linning Cai

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

number of high profile product safety events and recalls have heightened public attention to the safety and security of the products that people consume and use. While product safety isn’t a new topic, the effect of the global supply chain in creating or exacerbating safety risks and vulnerabilities is both timely and relevant. In this essay we focus on how the field of operations management can provide fresh perspectives and insights in addressing the challenges of product safety and security in the global supply chain. We first examine the product safety issues and challenges that arise in five industries that …

Food Delivery Footprint: Addressing Transportation, Packaging, And Waste In The Food Supply Chain, Madeleine E. Pullman, Robin Fenske, Wayne Wakeland

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Transportation of food accounts for a significant fraction of the carbon dioxide emissions believed to be adversely impacting climate and the environment. And this impact is increasing as food supply chains become longer and more complex, and food packaging requirements lead to increased waste. Many organizations such as hospitals and upper level education are becoming increasingly concerned about sustainability. In this study, college, university, and hospital food purchasing behavior were assessed using interviews, surveys, and modeling to evaluate the environmental implications of decisions regarding food transportation and packaging. Current purchasing practices, corresponding transportation modes, packaging, recycling, and waste removal were …

Country Natural Beef: A Maturing Co-Op At The Crossroads, Madeleine E. Pullman, Victoria Villa-Lobos, Zhaohui Wu

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

A Business Base Study of a Group of Northwest Cattle Ranchers that Formed a Co-op to Market Natural Beef Products, in the Face of economic uncertainty and the rise of corporate farms and ranches. Provides an overview of the cattle ranching industry, the history of the co-op, its economic outlook, and future challenges.

Green Brewing: Part Two, Madeleine E. Pullman

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

In part one of our Green Brewing series, we started our journey down the rabbit-hole of beer production and the environment with a discussion about energy use and gas recovery. We took a glimpse into specific breweries in the region and studied how they address their energy demand and how they control their carbon dioxide and nitrogen release, depending on size, location, and other factors. Continuing in part two, we follow the theme of sustainability by examining the “greenness” of commonly used brewing ingredients, containers, and ancillary packaging in the beer supply chain. We look at how brewing companies at …

The Ignite (Investigation To Guide New Insight Into Translational Effectiveness)Trial: Protocol For A Translational Study Of An Evidenced-Based Wellness Program In Fire Departments, Diane L. Elliot, Kuehl S. Kerry, Esther L. Moe, Carol A. Defrancesco, Linn Goldberg, David P. Mackinnon, Jeanne Enders, Kim C. Favorite

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Worksites are important locations for interventions to promote health. However, occupational programs with documented efficacy often are not used, and those being implemented have not been studied. The research in this report was funded through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act Challenge Topic 'Pathways for Translational Research,' to define and prioritize determinants that enable and hinder translation of evidenced-based health interventions in well-defined settings. Methods: The IGNITE (investigation to guide new insights for translational effectiveness) trial is a prospective cohort study of a worksite wellness and injury reduction program from adoption to final outcomes among 12 fire departments. It …

Portland Roasting Company: Farm Friendly Direct, Madeleine E. Pullman, Brandon Arends, Mark Langston, Greg Price, Greg Stokes

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

This case describes the issues and dilemmas facing a company in their efforts to differentiate their product through a social sustainability programme. Over the years, the company has built a strong reputation with their sustainability efforts, particularly amongst their peers in the specialty coffee industry. There is some question as to whether this reputation has been visible to consumers and if consumers see the value-proposition. The case covers the history of coffee, the specialty coffee industry, the supply chain and roles of different participants, and the competitive landscape.

Furthermore, most of the competitive eco-labels and certification schemes are discussed. The …

Altis: A Microfinance Startup In Nepal, Jacen Greene, Scott Marshall

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

In Sanjay Karki’s role as Deputy Director for the Nepal office of Mercy Corps, he had worked on a number of poverty reduction programs. But his current initiative presents the most daunting challenges he has yet faced. One of the most promising innovations in poverty alleviation was the concept of microfinance, the provision of small-scale loans and other financial services to poor entrepreneurs. And although the government of Nepal strongly supported microfinance models, a decade-long civil war ending in 2006 had severely disrupted government services and worsened poverty. In the terai, or plains, of Nepal, government and non-profit microfinance institutions …

Management Accounting And Control: Lessons For And From The World's Tiniest Businesses, Srikant M. Datar, Marc J. Epstein, Kristi Jane Yuthas

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Microbusiness owners often lack the knowledge and skills--the human capital--necessary to make effective use of financial capital. They lack even the basic knowledge about how a loan is obtained and repaid and how debt can be used for business development.Most microfinance institutions have developed training that teaches clients about the timing and amount of repayment, the need for financial discipline to meet the repayment schedule, and the importance of investing the loan in working capital or productive assets rather than using it for household consumption. Although this training is essential for successful loan management from the institution's perspective, it often …

Green Brewing: Part One, Madeleine E. Pullman

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Similar to their fellow Northwest residents, most brewers would consider environmental sustainability a personal value. From purchasing ingredients to packaging and storing the finished product, brewers and brewery owners are faced with numerous decisions that significantly affect the environment. The vast majority of breweries reduce their environmental impact by doing things like recycling their spent grains to local farmers for animal feed rather than dumping them in a land fill, or by utilizing solar panels to help generate electricity. Brewery owners and operators are continuously scrutinizing their operations to see what additional steps can be taken to lessen their environmental …

Sustainability Amidst Uncertainty: Columbia Forest Products’ Pursuit Of Sustainability In A Changing Market, Scott Marshall, Zachary Anderson, Matthew Flax, Daniel Gambetta, Jacen Greene, Madeleine E. Pullman

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Upon reading the latest report from the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs, Harry Demorest found his concerns confirmed – the construction of new homes had fallen yet again across the United States. Over the past month, new home starts had declined over 14% in December; this marked the end of 2007 during which housing starts were down 25% compared to the previous year and hit a low not experienced since 1993. The question was no longer “will there be a recession?” but rather “how long will the recession last?”

The fate of Columbia Forest Products, the company that Harry …

Evidence On The Role Of Supplier-Retailer Trading Relationships And Practices In Waste Generation In The Food Chain, Carlos Mena, Peter Whitehead

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report presents the results of the project entitled “Evidence on the role of supplier-retailer trading relationships and practices in waste generation in the food chain” commission by Defra (Project Code SFFSD0705) and undertaken by Cranfield University and IGD between July 2008 and June 2009.

The overall aim of the project was to provide a qualitative analysis of the food and packaging waste arising from the link between food manufacturers and retailers in the UK. The specific objectives of the project were:

• To identify the root causes of waste between suppliers and retailers in the UK
• To assess the magnitude …

Supply Chain Management For Servitized Products: A Multi-Industry Case Study, Mark Johnson, Carlos Mena

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Manufacturers are combining products and services in order to provide greater value to the customer and to facilitate longer more profitable business relationships. Organisations that pursue this route are following a strategy of servitization which requires the effective management of supply chains. A framework was developed from the extant literature that was used as a lens for the analysis of supply chains for servitized products. This research uses case studies to explore the challenges and opportunities that face the supply chain management function within organisations that are pursuing a strategy of servitization. The case studies indicate that servitized supply chains …

Innovation In Logistics Services, Carlos Mena, Martin Christopher, Mark Johnson, Fu Jia

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

The logistics industry manages the flows of products, services and information across customers and suppliers, allowing the integration of supply chains. Innovations in logistics can therefore help improve efficiency and effectiveness across many sectors of the economy. Furthermore, innovation can also have a major impact in reducing the environmental burden of this industry, particularly in terms of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

This overall aim of this report is to understand how the government can encourage and facilitate innovation in the logistics industry. The study focuses mainly on the UK and on the role of third party logistics providers (3PLs). …

Open Innovation And Strategy, Henry W. Chesbrough, Melissa M. Appleyard

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

The article discusses a process of business innovation known as open innovation and its relation to traditional business strategy. The competitive strategy developed by Michael Porter emphasized rivalry, buyer power, and barriers to entry as forces that could enhance a producer's surplus. The authors discuss the impact of the Porterian value chain, the processes of production through to the consumer, on subsequent business practices. However, this theory does not account for external sources of value to a company, such as innovation communities, volunteer contributors and surrounding networks, including social networking web sites, open source software and the Wiki model of …

Newcomer Adjustment During Organizational Socialization: A Meta-Analytic Review Of Antecedents, Outcomes, And Methods, Talya N. Bauer, Berrin Erdogan, Todd Bodner, Donald M. Truxillo, Jennifer S. Tucker

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

The authors tested a model of antecedents and outcomes of newcomer adjustment using 70 unique samples of newcomers with meta-analytic and path modeling techniques. Specifically, they proposed and tested a model in which adjustment (role clarity, self-efficacy, and social acceptance) mediated the effects of organizational socialization tactics and information seeking on socialization outcomes (job satisfaction, organizational commitment, job performance, intentions to remain, and turnover). The results generally supported this model. In addition, the authors examined the moderating effects of methodology on these relationships by coding for 3 methodological issues: data collection type (longitudinal vs. cross-sectional), sample characteristics (school-to-work vs. work-to-work …

Global Sourcing And Logistics, Martin Christopher, Fu Jia, Omera Khan, Carlos Mena, Erik Sandberg

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

The sourcing of products from across the global marketplace is an increasing trend associated with economic development. This trend is the result of many independent decisions taken by firms around the world looking for new sources of competitive advantage. However, these decisions can also have unintended consequences, exposing the firms to hidden costs and risks, creating congestion at different points in the global transport infrastructure and increasing emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.

This report presents the results of a project conducted in 2006-07, aimed at improving global sourcing practices, with a particular emphasis on the implications for the UK. …

'Negotiated' Transparency? Corporate Citizenship Engagement And Environmental Disclosure, Scott Marshall, Darrell Brown, Marlene Plumlee

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Corporate stakeholder relations are historically typified by power imbalances and mistrust, but in recent times, they are increasingly characterized by 'dialogue' based on mutual understanding and creative action. In this paper we consider corporate engagements with two external stakeholder groups, citizenship-focused non-governmental organizations (NGO) and institutional investors, and examine the potential association between these engagements and corporate disclosure of environmental information. Based on a sample of 183 firms over a three-year time period, we analyze the relationships between NGO engagement, investor activism and the quality of corporate voluntary environmental disclosure. Our findings suggest that engagement with skills-focused NGOs and the …

Triple Bottom Line: A Business Metaphor For A Social Construct, Darrell Brown, Jesse F. Dillard, Scott Marshall

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

The triple bottom line is emerging as a popular conceptualization and reporting vehicle for articulating corporate social, environmental, and economic performance and is receiving significant attention in connection with its efficacy and sufficiency as a means for reporting the extent to which an organization meets its societal responsibilities. By preparing and disseminating triple bottom line statements, an organization conveys an image of concern and sensitivity to the three dimensions of societal responsibility: economic, environmental, and social. However, as currently conceived and operationalized, we question whether the triple bottom line reports actually provide information relevant to accessing corporate responsibility and enforcing …

Hotels: Differentiating With Design, Madeleine E. Pullman, Stephani Robson

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

It wasn't that long ago that most people would describe a hotel by talking about its location, or the level of service they received during their last visit, or the nice views of the beach or mountains from their room. But in recent years, the design of the hotel itself has been gaining a great deal of attention both from customers and from the press. More and more hotels use design and style as a way of differentiating themselves from other properties or brands, and as a way of attracting an affluent and socially active clientele. This makes sense; hotels …

Acceleration Management: The Semiconductor Industry Confronts The 21st Century, Melissa M. Appleyard, C. N. Berglund, Craig Peterson, Richard W. Smith

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the recent generations of semiconductor devices, the semiconductor industry has been accelerating towards the limits of the physical sciences. As a consequence, technology managers in that industry face seven major challenges, which will threaten progress: process, complexity, performance, power, density, productivity, and quality / reliability. We believe that confronting these challenges requires a new approach to technology management both within organizations and between organizations that form the backbone of the industry. We call this new approach Acceleration Management. Acceleration Management first requires that firms cultivate deep technical knowledge and inspire creative solutions to seemingly insoluble technical problems. The second …

An Environmentally Enlightened Accounting, Jesse Dillard, Darrell Brown, Scott Marshall

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Environmental stewardship must become a primary concern if management is to adequately fulfill its societal responsibilities. Management and accounting information systems must aggressively respond to these emerging requirements in order to support adequately the associated information needs as well as to design organizational systems that motivate and facilitate desired behavior. Our purpose here is to consider a framework useful for developing environmentally enlightening management and accounting information systems that take into account alternative environmental perspectives. The framework can be used to develop prototypes representing different levels of environmental enlightenment and, as such, can provide general guidance for moving collectives and …

The Strategy Of Sustainability: A Systems Perspective On Environmental Initiatives, Scott Marshall, Darrell Brown

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

The article presents a systems perspective on environmental initiatives as they relate to the efforts of firms looking to become environmentally sustainable. To achieve environmental sustainability, firms need to implement principles, policies, and practices (such as budgeting systems, job design, recruitment and selection, and organizational structures) from the standpoint of long-term ecosystem viability. Because this process requires firms to establish challenging goals, managers are often confronted with significant conflicts between the financial and the environmental and social considerations when introducing socially or environmentally oriented decision making. The author recommends the adoption of a commonly shared corporate vision to allow for …

Role Playing And Cooperative Learning In The Ais Course, Dennis F. Togo, Kristi Jane Yuthas

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

The accounting information systems course is often viewed as difficult to teach because it contains topics that are less quantifiable and structured in comparison to courses in financial or managerial!cost accounting. Yet, many AIS instructors have developed successful teaching techniques that are suited to the AIS course. A creative teaching approach for the AIS course is that of role-playing organizations and their operations, especially for transaction cycles. In addition, cooperative learning can be nicely coupled with role playing because of their common emphases on social interdependence and shared learning. The benefits and guidelines for cooperative learning and role playing are …

Erps And Strategy: First, Do No Harm, Kristi Jane Yuthas, Catherine Banbury, Darrell Brown

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

ERP and other systems projects are now commonly preceded or accompanied by reengineering efforts. Traditional reengineering projects use a 'clean sheet' approach, in which companies attempt to design ideal processes without being bound to existing processes and constraints. When reengineering is associated with information technology (IT) implementation, the more common approach is known as 'tool-driven' or 'system-enhanced' reengineering. Under this approach, the new processes are designed with explicit attention to the opportunities and constraints presented by the capabilities of the new information system. Although IT-related reengineering approaches have matured through time, they have not kept pace with current perspectives on …

A Data Dictionary Approach To Meeting User Requests For Accounting Information, Kristi Jane Yuthas, Dennis F. Togo

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this era of massive data accumulation, dynamic development of large-scale databases and inteifaces intended to be user-friendly, there is still an increasing demand on analysts as actual user access to databases is still not a common practice. A data dictionary approach, that includes providing users with a list of relevant data items within the database, can expedite the analysis of information requirements and the development of user-requested information systems. Furthermore, this approach enhances user involvement and reduces the demands on the analysts for systems development projects.

The Evolving Role Of Semiconductor Consortia In The United States And Japan, Rose Marie Ham, Greg Linden, Melissa M. Appleyard

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article examines the interactions between public and private actors as cooperation in the semiconductor industry becomes increasingly international. The latest manifestations of multilateral collaboration are two consortia: I300I based in the United States and Selete based in Japan. Through an analysis of their structures and their origins, this article provides a deeper understanding of the complexities facing industry-wide consortia, the role of the government in promoting or inhibiting cooperation, and the lingering rivalries that impede truly global cooperation in a dynamic, high-technology industry.

The Role Of Skill Upgrading In Manufacturing Performance, Melissa M. Appleyard

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

This section examines the industry-wide trend of upgrading the skills of production workers in the semiconductor industry. This analysis discusses the industry characteristics driving this trend, the human resource policies that support skill upgrades, and the payoffs associated with such upgrades. To provide a deeper understanding of the process of skill upgrading, two fabs from our sample are analyzed in detail. One fab is located in Japan (pseudonym Jfab) and the other fab is located in the U.S. (pseudonym USfab).

As a central part of their manufacturing strategy, these fabs have emphasized the upskilling of operators particularly for equipment maintenance …

Methodological Disclosure: The Foundation For Effective Use Of Survey Research, Bruce L. Stern, Ray Ashmun

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

A survey of marketing executives and a content analysis of their most recent survey research repon reveals that most methodology descriptions are sketcliy, at best. lmponant details about the sampling plan and other procedures are often omitted or loosely presented, leaving the reader insufficiently informed about the foundation that the study was built upon.