Title: Power relations in supply strategies – a network approach

Authors: Anni-Kaisa Kahkonen

Addresses: School of Business, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland

Abstract: The aim of this study is to discuss the role of power relations in the strategic supply management of a firm. Power relations between buyers and suppliers are examined in the context of value nets, because the network as a level of analysis in power research has been argued to be significant. The study presents a framework for measuring sources of structural power and uses it in the evaluation of power relations. A case study from the Finnish food industry shows that the nature of the relationship significantly determines the actions and decisions of supply management and, moreover, defines the strategy used.

Keywords: power relations; supply strategies; strategic management; power sources; networks; Finland; buyers; suppliers; value nets; structural power; food processing; food retailing; retail trade; retailers; SCM; supply chain management; procurement management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2011.041091

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2011 Vol.4 No.4, pp.386 - 401

Published online: 31 Jan 2015 *

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