COOPERATIVE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT - THE IMPACT OF INTERORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION-SYSTEMS

The impact of interorganizational information systems on the structure and management of a supply chain in the textile industry is analysed from a managerial perspective. Case data from detailed, partial longitudinal studies of manufacturer and retail organizations are presented. The competitive strategies of organizations in the supply chain are described and their associated patterns of communication are analysed. It is shown that companies are moving towards cooperative relationships in an Effort to make the supply chain as a whole more competitive. The resulting market structure is an electronic hierarchy in which business processes are integrated across organizational boundaries using interorganizational information systems. The strategies of the individual firms are evolving as new opportunities arise and different problems present themselves. The results are compared with current theories on market structure and competition in an electronic trading environment and future trends are outlined.