PhD ceremony Ms. B.N. Petkova: Power and supply chain integration

PhD ceremony: Ms. B.N. Petkova, 9.00 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: Power and supply chain integration

Promotor(s): prof. H.B.M. Molleman

Faculty: Economics

Modern economies are based on the sequential distribution of tasks between firms. In this division of tasks, every company adds value to a semi-finished product and sells it to the next firm until a final consumer product is realized. Literature refers to such networks of firms as supply chains. To improve the flow of materials between the various firms in a supply chain, academics frequently stipulate that there is a need for integration between them. Yet, there is insufficient understanding when and why supply chain integration actually arises and what its (potential) outcomes are for the integrating firms.

In this thesis, Boyana Petkova investigates the link between power and supply chain integration. While power has been distinguished as a factor essential to supply chain integration, there is little empirical work exploring this link. Furthermore, while there are different aspects to integration, most literature treats integration as a uni-dimensional concept. As such it is poorly understood how the various aspects of integration are affected by the power conditions under which firms operate. This thesis aims to increase the understanding of this link.

Combined, the thesis findings indicate that firms use their power to shape supply chain integration to serve their interest. On one hand, they seek to reap the benefits from streamlining the flow of resources in the supply chain through integration. On the other hand, they simultaneously take into consideration its costs and risks.