LOGISTIC RESOURCES AN INTERACTIVE APPROACH

1. LOGISTIC RESOURCESAN INTERACTIVE APPROACH Håkan Håkansson Norwegian School of Management BI Nofoma Conference 2002

2. Research Tools • Airpump • Cloud chamber • Particle accelerator - CERN • Soft ware systems • Models

3. Important consequences • that scientific tools are necessary for any study of empirical phenomenon • that every scientific tool has very specific limitations – that we can only study what the scientific tools allow us to study • that scientific tools help us to analyse specific problems in a detailed way

4. Consequences cont. • they are only tools - see and handle certain aspects and miss others • they are just temporary tools, better will be found tomorrow. (This is the basic reason for our existence as researchers.) • two main tasks as researchers. To develop existing tools and to find new alternative tools.

5. An Interactive Approach • Process – problemsolving, learning, adaptations, changes, changing frame of ends-and-means • Structure – emerging structure giving limitations but also specific opportunities for participating actors

6. Static approach Given resources Utilisation in terms of used quantity Homogeneous Interactive approach Development of resources Utilisation dependent on how they are combined Heterogenous Resources

7. Homogeneous Separate production function Quality/function can be measured (solving the metering problem) Value lies in the resource – can be given one price Heterogeneous Team effects – have joint production function Knowing more about relative performance Value lies in the interface to other resources Resources

8. Five Ph.d-studies • Wedin (2001) regarding electricity • Holmen (2001) regarding egg-shaped pipes • Gressetvold (ongoing) regarding ASIC:s • Baraldi (ongoing) regarding furniture • Bengtsson (ongoing) regarding use of wood as frames in taller houses than two stores

9. Logistic resources • Large, varied and built into huge systems • Existing within a large number of different organisations – most resources have logistical effects • Have generally been regarded as homogeneous – i.e. “the less the better” • But why should it be better to work on a product compared to move it? And what about the development potential in logistic resources?

10. Netlog • Logistical resources are focused and systematically studied • They are assumed to be heterogeneous • Four types are identified: Products, facilities, business units, and business relationships.

11. Netlog cont. • 100 cases each built up around one focal resource and its interfaces with other resources • 7 Ph.d students/8 senior researchers/4 years • 7 companies directly involved

12. Expected results • To get a different view of logistical resources, how they can be used and how value is created • To investigate the function of interaction for creation and development of resources • To develop new concepts for characterising the resource development process – such as ”friction” • To give a picture of the existing variety and also to indicate potentials for improvements

13. Results for companies • Depends on their own involvement: One example, early June we met the whole top management team in one of the involved companies and they want us to be part in their strategic development as they see the development of the key relationships with customers and suppliers as crucial for the future of the company