Reflecting on time, timing and timeliness in public sector supply networks

Abstract

Despite recent research on time (e.g. Hedaa & Törnroos, 2001), consideration of the time dimension in data collection, analysis and interpretation in research in supply networks is, to date, still limited. Drawing on a body of literature from organization studies, and empirical findings from a six-year action research programme and a related study of network learning, we reflect on time, timing and timeliness in interorganizational networks. The empirical setting is supply networks in the English health sector wherein we identify and elaborate various issues of time, within the case and in terms of research process. Our analysis is wide-ranging and multi-level, from the global (e.g. identifying the notion of life cycles) to the particular (e.g. different cycle times in supply, such as daily for deliveries and yearly for contracts). We discuss the ‘speeding up’ of inter-organizational ‘e’ time and tensions with other time demands. In closing the paper, we relate our conclusions to the future conduct of the research programme and supply research more generally, and to the practice of managing supply (in) networks.

Divisions: College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > School of Infrastructure and Sustainable Engineering > Engineering Systems and Supply Chain Management
College of Engineering & Physical Sciences
College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > Sustainable environment research group
College of Business and Social Sciences > Aston Business School
Additional Information: © 2002 The Authors
Event Title: 18th IMP conference
Event Type: Other
Event Dates: 2002-09-05 - 2002-09-07
Uncontrolled Keywords: time,networks,supply strategy,public sector,network learning,health
Last Modified: 11 Mar 2024 08:40
Date Deposited: 21 Jul 2014 12:25
Full Text Link:
Related URLs: http://www.impg ... p?viewPaper=533 (Publisher URL)
PURE Output Type: Paper
Published Date: 2002
Authors: Knight, Louise (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-4890-9980)
Walker, Helen L.
Caldwell, Nigel D.
Harland, Christine M.

Download

[img]

Version: Accepted Version

| Preview

Export / Share Citation


Statistics

Additional statistics for this record