Organizations that efficiently complete a demand planning process gain a competitive advantage. The current demand planning literature mostly studies relatively large organizations. However, SMEs ...invest a significant amount of resources into improving demand planning practices. Moreover, the context of SMEs in Latin America, and specifically Mexico, has not been explored sufficiently by the current literature. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to understand demand planning in a Mexican SME. The paper involves a case study of a confectionery firm based in Jalisco, Mexico. To make sense of the empirical findings, the Kilger and Wagner (2008) theoretical framework of demand planning was utilized. This paper concludes that Mexican SMEs have a different context compared to larger firms in developed countries. Thus, how Mexican SMEs envision and implement demand planning is unique, specifically in demand planning structures and controlling.
Creating Best Practices in Saudi Arabia Alwazae, Meshari M. S.; Kjellin, Harald
Advances in business-related scientific research journal,
2013, Letnik:
4, Številka:
2
Journal Article
This paper investigates identification of best practices (BPs) in Saudi Arabia. We adopted an established theoretical framework as a basis for developing questions and conducting the study. ...Interviews were held with selected informants at a number of large organizations. The analysis of interview results showed that organizations are not acquainted with the formal BP framework. They linked identification of BP to documented practices, to communities of knowledge, or to specific publications. However, Saudi Arabia's attempts at sharing BPs can be viewed as a positive step forward. We suggested that a BP team is needed to obtain some direction toward evaluating and sharing BP. Our study revealed the need for having a clear working template for creation and documentation procedures of BP. Also, we suggested that a contribution from an online network of BPs is a recommended, and most useful, approach for supporting the collaboration between business enterprises in terms of sharing BP.
