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The Supply Chain Management (SCM) model is broad. Its applicability applies at all industrial sectors from manufacturing, medical, agricultural to the education sector. The aim of this paper is to reveal the Supplier Performance Management activities in the education sector. This research is significant in view of the need in ensuring that the supply chain activities at the education sector is aligned with the objective to provide the best service to the stake holders especially the future human capital resource, which is the student. The research has successfully been carried out at University Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) Strategic Business Unit (SBU) or campuses. The research aims at several areas related to Supplier Performance Management. The focus of the research is on supplier evaluation. The first objective is to analyse Supplier Performance Management practice between the campuses. The second objective is to reveal the criteria used for supplier performance. Based on previous research, there are several popular supplier evaluation criteria that have been used such as Price, Technology, Quality, Service, Responsiveness and Delivery. The third objective is to identify barrier elements in applying supplier performance management. Data collection has been carried out by using questionnaires and interview session. 7 out of 12 UniKL campuses participated in this research. To achieve the objective, the research activities compared the assessment criteria from each SBU. In the next phase a comprehensive table was developed to depict the different practices for each of the campuses. The study revealed significant finding which contributed to the Supply Chain Knowledge and practices. The research found variances of supplier evaluation criteria among the campuses. It is suggested to explore further on the connection/relationship between Quality Management System (QMS) or ISO 9001 certified organization and Supplier Performance Management adoption.

Natural resources should be used as effectively as possible along the entire supply chain. One approach to keep the resources on a high value-added level is the extension of classical supply chains to closed-loop supply chains, covering the whole product life cycle. This requires innovations in products and technologies as well as changes in existing value-added processes. Thus, the required redesign process comes along with extensive investment and a high level of uncertainty and flexibility and can have a significant impact on the success of the company. This paper presents a model, based on the real options theory with a closed-loop supply chain which complements the classic investment approach with ecological aspects of the evaluation. The model allows a qualitative and quantitative assessment of investment decisions associated with uncertainty. Additionally, the possible options for action and the inherent risks are demonstrated. The expansion of the net present value method to real options with external environmental factors and entrepreneurial aspects of design enable in this case the calculation of an extended net present value for realistic evaluation of strategic investments.

Information sharing serves as an essential approach for the survival of enterprises and enabler of supply chain integration. Nowadays, with the advancement in information and communication technology, information sharing has become more conceivable. Furthermore, information sharing in supply chains has become more efficient by the global introduction of long- term cooperation and coordination which leads ultimately to the improvement of companies’ competitive advantages. There is a lack of information sharing within companies nowadays, which results in inefficiency of coordinating actions within the units in the company or organization. The purpose of this study is to investigate and overview the effectiveness of information sharing in supply chain management, in order to increase the efficiency of the organizational performance in the manufacturing sector. This study elaborates the benefits and barriers of information sharing leading to enhanced supply chain integration among enterprises, as a result.

The aim of this study was to assess the degree of supply chain management`s development in Romanian companies. For this, a selective, explorative survey, on a sample of 225 Romanian companies was used. The objectives of the research focused on highlighting the importance of logistics in the companies’ management and on identifying specific issues related to supply chain management - role, objectives, predisposing factors, applications. From the research, it was found that supply chain management is at an early stage of development, specifically for the 80s and 90s. In addition, there is insufficient awareness that SCM is a tool for increasing business performance and competitiveness in the global market. The value of the study is given also by the fact that it is a pioneering work in Romania, where there were little such researches, especially in PhD thesis.

International audience; In the past forty years, the franchising system has undergone a remarkable expansion, notably in France, retaining more and more the attention of economy and service management researchers. A recurring question relates to the sources of competitive advantage that a franchise network may have. This paper intends to contribute to the debate based on the fundamentals of the resource/competence-based view, and applying the reflection to the case of the logistical service. Based on a case study driven within a franchise network, it is possible to conclude that the supply chain competences of a franchisor play an important role in the level of perceived satisfaction of franchisees when customised solutions are proposed thanks to information technologies.