University of Twente Student Theses
Factors facilitating the strategic alignment between the purchasing strategy and business strategy: a SME context
Mensen, S.J. (2021) Factors facilitating the strategic alignment between the purchasing strategy and business strategy: a SME context.
|
PDF
1MB |
| Abstract: | Purchasing research in the context of SMEs is still under-researched today, despite the importance of purchasing for all organizations. For factors leading towards strategic alignment between the purchasing strategy and business strategy holds this as well. Existing research has shown the importance of strategically aligning the purchasing strategy as it creates competitive advantage and enhances firm performance. For these reasons, this study aims to discover the factors aligning the purchasing strategy with the business strategy in SMEs. Based on a literature review in the areas of purchasing, strategy and SMEs, a synthesis section is developed and four propositions. In order to discover these strategic alignment factors, an exploratory research approach is chosen which is operationalized by means of a semi-structured interview. Four dimensions facilitating the strategic alignment between the purchasing strategy and business strategy are found in SMEs: 1) Skills, knowledge & experience; 2) Organizational structure; 3) Organizational dynamics and; 4) Customer requirements. Additionally, substitutions between several strategic alignment factors and relationships between alignment factors and revenue were found. In short, SMEs make use of both strategic alignment factors that were not expected to be used by SMEs as well as their utilization of SME-specific alignment factors. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 85 business administration, organizational science |
| Programme: | Business Administration MSc (60644) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/88309 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
Show download statistics for this publication
Show download statistics for this publicationRepository Staff Only: item control page