Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Resource Economics

Dissertation of Eike Kaim

Analysis of Supply Chain Management: Case studies on the market for nursery products in Germany

Start: 2002
End: 2013



Substantial changes in the market for nursery products in Germany have transformed the way that supply chain partners perform transactions and interact with each other. This research focuses on the interaction between producers and retailers of nursery products. Based on the retail structure of nursery products in Germany three organisational trade types can be distinguished: owner-managed garden centres, chain store garden centres and DIY stores with departments for gardening including nursery products. For these retail types, the structure and communication of the supply chain interfaces are analysed utilising transaction cost theory and determining factors for the kind of transaction relationship are deduced. To do so, a qualitative, empirical research method is chosen. As a theory developing approach it follows a circular model, according to which existing literature, statistics and empirical studies are used to derive presumptions which are formulated and developed in case studies. In this sense, transaction cost theory will be used for three exemplary cases to describe and explain the behaviour of business partners and to deduce recommendations for improvements in business processes in the sense of reducing transaction costs. Thereby the following questions will be answered: How is the exchange process between nursery production companies and nursery retail companies organised? How can its specific structure be explained? What are relevant factors to manage the transactions in the most efficient way? Where are potential barriers?

Researcher: Kaim, Eike

Cooperation Partners:

Advisors: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Konrad Hagedorn, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Bokelmann

Funding: External PhD student

 


Publications and Presentations: see