The following diagram illustrates this concept as cited in the work of Aydinliyim (2007). Figure 1

Total Online Supply Chain Portal

Source: Aydinliyim (2007)

The work of Griffin, Keskinocak and Savasaneril (nd) entitled: "Improving Supply Chain Performance Through Buyer Collaboration" states that in many companies today purchasing is conducted by "multiple functional divisions which either act independently or have minimal interaction with each other." (p.3)

Griffin, Keskinocak and Savasaneril states that there are three collaboration models: (1) no collaboration in which buyer divisions and suppliers trade through traditional sales channels in one-to-one transactions with no existing information flow; (2) internal collaboration in which functions divisions of a buyer collaborate internally; and (3) full collaboration in which a third party intermediary enables collaboration among different buyers and allows the participants to achieve benefits from both economies of scale and scope due to reduced fixed production and transportation costs. (nd, p. 3) These three models are shown in the following illustration labeled Figure 2.

Figure 2

Three Models of Collaboration Among Buyers and Buyers Divisions

Source: Griffin, Keskinocak and Savasaneril (nd)

The work of Xu and Beamon entitled: "Supply Chain Coordination and Cooperation Mechanisms: An Attribute-Based Approach" states that the importance of coordination in supply chain management (CSM) "cannot be overemphasized." (p. 4) Supply chain management is defined as "the planning and coordination of activities, from procurement to production, through...distribution." (Xu and Beamon, 2006, p.4) According to Xu and Beamon "Coordination mechanisms may be differentiated on the bases of four attributes as follows: (1) resource sharing structure, (2) decision style, (3) level of control, and (4) risk/reward sharing. (Xu and Beamon, 2006, p.5)

Given that the selection of a coordination mechanism is often based on minimizing relative costs, transaction cost theory (TCT) can be used to classify the three types of costs associated with coordination: coordination cost, operational risk cost, and opportunistic risk cost. This facilitates relating each coordination mechanism attribute to a type of cost." (p. 5) the resource sharing structure is stated to include the following: (1) No resource sharing; (2) Operational resource sharing; (3) tactical resource sharing; and (4) strategic resource sharing. (Xu and Beamon, 2006, p. 6)

Stated as two primary sources of operational risk cost are: (1) shirking of the cost that arise; and (2) refusal to adapt. (Xu and...

(Xu and Beamon, 2006, p. 6) Xu and Beamon state that the selection of a coordination mechanism is a "tactical-strategic decision. As such, it is intended to govern the medium to long-term coordination structure between organizations. As operating environments change, so too much the corresponding coordination mechanism." ( p.11)
SUMMARY

It is clear from the brief review of literature in this work that supply chain management coordination between suppliers and buyers offers a great many advantages and that among these advantages reduction of cost of goods is of primary importance along with reductions in costs associated with shipping of supplies and inventory.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Arising from the brief review of literature in this research proposal is a recommendation that the study as proposed herein be conducted and specifically that the coordination of the suppliers and buyers in the supply chain be analyzed through use of the differential game theory methodology.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lavelle, SM (2006) Planning Algorithms. Cambridge University Press. Online available at: http://planning.cs.uiuc.edu/node710.htmlDockner, E., Jorgensen, S. And Long, NV (2000) Differential games in economics and management science. Cambridge University Press, 2000

Xu, Lei and Beamon, Benita M. (2006) Supply Chain Coordination and Cooperation Mechanisms: an Attribute-Based Approach. The Journal of Supply Chain Management Winter 2006.

Griffin, PM, Keskinocak, P and Savasaneril, S. (nd) Improving Supply Chain Performance Through Buyer Collaboration. Georgia Tech University. Online available at: http://www2.isye.gatech.edu/~pinar/emarket.pdf

Aydinliyim, Tolga (2007) Coordination and Competition in Outsourcing Operation. Ohio State University 7 Aug 2007. online available at: http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/send-pdf.cgi/AYDINLIYIM%20TOLGA.pdf-case1181322220

Unchaining Value: Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Supply (2008) United Nations Environment Program. Online available at: http://www.uneptie.org/scp/unchaining/publications/Unchaining-Value-Final-Report.pdf