Social Interaction and Price Transmission in Multi-Tier Food Supply Chains

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12660/joscmv9n1p110-128

Keywords:

Social interaction, price transmission, pricing, information seeking, supply chain.

Abstract

This research focuses on social interaction associated with price transmission in a multi-tier rice supply chain. A case study and qualitative methods are employed to examine a well-established supply network in Karawang District in Indonesia. Farmers and traders used their existing network in selling rice crops to traders and adopted a payment scheme for cash-and-carry transactions. Information on the market situation was obtained through personal interviews and observations including text messaging with farmer and trader informants. Evidence reveals that social relationships are vital in transmitting price information among networked actors to maintain the flow of rice, mitigate risk, and avoid losses due to poor quality of the rice product. Findings show that social interaction enables actors in an end-to-end rice supply chain to deal with the assurance of supply rationing.

Author Biographies

Maria Widyarini, Parahyangan Catholic University

Ms. Widyarini is assistant professor at Parahyangan Catholic University, Indonesia. She is also a Research Associate at the School of Business and Management in Bandung Institute of Technology. She holds a Masters degree in Industrial Engineering specialising in Industrial Management from Bandung Institute of Technology. Her research interests include supply chain management, finance and logistics management. She also is an active member in Centre of Excellence for SME Development at Parahyangan Catholic University and Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) of Indonesia Project. She has experiences of being a team member of several research projects and grants.

Togar M Simatuoang, Bandung Institute of Technology

Dr. Simatupang is professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management at the School of Business and Management in Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia. He holds a PhD from Massey University, New Zealand. He has extensively published in logistics and supply chain management journals. He has been attributed highly commended award by Emerald Literati Network for his research in supply chain management. His current research and teaching interests focus primarily on supply chain collaboration, operations management, value chain thinking, and value chain management.

Per Engelseth, Molde University College

Dr. Engelseth is associate professor at Molde University College since 2012 and received his Dr. Oecon degree in logistics and SCM from BI Norwegian School of Management in 2007. His main research interests include engineering management, case studies of end-to-end supply chains, food product traceability, supply chain collaboration including value co-creation, local foods supply chains, and complex adaptive systems. He has published numerous articles in academic journals as well as in anthologies including publications in International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, and Supply Chain Forum: An International Journal.

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Published

2016-07-18

Issue

Section

01.Operations Strategies and Competitiveness