| dc.description.abstract | Building deep, strategic supplier relationships has come to the forefront of companies’
goals in recent years. There are many different strategic sourcing methodologies available to
procurement professionals. However, there is a gap in identifying the reasons and motivations
as to why companies develop their suppliers, and how suppliers are developed in different
business environments and contexts. To address this question, this study used semi-structured
interviewing in support of a cross-case comparison approach. Analyzing the similarities and
differences between modern businesses and how their sourcing decisions are made is crucial to
better understand the motivations for developing suppliers. It was found that many companies
have similar goals when investing in supplier health, but that the sourcing approach might differ
based on age and size of the business, along with the stage of growth the business is in. This
research shows that there is no “one method fits all” when it comes to strategic sourcing. The
strategy needs to be more tailored to the current business needs and goals. | en_US |
