Bos-de Vos, M; Lieftink, B; Volker, L and Wamelink, H (2014) International collaboration and partnering in the supply chain as business opportunities for architectural firms. In: Raiden, A and Aboagye-Nimo, E (eds.) Proceedings of 30th Annual ARCOM Conference, 1-3 September 2014, Portsmouth, UK.
Abstract
Due to a shift towards market driven concepts, a risk allocation from the demand side to the supply side and the increasing competition with other skilled actors in the value chain, architectural firms have to adapt quickly to stay competitive. They need to innovate not only their products and services, but also make more fundamental changes in the way they create and appropriate value, thereby replacing or innovating their business models. This research addresses business model design of architectural firms from an activity system perspective. It aims to identify activity systems that are used within the architectural service sector to create and capture value. By analysing the possibilities and restrictions of the activity systems in relation to both firm and supply chain, business opportunities for architectural firms are explored. Archival data and 20 explorative interviews with different architects, clients and contractors, contribute in the identification of two emergent activity systems: international collaboration and partnering in the supply chain. Since the activity systems include new activities, linkages and actors, they require managerial attention in order to 1) enhance value creation and capture by the firm and 2) guarantee optimal collaboration within the supply chain. By applying the concept of activity systems on the field of architecture, the importance of business model design for the value chain of architectural services is showed.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | architectural services; business model design; collaboration; supply chain integration |
| Index terms: | competition, architectural firm, business model, value creation, risk allocation, guarantee, architect, value chain, interview, supply chain integration, linkage, collaboration, partnering, architectural service |
| Subjects: | supply chain integration, management, economic development, financial risk, contract structure, value chain strategy, data collection methods, profession, practice management, market analysis, business, partnership management |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Design Practice, Procurement, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Supply Chain Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here