Developing Supply Base Strategies

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine and discuss the responses and strategies firms use in relation to their supply base when dealing with current trends in the business landscape, and the different options that they have.Design/methodology/approach - The paper draws on case study research of a company within the international health care sector to illustrate the relationship between trends, supply base characteristics and supply base strategies.Findings - The paper presents a framework for a systematic approach that companies can use to develop supply base strategies. The framework illustrates that developing supply base strategies is a dynamic process that not only involves individual actions by the buying company, but also requires close interaction with suppliers.Originality/value - Previous literature has not specified how different trends affect a company's supply base in terms of increased complexity and (inter) dependence, and which supply base strategies companies use and the options that they have. The research presented here contributes to fill this void.