This project aims to analyse the main variables considered by companies to carry out the make or buy decision. By reviewing the existing theories about the topic, an overall framework was built according to core activities, influence of the outside market and existing firm capabilities, but needed to be validated through a further empirical analysis. Therefore, seven case studies were written from interviews with Chief Purchasing Officers from real companies and were compared using a cross-case methodology. The mix of both the theoretical and empirical approaches enriched the explanation about the make or buy decisional process. The project started with the collection of papers related to the main theories; Transaction Cost Economics, McIvor’s Theory, Resource-based View and Institutional Theory, either theoretical or also case studies based on them. With the takeouts extracted it was possible to build a research framework that helped the development of the seven interviews, built in an interpretive way and enriched with additional remarks from the CPOs. The theoretical review helped to extract the main study variables based on the theories: uncertainty, frequency, asset specificity (TCE), core activities performance (McIvor’s), strategic resources management (RBV), influence of laws and regulations and impact of cultural trends (IT). After, the with-in case study analysis showed that the variables extracted from the TCE and the McIvor’s Theory are the ones companies considered crucial for the decision-making process, while the other two are more used as support tools in further steps of the decision. The synthetical conclusions provided in this thesis have provided the purchasing field with useful insights by addressing what the existing theories are lacking, given the learnings obtained thanks to the seven case studies. In addition, regarding the managerial contribution, the thesis provides insights that consider additional variables apart from the theoretical ones, which may help real companies. The limitations from this thesis are related to the limited sample size of the empirical study and also the low degree of specificity in terms of sectors. Future lines of research could include broadening the analysis with more companies or conducting industry-specific applications of the framework.
L’obiettivo del presente elaborato è analizzare le principali variabili prese in considerazione dalle aziende per la decisione "make or buy". Esaminando le teorie esistenti sull'argomento, è stato costruito un quadro generale in base alle attività principali, l'influenza del mercato esterno e le capacità esistenti dell'azienda, ma è stato necessario convalidarlo attraverso un'ulteriore analisi empirica. Perciò, sono stati redatti sette casi di studio, ricavati da interviste a Responsabili Acquisti di aziende reali, che sono stati confrontati con una metodologia incrociata. L’unione di approcci teorici ed empirici ha arricchito la spiegazione del processo decisionale make or buy. Il progetto è iniziato con la raccolta di documenti relativi alle principali teorie: Transaction Cost Economics, McIvor's Theory, Resource-based View e Institutional Theory, sia teorici che basati su casi di studio. Con i dati estratti è stato possibile costruire un quadro di ricerca che ha aiutato lo sviluppo delle sette interviste, costruite in modo interpretativo e arricchite con osservazioni aggiuntive da parte dei CPO. La revisione teorica ha aiutato a estrarre le principali variabili di studio basate sulle teorie: incertezza, frequenza, specificità degli asset (TCE), performance delle attività principali (McIvor), gestione delle risorse strategiche (RBV), influenza di leggi e regolamenti e impatto delle tendenze culturali (IT). In seguito, l'analisi del caso di studio ha mostrato che le variabili estratte dal TCE e dalla teoria di McIvor sono quelle che le aziende considerano cruciali per il processo decisionale, mentre le altre due sono più utilizzate come strumenti di supporto nelle fasi successive della decisione. Le conclusioni sintetiche fornite in questa tesi hanno fornito al settore degli acquisti utili spunti di riflessione, affrontando ciò che manca alle teorie esistenti, alla luce degli apprendimenti ottenuti grazie ai sette casi di studio. Inoltre, per quanto riguarda il contributo manageriale, la tesi fornisce nuovi conclusioni che considerano ulteriori variabili oltre a quelle teoriche, che possono aiutare le aziende reali. I limiti di questa tesi sono legati alla limitata dimensione del campione dello studio e al basso grado di specificità in termini di settori. Le future linee di ricerca potrebbero includere l'applicazione del framework a settori specifici o l'ampliamento dell'analisi con un maggior numero di aziende.
Discriminants of the make or buy decision: a real case study approach
Panzano De Arozarena, Laura
2022/2023
Abstract
This project aims to analyse the main variables considered by companies to carry out the make or buy decision. By reviewing the existing theories about the topic, an overall framework was built according to core activities, influence of the outside market and existing firm capabilities, but needed to be validated through a further empirical analysis. Therefore, seven case studies were written from interviews with Chief Purchasing Officers from real companies and were compared using a cross-case methodology. The mix of both the theoretical and empirical approaches enriched the explanation about the make or buy decisional process. The project started with the collection of papers related to the main theories; Transaction Cost Economics, McIvor’s Theory, Resource-based View and Institutional Theory, either theoretical or also case studies based on them. With the takeouts extracted it was possible to build a research framework that helped the development of the seven interviews, built in an interpretive way and enriched with additional remarks from the CPOs. The theoretical review helped to extract the main study variables based on the theories: uncertainty, frequency, asset specificity (TCE), core activities performance (McIvor’s), strategic resources management (RBV), influence of laws and regulations and impact of cultural trends (IT). After, the with-in case study analysis showed that the variables extracted from the TCE and the McIvor’s Theory are the ones companies considered crucial for the decision-making process, while the other two are more used as support tools in further steps of the decision. The synthetical conclusions provided in this thesis have provided the purchasing field with useful insights by addressing what the existing theories are lacking, given the learnings obtained thanks to the seven case studies. In addition, regarding the managerial contribution, the thesis provides insights that consider additional variables apart from the theoretical ones, which may help real companies. The limitations from this thesis are related to the limited sample size of the empirical study and also the low degree of specificity in terms of sectors. Future lines of research could include broadening the analysis with more companies or conducting industry-specific applications of the framework.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/207996