In this paper, we examine the functional form of the relationship between working capital assets and corporate performance beyond the traditional single-company perspective. In particular, we explore how a focal company's adequate level of working capital is influenced by the presence of limited financial resources along the supply chain. Moreover, we investigate the performance impact of supply chain finance (SCF)-oriented working capital management (WCM) approaches. Based on the SCF-oriented school of thought, we subject propositions regarding the relationship between working capital and corporate performance from prior WCM research to explorative empirical testing. In doing so, we raise awareness of factors that have yet to be tested. We derive methodological implications for conducting interorganizational studies in the field of SCF and outline a future research agenda. The explorative results indicate (i) the existence of a profit-maximizing level of working capital, (ii) superior performance of companies adopting an SCF-oriented WCM approach, (iii) higher profitmaximizing levels of working capital for focal companies facing financially constrained supply chain partners, (iv) a positive performance impact of efficient inventory management, and (v) differentiated payment strategies toward up-and downstream supply chain partners.

The aim of this research was to identify quality discrepancies in the existing service offerings of logistics service providers (LSPs). A multi-sided model of service quality (SERVQUAL) highlighting existing gaps in service provision was developed. A qualitative case study approach was employed, and the data were analyzed via a pattern-matching technique. The contribution to the literature is twofold. First, the study transferred the original service quality model developed in the 1980s from a business-to-consumer context to a business-to-business context that is specific to LSPs. Second, the results provide a means of closing the identified service quality gaps arising in an LSP context. Two internal gaps were found: non-homogeneous expectations between the sales and operations departments, and a communication and knowledge gap between these two entities. The three external gaps between LSPs and customers are a loyalty and corporate brand image gap, an innovation and information technology gap and an information asymmetry gap.

Terminal, nondirectional ionic "multiple" bond interactions between group 15 elements and rare-earth metals (Ln) have remained a challenging target until present. Although reports on terminal imide species have accumulated in the meantime, examples of terminal congeners with the higher homologue phosphorus are yet elusive. Herein, we present the synthesis of the first terminal yttrium organophosphinidene complex, Tp tBu,Me Y(� PC 6 H 3 iPr 2 -2,6)(DMAP) 2 , according to a double-deprotonation sequence previously established for organoimides of the smaller rare-earth metals. Subsequent deprotonation of the primary phosphane H 2 PC 6 H 3 iPr 2 -2,6 (H 2 PAr iPr ) with discrete dimethyl compound Tp tBu,Me YMe 2 in the presence of DMAP under simultaneous methane elimination generated a terminal multiply bonded phosphorus. The primary phosphide intermediates Tp tBu,Me YMe(HPAr iPr ) and Tp tBu,Me YMe(HNPAr iPr )(DMAP) are isolable species and were also obtained and fully characterized for holmium and dysprosium. The Lewis acid-stabilized yttrium phosphinidene Tp tBu,Me Y[(μ 2 -PAr iPr )(μ 2 -Me)AlMe 2 ] was obtained by treatment of H 2 PAr iPr with Tp tBu,Me YMe(AlMe 4 ) but could not be converted into a terminal phosphinidene via cleavage of trimethylaluminum. The corresponding reaction of H 2 PAr iPr with Tp tBu,Me YMe(GaMe 4 ) led to adduct [GaMe 3 (PH 2 Ar iPr )] rather than to the formation of a yttrium phosphinidene. The yttrium−phosphorus interaction in the obtained organophosphide and phosphinidene complexes was scrutinized by 31 P/ 89 Y NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, unambiguously supporting the existence of multiple bonding.

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