Collaborative implementation of e‐business processes within the health‐care supply chain: the Monash Pharmacy Project

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the implementation of e-business processes in the procurement area of a healthcare supply chain when multiple stakeholders are involved. Design/methodology/approach -A single longitudinal case study spanning three years is presented using data collected from interviews, participant observation, and documentary analysis. Findings -This study identifies the lack of consistency and poor data quality as well as the global nature of suppliers as key issues in the e-business implementation in the healthcare supply chain. It also points out the need for collaboration and trust for a successful implementation.Practical implications -This study provides practitioners with a useful guide to the various technology-related, management, and business issues that can arise during the implementation of e-business processes in the context of supply chains involving multiple stakeholders. Originality/value -This study is distinctive on two grounds: the longitudinal nature of the study over three years; and the wide variety of participants in the Monash Pharmacy Project (including a large general hospital pharmacy, pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, government regulatory agencies, and technology providers).

Critical success criteria for B2B E-commerce systems in Chinese medical supply chain

“…However, the use of e-commerce in B2B medical supply chains has not realised its full potential (Bhakoo and Chan, 2011).…”

Examining Value Co-Creation in Healthcare Purchasing: a Supply Chain View

“…This is observable in the implementation of e business processes (Zheng et al 2008). Bhakoo and Chan (2011) in their paper on e business implementation in the Australian healthcare's pharmaceutical supply chain context have highlighted the importance of transparent SC transactions in procurement. The hospital sector also suggests the need for transparen cy, but laments a lack of connectedness and synchronicity (Burns, Lee 2008;Schneller, Smeltzer 2006).…”

“…This suggests a lack of SC transparency which diminishes VCC activities among the partners. For example, Bhakoo and Chan (2011) found that overcoming a lack of transparency enhanced performance.…”

“…The healthcare sector is often characterized as having high service criticality and demand variation (Schneller, Smeltzer 2006). However Bhakoo and Chan (2011) indi cated the gap that exists in the healthcare sector, in terms of e business's role in supporting vital SC functions like procurement, distribution and inventory management. Attaran and Attaran (2007) indicated that in a transparent environment companies might be in a position to drama tically enhance their supply chain effectiveness through collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment of their needed inventory, thereby building a one to one re lationship.…”

The impact of the national standardization system on ranking the supply chain stages improvement

“…Codification as a simple and accurate method for the identification of goods, documents, and firms' properties has been used in business level and SCs. With the help of this system, information flow, especially the product information flow has been facilitated, and all the units have the same fixed impression of each code, which provides the authenticity of plan (Bhakoo & Chan, 2011). For the classification, description, and codification of products and services at various levels, different systems have arisen to fulfill the necessary objectives.…”