Thematic analysis’s findings
| Theme | Sub-theme | Description | Key findings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global sourcing strategy | Supplier selection criteria | Criteria for choosing suppliers is based on availability, quality, reliability, and cost | Brewers select suppliers based on ingredient availability, quality, and cost. Some ingredients are only available from specific countries |
| Quality control | Ensuring products that meet the required standards | Challenges include non-compliant products, requiring strict quality checks. Brewers face significant difficulties in ensuring ingredient quality, often requiring on-site audits and continuous monitoring of suppliers | |
| Cost management | Balancing cost efficiency with maintaining product quality | Brewers prioritize cost-effective sourcing but are willing to pay more for higher-quality ingredients. Suppliers in certain regions may offer competitive pricing, but logistical costs and delays can offset these savings | |
| Challenges | Managing the complexities of international supply chains | Delivery delays and logistical issues impact production schedules, especially for distant sourcing locations. Additionally, the complexity of managing international suppliers with a lack of direct communication combined with bureaucratic issues and the difficulty of assessing the competencies of foreign suppliers presents significant challenges | |
| Perceived psychic distance | Cultural differences | Impact of cultural and language differences on business relationships | Cultural and language barriers that affect communication and relationships with suppliers are not among the most influential elements that strengthen the perceived psychic distance |
| Regulatory barriers | Challenges posed by differing regulations across countries | Customs regulations, legal differences, and bureaucratic obstacles increase transaction complexity. This is exacerbated in countries with stringent import regulations or rapidly changing policies. Differences in legislative systems contribute to heightened perceptions of psychic distance | |
| Geographical distance | Impact of physical distance on sourcing and communication | Geographic distance causes logistical delays and affects real-time communication with suppliers. The greater the distance, the more complicated the coordination of shipments, often leading to delays | |
| Logistic and distribution infrastructures | Impact of differences in logistic and distribution infrastructures on sourcing efficiency | Differences in logistic and distribution infrastructures between countries significantly contribute to the perception of psychic distance, affecting the ease of supply chain operations | |
| Market size | Influence of market size on the perception of psychic distance | Differences in market size between countries represent a key variable in the formation of psychic distance, affecting how businesses plan and execute their sourcing strategies | |
| Role of intermediaries | Facilitation of transactions | Role in simplifying the sourcing process | Intermediaries assist with supplier selection, quality control, and navigating regulatory hurdles. They are particularly valuable in markets with complex regulatory environments or where direct communication is challenging |
| Trust building | Establishing and maintaining trust between buyers and suppliers | Long-term relationships enhance trust, facilitated by intermediaries, which is crucial in high-psychic-distance contexts. Intermediaries play a critical role in bridging trust gaps, especially in high-risk markets | |
| Logistical support | Assistance with transportation and supply chain challenges | Intermediaries help overcome logistical difficulties, ensuring timely delivery of materials. They are essential in coordinating between different logistics providers and managing unexpected disruptions | |
| Challenges in sourcing | Non-compliant products | Issues with products not meeting specified standards | Non-compliance leads to production disruptions, requiring robust quality control measures. Non-compliance is a recurring issue, particularly with suppliers from regions with lower regulatory standards |
| Delivery delays | Delays in receiving materials due to logistical challenges | Frequent delays impact production schedules, necessitating contingency planning. Delivery delays are often caused by customs hold-ups, transportation mishaps, or supplier inefficiencies | |
| Supplier relationship problems | Issues with communication and order accuracy | Miscommunication and order inaccuracies cause delays and relationship strain. Problems in supplier relationships often stem from cultural misunderstandings, leading to errors in orders and strained partnerships |
| Theme | Sub-theme | Description | Key findings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria for choosing suppliers is based on availability, quality, reliability, and cost | Brewers select suppliers based on ingredient availability, quality, and cost. Some ingredients are only available from specific countries | ||
| Ensuring products that meet the required standards | Challenges include non-compliant products, requiring strict quality checks. Brewers face significant difficulties in ensuring ingredient quality, often requiring on-site audits and continuous monitoring of suppliers | ||
| Balancing cost efficiency with maintaining product quality | Brewers prioritize cost-effective sourcing but are willing to pay more for higher-quality ingredients. Suppliers in certain regions may offer competitive pricing, but logistical costs and delays can offset these savings | ||
| Managing the complexities of international supply chains | Delivery delays and logistical issues impact production schedules, especially for distant sourcing locations. Additionally, the complexity of managing international suppliers with a lack of direct communication combined with bureaucratic issues and the difficulty of assessing the competencies of foreign suppliers presents significant challenges | ||
| Impact of cultural and language differences on business relationships | Cultural and language barriers that affect communication and relationships with suppliers are not among the most influential elements that strengthen the perceived psychic distance | ||
| Challenges posed by differing regulations across countries | Customs regulations, legal differences, and bureaucratic obstacles increase transaction complexity. This is exacerbated in countries with stringent import regulations or rapidly changing policies. Differences in legislative systems contribute to heightened perceptions of psychic distance | ||
| Impact of physical distance on sourcing and communication | Geographic distance causes logistical delays and affects real-time communication with suppliers. The greater the distance, the more complicated the coordination of shipments, often leading to delays | ||
| Impact of differences in logistic and distribution infrastructures on sourcing efficiency | Differences in logistic and distribution infrastructures between countries significantly contribute to the perception of psychic distance, affecting the ease of supply chain operations | ||
| Influence of market size on the perception of psychic distance | Differences in market size between countries represent a key variable in the formation of psychic distance, affecting how businesses plan and execute their sourcing strategies | ||
| Role in simplifying the sourcing process | Intermediaries assist with supplier selection, quality control, and navigating regulatory hurdles. They are particularly valuable in markets with complex regulatory environments or where direct communication is challenging | ||
| Establishing and maintaining trust between buyers and suppliers | Long-term relationships enhance trust, facilitated by intermediaries, which is crucial in high-psychic-distance contexts. Intermediaries play a critical role in bridging trust gaps, especially in high-risk markets | ||
| Assistance with transportation and supply chain challenges | Intermediaries help overcome logistical difficulties, ensuring timely delivery of materials. They are essential in coordinating between different logistics providers and managing unexpected disruptions | ||
| Issues with products not meeting specified standards | Non-compliance leads to production disruptions, requiring robust quality control measures. Non-compliance is a recurring issue, particularly with suppliers from regions with lower regulatory standards | ||
| Delays in receiving materials due to logistical challenges | Frequent delays impact production schedules, necessitating contingency planning. Delivery delays are often caused by customs hold-ups, transportation mishaps, or supplier inefficiencies | ||
| Issues with communication and order accuracy | Miscommunication and order inaccuracies cause delays and relationship strain. Problems in supplier relationships often stem from cultural misunderstandings, leading to errors in orders and strained partnerships |
Source(s): Authors’ own work
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