Table 1 Factorial scenario-based modules... | Emerald Publishing

Table 1

Factorial scenario-based modules

Base scenario
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Company A is a biotechnology company focused on the development of sustainable fuels. Among Company A's main targets is the production of economically and operationally viable substitutes to diesel, with biomethane appearing as the most promising alternative. As a result of the biodigestion of agricultural waste, biomethane can successfully substitute diesel in trucks, greatly reducing the environmental impact of road transportation. To achieve its ambitions, Company A has to overcome some important challenges (see figure below). The first refers to the building of its biomethane production sites, which demand a significant financial investment (bank). Secondly, it must have access to agricultural waste regularly and in large quantities (sugar mill) to guarantee production stability, gains of scale and, consequently, reasonable production costs. Thirdly, it must have access to gas pipelines and points of sale (gas stations/fuel distributor) that allow it to deliver biomethane to its consumers. Finally, Company A depends on the production of trucks capable of using biomethane as fuel (truck manufacturer), thus enabling its product to meet the necessary demand
Study 1: Potential supply chain partnership
Bank	Imagine that you are the CEO of a bank that is focused on financing industrial projects, and you have been approached by the president of Company A who, after presenting the biomethane production project and its arguable environmental advantages, asks you for a loan that will allow you to build its first production site
Sugar mill	Imagine that you are the CEO of a sugar mill that produces and refines sugar, and you have been approached by the president of Company A who, after presenting the biomethane production project and its arguable environmental advantages, asks you to supply it with sugar-cane bagasse to be used as raw material for the production of biomethane
Fuel distributor	Imagine that you are the CEO of a fuel distributor that operates oil pipelines, gas pipelines and gas stations, and you have been approached by the president of Company A who, after presenting the biomethane production project and its arguable environmental advantages, asks you to use your infrastructure to distribute biomethane for final consumers
Truck manufacturer	Imagine that you are the CEO of a truck manufacturer that produces and sells medium and heavy semi-trucks, and you have been approached by the president of Company A who, after presenting the biomethane production project and its arguable environmental advantages, asks you to produce truck models capable of using biomethane as fuel
Study 2: Decision on supply chain partnership
Manipulation factor: Bank
Imagine that the CEO of Bank B, focused on financing industrial projects, have been approached by the president of Company A who, after presenting the biomethane production project and its potential environmental advantages, asked Bank B for a loan that will allow you to build its first production site
Positive	After the presentation of Company A's project in detail, especially with regard to its potential environmental benefits, Bank B reached a positive answer and decided that it would finance the construction of Company A's first biomethane production unit
Negative	After the presentation of Company A's project in detail, especially with regard to its potential environmental benefits, Bank B reached a negative answer and decided that it would NOT finance the construction of Company A's first biomethane production unit

Base scenario
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Company A is a biotechnology company focused on the development of sustainable fuels. Among Company A's main targets is the production of economically and operationally viable substitutes to diesel, with biomethane appearing as the most promising alternative. As a result of the biodigestion of agricultural waste, biomethane can successfully substitute diesel in trucks, greatly reducing the environmental impact of road transportation.To achieve its ambitions, Company A has to overcome some important challenges (see figure below). The first refers to the building of its biomethane production sites, which demand a significant financial investment (bank). Secondly, it must have access to agricultural waste regularly and in large quantities (sugar mill) to guarantee production stability, gains of scale and, consequently, reasonable production costs. Thirdly, it must have access to gas pipelines and points of sale (gas stations/fuel distributor) that allow it to deliver biomethane to its consumers. Finally, Company A depends on the production of trucks capable of using biomethane as fuel (truck manufacturer), thus enabling its product to meet the necessary demand
Study 1: Potential supply chain partnership
Bank	Imagine that you are the CEO of a bank that is focused on financing industrial projects, and you have been approached by the president of Company A who, after presenting the biomethane production project and its arguable environmental advantages, asks you for a loan that will allow you to build its first production site
Sugar mill	Imagine that you are the CEO of a sugar mill that produces and refines sugar, and you have been approached by the president of Company A who, after presenting the biomethane production project and its arguable environmental advantages, asks you to supply it with sugar-cane bagasse to be used as raw material for the production of biomethane
Fuel distributor	Imagine that you are the CEO of a fuel distributor that operates oil pipelines, gas pipelines and gas stations, and you have been approached by the president of Company A who, after presenting the biomethane production project and its arguable environmental advantages, asks you to use your infrastructure to distribute biomethane for final consumers
Truck manufacturer	Imagine that you are the CEO of a truck manufacturer that produces and sells medium and heavy semi-trucks, and you have been approached by the president of Company A who, after presenting the biomethane production project and its arguable environmental advantages, asks you to produce truck models capable of using biomethane as fuel
Study 2: Decision on supply chain partnership
Manipulation factor: Bank
Imagine that the CEO of Bank B, focused on financing industrial projects, have been approached by the president of Company A who, after presenting the biomethane production project and its potential environmental advantages, asked Bank B for a loan that will allow you to build its first production site
Positive	After the presentation of Company A's project in detail, especially with regard to its potential environmental benefits, Bank B reached a positive answer and decided that it would finance the construction of Company A's first biomethane production unit
Negative	After the presentation of Company A's project in detail, especially with regard to its potential environmental benefits, Bank B reached a negative answer and decided that it would NOT finance the construction of Company A's first biomethane production unit