Abstract:

Traditionally, much of the research attention in the study of global supply networks has focused on the material or product flows and also on the relevant information flows. Much less central to the study of supply chain management has been the issue of financial flows. This paper considers a number of central issues related to the study of this underresearched issue. Specifically, we raise the issues of financial flows and their cost as well as risk implications, explore the value that can be derived from optimizing and reorganizing financial flows, and consider the role of current financial services arrangements and their implications for change and improvement to financial flows in global supply networks.