The Relationship-driven Supply Chain: Creating a Culture of Collaboration Throughout the Chain [Hardcover]

A review by Economic Outlook and Business Review September 2006 says:
"As companies grow and respond to market opportunities across international boundaries, supply chain challenges will arise. Extended sales and production networks create supply chains that are longer and more complex. In this volume a supply chain can encompass raw material and packaging sources, and all the supply logistics associated with manufacturing and distribution; it may also have to accommodate customer service, product returns and replacement and recycling commitments.
This book provides an in-depth examination of the complexities that arise in. the supply chain of large organizations. A central proposition is that a high performing supply chain is based on "strategic trust". According to the authors, "... with strategic trust, the partners have access to each other's strategic plans, relevant cost information and forecasts are shared, risks and rewards are addressed openly". The aim of the book is to explain and illustrate how to achieve a culture of inter-company trust so as to improve supply chain capability.
The authors have a strong background in supply and logistics spanning many years. They have also undertaken consultancy work on behalf of bodies concerned with purchasing and supply, and they are both external examiners for various university and professional courses dealing with supply logistics.
This is an excellent volume, and is required reading for those concerned with supply management. -- Economic Outlook and Business Review September 2006

Review in Institute of Operations Management, September 2006 includes:
I like the initial chapter ...it presents an excellent description of the modern supply chain, the issues and how to manage them.
The subsequent collaboration chapters were preceded by a lot of background material on culture and behaviour. An understanding of these topics is, of course, essential to be able to comprehend the formidable human issues of collaboration.
Overall it is a highly relevant book on a topic which hasn't had a lot of exposure in the literature but one which is of interest to many people in manufacturing, retail and distribution (and service organisations, for that matter). In that respect it fills a gap which needed to be filled urgently. There is a lot of good "soap box" stuff here which is essential to generate a passion for collaboration and explain the commercial imperative.
Readers need to take on board that this is first and foremost a book about people issues in collaborative supply chain management. That topic is covered in considerable depth. -- Institute of Operations Management, September 2006

Review in Focus CILT May 2007 by David Marsden MILT
This book is a revealing examination of the relationships within the supply chain and how important it is for organisations to analyse relationships internally and externally within their supply chain. There are four sections to the book
'Supply Chain Reviewed' examines a number of topics, including the history of supply chain, the growth of supply chain management and changes in approaches to management and strategies of the supply chain.
In `People Relationships at Work', the authors start to examine relationships more closely, from individuals to company cultures, with particular focus on management styles and team dynamics.
'Supply Chain Relationships in Business' starts with Percy & Charlie, a simple fictional tale of one enlightened individual and one who is old-school purchasing. The tale is used to highlight the effectiveness of collaboration within the supply chain. The story uses real-life examples of success and failure of large organisations to highlight the importance of collaboration. This section then goes on to look at supplier and vendor appraisals, working towards supply chain rethinking.
In 'Changing and Improving Supply Chain Relationships' the authors examine the process of change, looking at the stages in the development of collaborative relationships, moving on to examine trust at a strategic level, examining behavioural change in the organisation.

One key part of this section looks at the difficulties of change and helps, to identify the areas and presents a number of ways in which to address them. The section concludes with a model for supply chain relationships, which is a most useful tool for any individual or organisation looking to make changes.
This book is aimed at an organizational level or individual within any industry that is genuinely considering a deeper examination of collaborative supply chain management. The authors have covered all that they set out to achieve in an easy-to-read, well-structured and understandable method, which is refreshing.
As a point of reference, this title will prove useful for students studying supply chain management at degree level and will also provide a foundation for any individual looking for advice and a starting point for change within their organization. It is well presented, with good use of illustrations.
In summary I found this read informative, interesting and well thought through, and would recommend it to anyone interested in supply chain management. -- Focus CILT May 2007

Collaboration in supply chains means managing the chain beyond traditional or transactional methods. It involves rethinking the way your business is managed, both internally and externally, and the ways in which employees and partners relate to each other. Stuart Emmett and Barry Crocker's book explains how a relationship-based approach to supply chain management can transform business; how to organise your business internally for effective supply chain relationships; and how to transform your external supply chain using relationship marketing, customer relationship management and supply chain partnerships. One of the key distinguishing characteristics of a high performing supply chain is the presence of strategic trust. With strategic trust, the parties have access to each other's strategic plans; relevant cost information and forecasts are shared; risks and rewards are addressed openly. This book explains how to embed a culture of inter-company trust and to realise the benefits of improved supply chain relationships.