2023_004

SIRQEL is a Norwegian based startup, which provides rental service for families with young children for example, bicycles. Customers can order products from our website and get it delivered at their doorstep. The service is subscription based and customers can change the size if it doesn’t fit or send it back to us for repair if something gets torn or broken. We are responsible for any repair and washing before the product collected is sent to a new family. Thus, it can be said that this is a Product-As-A-Service supply chain. Our aim is to replace single use purchase and make it easier for families to adopt sustainable consumption. However, through different tests and trials, some products are rented out more than others.

We want students who are interested in Circular Economy and Service logistics to help us with conducting research into one or more of the following topics:

- Identify the barriers and ways to mitigate them while transitioning traditional product categories into a product-service model.

- Explore which other product categories can be turned into a service model.

- Investigate if PAAS for bikes is better in regards to CO2 emissions.

- Currently, the repair and delivery are outsourced to another service provider. Explore whether one or both services can be managed in-house, in terms of costs and lead time.

- At present, we rent out the products we have already bought and is in our storage. Thus, it is limited and there’s a chance we might be understock if all products are rented out and we get a new order. However, buying a lot of inventory and storing them will also have some costs. Explore whether Just-in-Time inventory can be implemented, its challenges and ways to mitigate them.

Apart from these, students are also encouraged to propose their own research idea which might help the company.

2023_006

Purchasing and supply management is a critical business function that plays a significant role in the success of an organization. In today's fast-paced and highly competitive business environment, organizations are under constant pressure to improve their purchasing function's efficiency and effectiveness to stay competitive. Innovation has become a vital driver of this transformation, with organizations increasingly seeking new and innovative ways to optimize their purchasing processes, reduce costs, and improve their overall performance. However, many organizations struggle to integrate innovative technologies and practices into their purchasing function.

Despite the importance of innovation in the purchasing function, there is still limited research on the subject. There is a lack of understanding of the key factors contributing to innovation's success or failure in this area. This knowledge gap calls for research to explore issues related to innovating the purchasing and supply function and identify best practices for effective implementation.

Objectives:

The primary objective of this research will be to explore the innovation of the purchasing function and its impact on the organization's overall performance. Among other aspects, the study may:

· Identify the key technological innovations and practices allowing the purchasing function to increase its impact.

· Explore the challenges of implementing innovation in the purchasing function and identify best practices for effective implementation.

· Identify the critical success factors for innovation in the purchasing function.

· Develop a framework for guiding the process of innovating the purchasing function.

NB: These are just suggestions; one will be free to decide the focus of their thesis.

Suggested methodology:

Deploying qualitative research methods is recommended. In that case, the research will begin with a comprehensive literature review of the current state of knowledge. Data can be collected through interviews with purchasing professionals and organizational leaders to gather their experiences and perspectives or through surveys. The analysis of interview-based data should be performed using qualitative analytical approaches, while survey data should be analyzed using statistical methods.

NB: This is just a suggestion; one will be free to implement other suitable methods.

2023_007

Buyer-supplier relationships are critical to the success of many organizations. Over the years, organizations have focused on improving these relationships to drive better performance, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. However, the traditional approach of developing and maintaining long-term relationships with suppliers may not always be effective, given the increasing pace of change and disruption in the business environment. Exaptation is a concept that offers a potential solution to this problem by enabling organizations to repurpose existing buyer-supplier relationships for new or different purposes.

Despite the potential benefits of exaptation in buyer-supplier relationships, there is a lack of research on the subject. As a result, research is needed to provide insights on how to navigate exaptation in buyer-supplier relationships and identify best practices for effective implementation.

Objectives:

The primary objective of this research will be to explore the exaptation of buyer-supplier relationships. Among other aspects, the study may:

· Explore the process of exaptation in buyer-supplier relationships.

· Identify challenges and the critical success factors for exaptation in buyer-supplier relationships.

· Identify potential implications to sustainability practices.

· Develop a framework for enacting and managing exaptation in buyer-supplier relationships.

NB: These are just suggestions; one will be free to decide the focus of their thesis.

Suggested methodology:

Deploying qualitative research methods is recommended. In that case, the research will begin with a comprehensive literature review of the current state of knowledge. Data can be collected through interviews with purchasing professionals and organizational leaders to gather their experiences and perspectives. The analysis of interview-based data should be performed using qualitative analytical approaches.

NB: This is just a suggestion; one will be free to implement other suitable methods.

2023_008

Public procurement is vital for governments to achieve policy objectives and deliver public services. However, the traditional approach to procurement is often criticized for being inflexible and focused on cost reduction rather than value creation. However, public buyers may have some leeway in the procurement process, which they can use to achieve better outcomes. Despite the potential benefits of capitalizing on the available discretion and flexibility in the public procurement process, there is limited research on the topic. Many public buyers may be unaware of their options or lack the skills and knowledge required to use them effectively. As a result, there is a need for research to explore how public buyers use their leeway to achieve better outcomes.

Objectives:

The primary objective of this research will be to explore how public buyers use their leeway to achieve better outcomes. Among other aspects, the study may:

· Identify the key factors influencing public buyers' use of the available leeway.

· Explore the potential benefits and risks of using such leeway.

· Evaluate the impact of using leeway on the efficiency, effectiveness, and overall performance of public services.

· Develop a framework to guide public buyers on how to use the available leeway.

NB: These are just suggestions; one will be free to decide the focus of their thesis.

Suggested methodology:

Deploying qualitative research methods is recommended. Data can be collected through interviews with public buyers to gather their experiences and perspectives. The analysis of such data should be performed using qualitative analytical approaches.

NB: This is just a suggestion; one will be free to implement other suitable methods.