A Configuration Typology for Involving Purchasing Specialists in Product Development
通过案例研究，识别出六种采购参与产品开发项目的配置类型，分析其协调程度和整合水平，并指出项目规模和复杂度是影响配置适宜性的驱动因素。
SUMMARY This article develops a configuration typology for purchasing's involvement in product development projects. Six configurations are identified and analyzed, varying in degree of coordination and level of purchaser integration. The configurations are illustrated by five case studies performed in different companies operating in different industries. Enabling factors, such as the purchasing organization and the competencies and skills of the purchasers, can facilitate the involvement of purchasers in a development project. Project size and project complexity can be identified as driving factors influencing the appropriateness of the purchaser involvement configurations. Dedicated, full‐time purchasing specialists in combination with a purchasing coordinator provide the strongest degree of involvement necessary for managing large and complex projects, whereas indirect, ad hoc purchasinginvolvement provides the lowest degree of involvement sufficient for small and relatively simple projects.