Power as a Management Device for Networks? Insights from Russia

Abstract

Power can be considered to be one of the strongest and influential tools in vertical relationships along the whole food chain. Each member of a supply chain tries to assume a dominant position that gives control over other members and maximum revenues using their power. Retailers and manufacturers exist in a competitive environment and compete for the same consumers and carry the same merchandise. Each party tries to achieve maximum revenues using its power. The aim of our paper is to shed some light on this term as well as find out how power could be used as a managerial tool for chain management using the empirical setting of Russian agri-food business.Key words: Power; Russia; Supply Chains; Management