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Benchmarking external product variety in the Austrian agricultural industry

Published Online:May 9, 2013pp 129-142https://doi.org/10.1504/IJLSM.2013.053753

Abstract

High external variety is one of the main challenges to be faced within value networks. However, in practice there is a notable failure to manage this increasingly high variety and to embed variety management approaches in company structures. Therefore, the purpose of the paper is to present a benchmarking study of external product variety in the Austrian agricultural sector. In addition, a longitudinal case study showing the development of external variety in proportion to financial parameters in a specific company over the last ten years is executed. Finally the paper gives an overview of existing and planned variety management approaches in the company studied.

Keywords

variety, external product variety, variety management, value network, benchmarking study, data envelopment analysis, DEA, complexity, product complexity, value network complexity, logistics systems

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