Observing new product impacts on sectors value chains: The case of a French electronic SME

As a new technology impacts both the company itself and its ecosystem, the aim of this study is to visualize the influence of SME's new products on its supply chain. We adopted a case study approach to explore how products can affect the structure of a supply chain. Using data about the organization of the company and its external supply chain (including customers, suppliers, distributors and partners), the research objective is a better understanding of the global influences of innovation on the supply chain structure. A methodology is developed to model the supply chain at different periods and observe the evolution within and across companies in that supply chain as a result of the chosen strategies. Thereby, the influence of the new product on the supply chain can be analyzed in detail. The results of this study reveals possible scenarios to design the new supply chain in which the company will evolve following the emergence of its new product. As a perspective, a methodology will be elaborated to help top managers to anticipate these impacts.