Single Sourcing vs. Sole Sourcing


This concept reviews benefits and drawbacks of sole-sourcing and single-sourcing approaches. It aims to help professionals to improve efficiency and guarantee the consistency of supply and price stability.

Technique Overview

Single Sourcing vs. Sole Sourcing Definition

Single sourcing refers to a "situation in which a company within a certain category with clear intent buys from just one supplier". Sole sourcing, on the other hand, is a "situation in which a company within a certain category buys, due to external circumstances, from one, monopolist supplier" (Van Weele, 2010: 410).

Single Sourcing vs. Sole Sourcing Description *

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Business Evidence

Strengths, weaknesses and examples of Single Sourcing vs. Sole Sourcing *

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Business Application

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Professional Tools

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Further Reading

Single Sourcing vs. Sole Sourcing web and print resources *

Single Sourcing vs. Sole Sourcing references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Burke, G.J., Carrillo, J.E. and Vakharia, A.J. (2007) Single Versus Multiple Supplier Sourcing Strategies. European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 182(1), pp. 95-112.
  • Chopra, S. and Sodhi, M.S. (2004) Managing Risk to Avoid Supply-Chain Breakdown. MIT Sloan Management Review, Vol. 46(1), pp. 53-61.
  • Kannan, V.R. and Tan, K.C. (2002) Supplier Selection and Assessment: Their Impact on Business Performance. Journal of Supply Chain Management, Vol. 38(4), pp. 11-21.
  • Larson, P.D. and Kulchitsky, J.D. (1998) Single Sourcing and Supplier Certification: Performance and Relationship Implications. Industrial Marketing Management, Vol. 27(1), pp. 73-81.

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