Emerald | Supply Chain Management: An International Journal

The governance of supply networks: a systematic literature review and research directions

Colin Pilbeam, Gabriela Alvarez, Hugh Wilson — 2012-06-15 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - To establish what is known regarding how supply network governance leads to network outcomes, what mechanisms underlie this relationship, and how context impacts it.Design/methodology/approach - A systematic literature review identified 44 conceptual and empirical studies. Purely dyadic studies were excluded. Synthesis used the CIMO (Context-Intervention-Mechanism-Outcomes) logic.Findings - From a categorization of contexts, governance instruments, mechanisms and outcomes a contingent conceptual framework is developed relating governance instruments to network outcomes dependent on the context. Formal instruments are in general adopted in dynamic and unstable circumstances defined as risky, uncertain, unpredictable or during organizational change. These instruments can result in coordination, control, viability and performance outcomes. Informal instruments tend to be adopted in contexts where prior relationships exist between actors. Research limitations/implications - Arising from the conceptual framework three robust propositions are developed. A more nuanced view of power and trust is proposed to augment the explanations provided by transaction costs and social embeddedness. This provides opportunities for further research, including longitudinal and comparative studies.Practical implications - The conceptual framework provides three propositions suggesting that in dynamic or unstable circumstances formal governance instruments can provide viability, control, coordination or performance outcomes. Informal governance instruments are more effectively used in established relationships to improve performance, control and viability.Originality/value - The synthesis reveals contingencies in the appropriate governance modes of supply networks for desired outcomes in specific contexts, resolving apparent inconsistencies between prior studies.

Outcomes of inter-organizational trust in supply chain relationships: a systematic literature review and a meta-analysis of the empirical evidence

EMANUELA DELBUFALO — 2012-06-15 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - This study’s purpose is to improve the understanding of inter-organizational trust outcomes in supply chain relationships. It focuses on synthesizing the empirical researches published from 1990 to May 2010 in order to establish both what we know and do not know about this topic, thereby identifying areas for future research.Design/methodology/approach - The research methodology used is the systematic literature review. It differs from traditional narrative reviews by being more systematic and explicit in the selection of the studies and employing rigorous and reproducible evaluation methods. Fifty-six studies in total were selected from three databases: Business Source Premier; ABI/Informs; Ingenta. A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the correlated outcomes of inter-organizational trust in supply chain relationships. Thirty-three outcome variables, 96 independent samples with an overall sample size of 69,452 were included in the meta-analytic process, providing insights for dissemination and discussion.Findings - Three major themes emerge from the analysis: direct, indirect and relational outcomes. The review identifies a number of theoretical opportunities for future investigation as well as methodological challenges.Research limitations/implications - Inherent limitations could appear with regard to the methodological approaches used. The main research challenges refer to: (a) the conceptualization of inter-organizational trust; (b) the definition of supply chain relationship typologies; and (3) the availability of primary data for the meta-analytic synthesis.Originality/value - This is the first study employing a combination of systematic literature review and meta-analytic methodologies to explore the supply chain literature on inter-organizational trust outcomes. The findings are of value to academics and practitioners alike.

SUPPLY CHAIN RISK MANAGEMENT: A NEW METHODOLOGY FOR A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Claudia Colicchia, Fernanda Strozzi — 2012-06-15 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) has recently gained increasing attention in the supply chain context, both from the practitioners’ perspective and as a research area. Given the relevance of the topic, the aim of the present paper is to present a focused literature review, investigating the process of knowledge creation, transfer and development from a dynamic perspective within the context of SCRM. Design/methodology/approach - A review of the literature on SCRM was undertaken. The new proposed methodology combines the Systematic Literature Review approach to identify the most relevant articles to be included in the study with the Citation Network Analysis in order to unfold the dynamics of the field under study. We define this new methodology Systematic Literature Network Analysis. Findings - The paper demonstrates that there are a number of key themes in the field of SCRM. The contributions that influenced the field were identified and, by analysing the evolution over time of key concepts, a number of research directions were identified and discussed. Research limitations/implications - The dynamic nature of current literature review allows us to identify the directions in which research is moving and thus to recognize streams of research that appear most promising. However, the application of the research methodology, and in particular of the Citation Network Analysis, requires the support of specific computer programs. Moreover, the underlying assumption of the Citation Network Analysis is that by analysing the network of citations made to and from articles it is possible to explain the flows of knowledge used to generate new results. This is only partially true since the spread of measures based on impact assessment led many researchers to an excessive use of citations, even if their content is not always decisive for the outcome of their work.Practical implications - The present paper outlines a research agenda that may facilitate the development of models for managing supply chain risk. Furthermore from the evidence of the performed literature review some managerial insights can be derived on how to manage supply chain risk: by considering uncertainty in the design of supply chains, by understanding the impact of risks arising from network collaboration and interactions between supply chain partners, by developing proactive mitigation capabilities to hedge the increasing level of risk. Originality/value - The novelty of this research lies in the combination of two existing methodologies for reviewing the literature and in the adoption of a dynamic perspective in order to analyse theory development.

Towards a theory of supply chain alignment enablers: a systematic literature review

Heather Dawn Skipworth, Chee Yew Wong, Janet Godsell, Nemile Achimugu — 2012-06-15 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - The importance of supply chain alignment has been discussed since the birth of Supply Chain Management (SCM). Yet it remains a major challenge for supply chains. This paper aims to systematically review the cross disciplinary literature on supply chain alignment in order to identify, and develop constructs for enablers to alignment, and an associated set of hypotheses.Design/methodology/approach - A systematic approach has been taken to the literature review which ensures it is auditable and repeatable. The selection criteria are clearly aligned with the review question ensuring all literature pertinent to the question is identified and reviewed. Relevant information is extracted from the selected papers and synthesised into a set of hypotheses.Findings - Six main constructs for the enablers of alignment are identified and defined: organisational structure, internal relational behaviour, customer relational behaviour, top management support, information sharing and business performance measurement system. While the literature is disparate, across different disciplines there is good support for these enablers. The relationships between supply chain alignment and shareholder and customer value are also argued with the support of the literature. Though each of the enablers is argued to positively affect shareholder and customer value, their interactions with each other are not well supported in the literature, either theoretically or empirically, and therefore this could be an area for further research.Research limitations/implications - While the hypotheses remain theoretical, it is now possible to test them and understand the relative significance of the various enablers to alignment. Further, the significance of shareholder and customer alignment on the delivery of shareholder and customer value can be examined, thus moving towards a theory of supply chain alignment. This is needed since in practice companies are struggling with supply chain alignment. Practical implications - Covered in above research implicationsOriginality/value - The existing literature on supply chain alignment is disparate and multi-disciplinary as our descriptive analysis shows, with 72 papers published in 43 different journals. Moreover, most of the papers focus on particular enablers, while this paper brings together six key enablers from the literature to produce a set of hypotheses.

Understanding the Role of Logistics Capabilities in Achieving Supply Chain Agility: A Systematic Literature Review

David M. Gligor, Mary Collins Holcomb — 2012-06-15 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of logistics capabilities in achieving supply chain agility through a multi-disciplinary review of the relevant research. The systematic literature review provides the basis for formulating a conceptual framework of the relationship. Design/methodology/approach - A systematic, comprehensive review of the literature on manufacturing, organizational and supply chain agility from 1991 through 2010 was conducted. The literature on logistics capabilities is also examined to identify the various elements that contribute to supply chain agility. Findings - Supply chain agility has primarily been explored in the literature through a focus on manufacturing flexibility, supply chain speed, or lean manufacturing. The role of logistics capabilities in achieving supply chain agility has not been addressed from a holistic conceptual perspective. This research addresses that gap using a multi-disciplinary approach. As such, it is the first phase in theory building on the concept of supply chain agility. Further research is needed to empirically test the conceptualized relationships.Research limitations/implications - This research is a systematic, integrative review of the existing literature on the concept of agility and logistics capabilities. As such, the next phase of research needed for theory building will be the operationalization of constructs and testing of the hypothesized relationships proposed by the conceptual framework.Practical implications - The level of agility in a supply chain can determine the efficiency and effectiveness of the collective efforts. It is important that firms become more knowledgeable about the role of logistics capabilities in achieving agility. Originality/value - Through a systematic, comprehensive review of the literature in four distinct areas, the paper explores the relationship between logistics capabilities and supply chain agility.

Theoretical perspectives in purchasing and supply chain management: an analysis of the literature

Daniel Chicksand, Glyn Watson, Helen Walker, Zoe Radnor, Robert Johnston — 2012-06-15 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - This paper attempts to seek answers to four questions. Two of these questions have been borrowed (but adapted) from the work of Defee et al. (2010): RQ1. To what extent is theory used in P&SCM research? RQ2. What are the prevalent theories to be found in P&SCM research? Following on from these questions an additional question is posed: RQ3. Are theory-based papers more highly cited than papers with no theoretical foundation? Finally, drawing on the work of Harland et al. (2006), the authors have added a fourth question: RQ4. To what extent does P&SCM meet the tests of coherence, breadth and depth, and quality necessary to make it a scientific discipline? Design/methodology/approach - A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the model outlined by Tranfield et al., (2003) for three journals within the field of ‘purchasing and supply chain management’. In total 1113 articles were reviewed. In addition a citation analysis was completed covering 806 articles in total.Findings - The headline features from the results suggest that nearly a decade-and-a-half on from its development, the field still lacks coherence. There is the absence of theory in much of the work and although theory-based articles achieved on average a higher number of citations that non-theoretical papers, there is no obvious contender as an emergent paradigm for the discipline. Furthermore, it is evident that P&SCM does not meet Fabain’s (2000) test necessary to make it a scientific discipline and is still some way from being a normal science.Research limitations/implications - This study would have benefitted from the analysis of further journals, however the analysis of 1113 articles from three leading journals in the field of P&SCM was deemed sufficient in scope. In addition, a further significant line of enquiry to follow is the rigour vs relevance debate.Practical implications - This article is of interest to both an academic and practitioner audience as it highlights the use theories in P&SCM. Furthermore, this article raises a number of important questions. Should research in this area draw more heavily upon theory and if so which theories are appropriate? Originality/value - The data set for this study is significant and builds on a number of previous literature reviews. This review is both greater in scope than previous reviews (Harand et al. 2006 etc.) and is broader is subject focus (Defee et al. 2010). In addition, the citation analysis (not previously conducted in any of the reviews)and statitical test highlights that theory-based articles are more highly citied than non-theoretically based papers. This could indicate that researchers are attempting to build upon each others work