Supply chain management for circular economy: conceptual framework and research agenda

Purpose – Circular economy (CE) initiatives are taking hold across both developed and developing nations. Central to these initiatives is the reconfiguration of core supply chain management (SCM) processes that underlie current production and consumption patterns. This conceptual article provides a detailed discussion of how supply chain processes can support the successful implementation of CE. The article highlights areas of convergence in hopes of sparking collaboration among scholars and practitioners in SCM, CE, and related fields. Design/methodology/approach – This article adopts a theory extension approach to conceptual development that uses CE as a “method” for exploring core processes within the domain of SCM. The article offers a discussion of the ways in which the five principles of CE (closing, slowing, intensifying, narrowing, dematerialising loops) intersect with eight core SCM processes (customer relationship management, supplier relationship management, customer service management, demand management, order fulfilment, manufacturing flow management, product development and commercialization, returns management). Findings – This article identifies specific ways in which core SCM processes can support the transition from traditional linear approaches to production and consumption to a more circular approach. This paper results in a conceptual framework and research agenda for researchers and practitioners working to adapt current supply chain processes to support the implementation of CE. Originality/value – This article highlights key areas of convergence among scholars and practitioners through a systematic extension of CE principles into the domain of SCM. In so doing, the paper lays out a potential agenda for collaboration among these groups

Bending the Chain: The Surprising Challenge of Integrating Purchasing and Logistics

Over the last several decades, supply chain (SC) professionals have focused on performance issues that have emerged from a lack of commercial/business alignment with supply chain operations. Significant improvements have been made, and systemic processes (IBP—integrated business planning—and S&OP—sales and operations planning) have been developed to drive a fully integrated business. As business integration has continued to improve, the biggest SC opportunities have shifted. Every year, the University of Tennessee’s Global Supply Chain Institute networks with hundreds of companies, requesting information on emerging supply chain issues. Our recent research shows that one of the greatest business integration opportunities is found within the traditional supply chain functions themselves. (“We have met the enemy and he is us!”). Specifically, we believe a major strategic integration opportunity exists between purchasing and logistics, and failing to capitalize on this opportunity is very clearly causing many firms to miss important opportunities to create value

Review: Peter Klaus and Stefanie Müller, eds. The Roots of Logistics: A Reader of Classical Contributions to the History and Conceptual Foundations of the Science of Logistics (Berlin: Springer, 2012).

Book Review: Peter Klaus and Stefanie Müller, eds. The Roots of Logistics: A Reader of Classical Contributions to the History and Conceptual Foundations of the Science of Logistics (Berlin: Springer, 2012). Cloth and paperback. 427 pp. ISBN-13: 978-3642439186

Cross-Functional Integration in the Supply Chain: Construct Development and the Impact of Workplace Behaviors

Cross-functional integration (CFI) is central to supply chain theory and practice. However, researchers have yet to settled on a consistent definition or measure of CFI, creating confusion over its conceptual content and making it difficult to validate given operationalizations. In addition, researchers have only recently begun to explore the impact of workplace behaviors on CFI and supply chain performance. The two studies in this dissertation seek to contribute to the supply chain literature in both of these areas. Study 1 develops a comprehensive definition and valid measure of CFI based on a systematic process of construct development. Study 2 employs the newly developed construct to investigate the relationships among organizational design, workplace behaviors, CFI, and supply chain performance. Overall, this dissertation seeks to enhance the rigor and relevance of CFI research by (1) offering a precise definition and measure of the CFI phenomenon and (2) establishing its relationship to variables, such as workplace behaviors, that are within the control of most supply chain managers

The conductor matters: the impact of purchasing orchestration on organizational performance

Purpose: Organizations increasingly manage innovation projects jointly with suppliers to use external resources to fill internal competencies. However, little is known about the practices of how companies configure internal and external resources to enhance competitiveness. Drawing on resource orchestration theory, this study aims to propose a novel approach to explain organizational performance using purchasing orchestration (PO) as an antecedent. The paper then tests an empirical model to assess the impact of PO practices on innovation and financial performance. Design/methodology/approach: Cross-sectional survey data from 247 supply chain managers are used to test hypotheses relating PO to performance. SPSS PROCESS is applied to test conditional direct and indirect effects. Findings: The positive impact of PO practices on innovation and financial performance is confirmed. Results indicate an organization’s entrepreneurial orientation (EO) can strengthen the positive relationship between PO and financial performance. Structuring, bundling and leveraging external resources are introduced as new organizational capabilities. Research limitations/implications: This research is based on cross-sectional data, and unidimensional constructs are used. Practical implications: This research guides managers on the innovation process in light of the growing importance of external resources. The manuscript highlights the role of strategic purchasing in establishing new resource capabilities as a competitive advantage. Originality/value: This research provides new insights into the relationship between purchasing practices and organizational performance and helps better understand the implications of orchestrating supply chain resources. A novel construct, PO, is introduced as a theoretical basis for studying supply chain-enabled innovation

Middle-range theorizing on logistics customer service

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how a systematic application of middle-range theorizing, which pays particular attention to contexts and mechanisms, can be used to extend current knowledge on logistics customer service (LCS) in a number of critical areas. Design/methodology/approach The paper applies Stank et al.'s (2017) framework for middle-ranging theorizing in logistics to develop a research framework and agenda that can guide future LCS research. Results are generated through a review of the LCS literature and an application of the main concepts of middle-range theorizing. Findings The paper outlines opportunities for middle-range research that would extend LCS knowledge in the areas of human and behavioral factors, time-based competition, supply chain complexity, and digitization and technological innovation. Research limitations/implications Describing the main characteristics of middle-range theorizing and how middle-range theorizing can be fruitfully applied to LCS research should help to stimulate new knowledge creation in this important area of supply chain logistics management. Practical implications By focusing on why and when questions, middle-range theorizing engages with the practical realities of LCS that interest managers and students. Middle-range theorizing moves researchers toward developing a detailed understanding of what actually has to change in order for desired LCS-related outcomes to occur and the contextual factors likely impacting the change process. The paper should, therefore, allow managers to better translate LCS theory into action. Originality/value Middle-range theorizing remains new to the supply chain logistics field. The application of middle-range theorizing to LCS research, and logistics research more generally, demands new perspectives on established relationships with the potential to drive original research in areas most relevant to managers