Blockchain applications in supply chains, transport and logistics : a systematic review of the literature

This paper presents current academic and industrial frontiers on blockchain application in supply chain, logistics and transport management. We conduct a systematic review of the literature and find four main clusters in the co-citation analysis, namely Technology, Trust, Trade, and Traceability/Transparency. For each cluster, and based on the pool of articles included in it, we apply an inductive method of reasoning and discuss the emerging themes and applications of blockchains for supply chains, logistics and transport. We conclude by discussing the main themes for future research on blockchain technology and its application in industry and services

Toward a Comprehensive OSCM Research Methodology: The Role of Design Science

Research in Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM) field is widespread and applied to various sectors of industry and services. Despite its benefits, the diversity of the worldviews of OSCM research applications and the preferences regarding the choice of methodologies by the researchers sometimes cause unnecessary complexities in converging these efforts toward advancing theory and practice. It has been argued that the application of multi-methods could facilitate obtaining a common ground through which OSCM researchers could make more effective and robust contributions in binding theory and practice. There is, however, a lack of a unifying research methodology so that OSCM research could effectively link between theory and practice and move toward more coherence of research in the OSCM field. In this article, we introduce the application of design science research methodology and the use of multi-methods approach in this methodology to draw a road map for more coherent future research attempts in the domain of OSCM. As an example, the behavioral causes of the bullwhip effect are examined and illustration is made on how the dispersed but growing research efforts in this area could be aligned into drawing a behavioral theory of the ordering preferences of decision makers in supply chains and in organizations

Outsourcing performance quality assessment using data envelopment analytics

The growth of vendor procurement and supply chain management simultaneously emerged as organizational outsourcing practices increased. Outsourcing, as an important strategic organizational practice, needs to be carefully examined from an organizational performance perspective to ensure satisfactory quality of services and goods from supply chains. This article provides a model for performance assessment of an outsourcer's processes in a supply chain comprised of several internal and external entities. Internal entities are entities in a supply chain that the outsourcer can manage and control. External entities are entities whose processes are not within the management sphere and control of the outsourcer, yet affect an outsourcer's performance. A slacks-based measure is incorporated into a hybrid network data envelopment analysis model to evaluate the outsourcer performance incorporating both entity types. A case study of a service supply chain in the banking industry comprised of a commercial bank, its sub-processes, and an external investment bank is used as an illustrative application of the model. Insights are presented and future research directions are identified

The Application of Graph Theory for Vulnerability Assessment in Service Triads

A supply chain triad is increasingly regarded as a unit of analysis of complex supply chain networks, allowing the realization of properties such as certain risks manifesting at the level of supply chain networks, and which are not necessarily observed at the level of supply chain dyads or individual supply chain partners. This study investigates a type of supply chain triad - service triads - and explores cross- organizational pathways according to which risks can emerge and propagate within such triadic structures. The aim of the study is to design an analytical model with the view to facilitate the assessment of vulnerability in service triads according to the aforementioned cross-organizational pathways of risk emergence and propagation. Using graph theory, a range of service triad reference models are developed, which formalize the typology and direction of the relationships between members of the supply chain triad. Adopting the notion of matrix permanent allows calculating the vulnerability levels of distinct service triad models, accounting for the formalized typology and direction of the relationships within the models. A case study in a corporate bonds context is conducted to illustrate the applicability of the proposed approach to vulnerability assessment in the service industry context

Outsourcing performance quality assessment using data envelopment analytics

The growth of vendor procurement and supply chain management simultaneously emerged as organizational outsourcing practices increased. Outsourcing, as an important strategic organizational practice, needs to be carefully examined from an organizational performance perspective to ensure satisfactory quality of services and goods from supply chains. This article provides a model for performance assessment of an outsourcer's processes in a supply chain comprised of several internal and external entities. Internal entities are entities in a supply chain that the outsourcer can manage and control. External entities are entities whose processes are not within the management sphere and control of the outsourcer, yet affect an outsourcer's performance. A slacks-based measure is incorporated into a hybrid network data envelopment analysis model to evaluate the outsourcer performance incorporating both entity types. A case study of a service supply chain in the banking industry comprised of a commercial bank, its sub-processes, and an external investment bank is used as an illustrative application of the model. Insights are presented and future research directions are identified

Behavioral Operations and Supply Chain Management–A Review and Literature Mapping

Behavioral operations research has proliferated greatly over the decade since its first formal review in 2006. The growth of the field warrants an objective mapping of contributions to the literature and the identification of trends. We conduct a systematic review of the literature of behavioral operations and supply chain management (BOSCM) across eight key operations and supply chain management journals, with publication dates through the end of June 2018. Collected articles are categorized into 12 operations contexts as well as emerging topic considerations. Key research trends, theoretical foundations, and methodological choices are discussed in each context. The results show that supply chain management, inventory management, and procurement/auctions have been the most popular operations contexts for BOSCM researchers. The results of our co-citation analysis shows that the fundamental research areas that have informed and shaped the field include supply chain risk management, marketing, cognitive psychology, and social psychology. Based on these findings and a survey of the most prolific authors in the field, we discuss possible avenues for future research