A research view of supply chain management: Developments and topics for exploration

Abstract

There have been advances in the understanding of supply chain management (SCM) since its inception in the early-1980s. However, there are still some basic issues of SCM that remain unresolved. Much of the research that has been conducted takes one or more of the following three perspectives: (1) development of methods and techniques to study SCM and its components/processes; (2) developing solutions or answers to specic supply chain- related problems or challenges; and/or (3) measuring the results or outcomes of supply chain strategies and tactics. Each of these three perspectives is brie y examined, with selected examples from the literature cited to illustrate the type of research that has been conducted. Some potential areas of research exploration are presented. The areas examined include: theory development, and SCM processes and functions.

Key words: Modelling, quantitative research, simulation, structural equation modelling (SEM), supply chain management, theory.