Logistics Professional Identity: Strengthening the Discipline as Galaxies Collide

The merger of logistics, operations, supply management, and related disciplines into the broader field of supply chain management (SCM) has brought together academic fields with different professional identities and competing visions of what SCM ought to be, what students ought to be taught, and what the priorities for research and publication should be. This raises serious concerns because logistics faculty are less numerous than faculty in related fields. Logistics professional identity risks being diluted by the merger, resulting in potentially serious consequences for the future of logistics education and research. This paper explores these issues and offers suggestions to preserve logistics' professional identity, education and research in a supply chain world. We propose that logisticians expand the journals where they publish logistics research, continuing support for strengthening the Journal of Business Logistics as the “A” journal in logistics, rethink the way we train doctoral students, and work to preserve our community both inside and outside business schools.     

THE APPLICATION OF EMPIRICAL STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT RESEARCH TO SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Researchers in supply chain management (SCM) have traditionally relied most heavily on the core disciplines of logistics, marketing, and operations; most are less familiar with empirical literature in strategic management. However, with the evolution of logistics into the more interdisciplinary SCM along with increasing attention within strategic management to supply chain issues, recent empirical research in strategy has much to offer. This study reviews and categorizes more than one hundred articles relevant to SCM drawn primarily from top strategic management journals.     

A Message from the Incoming Editor Team

A transition in editor teams will occur at the Journal of Business Logistics before the end of the year. This brief editorial addresses vital facets of the transition. We emphasize the importance of maintaining the journal's key traditions, namely publishing applied logistics and supply chain research yielding meaningful managerial implications. We speak to remaining open to diverse research questions and assorted research methods, while emphasizing the imperative for state‐of‐the‐art application of methods. Next, we iterate important aspects of the journal's review process. The provision of timely, knowledgeable, constructive, and detailed reviews is underscored as essential to assuring JBL's reputation as the “journal of choice” for leading‐edge logistics and supply chain research.     

Everything Old is New Again: The Age of Consumer-Centric Supply Chain Management

Over the past several decades, the disciplines of marketing and logistics grew apart from their common historical origins as marketing became more behavioral and more quantitative, while logistics leaned toward a more operational orientation. We argue in this editorial that social and technological changes in the past 20 years, coupled with the effects of the COVID pandemic, have created the conditions for the two disciplines to reconnect. We propose that scholars and practitioners consider a consumer-centric approach to supply chain management. Such an approach advocates that the entire supply chain should focus on consumer experience rather than mere customer service and that experiences might include issues such as last-mile delivery, supply chain visibility, and consumer values. We also introduce the papers appearing in this issue of the journal.     

Data Science,Predictive Analytics,and Big Data in Supply Chain Management: Current State and Future Potential

While data science, predictive analytics, and big data have been frequently used buzzwords, rigorous academic investigations into these areas are just emerging. In this forward thinking article, we discuss the results of a recent large‐scale survey on these topics among supply chain management (SCM) professionals, complemented with our experiences in developing, implementing, and administering one of the first master's degree programs in predictive analytics. As such, we effectively provide an assessment of the current state of the field via a large‐scale survey, and offer insight into its future potential via the discussion of how a research university is training next‐generation data scientists. Specifically, we report on the current use of predictive analytics in SCM and the underlying motivations, as well as perceived benefits and barriers. In addition, we highlight skills desired for successful data scientists, and provide illustrations of how predictive analytics can be implemented in the curriculum. Relying on one of the largest data sets of predictive analytics users in SCM collected to date and our experiences with one of the first master's degree programs in predictive analytics, it is our intent to provide a timely assessment of the field, illustrate its future potential, and motivate additional research and pedagogical advancements in this domain.     

Data Science,Predictive Analytics,and Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform Supply Chain Design and Management

We illuminate the myriad of opportunities for research where supply chain management (SCM) intersects with data science, predictive analytics, and big data, collectively referred to as DPB. We show that these terms are not only becoming popular but are also relevant to supply chain research and education. Data science requires both domain knowledge and a broad set of quantitative skills, but there is a dearth of literature on the topic and many questions. We call for research on skills that are needed by SCM data scientists and discuss how such skills and domain knowledge affect the effectiveness of an SCM data scientist. Such knowledge is crucial to develop future supply chain leaders. We propose definitions of data science and predictive analytics as applied to SCM. We examine possible applications of DPB in practice and provide examples of research questions from these applications, as well as examples of research questions employing DPB that stem from management theories. Finally, we propose specific steps interested researchers can take to respond to our call for research on the intersection of SCM and DPB.     

The Role of Marketing Channels in Supply Chain Management

This paper synthesizes five decades of supply chain-related research from premier managerially oriented marketing journals and provides a state-of-the-art integration and forecasting of where the field is heading. Such a review identifies where the field of supply chain management (SCM) has been, where it is, and where it is likely to go within the domain of marketing. Importantly, our paper involves a strategic discovery of the anchoring of SCM thought in marketing. A prominent feature of this paper is a set of takeaways, delineated from the cross-section of SCM literature bases (marketing channels, logistics, purchasing, and operations management) that will facilitate the development of the topic of SCM in marketing. These takeaways serve as agenda setters for future research and potential applications of SCM in marketing. Overall, we contribute to the marketing and SCM literatures by (1) reviewing the breadth of the most impactful literature on SCM that is directly connected to the field of marketing, (2) summarizing the state-of-the-art of the SCM in marketing literature, and (3) forecasting via a series of integrated takeaways what research is needed and where the SCM in marketing is likely to progress.     

Leveraging Big Data to Develop Supply Chain Management Theory: The Case of Panel Data

Increased data availability is poised to shape both business practice and supply chain management (SCM) research. This article addresses an issue that can arise when trying to use big data to answer academic research questions. This issue is that distilled data often have a panel structure whereby repeated measurements are available on one or more variables for a substantial number of subjects. Thus, to fully leverage the richness of big data for academic research, SCM scholars need an understanding regarding the different types of research questions answerable with panel data. In this article, we devise a framework detailing different types of research questions SCM scholars can answer with panel data. This framework provides a basis to categorize how SCM scholars have examined the services supply chain setting of health care with public data regarding hospital‐level patient satisfaction. We extend prior research by testing a series of three questions not yet examined in this area by fitting a series of structured latent curve models to seven years of hospital‐level patient satisfaction for nearly 4,000 hospitals. The discussion highlights theoretical and methodological challenges SCM scholars are likely to encounter as they use the panel data in their research.     

Multidisciplinary and Multimethod Research for Addressing Contemporary Supply Chain Challenges

To achieve differential performance in today’s marketplace, supply chain decision makers must manage complex, multifaceted, and nuanced issues. To help decision makers, and advance the supply chain discipline, researchers need to consider how multidisciplinary and/or multimethod research can provide greater insight into today’s and tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities. We explore questions related to the supply chain–finance interface and global supply chain management to exemplify how multidisciplinary and multimethod research can increase the insight and influence of our research contributions.     

DOCTORAL RESEARCH IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND/OR LOGISTICS‐RELATED AREAS: 1999–2004

A total of 410 entries from Dissertation Abstracts have been identified and annotated in this fourth compendium of supply chain management (SCM) and logistics‐related dissertations. Findings relating to this latest study period (1999–2004) are presented and comparisons made to previous compendiums covering 1970–1986, 1987–1991, and 1992–1998. A larger number of colleges and universities are granting degrees in SCM and logistics‐related areas and some “new players” have entered the marketplace, resulting in an upward growth trend in the absolute number of dissertations being published since the early‐1990's. Some traditionally strong institutions have maintained their position in terms of the number of SCM and logistics‐related dissertations published, while others have reduced their outputs. Areas of SCM, decision support systems, inventory management and miscellaneous transportation (models, networks, policy issues, routing & scheduling) topics are the most popular dissertation areas, while traditional transportation, warehousing and storage, DRP, JIT, Kanban, and MRP topics are being researched to a much lesser degree. Engineering logistics, human resources, location analysis, order processing and information systems, packaging, and TQM remain areas with low research interest at the doctoral level.     

基于客户旅程地图的第四方物流企业引领战略勾勒

首先界定第四方物流、引领战略和客户旅程地图等概念的内涵,进而针对第四方物流模式、物流企业发展战略及相关的工具模型予以理论溯源;在此基础上分析了中国社会经济(全供应链)、物流行业及企业的总体发展概况,并对中国第四方物流的发展进行扫描;然后从供应链(纵向)发展与管理效能、物流行业(横向)发展与服务效能、物流企业(自身)发展与运营效能三个维度设计了第四方物流企业引领发展的评价指标体系;据此揭示了当前中国第四方物流企业发展现存的主要问题;最后基于客户旅程地图,从"一纵"(供应链发展引领战略)、"一横"(物流业发展引领战略)、"一点"(自身运营发展战略)3个层面构建了中国第四方物流企业"三位一体"引领发展战略,同时提出了加强信息管理、提供品牌服务、提升运营能力等对策措施。     

A Review of Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices in Canada

There is a growing body of research on the theory and practice of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). However, relatively little research has been conducted on the extent to which corporations have integrated sustainability principles into the management of their supply chain and the evaluation of supplier performance. The purpose of this article is to explore the extent to which corporate sustainability principles are integrated into supply chain management (SCM) in corporations. Canada is used as a case study in this article. The study included a content analysis of one hundred Canadian corporate sustainable development reports and in-depth interviews with 18 Canadian experts on SSCM. The article highlights the wide array of ways in which Canadian corporations address SSCM issues. Amongst other topics, issues associated with supply chain governance, standards for SSCM, collaboration with suppliers, performance measurement, and accountability within the supply chain are explored. The findings reveal that there are many challenges in integrating sustainability into SCM. These challenges shed light on possible future directions for research in SSCM. This article underlines the need for research that reflects the interconnected nature of the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability, particularly as it relates to measuring supplier performance on sustainability initiatives.     

Considering Supply Chain Management's Professional Identity: The Beautiful Discipline (Or, “We Don't Cure Cancer,But We Do Make a Big Difference”)

In recent months, we have participated in various discussions on the future of logistics and supply chain management (SCM). As the newest business discipline, it is not surprising that SCM is going through growing pains and seeking to chart its future course and define a meaningful destiny. Considering professional identity—that is, who are we and what do we do—is a natural part of maturation. As JBL exists to help construct the discipline's identity, we address SCM's value‐creation competence as a source of identity construction. As we explain, SCM's economic and social contributions are not just noteworthy but remarkable. Modern SCM makes a difference to the people of the world, driving economic growth and raising living standards. Truly, it is a good time to be a supply chain professional. Much research, however, needs to be conducted if we are to fulfill SCM's value‐creation promise.     

Mapping the Landscape of Future Research Themes in Supply Chain Management

Supply chain researchers are confronted with a dizzying array of research questions, many of which are not mutually independent. This research was motivated by the need to map the landscape of research themes, identify potential overlapping areas and interactions, and provide guidelines on areas of focus for researchers to pursue. We conducted a three‐phase research study, beginning with an open‐ended collection of opinions on research themes collected from 102 supply chain management (SCM) researchers, followed by an evaluation of a consolidated list of themes by 141 SCM researchers. These results were then reviewed by 10 SCM scholars. Potential interactions and areas of overlap were identified, classified, and integrated into a compelling set of ideas for future research in the field of SCM. We believe these ideas provide a forward‐looking view on those themes that will become important, as well as those that researchers believe should be focused on. While areas of research deemed to become most important include big data and analytics, the most under‐researched areas include efforts that target the “people dimension” of SCM, ethical issues and internal integration. The themes are discussed in the context of current developments that the authors believe will provide a valuable foundation for future research.     

基于电子商务的供应链设计与重构策略

企业推行供应链管理必然面临电子商务这一新环境,电子商务为供应链管理创造了新机会,同时也对供应链管理提出了新挑战,供应链管理必须根据电子商务环境做出相应调整和重构。分析电子商务环境对供应链管理的影响,探讨电子商务环境下供应链设计与重构的方法、原则和步骤,使物流、信息流和资金流发挥最大效能,最终实现理想的供应链。     

A Primer on Moderated Mediation Analysis: Exploring Logistics Involvement in New Product Development

Theorizing and empirically testing moderated mediation hypotheses allows logistics and supply chain management (L&SCM) scholars to extend the boundaries of our current understanding by examining how, when, and why relationships arise between constructs central to our theories. However, while moderated mediation analyses can enrich theory in L&SCM, they are few in number, likely due to the complexities associated with their execution. In this article, we provide a didactic treatment for executing moderated mediation analysis. We do so using primary data regarding logistics involvement in new product development. In the hopes of spurring greater application of moderated mediation in L&SCM, we devise a series of recommendations that guide scholars through the process of conducting such analyses. These recommendations extend prior treatments by explaining how to address challenges associated with devising theories to undergird moderated mediation hypotheses, measuring constructs using multiple indicators, providing guidance for detecting influential cases that can unduly affect results, and integrating what results should be reported.     

The building blocks of a supply chain management theory: Using factor market rivalry for supply chain theorizing

As the supply chain discipline matures, opportunities emerge to develop or define theories that are specific to supply chain phenomenon. The current research specifies characteristics that we offer which comprise the building blocks of supply chain theory. These characteristics include the flows of material through a supply chain network, the temporal management of these material flows, the dyadic and triadic interactions of firms within the supply chain network, and the outward focus on supply chain management (SCM), in other words a supply chain orientation, of firms in a supply chain. Further, recognizing that supply chain theories must contain the previously identified characteristics, we offer Factor Market Rivalry (FMR) as a theory of SCM. FMR refers to intense battles for resource positions that are needed to manufacture, provide, or deliver firm products or services. We argue that FMR only occurs within supply chain phenomena. The piece concludes with a future research agenda based upon the practical implications of further developing FMR as a theory of SCM.     

Adding Relevance to Rigor in Research: The JBL Practitioner Panel

The logistics and supply chain fields find themselves at an interesting point in time, where disruptive technologies and innovative business models reframe our notions of relevance. Business professionals face unprecedented challenges for which academic research can enlighten and lead practice. We call for the research community to take up this challenge, and we feature a new JBL Practitioner Panel that can help to illuminate the most pressing issues calling for research focus.     

Expanding Horizons and Deepening Understanding via the Use of Secondary Data Sources

While primary data analysis has been popular in logistics and supply chain research, secondary data methods have been overlooked. These methods, however, have the potential to generate a variety of important opportunities to expand the horizons of logistics and supply chain research. In this article, we emphasize the use of secondary data analysis and how it can address contemporary challenges in logistics and supply chain research. Our review of the logistics and supply chain literature identifies six important methodologies that can be useful for secondary data generation and analysis. We discuss how these methods can help effectively address various logistics research questions.     

PERSPECTIVES ON LOGISTICS VS. SCM: A SURVEY OF SCM PROFESSIONALS

Despite some movement toward consensus on the definition of supply chain management (SCM), there are multiple perspectives on the concept — and its association with logistics. This paper reports results of a survey of SCM professionals regarding their views of SCM, along with its facilitators and barriers. In general, these executives prefer broad, multi‐functional perspectives as opposed to more narrow perspectives of SCM. According to the survey, the leading facilitators of SCM implementation were relational rather than technological. In addition, internal or employee resistance appears to be more of a barrier to SCM implementation compared to external (customer and supplier) resistance.