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I am very happy to announce that I have co-authored a new article, Taking Academic Ownership of the Supply Chain Emissions Discourse , with Felix Creutzig. In this editorial, published in the Journal of Supply Chain Management , we emphasize the need for SCM researchers to actively engage with the issue of supply chain emissions, which we define as the total greenhouse gas emissions generated by the entire network of interconnected and interdependent actors involved in all value-related activiti
There are many misconceptions about how to write a good literature review. In their award-winning article Theorizing Through Literature Reviews: The Miner-Prospector Continuum , Breslin and Gatrell (2023) introduce the minerprospector continuum to guide scholars on how best to craft literature reviews. They argue that scholars can choose from eight review strategies.
Join us from June 10-12, 2025 for the 37th NOFOMA 2025 Conference (in Copenhagen) , the leading Nordic platform for logistics and supply chain management professionals. The conference kicks off with NORDLOG (for doctoral students) and the Educators’ Day (for educators) on June 10.
Our discipline is often dominated by propositional theorizing, which understands theories in terms of cause-and-effect relationships. In a previous post, I discussed how pluralism in theorizing styles ( propositional , perspectival , and provocative theorizing ) can enrich SCM research. A recent article by Julia Grimm, Ann Langley, and Juliane Reinecke ( Process Research Methods for Studying Supply Chains and Their Management ) introduces process theorizing as an additional option.
This year’s Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to Daron Acemoğlu, Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson for their research on how political institutions affect long-term economic prosperity. Their work shows how colonial-era institutions continue to influence whether countries develop inclusive systems that foster growth or extractive systems that benefit elites and perpetuate inequality.
One practice that I feel is not discussed enough in SCM research is preregistration, which is the practice of writing a detailed research plan before starting a study and making that plan publicly available. This practice clearly separates when researchers are testing a specific hypothesis (prediction) from when they are examining data to find new patterns (exploration).
In Sense and Structure—The Core Building Blocks of an AMR Article , Lange and Pfarrer (2017) outline five essential steps for crafting effective Academy of Management Review articles. I believe that these five steps are useful for anyone who writes theoretical articles – not just for AMR. As an author you must (1) establish common ground by “[laying] out the basic assumptions, boundary conditions, and prescriptions of the literature, forming an agreeable starting point with your readers.” (2) Yo
Many PhD students in our discipline begin their research with a systematic literature review , but I believe this may not always be the most effective approach. As a PhD typically consists of three papers, the focus of the first paper should be on exploration and reflection, rather than being confined to the rigid framework of a systematic review. A systematic review can limit creative and critical thinking, making it more difficult for PhD students to step outside of predefined boundaries.
It is up to all of us to make academia a better place. As we take on roles as members of tenure committees, doctoral committees, editorial boards, department chairs, and deans, we have a choice to focus on the quality rather than the quantity of academic ideas. I believe that most academics are intrinsically motivated and do not require additional incentives.
It is clear that theorizing in our discipline is primarily aimed at explaining and predicting phenomena in terms of causes and effects related to underlying structures and mechanisms (propositional style). In the recently published article Unlocking the Power of Diversity for Supply Chain Knowledge: Is Pluralism in Theorizing Styles the Key? by Joep Cornelissen, Victoria Stephens, and Lee Matthews in the Journal of Supply Chain Management, the authors argue for a pluralistic approach to theorizi
A new ISPI-McKinsey report, Logistics in Transition. Exploring Geopolitical, Economic, and Technological Trends , edited by Carlo Secchi and Alessando Gili, examines the challenges and transformations in global logistics. It emphasizes the impact of geopolitical shifts, the climate crisis, and technological advances on supply chains. The report covers a wide range of topics, including the transformation of global value chains, maritime logistics, hydrogen mobility, artificial intelligence, and t
Every empirical-quantitative SCM researcher has different ideas about which methodological steps to follow. The article What You See Is What You Get? Enhancing Methodological Transparency in Management Research by Aguinis, Ramani, and Alabduljader examines methodological transparency in management research. The authors emphasize the importance of transparency for the reproducibility of inferences and results, as low transparency can hide errors, dubious practices, or fraud.
I am pleased to announce that our new book, The Supply Chain: A System in Crisis , co-edited with Stefan Gold, is now available. It contains very insightful chapters by fantastic colleagues. Our book highlights the multifaceted challenges facing modern supply chains. It examines the concept of a globalized economy, juxtaposing the promise of prosperity with the acute reality of worker exploitation and environmental harm.
Is theory merely a camera through which we view the world, or can it be an engine that drives change within it? In our new Notes & Debates article in the Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management , Theory as an Engine: Illuminating “White Space” of the SCM System of Knowledge Production , we (with Dane Pflueger and Christopher S. Chapman) argue that while much of the SCM literature has treated theory as a camera that tries to capture the world as it is, there is untapped potential in usin
A few days ago, the European Council approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). It mandates that companies “should take appropriate steps to set up and carry out due diligence measures, with respect to their own operations, those of their subsidiaries, as well as their direct and indirect business partners throughout their chains of activities”.
An impressive new study by Sun et al., Global Supply Chains Amplify Economic Costs of Future Extreme Heat Risk , just published in Nature , reveals a worrying escalation in global heatwaves, posing significant health and economic risks through increased mortality, reduced labor productivity, and widespread economic disruptions in supply chains. By integrating climate science, epidemiology, and economic modeling, the study predicts a substantial increase in annual global GDP losses, potentially r
I am pleased to share with you a new article I co-authored with Wendy L. Tate and Tingting Yan: A Guided Tour Through the Qualitative Research City. This is my first Journal of Supply Chain Management editorial. In this piece, we draw parallels between a city’s less-visited buildings and ten research approaches: (1) grounded theory, (2) interpretive research, (3) sensemaking, (4) sociomateriality, (5) actor–network theory, (6) ethnography, (7) action research, (8) discourse analysis, (9) narrati
For several years now, it has been a tradition for me to use this blog to offer a little outlook on the coming months of SCM, a kind of glimpse into the crystal ball. This year, however, it is particularly difficult for me to do so. I have spent the last couple of weeks repairing the extensive damage that the climate crisis has caused to my parents’ house.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with the Circular Supply Chain Network, recently published a white paper entitled Building a Circular Supply Chain. This publication addresses the transition from traditional, linear supply chains to circular ones, emphasizing the increased resilience they offer. Circular supply chains, characterized by distributed networks, multidirectional flows, and maximization of product and material use, provide a solution to the vulnerabilities of linear mo
I have often noticed that researchers in our discipline have many questions about what good qualitative SCM research should look like. A new article by Rockmann and Vough, Using Quotes to Present Claims: Practices for the Writing Stages of Qualitative Research , is a great guide for scholars of qualitative management research. It emphasizes the critical fourth stage of qualitative research – the writing of findings – which goes beyond study design, data collection, and analysis.
This article, entitled Apple’s Supply Chain Is on a Collision Course With Climate Change , argues that Apple’s supply chain faces major risks from the climate crisis. Despite its efforts to become carbon neutral, the regions where its suppliers are located are highly vulnerable to climate-related natural disasters and have carbon-intensive energy grids.
The replication crisis that has deeply affected neighboring disciplines is now under scrutiny in operations management. Eight scholars ( Davis et al. : A Replication Study of Operations Management Experiments in Management Science) took the initiative to examine the replicability of ten influential experimental articles. Their results were disturbing: only six articles were fully replicated, two were partially replicated, and two completely missed the mark.
One hundred years ago, practitioners were the lead researchers seeking to improve production processes. Iconic developments such as the Toyota Production System emerged from the real-world challenges faced by these early scientists. Fast forward to today, and there is a growing concern that our research is losing touch with real-world practice. Toffel’s (2016) article, Enhancing the Practical Relevance of Research , provides an insightful critique of the current state of operations (and su
The emergence of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) presents unique challenges to the academic research community. Many researchers are unsure how and when to report their use of such tools, and some even suggest that ChatGPT should be credited as a co-author. An enlightening editorial was recently published (Spanjol & Noble, 2023: Engaging With Generative Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Innovation Management Research—Some Answers and More Questions ).
Supply chain management (SCM) master’s programs often emphasize functional silos, as reflected in course titles such as “Operations Management” and “Logistics and Distribution Management” While these traditional elements are important, they risk overlooking transformative perspectives necessary in the face of today’s global challenges.
Forests are not only a vital resource for maintaining a healthy and stable climate, but they also provide numerous ecosystem services such as biodiversity conservation, soil conservation, and water regulation. However, supply chains that rely on unsustainable practices are a major threat to the world’s forests. This BBC video emphasizes that immediate action is needed to address the drivers of deforestation and promote sustainable supply chains.
Ten years ago, on April 24, 2013, the world was shocked by the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh. The tragedy claimed the lives of 1,134 garment workers and injured thousands more. The building housed several garment factories that supplied clothing to major global brands. Rana Plaza highlighted the dominant supply chain logic: that a T-shirt can only be sold at a very low price at the downstream end of the supply chain because the real cost is paid by the workers at the upstream
We have just released a new report, entitled Circular Supply Chain Transformation: Challenges, Opportunities, and Trade-Offs for Circular Smartphones and Computers. It highlights the importance, opportunities, and potential trade-offs associated with circular supply chains for electronic devices in a way that makes it easier for decision makers to understand and navigate the circular transformation.
The Journal of Supply Chain Management is conducting a paper development workshop (May 25–26) wherein participants may submit a working paper to obtain constructive feedback. The workshop shall provide training in crucial areas that are essential for publication in a premier academic journal, help participants to develop their working papers into mature papers that are ready for submission, and offer networking opportunities.
Cobalt Wars is one of the most interesting ARTE.tv documentaries I have seen recently. It looks at the supply chain of cobalt, a key ingredient in the batteries of our smartphones and electric cars, and the political, environmental and social challenges associated with that supply chain. (French with English subtitles, also available in German. Not available in all regions.
It is always exciting to discover new teaching cases, especially when they are of very high quality. Two cases have just won awards in the 2023 Case Center Awards and Competitions. The first is called Global Sourcing at Nike and takes the perspective of Amanda Tucker, Vice President of Sourcing at Nike (authors: Michael W. Toffel, Nien-hê Hsieh, and Olivia Hull).
Today I would like to introduce you to our new article entitled Thinking Differently About Supply Chain Resilience: What We Can Learn From Social-Ecological Systems Thinking , which is the result of an exciting collaboration with Mark Stevenson, Steven A. Melnyk, Simin Davoudi, and Lisen Schultz. We argue that the supply chain resilience literature should be expanded to include insights from the social-ecological systems literature.
As the recent debate about ChatGPT has shown, artificial intelligence tools are advancing rapidly. Today, I would like to introduce two AI tools that can be used to improve the language of academic texts. The first tool, Grammarly , can be integrated into programs like Word and suggests improvements, both in terms of errors and style. Grammarly has already found a large following among academic writers.
How should researchers construct research questions for their academic work? One intuitive answer is by spotting a gap in the existing academic literature. This is certainly an effective approach that follows the Popperian scientific method. In addition to gap-spotting, there is a second approach that deserves a little more attention: problematization.
The “No-Excuse” Framework to Accelerate the Path to Net-Zero Manufacturing and Value Chains is a new white paper that aims to provide businesses with the information they need to operationalize their commitments to reducing carbon emissions and addressing the climate crisis. The framework is intended to be a central tool for the World Economic Forum Industry Net Zero Accelerator initiative, which is designed to bring together leaders across industry sectors, academia, government, and civil socie
As in previous years, I am making a prediction about what could be important topics in supply chain management research. Here are three predictions: (1) OpenAI has demonstrated the incredible potential of machine learning , and this will have numerous implications for the management of supply chains. It is important for our discipline to consider the potential and drawbacks of this technology at an early stage. (2) Supply chain resilience remains a critical issue.
OpenAI has attracted a lot of attention in recent weeks, and for good reason. The research institute, which focuses on developing artificial intelligence technologies and promoting their safe and responsible use, has made significant strides in advancing the field of AI. One area where OpenAI could have a significant impact is in the field of supply chain management.
In recent years, academic articles that use supply chain databases have become more and more common in SCM-related journals. Such databases (e.g., Bloomberg SPLC, FactSet Supply Chain Relationships, and Mergent Supply Chain) were originally not developed for use in academic research, but for use in business practice. However, they offer great potential for a better understanding of supply chains (or more precisely supply networks) and supply chain management and are therefore also very interesti
Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union is currently experiencing a massive increase in gas prices. This threatens the resilience of many supply chains. An analysis by the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) now shows that a small group of just 300 products causes a large part of almost 90% of the gas consumption of German industry during their manufacture.
Once again this year, an SCM-related teaching case received an award at the Case Center Awards and Competitions : It is entitled Apple Inc: Global Supply Chain Management and written by P. Fraser Johnson. In this case, students are placed in the role of Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, who has to make a strategic decision about the company’s complex supply chain.
Have you ever wondered what supply chain literature is most commonly used in the classroom? Open Syllabus , a non-profit research organization, currently has a corpus of nine million English-language syllabi from 140 countries and data on class readings is available for a large proportion of these syllabi. I checked which readings with the term “supply chain” in the title are used the most in the “Business” category.
Something that I, as a reviewer and editor, have unfortunately seen too often in academic manuscripts is a lack of cohesion and coherence. Cohesion is the glue that holds sentences together. Coherence makes sure ideas connect to create a clear “whole”. In this video, Write to the Top looks at the elements that create strong cohesion and coherence.
This year Raconteur has once again put together a very readable report entitled Supply Chain Resilience 2022. The authors ask, “As disruption continues to plague international supply chains, what can organisations do to build resilience and ensure efficiency?” And they provide answers: “From reducing waste and cutting costs to onshoring and upgrading systems, our Supply Chain Resilience report explores the strategies making the difference”.
Something that is long-established in other management disciplines but sadly almost completely neglected in the SCM discipline is research related to sensemaking. In short, sensemaking “involves turning circumstances into a situation that is comprehended explicitly in words and that serves as a springboard into action” (Weick et al., p. 409). Such research is concerned with subjective interpretations rather than objective truth and is therefore better suited to the study of social science phenom
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