Review of supply chain management and logistics research
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management
ISSN: 0960-0035
Article publication date: 1 October 2005
Abstract
Purpose
To examine the state of logistics and supply chain management (SCM) research in the last five years from the standpoint of existing methodologies. The state of research is assessed by examining the research design, number of hypothesis testing, research methods, data analysis techniques, data sources, level of analysis and country of authors.
Design/methodology/approach
The review of SCM and logistics research is based on 442 papers published from 1999 to 2003 in the following three academic journals Journal of Business Logistics, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal.
Findings
Major findings show that there is an increase in the direct observation methods like case studies. In general, the research is more interpretive in nature. Survey method is still holding the highest position. More advanced techniques are being used for data analysis in empirical studies and there has been an increase in hypothesis testing. The trend in survey research is moving from exploratory to model building and testing.
Research limitations/implications
The gaps identified in the review were: there are very few inter disciplinary studies; innovative application of secondary data is lacking, (c) research at inter organisation level is scanty; and the current state of research has failed to integrate all the firms in the value chain and treat them as a single entity.
Originality/value
The methodological review will provide increased understanding of the current state of research in the discipline.
Keywords
Citation
Sachan, A. and Datta, S. (2005), "Review of supply chain management and logistics research", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 35 No. 9, pp. 664-705. https://doi.org/10.1108/09600030510632032
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited