Outlook of Complexity and Complication on Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Författare
Summary, in English
Purpose of this paper
This paper aims to contribute to the logistics complexity discourse driven at the NOFOMA conference with a novel perspective on complication vs. complexity in studying and managing logistics and supply chains.
Design/methodology/approach
Research approach is based on description, exploration and analysis of root causes and origins of supply chain complication and complexity.
Findings
The results suggest that classification of complication and complexity in logistics is a substantial precedent in modelling, measurement, and management of complexity. Complexity classification renders better management of emergent patterns, behaviour, quality as well as risk of any logistics system.
Research limitations/implications (if applicable)
The classification could increase understanding of logistics complexity by guiding researchers in developing logistics concepts and models with appropriate assumptions and conditions. This could provide more accurate frameworks for the development of e.g. smart freight concepts, intelligent supply chains, supply chain risk models or logistics management as such.
Practical implications (if applicable)
In practice, represented emergent patterns of combination of different classes of complexity could be analyzed. Together with insights from characteristics of complex systems, better measurement and management of supply chains is yielded.
What is original/value of paper
This works presents utter frames for classification of complication and complexity of logistics and supply chains. Furthermore, it introduces a novel perspective for studying complex systems such as supply chains, both in theory and practice.
This paper aims to contribute to the logistics complexity discourse driven at the NOFOMA conference with a novel perspective on complication vs. complexity in studying and managing logistics and supply chains.
Design/methodology/approach
Research approach is based on description, exploration and analysis of root causes and origins of supply chain complication and complexity.
Findings
The results suggest that classification of complication and complexity in logistics is a substantial precedent in modelling, measurement, and management of complexity. Complexity classification renders better management of emergent patterns, behaviour, quality as well as risk of any logistics system.
Research limitations/implications (if applicable)
The classification could increase understanding of logistics complexity by guiding researchers in developing logistics concepts and models with appropriate assumptions and conditions. This could provide more accurate frameworks for the development of e.g. smart freight concepts, intelligent supply chains, supply chain risk models or logistics management as such.
Practical implications (if applicable)
In practice, represented emergent patterns of combination of different classes of complexity could be analyzed. Together with insights from characteristics of complex systems, better measurement and management of supply chains is yielded.
What is original/value of paper
This works presents utter frames for classification of complication and complexity of logistics and supply chains. Furthermore, it introduces a novel perspective for studying complex systems such as supply chains, both in theory and practice.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2009
Språk
Engelska
Dokumenttyp
Working paper
Ämne
- Other Mechanical Engineering
Nyckelord
- Supply chain
- Logistics
- Complexity
- Complex systems
- Management
Status
Submitted