Approaching Logistics - Exploring Complexity Approaches to Move Beyond Systems Approach

Författare

Fredrik Nilsson

Summary, in English

Logistics is being given increased attention in companies and in research, and is gaining strategic importance as supply chains or, more aptly named, supply networks are the realm of today. For both researchers and practitioners in the field of logistics one of the fundamental concepts is the systems approach. As many researchers proclaim, to understand logistics you need to understand the concept of systems; this in order to see holistically, to value total cost and not to suboptimize. However, the majority of research produced is nevertheless positivistically influenced and, in accordance, what are mostly taught to managers on educational programs and used by logistics practitioners are simplified, normative models based on mechanistic principles. Hence, the manner in which systems approach is understood and used in logistics research is based on deterministic and mechanistic assumptions not always appropriate for the phenomena being investigated or dealt with.

The aim of this paper is to provide a reflection on one of the dominant approaches to logistics research, namely systems approach, and its connection to two paradigmatic approaches identified in complexity science; complex adaptive systems and complexity thinking. The result of the paper is a discussion that provides the logistics research society with an extended view of research approaches in order to address and solve new types of questions and old questions with new approaches within the logistics discipline. Furthermore, it contributes to the debate on challenging paradigms in logistics research and practice.

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