Supply chain management integration: a critical analysis
Författare
Summary, in English
Purpose
The purpose is to examine various aspects of integration in order to structure and define the concept of supply chain management integration.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on an extensive literature review in three steps and a series of interviews with leading SCM consulting firms.
Findings
We found limited empirical research discussing SCM integration beyond the dyadic level and there is a lack of empirical evidence supporting the claimed benefits of supply chain management integration, especially beyond the dyadic level. There is also a lack of detailed frameworks and concrete recommendations for how supply chains can become more integrated. In fact, there is significant confusion regarding the term SCM integration and thus we propose a definition of Supply Chain Management Integration.
Research limitations/implications
In terms of limitations, it is feasible that an extended literature review could have provided additional information. Similarly, additional interviews would have been preferable, yet given the level of expertise; and the access granted, we believe the current number of respondents is sufficient.
Practical implications
Our findings, and our effort to structure and define the term supply chain management integration, can facilitate organizational developments in this area.
Originality/value
Academic literature suggests that integration is a requirement for Supply Chain Management. However, integrated supply chain management is difficult to define and it seems hard to operationalize in practice. One could also argue that there has been a significant amount of hype regarding the potential as well as the results of SCM integration.
The purpose is to examine various aspects of integration in order to structure and define the concept of supply chain management integration.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on an extensive literature review in three steps and a series of interviews with leading SCM consulting firms.
Findings
We found limited empirical research discussing SCM integration beyond the dyadic level and there is a lack of empirical evidence supporting the claimed benefits of supply chain management integration, especially beyond the dyadic level. There is also a lack of detailed frameworks and concrete recommendations for how supply chains can become more integrated. In fact, there is significant confusion regarding the term SCM integration and thus we propose a definition of Supply Chain Management Integration.
Research limitations/implications
In terms of limitations, it is feasible that an extended literature review could have provided additional information. Similarly, additional interviews would have been preferable, yet given the level of expertise; and the access granted, we believe the current number of respondents is sufficient.
Practical implications
Our findings, and our effort to structure and define the term supply chain management integration, can facilitate organizational developments in this area.
Originality/value
Academic literature suggests that integration is a requirement for Supply Chain Management. However, integrated supply chain management is difficult to define and it seems hard to operationalize in practice. One could also argue that there has been a significant amount of hype regarding the potential as well as the results of SCM integration.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2012
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
481-501
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Benchmarking
Volym
19
Issue
4/5
Fulltext
- Available as PDF - 110 kB
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Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Ämne
- Transport Systems and Logistics
Nyckelord
- Supply chain management
- Integration
- Information sharing
- Collaboration
Status
Published
Forskningsgrupp
- Lund University, Lund Institute of Technology, Lund, Sweden
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1463-5771
- 10.1108/14635771211257963