This is for potential PhD students: Hanken is seeking doctoral students in humanitarian logistics to start in Sep 2008 within the Relief Supply Chain Management project. Applications are due on Aug 4, 2008.
Gyöngyi
Entries from June 2008
Doctoral students in humanitarian logistics
June 27, 2008 · No Comments
Categories: Humanitarian supply chains · Logistics · PhD · Supply Chain Management · humanitarian
New book: Northern Lights in Logistics & Suppy Chain Management
June 3, 2008 · 2 Comments
Northern Lights in Logistics & Suppy Chain Management (edited by Jan Stentoft Arlbjørn, Árni Halldórsson, Marianne Jahre, and Karen Spens) has now been published by CBSPress, Denmark, and is available from their website.
This is how the editors introduce the book:
“Northern Lights in Logistics & Supply Chain Management” portrays the past, present and future research of the subject in the Nordic countries. The NOFOMA conference - a network of Nordic researchers within the field of Logistics and Supply Chain Management - has been a focal point in the contribution to the continuous improvement and further development of Nordic research. The network has also opened up for interaction with fellow researchers from other countries.
There are sixteen chapters in the book that in its own way colours the Nordic rainbow of research within Logistics and Supply Chain Management. The chapters are structured in four themes: 1) Origins and strategic aspects; 2) Research approaches in the Nordic countries; 3) Advancement of distribution strategies and; 4) Emerging application areas of logistics and SCM. The chapters provide an understanding and, perhaps more importantly, consciousness for scholars that are part of this research environment: Where are we now, what have we been influenced by, and in what area are we able to provide positive impact? The aim of the book is also to contribute to increased visibility to fellow international scholars within Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
Árni
Categories: Education & Management Development · Research & Methodology · Supply Chain Management
Oliver E. Williamson on SCM (Journal of SCM, 2008, 44:2)
June 2, 2008 · 1 Comment
SCM scholars refer frequently to the work of Oliver E. Willamson on transaction cost economics (for example this one in SCM:AIJ).
The latest issue of Journal of Supply Chain Ma Management (2008, Vol. 44, Number 2) contains an interesting surprise: Outsourcing: Transaction Cost Economics and Supply Chain Management by Oliver E. Williamson.
This paper, that can be downloaded via the link provided here, is interesting for several reasons. First, it is (hopefully) a startingpoint of dialogue between SCM and economics. Many SCM scholars have been using the terminology of TCE for several years, but they are now getting a response. Second, my concern is that the list of references does not necessarily reflect upon this application but builds on selected references to the SCM literature. Third, and perhaps most importantly, Williamson finishes his paper by suggesting nine “TCE Queries for SCM”. You can find theme here by scrolling down this html format of the paper. These suggestions, or questions, are much needed, and will hopefully be discussed in the near future. A lack of interest or ability to do so may leave an impression that is not in favour of further development of SCM?
However, there is no reason to be pessimistic, here is the first of nine questions raised by Williamson:
(1) TCE subscribes to pragmatic methodology. What is the methodology of SCM?
Now, the floor is yours! It would be interesting to discuss this and the other eight suggestions.
Árni
Categories: Research & Methodology · Supply Chain Management · Theory
The trickle down effect
June 2, 2008 · No Comments
Every now and then the “trickle down effect” hits the news. Originally preserved for new products becoming more affordable through mass production, nowadays I only see the term in combination with supply chain management, in the meaning of sthg spreading globally (typically upstream) through the supply chain. Today it was oil prices, material regulations, and codes and standards. Policy-makers have also come to hijack the idea, designing policies in the hope that they’d spread globally as standards in the supply chain (see the “vision of the EU in a global world“). So far so good. But what about the effects of such threats / hopes on the supply chain?
Interestingly, using the idea of globalisation seems to lead away from it. We’ve seen the trends towards local production in food supply chains, even fashion - time to take them seriously and study localisation once again. Localisation has been studied from the perspective of market adaptation / customisation (for standards see LISA, for practitioner certificates TILP, for research e.g. the Localisation Research Centre), even leading to new concepts such as postponement for mass customisation - and from the perspective of another spillover, that of knowledge.
Concerning the trickle down effect, it is of interest which effects e.g. carbon management has on the supply chain, i.e. towards the choice of local suppliers and products (which we have seen in food supply chains and even fashion). It echoes local employment policies - but underestimates the interdependence of markets through supply chains. Geographical and employment issues aside, time to study the impact of such policies on supply chain design.
Gyöngyi
Categories: Supply Chain Management
