The Supply Chain: A System in Crisis
I am pleased to announce that our new book, The Supply Chain: A System in Crisis, co-edited with Stefan Gold, is now available. It contains very insightful chapters by fantastic colleagues. Our book highlights the multifaceted challenges facing modern supply chains. It examines the concept of a globalized economy, juxtaposing the promise of prosperity with the acute reality of worker exploitation and environmental harm.
Gold, S. & Wieland, A. (Eds.) (2024). The Supply Chain: A System in Crisis. Edward Elgar. ISBN 9781803924915
Theory as a Camera or Theory as an Engine
Is theory merely a camera through which we view the world, or can it be an engine that drives change within it? In our new Notes & Debates article in the Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, Theory as an Engine: Illuminating “White Space” of the SCM System of Knowledge Production, we (with Dane Pflueger and Christopher S. Chapman) argue that while much of the SCM literature has treated theory as a camera that tries to capture the world as it is, there is untapped potential in using theory as an engine capable of transforming SCM practices and knowledge itself. We advocate the inclusion of diverse theoretical approaches. This could enrich the body of SCM knowledge and enable innovative and practical developments in the discipline. To make the different approaches understandable, we discuss examples of SCM-related articles that used theory as a camera and that used theory as an engine. We hope you enjoy reading our article.
Pflueger, D., Wieland, A., & Chapman, C.S. (2024). Theory as an Engine: Illuminating “White Space” of the SCM System of Knowledge Production. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 100910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pursup.2024.100910
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
A few days ago, the European Council approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). It mandates that companies “should take appropriate steps to set up and carry out due diligence measures, with respect to their own operations, those of their subsidiaries, as well as their direct and indirect business partners throughout their chains of activities”. It clearly takes a supply chain perspective: “The chain of activities should cover activities of a company’s upstream business partners related to the production of goods or the provision of services by the company, including the design, extraction, sourcing, manufacture, transport, storage and supply of raw materials, products or parts of the products and development of the product or the service, and activities of a company’s downstream business partners related to the distribution, transport and storage of the product, where the business partners carry out those activities for the company or on behalf of the company”. It does “not cover the disposal of the product”. The Directive will now go to the EU Parliament for approval.
Global Supply Chains Amplify Costs of Extreme Heat Risk
An impressive new study by Sun et al., Global Supply Chains Amplify Economic Costs of Future Extreme Heat Risk, just published in Nature, reveals a worrying escalation in global heatwaves, posing significant health and economic risks through increased mortality, reduced labor productivity, and widespread economic disruptions in supply chains. By integrating climate science, epidemiology, and economic modeling, the study predicts a substantial increase in annual global GDP losses, potentially reaching up to 4.6% by 2060, with the most severe impacts felt in developing countries and major manufacturing nations such as China and the United States. This comprehensive analysis underscores the disproportionate impact of heat stress across regions and sectors and highlights the urgent need for effective climate mitigation and adaptation strategies to minimize socio-economic impacts. The study suggests that advances in SCM research could play an important role in mitigating these economic losses by developing resilient strategies that adapt to the increasing frequency and severity of heatwaves.
Sun, Y., Zhu, S., Wang, D. et al. (2024). Global Supply Chains Amplify Economic Costs of Future Extreme Heat Risk. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07147-z
A Guided Tour Through the Qualitative Research City
I am pleased to share with you a new article I co-authored with Wendy L. Tate and Tingting Yan: A Guided Tour Through the Qualitative Research City. This is my first Journal of Supply Chain Management editorial. In this piece, we draw parallels between a city’s less-visited buildings and ten research approaches: (1) grounded theory, (2) interpretive research, (3) sensemaking, (4) sociomateriality, (5) actor–network theory, (6) ethnography, (7) action research, (8) discourse analysis, (9) narrative research, and (10) historical research. Our goal is to inspire our readers to embrace the methodological diversity of our discipline, as we have noticed a tendency for many to focus on a limited set of qualitative approaches, much like tourists flocking to the Eiffel Tower but not visiting other parts of Paris. JSCM is better equipped than ever to support these and other approaches, as we and our predecessors have made great efforts to diversify and expand our team of associate editors and reviewers to ensure that we can treat a manuscript as it deserves.
Wieland, A., Tate, W.L., & Yan, T. (2024). A Guided Tour Through the Qualitative Research City. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 60(1), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jscm.12315
Personal Predictions for Supply Chain Management in 2024
For several years now, it has been a tradition for me to use this blog to offer a little outlook on the coming months of SCM, a kind of glimpse into the crystal ball. This year, however, it is particularly difficult for me to do so. I have spent the last couple of weeks repairing the extensive damage that the climate crisis has caused to my parents’ house. Since the spring of 2023, the sea surface temperatures have consistently reached unprecedented extremes, leading to evaporation over the Atlantic and heavy rainfall in Germany. My compatriot, climatologist Stefan Rahmstorf, summarizes the current situation in Germany as follows: “Extreme precipitation is on the increase worldwide, including here [in Germany] due to global warming. Climate researchers have been warning about this for more than 30 years; the data from weather stations have long since confirmed it.” I hope you understand that in this situation I don’t feel like making predictions for SCM this year. My hope for this year is that we can all work together to protect the climate, because emissions along global supply chains play a critical role in this necessary transformation.
Building a Circular Supply Chain
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with the Circular Supply Chain Network, recently published a white paper entitled Building a Circular Supply Chain. This publication addresses the transition from traditional, linear supply chains to circular ones, emphasizing the increased resilience they offer. Circular supply chains, characterized by distributed networks, multidirectional flows, and maximization of product and material use, provide a solution to the vulnerabilities of linear models. These supply chains not only help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and costs, but also minimize dependence on natural resource extraction. The white paper also highlights the key role of supply chain professionals in this transformation. They are responsible for managing the vast quantities of materials in the global economy and can influence the wider adoption of circular economy principles. The paper and an accompanying fact sheet highlight nine focus areas for supply chain leaders to facilitate this crucial transition, providing a comprehensive guide to redefining supply chains in today’s economic landscape.
Practices for the Writing Stages of Qualitative SCM Research
I have often noticed that researchers in our discipline have many questions about what good qualitative SCM research should look like. A new article by Rockmann and Vough, Using Quotes to Present Claims: Practices for the Writing Stages of Qualitative Research, is a great guide for scholars of qualitative management research. It emphasizes the critical fourth stage of qualitative research – the writing of findings – which goes beyond study design, data collection, and analysis. The authors introduce practical tools such as claim tables and storyboarding for organizing and presenting data, especially quotes. These methods help categorize quotes based on vividness and comprehensiveness, ensuring that different perspectives are included. The approach emphasizes the balance between “showing” data and “telling” its meaning, which is critical to creating compelling narratives. This article is definitely useful for SCM researchers, guiding them in transforming complex qualitative data into powerful, coherent findings, thereby increasing the credibility and impact of their research.
Rockmann, K.W., & Vough, H.C. (2023). Using Quotes to Present Claims: Practices for the Writing Stages of Qualitative Research. Organizational Research Methods, _(_), _-_. https://doi.org/10.1177/10944281231210558
Navigating the Climate Crisis in Apple’s Global Supply Chain
This article, entitled Apple’s Supply Chain Is on a Collision Course With Climate Change, argues that Apple’s supply chain faces major risks from the climate crisis. Despite its efforts to become carbon neutral, the regions where its suppliers are located are highly vulnerable to climate-related natural disasters and have carbon-intensive energy grids. I believe it would make a great case study for business school classes, using the following questions: 1. Identify and summarize the key challenges and risks Apple faces related to its supply chain in the context of the climate crisis. 2. Propose a risk management plan that Apple can implement (short-term and long-term strategies) to address these challenges. 3. Critically evaluate Apple’s recent carbon offset initiatives. 4. How can Apple “future-proof” its operations against escalating climate challenges? 5. How does Apple’s situation compare to other global electronics companies in terms of vulnerability to the climate crisis? What are the implications for the electronics industry?
Tackling the Replication Crisis in Supply Chain Management
The replication crisis that has deeply affected neighboring disciplines is now under scrutiny in operations management. Eight scholars (Davis et al.: A Replication Study of Operations Management Experiments in Management Science) took the initiative to examine the replicability of ten influential experimental articles. Their results were disturbing: only six articles were fully replicated, two were partially replicated, and two completely missed the mark. Such results raise questions about the robustness of our basic research. In light of these findings, a pressing question arises: Does supply chain management, a closely related discipline, face a similar challenge? As we chart the course forward, it is imperative that both operations and supply chain management embrace transparency, rigor, and accountability. Addressing this crisis head-on will ensure that our disciplines maintain credibility, relevance, and trustworthiness in the academic and business communities. It is clear that there is a need for more replication studies that can challenge existing work.
Davis, A.M., Flicker, B., Hyndman, K., Katok, E., Keppler, S., Leider, S., Long, X., & Tong, J.D. (2023). A Replication Study of Operations Management Experiments in Management Science. Management Science, 69(9), _-_. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4866
