What the 2024 Nobel Prize Means for SCM Research
This year’s Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to Daron Acemoğlu, Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson for their research on how political institutions affect long-term economic prosperity. Their work shows how colonial-era institutions continue to influence whether countries develop inclusive systems that foster growth or extractive systems that benefit elites and perpetuate inequality. I thought about what our discipline could learn from these findings. Future research in our discipline could benefit from examining how institutional frameworks in different countries affect global supply chains. For example, SCM research could explore the role of outsourcing to regions with extractive institutions in reinforcing exploitative labor practices, the extent to which outsourcing can be interpreted as neocolonialism, or the role of inclusive practices in supply chains (e.g., fair wages, equitable treatment, and respect for local governance) for development. And I am sure there is much more to learn from this work.
What is Preregistration?
One practice that I feel is not discussed enough in SCM research is preregistration, which is the practice of writing a detailed research plan before starting a study and making that plan publicly available. This practice clearly separates when researchers are testing a specific hypothesis (prediction) from when they are examining data to find new patterns (exploration). By deciding on hypotheses, methods, and analysis strategies in advance, researchers minimize the bias that can occur when they adjust their approach after seeing the data. This helps prevent the issue of unintentionally presenting after-the-fact explanations as if they were predicted from the start. Therefore, preregistration increases the credibility and transparency of research results. It also makes it easier for others to understand the work and, if necessary, replicate the study. While there may be practical challenges (e.g., unexpected changes during data collection) preregistration is becoming more common. Many academic institutions and journals now encourage or require it. For more information, visit the Center for Open Science.
The Core Building Blocks of a Theoretical Article
In Sense and Structure—The Core Building Blocks of an AMR Article, Lange and Pfarrer (2017) outline five essential steps for crafting effective Academy of Management Review articles. I believe that these five steps are useful for anyone who writes theoretical articles – not just for AMR. As an author you must (1) establish common ground by “[laying] out the basic assumptions, boundary conditions, and prescriptions of the literature, forming an agreeable starting point with your readers.” (2) You then introduce a complication (a problem, puzzle, or twist) by “pointing out to your readers some kind of complication to the common ground that you’ve already established.” (3) You demonstrate concern by providing “a compelling explanation of the complication’s importance.” (4) You present a course of action, describing “how you will be addressing and resolving your paper’s central complication.” (5) Finally, you highlight your contribution by explaining “how your work will shape or change the conversation—how it makes a distinct contribution.”
Lange, D., & Pfarrer, M.D. (2017). Editors’ Comments: Sense and Structure—The Core Building blocks of an AMR Article. Academy of Management Review, 42(3), 407–416. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2016.0225
Should I Choose a Systematic, Narrative, or Critical Review for My PhD?
Many PhD students in our discipline begin their research with a systematic literature review, but I believe this may not always be the most effective approach. As a PhD typically consists of three papers, the focus of the first paper should be on exploration and reflection, rather than being confined to the rigid framework of a systematic review. A systematic review can limit creative and critical thinking, making it more difficult for PhD students to step outside of predefined boundaries. Instead, a more flexible approach – such as a narrative or critical literature review – can encourage deeper engagement with existing academic discourses. This allows students to question established assumptions, challenge theoretical consensus, or resolve intellectual controversies. This openness to critique and exploration is more likely to spark new ideas that can guide the development of meaningful research questions for the second and third papers. Ultimately, this approach may lay a stronger foundation for making original contributions to the discipline.
Prioritizing Quality Over Quantity in Academia
It is up to all of us to make academia a better place. As we take on roles as members of tenure committees, doctoral committees, editorial boards, department chairs, and deans, we have a choice to focus on the quality rather than the quantity of academic ideas. I believe that most academics are intrinsically motivated and do not require additional incentives. Therefore, academic institutions should focus on trusting their faculty, providing training, and offering resources, rather than measuring their performance. For example, at Copenhagen Business School, applicants can upload a few selected publications for evaluation. This approach allows assessment committee members to concentrate on the quality of the submitted work by thoroughly reviewing it, rather than merely counting the number of publications. Similarly, the Journal of Supply Chain Management has implemented initiatives to enhance the skills of authors and reviewers. These include paper development workshops and a unique reviewer development program aimed at providing better training and support.
Propositional, Perspectival, and Provocative Styles of Theorizing
It is clear that theorizing in our discipline is primarily aimed at explaining and predicting phenomena in terms of causes and effects related to underlying structures and mechanisms (propositional style). In the recently published article Unlocking the Power of Diversity for Supply Chain Knowledge: Is Pluralism in Theorizing Styles the Key? by Joep Cornelissen, Victoria Stephens, and Lee Matthews in the Journal of Supply Chain Management, the authors argue for a pluralistic approach to theorizing in SCM research. They criticize the dominance of the propositional style of theorizing, which focuses on explaining and predicting phenomena, and propose the inclusion of perspectival and provocative styles. These alternative styles aim to reinterpret and critique existing concepts, respectively. The authors emphasize that the incorporation of multiple theorizing styles can lead to better, more comprehensive knowledge production in SCM by addressing the complex and dynamic nature of the discipline. They call for an inclusive epistemology that values diverse epistemic goals equally and promotes a more reflexive and holistic understanding of supply chain management phenomena.
Cornelissen, J., Stephens, V., & Matthews, L. (2024). Unlocking the Power of Diversity for Supply Chain Knowledge: Is Pluralism in Theorizing Styles the Key? Journal of Supply Chain Management, 60(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/jscm.12328
Geopolitical, Economic, and Technological Trends in Logistics
A new ISPI-McKinsey report, Logistics in Transition. Exploring Geopolitical, Economic, and Technological Trends, edited by Carlo Secchi and Alessando Gili, examines the challenges and transformations in global logistics. It emphasizes the impact of geopolitical shifts, the climate crisis, and technological advances on supply chains. The report covers a wide range of topics, including the transformation of global value chains, maritime logistics, hydrogen mobility, artificial intelligence, and the decarbonization of ports. It highlights the importance of international cooperation to improve global connectivity and resilience. In addition, the report explores how logistics can adapt to protectionist industrial policies and the dual transition of the digital and energy sectors. It provides strategic insights for Europe, Italy, and companies to mitigate risks and manage these changes. The analysis underscores the need for diversification and redundancy in transportation systems to ensure security of supply and the smooth functioning of the global economy.
Enhancing Methodological Transparency in SCM Research
Every empirical-quantitative SCM researcher has different ideas about which methodological steps to follow. The article What You See Is What You Get? Enhancing Methodological Transparency in Management Research by Aguinis, Ramani, and Alabduljader examines methodological transparency in management research. The authors emphasize the importance of transparency for the reproducibility of inferences and results, as low transparency can hide errors, dubious practices, or fraud. Their comprehensive review suggests strategies for improving transparency throughout the research process, including theory development, research design, measurement, analysis, and reporting. SCM researchers can benefit from these methodological recommendations because they can help increase the trustworthiness, replicability, validity, and reliability of studies. In addition, journal editors and reviewers in our discipline can use them to set the right standards for submissions. Of course, methodological standards are constantly evolving, and checklists such as the one described here must always be used with caution. However, I believe that the article by Aguinis et al. provides a very good methodological overview.
Aguinis, H., Ramani, R.S., & Alabduljader, N. (2018). What You See Is What You Get? Enhancing Methodological Transparency in Management Research. Academy of Management Annals, 12(1), 83-110. https://doi.org/10.5465/annals.2016.0011
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
