Decision Sciences Journal
Volume 29, Number 3
Summer 1998
Special Research Focus on Supply Chain Linkages: Challenges
for Design and Management in the 21st Century
Vincent A. Mabert and M.A. Venkataramanan
Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
47405, e-mail: mabert@indiana.edu
and venkatar@indiana.edu
Abstract: Supply chain management is a central and
important area for academic research due to its impact on firms
competing in today’s global economy. Managing the flow of
materials from supply sources to the ultimate customer represents
a major challenge for today’s managers. To assist managers,
the concept of supply chain management has been adopted by many
business leaders as an important way to assist in designing,
planning, and controlling the network of facilities and tasks
that comprise the many stages of the supply chain. In turn, the
flow of academic research in the area has increased to provide
a better set of guidelines for effective implementation and execution.
This article sets the stage for recently completed research
concentrating on supply chain management issues. First, a definition
of supply chain management is provided and compared to recent
usage in this area and logistics management. Also, a framework
is provided that structures this dynamic and complex management
task. Second, a review of past research is presented to illustrate
the many paths supply chain management has traveled, and important
contributions to supply management understanding and decision
making. Third, recently completed research articles are introduced
that have been selected to be part of this special issue of Decision
Sciences. And fourth, future research directions for supply chain
management that need to be pursued by interested investigators
are discussed.
Subject Areas: Logistics, Research Directions, and
Supply Chain Management. |