Twenty years of IJLM: evolution in research

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate research trends observed in the International Journal of Logistics Management (IJLM) during its first 20 years of publication.

Design/methodology/approach

A content analysis was conducted of the IJLM's first 20 years of publication (330 articles in total) to identify changing trends in subject matter, use of theory, type of research methodology, and author, institution, and country contributions.

Findings

IJLM has evolved in every dimension evaluated. Specifically, content follows macro‐economic world events and reflects the emergence of supply chain management as an interdisciplinary domain. Recent research demonstrates a greater emphasis on theory development as well as more rigorous methods. Importantly, the increased theoretical grounding and rigor provides greater confidence in research that continues to be highly managerially relevant. Author, institution, and country findings are also discussed.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to an analysis of IJLM's publications.

Practical implications

The research provides valuable insights into the evolution of articles published in IJLM. For managers, the findings suggest that readers can place greater confidence in the findings and recommendations proposed by current research published in IJLM. For researchers, the findings provide guidance regarding the types of research that are likely to be accepted for publication in IJLM. The findings also represent a call for more forward‐looking research.

Originality/value

The comprehensive review of IJLM's publications provides a longitudinal perspective on the evolution of research in IJLM.

Citation

Liao‐Troth, S., Thomas, S. and Fawcett, S.E. (2012), "Twenty years of IJLM: evolution in research", The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 4-30. https://doi.org/10.1108/09574091211226902