The impact of phenomenological methodology development in supply chain management research
ISSN: 1359-8546
Article publication date: 30 March 2020
Issue publication date: 6 May 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the non-academic impact in supply chain management (SCM) research through the application of three distinctive approaches to phenomenological methodology in different contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
Evidence-based examples from three case studies using interpretivist, social constructivist and critical realist methodologies are presented. They reflect non-positivist approaches commonly used in phenomenological methodology and adopted in SCM investigative research.
Findings
Different types of non-academic reach and significance from each research methodology are discussed to illustrate the non-academic impact benefits from each case. The three distinctive phenomenological approaches have been shown to contribute to innovative research methodology development on their own philosophical merit and produced novel contributions to SCM research in particular.
Research limitations/implications
The non-academic impact examples have been shown to have wider influence and implication to business, the economy and society at large.
Originality/value
The paper highlights the relevance of phenomenological research methodology for SCM. It also contributes to the development of the SCM subject area and is hoped to encourage further reporting of non-academic impact of supply chain research.
Keywords
Citation
Towers, N., Abushaikha, I., Ritchie, J. and Holter, A. (2020), "The impact of phenomenological methodology development in supply chain management research", Supply Chain Management, Vol. 25 No. 4, pp. 443-456. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-04-2019-0153
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited