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Harnessing interestingness in supply chain management research: an empirical investigation and research agenda

Jamal El Baz, Fedwa Jebli, Andreas Gissel, Kent Gourdin

Benchmarking: An International Journal

ISSN: 1463-5771

Article publication date: 6 October 2023

Issue publication date: 28 November 2024

179

Abstract

Purpose

The concept of interestingness has been investigated in several management disciplines but studies mobilizing such concept in supply chain management (SCM) to develop strategies for the field's advancement are relatively scarce. This research paper aims to investigate how SCM scholars rank attributes of interestingness and the strategies to harness interestingness in the field of SCM.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt a mixed methods research design in which a survey on SCM researchers' ranking of interestingness' attributes and qualitative interviews with selected academics are conducted.

Findings

The findings highlight the importance given by SCM scholars to attributes such as rigor, relevance, novelty and communication and how they are interrelated. Also, other interestingness attributes are underlined by scholars during the qualitative interviews including inquisitiveness, engaging the reader, imaginativeness and entertainment. Furthermore, a research agenda to synthesize the propositions to develop interesting research is also proposed.

Research limitations/implications

Interestingness attributes such as rigor, relevance and novelty are discussed. Recommendations for interesting research are suggested which can be useful to scholars and journal editors. The findings of this research are also relevant for practitioners for a better understanding of academic/practice relationships to develop high impact collaboration.

Originality/value

This paper is among the few studies that focus on interestingness in SCM research from the perspective of scholars. In doing so, the authors seek to contribute to the classic debate in SCM field about “relevance-rigour” duality by providing a broader outlook based on interestingness and proposing a research agenda for prospective studies in the field.

Keywords

Citation

El Baz, J., Jebli, F., Gissel, A. and Gourdin, K. (2024), "Harnessing interestingness in supply chain management research: an empirical investigation and research agenda", Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 31 No. 10, pp. 3782-3806. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-07-2023-0498

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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