Ebbe Gubi, Jan Stentoft Arlbjørn and John Johansen
Logistics and supply chain management (SCM) are broad disciplines in which many different, cross‐functional tasks are investigated. In Scandinavia, research in logistics and SCM…
Abstract
Logistics and supply chain management (SCM) are broad disciplines in which many different, cross‐functional tasks are investigated. In Scandinavia, research in logistics and SCM experienced a significant boom during the 1990s; the steadily increasing interest in participation in the annual NOFOMA Nordic Logistics Conference and the steadily growing number of PhD students enrolled in the Scandinavian research environments emphasizing the study of logistics and SCM bear witness to this intensification. In addition, a great number of doctoral dissertations in this field are completed in Scandinavia, adding greatly to the existent store of knowledge concerning a wide range of logistics and SCM phenomena. However, to date, precious little effort has been devoted to providing an overview of these dissertations. This paper is designed to fill that void. To that end, 75 doctoral dissertations published from 1990 to 2001 are identified. The framework classifies the dissertations into a series of main themes indicative of the state of Nordic research in logistics and SCM. Suggestions for future research based on this survey are likewise provided.
Details
Keywords
Frederik Zachariassen and Jan Stentoft Arlbjørn
The purpose of this paper is to identify Nordic doctoral dissertations in logistics and supply chain management (SCM) published from the years 2002 to 2008. The paper then seeks…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify Nordic doctoral dissertations in logistics and supply chain management (SCM) published from the years 2002 to 2008. The paper then seeks to analyze the identified dissertations by categorizing them in various dimensions, including but not limited to subject, methodology, and type of contribution. Subsequently, the paper compares the analysis of the dissertations with results obtained in a previous study that also concerned Nordic dissertations only published from 1990 to 2001, effectively opening up for longitudinal interpretations.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on reviews of 70 Nordic doctoral dissertations within logistics and SCM published at relevant Nordic research institutions. All dissertations were reviewed according to a priori determined categories adopted from a similar, previous study in order to strengthen the validity of the longitudinal comparison.
Findings
This paper identifies a clear and significant trend towards: more dissertations based on a collection of articles than monographs; more dissertations focusing on manufacturing companies and fewer on carriers; a shift from a focal company perspective to more dyadic and supply chain‐related research and finally; and a decreasing focus on the philosophy in science.
Research limitations/implications
Despite the thorough method applied, there is possibility that a few dissertations might not have been identified in this paper.
Originality/value
This paper is a continuation of documenting the progress of doctoral work in logistics and SCM within the Nordic countries from the years 2002 to 2008.
The purpose of this paper is to report on observations of administrative work processes in two Danish manufacturing companies. The brown paper method was applied in both cases as…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report on observations of administrative work processes in two Danish manufacturing companies. The brown paper method was applied in both cases as a visualization technique to map the process flows and to highlight improvement areas. The paper explores the process and discusses drivers as well as barriers for this form of employee involvement in optimization and change programs.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on two case studies that illustrate the process of completing a brown paper exercise. Key staff along the process flow, from sales and order entry to the physical delivery of goods, participated in a structured course over a one‐month period.
Findings
The paper stresses the importance of collective learning and validation of current practices. One success factor is the ability to create an atmosphere of openness wherein staff are able to speak freely and honestly. This process provides top management with a range of areas to consider for future optimization. Top management commitment is an important factor in driving the process beyond just mapping as the two cases demonstrate.
Practical implications
Important elements in such visualization processes are commitment and support from top management and a common understanding of the terms, techniques, and methods utilized by employees. Spending time discussing the approach and explaining why it is needed as well as providing training is believed to be vital to the success of the process. This paper has relevance for all types of private and public organizations.
Social implications
The paper underscores the value of involving employees in assessments of existing business performance gaps, explorations of root causes for their existence, and planning activities in order to develop the business.
Originality/value
The paper makes a contribution to a limited number of publications that report on how companies in practice conduct common process mappings in order to identify areas for improvements.
Details
Keywords
Anders Haug, Jan Stentoft Arlbjørn, Frederik Zachariassen and Jakob Schlichter
The development of IT has enabled organizations to collect and store many times more data than they were able to just decades ago. This means that companies are now faced with…
Abstract
Purpose
The development of IT has enabled organizations to collect and store many times more data than they were able to just decades ago. This means that companies are now faced with managing huge amounts of data, which represents new challenges in ensuring high data quality. The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers to obtaining high master data quality.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper defines relevant master data quality barriers and investigates their mutual importance through organizing data quality barriers identified in literature into a framework for analysis of data quality. The importance of the different classes of data quality barriers is investigated by a large questionnaire study, including answers from 787 Danish manufacturing companies.
Findings
Based on a literature review, the paper identifies 12 master data quality barriers. The relevance and completeness of this classification is investigated by a large questionnaire study, which also clarifies the mutual importance of the defined barriers and the differences in importance in small, medium, and large companies.
Research limitations/implications
The defined classification of data quality barriers provides a point of departure for future research by pointing to relevant areas for investigation of data quality problems. The limitations of the study are that it focuses only on manufacturing companies and master data (i.e. not transaction data).
Practical implications
The classification of data quality barriers can give companies increased awareness of why they experience data quality problems. In addition, the paper suggests giving primary focus to organizational issues rather than perceiving poor data quality as an IT problem.
Originality/value
Compared to extant classifications of data quality barriers, the contribution of this paper represents a more detailed and complete picture of what the barriers are in relation to data quality. Furthermore, the presented classification has been investigated by a large questionnaire study, for which reason it is founded on a more solid empirical basis than existing classifications.
Details
Keywords
Jan Stentoft Arlbjørn and Per Vagn Freytag
The purpose of this paper is to examine how “lean” is viewed in academic literature and how it is operationalised. The paper also examines how evidence of lean is accounted for in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how “lean” is viewed in academic literature and how it is operationalised. The paper also examines how evidence of lean is accounted for in practice.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper discusses a review of 105 international peer‐reviewed journals with the purpose of identifying what has been written about lean. All in all, 154 articles featuring lean in the article title are identified and reviewed.
Findings
Lean has moved from application only in production to being used in other sectors, such as the public and service sectors. Most contributions are still found in production and supply chain journals, however, and few contributions discuss the basis of lean or provide a clear definition of the meaning of lean. The literature review indicates that there is a low level of operationalisation of the concept of lean, making the concept seem unclear and vague. About one‐third of the reviewed articles apply a toolbox view on lean; and, in general, the positive effect of lean is documented in only a few of the articles reviewed.
Research limitations/implications
Only those articles published in international, peer‐reviewed journals are examined. Discussion of lean, however, might be found in other sources, such as textbooks, conference proceedings and PhD dissertations.
Practical implications
Due to the indistinct definitions of lean that were discovered, one should use the concept of lean with care. It is especially important to specify the conditions and to describe the intentions of usage.
Originality/value
This paper is the first comprehensive literature review with regard to lean and evidence in relationship to definitions of and assumptions about lean.
Details
Keywords
Jan Stentoft Arlbjørn, Patrik Jonsson and John Johansen
The purpose of this data‐based analysis is to report and reflect on the characteristics of the academic discipline concerned with logistics and supply chain management (SCM) as it…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this data‐based analysis is to report and reflect on the characteristics of the academic discipline concerned with logistics and supply chain management (SCM) as it is conducted in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden). The paper further seeks to explain variations in the research field in terms of the demographics, research domains and methodologies, and publication patterns of the study's respondents.
Design/methodology/approach
An e‐mail questionnaire survey was distributed to 353 researchers based in the Nordic countries. With 144 answers returned, the response rate was 41 per cent.
Findings
The study did not provide a clear picture of a distinct Nordic research paradigm applying to the study of logistics and SCM. The analysis shows as characteristic of research issues pursued by Nordic researchers the focus on supply chains and networks and the use of dyads, chains or networks of organizations as levels of analysis. The use of case study methodology and a highly diversified publication pattern were likewise evident. Most researchers were found to rely heavily on external research funding. Significant differences were also identified for research conducted by researchers holding PhD degrees as compared to research by respondents with lower degrees, for researchers affiliated with institutions based in the technical sciences in comparison to those in the social sciences, and for institutions according to their varying degrees of experience with research in the field and external funding.
Research limitations/implications
The research reported here may help individual researchers raise their consciousness about their own research.
Originality/value
This is the first empirical study to analyze research paradigms within logistics and SCM in the Nordic countries. It identifies a number of significant differences in regard to research patterns among various categories of researchers and institutions.
Jan Stentoft Arlbjørn, PerVagn Freytag and Torben Damgaard
There is a clear focus upon increasing research output, improving research quality and securing closer interaction between universities and the private market of businesses…
Abstract
Purpose
There is a clear focus upon increasing research output, improving research quality and securing closer interaction between universities and the private market of businesses. Research should be evaluated according to usefulness and relevant criteria, where increased competition between universities and business schools for research grants should be established, such that the greatest number of publications, with the highest impact factors and most citations trigger most funding. Measurements and rankings have become hot topics for universities and business schools – this paper aims to discuss possible measurements and ranking impact for research and education.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper discusses development trends in research and education based upon available research literature and analyses a brief questionnaire‐survey completed by professors from 13 different European countries, which includes quantitative and qualitative features.
Findings
There is a clear trend towards publishing research in high‐ranked journals and developing student financed MBA programmes. However, there is a conflict between the political objectives of trying to connect universities and business schools with industry, while supplying further incentives to fund research grants through, for instance, publications and citations.
Research limitations/implications
Given a continued policy of furthering research merely for publication in high‐rankling journals, the consequence may be a widening gap between research output and its practical relevance.
Originality/value
The paper provides novel data and evidence for the issue of European research development.
Details
Keywords
Søren Graungaard Pedersen, Frederik Zachariassen and Jan Stentoft Arlbjørn
The purpose of this paper is to explore the major drivers behind the choice of centralising versus decentralising warehousing locations from a small‐ and medium‐sized enterprise…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the major drivers behind the choice of centralising versus decentralising warehousing locations from a small‐ and medium‐sized enterprise (SME) perspective. Previous literature has investigated this solely from a large company perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
An in‐depth literature review was carried out and, in addition, a single case study was conducted in order to investigate the issue at hand. A Danish medium‐sized do‐it‐yourself (DIY) retailer was chosen, as this company faced the challenge of deciding between centralisation vs decentralisation of its warehousing structure.
Findings
The paper has two findings: existing literature does not deal with the difference between SMEs and large companies when speaking of centralised vs decentralised warehousing; and the difference between SMEs and large companies with regard to centralised vs decentralised warehousing lies in the fact that SMEs generally have scarcity in competences and fewer resources, have fewer advantages of economies of scale in a centralised setting, and, finally, have fewer management resources to carry out a centralisation project.
Research limitations/implications
It is a limitation of this research that a statistical generalisation is not possible. Therefore, the findings in this paper might not be applicable for all SMEs.
Practical implications
When speaking of centralising vs decentralising warehousing, SMEs should be aware that different drivers are at play when compared with larger companies.
Originality/value
Research in supply chain management and logistics has not addressed the consequences of warehousing structure from an SME perspective.
Details
Keywords
Jesper Kronborg Jensen, Kristin Balslev Munksgaard and Jan Stentoft Arlbjørn
The need for innovations to achieve economically viable and green supply chains has been illuminated in recent literature. Closed‐loop supply chains are part of green supply chain…
Abstract
Purpose
The need for innovations to achieve economically viable and green supply chains has been illuminated in recent literature. Closed‐loop supply chains are part of green supply chain management and include traditional forward supply‐chain activities as well as additional activities of the reverse supply chain. Extant supply chain literature calls for a chain perspective in order to avoid sub‐optimization in the chain since changes at one stage can affect the performance at other stages. The purpose of the paper is to analyze how implementation of green supply chain innovations can enhance value offerings along the supply chain.
Design/methodology/approach
This research is based on an explorative, single‐embedded case study of a food supply chain. The case is concerned with implementation of green supply chain innovation in terms of biogas technology. The single case comprises four actors in the food supply chain: a retailer, an industrial bakery, a mill, and a farmer. Data collection is based on semi‐structured interviews with persons responsible for sustainability in the respective companies.
Findings
The case demonstrates that in order to reach the full potential of a green supply chain innovation, the different supply chain actors must be included. What in isolation of one company's perspective is perceived as a waste can be transformed to a value when the problem area is analysed from a chain perspective.
Research limitations/implications
The paper is based on a single case study that does not provide static generalizations, and it represents the first step on a road to building new theory about green supply chain innovations. Future research can expand the findings by elaborating upon cases of other types of supply chains and supply chain innovations.
Practical implications
The perception of waste in a supply chain can be changed through green supply chain innovations. This case illustrates how obsolete food products at the retail level, which traditionally have been perceived as a waste product with related discarding costs, can be regarded as a valued input by implementation of biogas technology at the industrial bakery company. As a result, other food supply chains can investigate similar solutions.
Originality/value
The paper provides a case that visualizes how value offerings along a food supply chain can be chased through green supply chain innovations. Furthermore, the paper applies a supply chain perspective not only conceptually but also empirically. By focusing on the interfaces between each main actor in the supply chain, this paper contributes to existing research with valuable knowledge of inter‐organizational issues related to challenges of supply chain innovation.