Decision theory in sustainable supply chain management: a literature review

Alexander, Anthony; Walker, Harvey; Naim, Mohamed Mohamed

doi:10.1108/scm-01-2014-0007

Cited by 115 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 166 publications

(168 reference statements)

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“…SCM can be seen as an applied science, and the role of research is not only improvement of firm performance (e.g., Tracey et al, 2005). SCM is also concerned with societal challenges such as environmental responsibility depicted by "sustainable SCM" (Bai and Sarkis, 2014;Alexander et al 2014) and natural disasters and humanitarian aid that is labelled as "humanitarian logistics" (Kovács and Spens, 2007;Halldórsson and Kovács, 2010).…”

Section: 'Sensitivity To the Context As Part Of Theorizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complementary theories to supply chain management revisited – from borrowing theories to theorizing

Halldórsson

Hsuan

Kotzab

2015

Supply Chain Management: An International Journal

113

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Purpose – The aim of this paper is to identify ways by which the theorizing of supply chain management (SCM) takes place, with particular attention to complementary theories. SCM suffers as well as benefits from a “conceptual slack”. Design/methodology/approach – The nature of SCM is discussed, and the role and relevance of theorizing is addressed by using key characteristics of “academic scholarship” based on a literature review of SCM and evaluation of application of theory and theory development. Findings – The integrative and multi-layered nature of SCM sets the conditions for “theorizing SCM” that can take place through various forms: theory application, new theoretical combinations and sensitivity to managerial practice. It is pivotal that future research explore further the performative potential of SCM. Research limitations/implications – Research with focus on theory development or using complementary theories to advancing understanding of SCM can benefit from the five building blocks of theorizing SCM proposed in the paper. Practical implications – Theoretical principles in SCM are not only used to describe practical problems but also to “produce the world”; supply chains can be seen as organizational units that act or consummate an action that delivers a particular performance. Originality/value – This paper portrays SCM sensitivity to managerial challenges by moving from borrowing to a more bilateral view on theorizing of SCM, reflecting the nature of SCM.

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Section: 'Sensitivity To the Context As Part Of Theorizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complementary theories to supply chain management revisited – from borrowing theories to theorizing

Halldórsson

Hsuan

Kotzab

2015

Supply Chain Management: An International Journal

113

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Moreover, the authors deem necessary that managers impose appropriate corporate policies and they use quantitative measuring instruments to verify the levels of achievement of objectives. Alexander et al [85] analyze the use of decision theory concepts in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). The findings allow classifying administrative initiatives in an analytic way.…”

Section: Ta2 Classification Of Energy Efficiency and Environmental Smentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Sustainability and Energy-Efficient Supply Chain Management: A Review of Research Trends and Proposed Guidelines

2018

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This paper conducts a structured review on the topic of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in the supply chain management context to define research trends on the topic and identify research gaps. The review is carried out using the largest databases of peer-reviewed literature (Scopus and Web of Science). A sample of 122 papers focusing on the topic of energy-efficient and sustainable supply chain management was selected and analyzed through descriptive and content analysis. The review highlights that despite there is a growing research trend on the topic, different research gaps remain to be covered. These gaps concern the factors influencing energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives, the classification of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives, the impact of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability on supply chain performance, the customer perspective in sustainable and energy-efficient supply chain, and the different technologies supporting the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives. The research gaps and the research questions identified offer the opportunity to identify areas of investigation to design future research directions and propose guidelines in the field of supply chain management.

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“…Closure was withheld, which allowed the idea to develop through an iterative process. Alexander (2014) has adroitly contrasted this complexity approach from those of our previous two ontologies:…”

Section: Examples Of Complexitymentioning

confidence: 96%

Social Ontology and the Emergent Moment: A Theoretical and Action Research Inquiry into Rural Microenterprise Development

Porter

2014

Syst Pract Action Res

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Internal beliefs about the nature of social reality have been less examined in relation to new business development through microentrepreneurship than have tangible factors such as access to capital, business training, and social support. In this paper we present a view based in social ontology and suggest that regimes of internally consistent assumptions about the nature of the world are actualized through the entrepreneur's approach to his/her emerging business. Though social ontology is often addressed at the macro, philosophical level, we define it in micro, phenomenological terms as the actor's sense of being-in-the-world, which in turn conditions his/her perceived resources, strategic options, and approach to stakeholders. Theoretically we develop three social ontologies-dualist, interpretive, and complex systems-and we then examine empirical evidence from an action research study as expressive of these ontologies in practice. Action research is an ideal methodology for our study because it permits a tight focus on the actor's point of view in relation to his/her visible practice. Our results suggest that social ontology may indeed play a part in microentrepreneurial development, adding to but not replacing traditional resources for business success. In our concluding discussion of implications for practice and further research, we suggest that social ontologies are learned and habitual, and therefore that they may be recognized and potentially transcended when other ontologies offer new inroads that may not have been visible in a previous regime.

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Decision theory in sustainable supply chain management: a literature review

Cited by 115 publications

References 166 publications

Complementary theories to supply chain management revisited – from borrowing theories to theorizing

Complementary theories to supply chain management revisited – from borrowing theories to theorizing

Environmental Sustainability and Energy-Efficient Supply Chain Management: A Review of Research Trends and Proposed Guidelines

Social Ontology and the Emergent Moment: A Theoretical and Action Research Inquiry into Rural Microenterprise Development

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