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Supply chain management research using case studies: a literature analysis

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  • Olli-Pekka Hilmola
  • Annukka Hejazi
  • Lauri Ojala

Abstract

The concept of supply chain management (SCM), first introduced in a conference paper in the early 1980s, has since been developed in numerous publications. The concept is also widely used in everyday business. Production and operations management research was quick to absorb this "new approach" too: competition in the global marketplace has intensified in every manufacturing sector and competitiveness depends not only on single companies (such as original equipment manufacturers), but is created throughout the entire supply chain. By applying SCM principles, firms aim to increase the effectiveness of the whole chain; improvements include shortening lead times, flexibility, significantly lower total inventory and better customer orientation. This paper analyses case study research results in 55 articles on SCM in refereed journals. Case study research aims to gain a deep understanding from the phenomenon under study using a limited number of observations (companies or supply chains). Our results indicate where and how supply chain research has been conducted. Interestingly, most articles lack a rigorous methodological discussion. Typically, a single case has been examined, and the cases represent only few manufacturing sub-sectors. Our analysis indicates that mostly global manufacturers feature in SCM research. Despite the argumentation in case study methodology literature, we were not able to find any support that a deductive research approach would lead to the use of quantitative methods, and that the use of inductive approach would lead to qualitative methods. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used almost equally, and analyses within and between cases were employed.

Suggested Citation

  • Olli-Pekka Hilmola & Annukka Hejazi & Lauri Ojala, 2005. "Supply chain management research using case studies: a literature analysis," International Journal of Integrated Supply Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 1(3), pages 294-311.
  • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijisma:v:1:y:2005:i:3:p:294-311
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Schulze, Manuel & Seuring, Stefan & Ewering, Christian, 2012. "Applying activity-based costing in a supply chain environment," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(2), pages 716-725.
    2. Kherbach OUALID & Marian Liviu MOCAN & Cristian DUMITRACHE & Ghoumrassi AMINE, 2016. "Overview Of Information Technology And A Theoretical Model In Supply Chain Management For Local Smes," SEA - Practical Application of Science, Romanian Foundation for Business Intelligence, Editorial Department, issue 12, pages 527-537, December.
    3. Seuring, Stefan, 2009. "The product-relationship-matrix as framework for strategic supply chain design based on operations theory," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(1), pages 221-232, July.
    4. Claribel Muller & Walter J. V. Vermeulen & Pieter Glasbergen, 2012. "Pushing or Sharing as Value‐driven Strategies for Societal Change in Global Supply Chains: Two Case Studies in the British–South African Fresh Fruit Supply Chain," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(2), pages 127-140, February.
    5. Boyle, Emily & Humphreys, Paul & McIvor, Ronan, 2008. "Reducing supply chain environmental uncertainty through e-intermediation: An organisation theory perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(1), pages 347-362, July.

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