International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

Christopher A. Boone; Christopher W. Craighead; Joe B. Hanna

2007 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030710825676

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess and document the progress of postponement research, identify current gaps, and provide direction for future research efforts. Design/methodology/approach – Postponement literature published from 1999 to 2006 was reviewed. Findings – The review revealed a significant increase in the number of postponement research efforts, many of which at least partially addressed past challenges noted in previous research. Several opportunities to continue addressing these past challenges were identified. Future researchers are challenged to validate new postponement concepts and extend postponement research beyond its manufacturing context. Other challenges call for the continued assessment of the relationship between postponement and uncertainty and the investigation into the slow rate of postponement adoption among practitioners. Research limitations/implications – This effort is not an exhaustive review of all postponement research. This review does not consider unpublished papers, papers in non‐academic journals, or papers presented at conferences. Practical implications – This review is a useful resource for supply chain researchers interested in supply chain strategies and the evolution of postponement as a supply chain concept. Originality/value – This paper uses the challenges of past research as a measure of the progress of postponement thought and theory. The gaps identified and challenges made will serve as a foundation upon which future researchers can build.

Yoshinori Suzuki

2007 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030710825685

Purpose – To develop a decision tool that may be used conveniently by motor carriers to answer the questions: “Does my company need to lower the truck driver turnover rate?” and “If so, by how much?” Design/methodology/approach – Combines statistical and mathematical procedures to present a method that calculates, by considering a variety of carrier characteristics, the “desirable” truck driver turnover rate for each carrier. Findings – Simulation results imply that the model may be used by all types of motor carriers, regardless of whether their drivers exhibit homogeneous or heterogeneous job‐quitting behaviors. Research limitations/implications – The “desirable” turnover rate may be used as both: the critical value that determines whether a carrier needs to reduce the turnover rate or not (i.e. the upper bound of the acceptable turnover range), and the approximate target turnover rate to be attained in the short run. Originality/value – The proposed model shall help motor carriers identify their “target” driver turnover rates to be attained in the short run. The model is available in a user‐friendly PC format from the author (Excel file with VBA), so that no technical calculations are required by the users when using the model.

Craig R. Carter; Lutz Kaufmann; Alex Michel

2007 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030710825694

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review and integrate the extensive literature base which examines judgment and decision‐making biases, to introduce this literature to the field of supply management, to create a valid, mutually exclusive, and exhaustive taxonomy of decision biases that can affect supply managers, and to provide guidance for future research and applications of this taxonomy. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use a qualitative cluster analysis, combined with a Q‐sort methodology, to develop a taxonomy of decision biases. Findings – A mutually exclusive, and exhaustive taxonomy of nine decision biases is developed through a qualitative cluster analysis. The Q‐sort methodology provides initial confirmation of the reliability and validity of the cluster analysis results. The findings, along with numerous examples provided in the text, suggest that supply management decisions are vulnerable to the described biases. Originality/value – This paper provides a comprehensive review of the judgment and decision bias literature, and creates a logical and manageable taxonomy of biases which can impact supply management decision making. The introduction and organization of this vast extant literature base provides a contrasting perspective to much of the existing supply management research, which has incorporated the assumption of the rational agent, or what is known in the economics literature as homo economicus. In addition, the authors describe the use of qualitative cluster analysis and the Q‐sort methodology, techniques which have been used rarely if at all in within the field of supply chain management.

Harri Lorentz; Chee Yew Wong; Olli‐Pekka Hilmola

2007 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030710825702

Purpose – The purpose of the research is to shed light on the evolution of distribution structures and its consequent implications for supply chain management (SCM) in the context of the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Design/methodology/approach – A structured literature review followed by two case studies, which combine qualitative and quantitative analysis. Mainly in‐depth interviews were used, with company sales data analysis in terms of variation and forecast accuracy. Findings – It was found that CEE distribution structures are overlapping, and along complex traditional structures there exists a possibility for a more direct approach. This modern key‐account approach improves supply chain performance, mainly due to echelon elimination and information sharing. The case studies also illustrate that supply chain demand distortion originating practices create uncertainty in demand, even in the case of modern key accounts. The findings therefore suggest that general SCM approaches of the “West” are evident and appropriate also in the “East”. Research limitations/implications – Owing to the limited number of case studies, this research is considered exploratory. The presented two case studies are essentially illustrative examples of the distribution operations of two international companies in CEE markets. Practical implications – For practitioners, the two case studies provide important insight on the nature of alternative distribution structures in CEE, and what the level of forecast accuracy and the demand fluctuation may be expected. It is proposed that the emerging opportunities for supply chain partnership development should be carefully reviewed. Originality/value – The paper draws upon real‐life data from emerging CEE markets with an approach that is not commonly used in distribution and SCM studies on CEE.