Exploring the impact of logistics and supply chain management scholarship: Why pursue practical relevance and are we successful?

Abstract

This study explores the level of relevance of logistics and supply chain management research and probes underlying motives prompting scholars to value and pursue managerial (vs. purely academic) contributions. At its core, the concerns over rigor and relevance of higher education comprise a crisis of trust and credibility that appeared decades ago and continues to provoke concern from the field's thought leaders. While exploratory in nature, the results suggest both practitioners and academics agree at differing levels that logistics and supply chain management research is relevant, but pressure to chase indices and rankings has influenced behavior of academics. Consequently, the academic peer-reviewed process no longer seems to focus on managerial implications. The article begins with theories pertinent to human motivation, namely, self-determination theory (SDT), and employs qualitative interviews of academics to help develop surveys of both academics and logistics and supply chain management practitioners. It then presents the methodologies of quantitative data collection and analysis-combined with interviews of deans and editors-to explore the research questions to offer discussion, implications, future research directions, and conclusions.

Revisiting the definition of humanitarian logistics

“…An updated definition contributes to practice in several ways. First, involving practitioners in the development of the definition makes it relevant for practice (Suddaby, 2010) and bridges the gap between academia and the practitioner community (Hawkins et al., 2022; Kunz et al., 2017; Rynes, 2007). Second, a more structured understanding of the discipline makes it possible for humanitarian organization executives to claim ownership of a wide range of functions, processes, and activities (Stock & Boyer, 2009).…”

What about policy research?

“…This cascading complaint is relevant to research across most business disciplines. As our writings become more theoretically esoteric and our methods become more distant from the manager, authors (Hawkins et al, 2022), deans, politicians, and now accreditation agencies (Richey & Davis‐Sramek, 2022) are increasingly asking for an accounting of the value provided by investing in academic research. The current highly flawed measurement of research impact is adjusting to the demands of our increasingly interested stakeholders.…”

“…Finally, we take a bit of a turn towards critiquing our role as researchers and educators. In “Exploring the impact of logistics and supply chain management scholarship: Why pursue practical relevance and are we successful?” Hawkins et al (2022) provide a strong Perspectives' study on the pedagogical work we do and its relationship to our research. The study examines the relevance of L&SCM research, probing the underlying motives prompting scholars to value and pursue managerially relevant (v. pure academic) contributions.…”