Critical review of supply chain innovation research (1999–2016)

Abstract

This paper aims to systematically review the supply chain innovation literature over the last 18 years. It examines the development and current state of supply chain innovation research in management and identifies research gaps. A literature review is conducted to identify and analyze publications in peer-reviewed academic journals that include contributions from different strands of management research. This paper analyzes the theoretical contributions of the supply chain innovation literature using Gregor's (2006) framework of theory classification. It also evaluates the levels of analysis of the literature using the structural view model proposed by Skinner, Han, and Chang (2006). This research identified and analyzed various topics related to the supply chain innovation construct and showed that supply chain innovations can be studied at multiple analytical levels. It also revealed that the field has largely relied on manufacturing firm-based samples and U.S. samples, limiting the generalizability of the findings. The identification and analysis of relevant articles highlighted the need to conceptualize the supply chain innovation construct and develop measurement scales to operationalize it. This literature review is the first to focus on supply chain innovations, summarizing the development of the last 18 years and providing fruitful opportunities for future research. The results presented can be applied to the decision-making process of managers regarding supply chain innovations.