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Collective action in SCM: a call for activist research

Touboulic, Anne; McCarthy, Lucy

Authors

Lucy McCarthy



Abstract

© 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the current focus of supply chain management (SCM) research; it considers field level and societal constraints and consequently the potential for change. It details the underlying assumptions in the field, considering the dominant paradigms and stakeholders, and how this has shaped the research we have engaged in as a community of scholars. Design/methodology/approach: This is a reflective inquiry that seeks to deconstruct the dominant discourses and paradigms in SCM. It offers alternative avenues of inquiry to “traditional” research, considering how different questions, perspectives and approaches might yield different learning for the field. offering alternative avenues to traditional research. Findings: This is a call for collective action, for solidarity, for a re-imagining of what research in SCM could look like. Research activism is challenging and potentially risky but necessary for the research community to engage in, particularly in light of the global societal grand challenges. Change can take place in the SCM field through collective action and solidarity. Three levels of activism are explored here – acting to solve the grand challenges, acting to change the field and acting as individuals. Originality/value: This is a “speak-out” piece, which embraces and encourages reflexivity, new methods of doing and writing research as well as different perspectives, and especially a consideration for context and multiple players in the supply chain. The authors contend that it is urgent to re-appropriate our own agency as SCM researchers.

Citation

Touboulic, A., & McCarthy, L. (2019). Collective action in SCM: a call for activist research. International Journal of Logistics Management, The, 31(1), 3-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-08-2019-0222

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 20, 2019
Online Publication Date Dec 13, 2019
Publication Date Dec 13, 2019
Deposit Date Sep 4, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal International Journal of Logistics Management
Print ISSN 0957-4093
Electronic ISSN 1758-6550
Publisher Emerald
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 31
Issue 1
Pages 3-20
DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-08-2019-0222
Keywords Management research; Performance measurements; Supplier management; Sustainability
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2562714
Publisher URL https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJLM-08-2019-0222/full/html

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