Outlining a Future of Supply Chain Management - Coordinated Supply Networks

This thesis explores the use of different approaches and structures to facilitate coordinating a set of strategic business partners across multiple tiers of a single supply chain defined as the supply network. The study is based on a deductive model of three dimensions of coordination, corresponding to the information, material, and financial dependencies between organizations in a supply network. This segmentation allows separate exploration of coordination structures at the level of information systems, logistics and operations, and financial allocation across organizations within the supply network. The research methodology entailed the use of the Delphi technique, soliciting input via in-depth personal interviews from academic, industry, and consulting experts in supply chain management. This method is selected because of few current examples in industry, lack of hard data and absence of structured frameworks in the field. For each of the coordination dimensions, the structures and mechanisms to efficiently coordinate a supply network were identified, described, and categorized. The result is a structured spectrum of coordinating approaches that illustrates the managing of dependencies within the supply network. Trends and consensus in the responses are identified from the data to provide insight into future developments in the field. Illustrative examples of such coordination structures are discussed to demonstrate the inner working of coordinating mechanisms, and to identify the key issues, requirements and obstacles in achieving coordination across multiple tiers. Thesis Supervisors: Charles H. Fine Title: Chrysler LFM Professor of Management James B. Rice, Jr. Title: Director of ISCM Program, Center for Transportation Studies