Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop the paradigmatic justification for the use of case studies in logistics research. The argument is based on a critical realist (CR) ontology and epistemology. The current logistics paradigm's flat ontology – based on regularity – is replaced...

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is twofold: to identify, evaluate and structure the research that focusses on omni-channel retailing from the perspective of logistics and supply chain management; and to reveal the intellectual foundation of omni-channel retailing research....

Leading representatives of the European grocery industry formed the European efficient consumer response initiative in 1995. The goal of this strategic alliance is set to reengineer the way in which business is done in the industry by implementing cooperative strategies between retailer and...

Focuses on performance efficiency in the mobile phone supply chain. Through a description of exogenous conditions in the mobile phone industry concerning product characteristics and demand for mobile phones with reference to Fisher's product types, found the notions of responsiveness to be a...

Purpose – A variant of Kohonen's algorithm for the self‐organizing map (SOM) is used to solve a continuous location‐routing problem that can be applied to identify potential sites for subsequent selection by a discrete finite set model. The paper aims to show how the algorithm may be...

Purpose – An efficient supplier management is of central importance for successful supply chain management. It begins with the identification of potential suppliers and leads to the controlling of the supplier‐buyer‐connection. This paper aims to design a new supplier‐rating system that...

Purpose – Management approaches, such as supply chain management addressing cooperation among firms emphasize communication among people from different companies. The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of individual and contextual factors on the external communication...

Purpose – To examine the conditions under which the proposed benefits of collaboration between a firm and its suppliers will occur. Design/methodology/approach – This paper examines buyer‐supplier relationships from the point of view of the buying firm. The paper is based on a Swiss sample...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and systematically discuss generic forms of contract logistics services and their distinct underlying approaches for fulfilling their respective value propositions. A general frame of reference is developed that addresses the value...

The management of electronic retail channels is not limited to virtual companies only. Also store‐based (stationary) retailers are expected to set up electronic distribution channels. This paper discusses the occurrence of such channels from a European perspective. The authors introduce a...