The future role of logistics for global wealth – scenarios and discontinuities until 2025

foresight ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 405-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heiko A. von der Gracht ◽  
Inga-Lena Darkow
Keyword(s):  
Delphi Study ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Logistics Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Role ◽  
Online Portal ◽  
Water Transportation ◽  
The Future ◽  
Global Logistics

Purpose – The aim is to present research results on global logistics scenarios 2025 with focus on the future contribution the logistics industry can make to the triple bottom line – people, planet and profit. Design/methodology/approach – The research was conducted within the scope of an interdisciplinary foresight conference, where a group of 216 renowned persons from 16 countries in business, academia and politics discussed policies and strategies for the future role of logistics as an enabler and driver of global wealth. Attendants were asked to share their visions of the future via a real-time Delphi study. The results were further discussed in futures workshops according to World Café methodology for group dialog. Findings – Based on extensive desk research of scenario studies, expert workshops, and creative sessions, the authors developed 20 key Delphi projections for global logistics in 2025. Experts were asked to rate the projection's probability, impact, and desirability as well as to provide reasons for all answers via the Delphi online-portal. Key topics of the Delphi-based scenarios include global health care supply chains, resource logistics (urban mining), water transportation, energy supply, and education. Moreover, the authors analysed discontinuities in global logistics, such as pandemics, conflicts, and resource crises. Originality/value – The increasing impact of logistics on a nation's and company's success underlines the importance of future-oriented and sustainable planning in this field. With this research endeavor, the authors provide insights in action needed to be taken by industry, politics and academia in order to leverage the full potentials of logistics and support the economic development of the world.

The future role of reverse logistics as a tool for sustainability in food supply chains: a Delphi-based scenario study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Münch ◽  
Heiko A. von der Gracht ◽  
Evi Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Reverse Logistics ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Role ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
The Future

Purpose The importance of integrating sustainability into business activities rises continuously. In addition to an established focus on forward logistics, there is a growing awareness of reverse logistics. Reverse logistics ensures sustainable practices and increases competitiveness for companies, but it also comes with challenges. Therefore, the implementation of reverse logistics is associated with uncertainties. This paper aims to fill this gap by analyzing the development and comprehensive potential of reverse logistics as a sustainability tool. Design/methodology/approach To bridge the research gap, a real-time Delphi study was conducted. Through an extensive desk research, semi-structured interviews and an expert workshop, 14 projections for the German food sector of 2040 were created. A total of 49 experts in the field of logistics, reverse logistics and food logistics assessed the future projections concerning estimated probability, impact and desirability of occurrence. Findings The findings derived lead to three possible future scenarios as well as potential drivers and barriers that food companies, the government and society need to consider to enable a successful transition toward implementing reverse logistics in food supply chains. Originality/value The study examined the future role of reverse logistics as a sustainability tool in food supply chains. The results serve as a framework for decision-making on the sustainable orientation of business practices, leading to increased competitiveness and resilient business strategy. Several implications are derived for practitioners, policymakers and society to promote reverse logistics. Methodologically, this study extends existing Delphi methods by conducting a quantitative dissent and sentiment analysis, considering various surface-level and deep-level diversity characteristics.

Customer centricity and guanxi prevalence as social capital: a study of international business relationships

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 1209-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angeline Close Scheinbaum ◽  
Stephen W. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Global Business ◽  
Global Marketing ◽  
Logistics Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Logistics ◽  
High Level ◽  
Customer Centricity

Purpose This research blends perspectives of the Eastern phenomenon of guanxi with the more Western perspectives of relationship marketing and customer centricity. Extending scholarship on guanxi in marketing (e.g. Park and Luo, 2001; Sheu and Hu, 2009; Luo et al., 2008; Fowler and Reisenwitz, 2014), the objective is to highlight the indirect role of customer centricity (i.e. how visible or central it is for the business partner to communicate with/have information sharing with), for firms in regions with a prevalence of guanxi. Design/methodology/approach The empirical model is tested in context of global marketing in the business-to-business (B2B) logistics industry (n = 508). A total of 508 global logistics employees and managers with experience in global business participated in the survey in Taiwan. Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis with multi-group analyses. Findings Customer centricity intensifies positive outcomes of guanxi prevalence. Specifically, a high level of customer centricity strengthens established associations among guanxi prevalence, trust, relationship commitment and firm performance. Originality/value While most work on guanxi has a focus in China, this research focuses on Taiwan. While building on a wealth of literature, relatively less work has focused on customer centricity.

scholarly journals Understanding disruptive technology transitions in the global logistics industry: the role of ecosystems

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmin Mikl ◽  
David M. Herold ◽  
Kamila Pilch ◽  
Marek Ćwiklicki ◽  
Sebastian Kummer
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
Disruptive Innovation ◽  
Disruptive Technology ◽  
Innovation Theory ◽  
Logistics Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Disruptive Innovation Theory ◽  
Global Logistics ◽  
Technology Substitution

Purpose Disruptive technologies in the global logistics industry are often regarded as a threat to the existing business models of incumbents’ companies. Existing research, however, focuses mainly on whether technologies have disruptive potential, thereby neglecting when such disruptive transitions occur. To understand the timing of potential disruptive technological change, this paper aims to investigate the elements of the underlying ecosystem shaping these transitions. Design/methodology/approach Building on the established ecosystem framework from Adner and Kapoor (2016a), this paper constructs four categories of technology substitution to assess how quickly disruptive change may occur in the global logistics industry and defines key technology substitution determinants in logistics to emphasize the role of ecosystems for further consideration into disruptive innovation theory. Findings Based on the key determinants, this paper proposes first definitions of distinctive ecosystems elements linked to the three types of innovations, namely, sustaining innovations, low-end disruptions and new-market disruptions, thereby integrating ecosystems into Christensen’s (1997) disruptive innovation theory. Originality/value By developing a framework that conceptualizes the pace of technology substitution, this paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how logistics managers and academics can better predict disruptive transitions and develop strategies to allocate resources.

scholarly journals Digitalization and its Impact on the Future Role of SCM Executives in Talent Management – An International Cross‐Industry Delphi Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 356-383
Author(s):  
Manuel Wehrle ◽  
Sabrina Lechler ◽  
Heiko A. von der Gracht ◽  
Evi Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Delphi Study ◽  
Talent Management ◽  
Future Role ◽  
The Future

The future role of the psychiatrist in Europe – a UEMS perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (01) ◽  
pp. 35-42
Author(s):  
M. Hermans
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Future Role ◽  
Personal Opinion ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Many

SummaryThe author presents his personal opinion inviting to discussion on the possible future role of psychiatrists. His view is based upon the many contacts with psychiatrists all over Europe, academicians and everyday professionals, as well as the familiarity with the literature. The list of papers referred to is based upon (1) the general interest concerning the subject when representing ideas also worded elsewhere, (2) the accessibility to psychiatrists and mental health professionals in Germany, (3) being costless downloadable for non-subscribers and (4) for some geographic aspects (e.g. Belgium, Spain, Sweden) and the latest scientific issues, addressing some authors directly.

The Future Role of the Army National Guard

1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Schuster ◽  
Austin A. Stovall
Keyword(s):  
National Guard ◽  
Army National Guard ◽  
Future Role ◽  
The Future

Measurement and Control—Our Future Role

1970 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
pp. 211-214 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Future Role ◽  
The Future ◽  
And Control ◽  
Measurement And Control

The role of Members of the Institute and the Institute's place in the future environment that will emerge in the next few years is discussed, with particular emphasis upon the contribution that the Institute and its Members can make to the strength of this emerging future through our particular activities and capabilities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document