An Application of Soft Systems Methodology to Supply Chain Management

2007 ◽  
pp. 254-285
Author(s):  
Ross Smith ◽  
David Mackay ◽  
Graeme Altmann ◽  
Lucas Merlo
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Reference Model ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
The Uk

This chapter reflects upon techniques that might facilitate improved strategic decision making in a supply chain management (SCM) environment. In particular, it presents the integration of a selection of techniques adapted from an approach to systems-based problem solving that has emerged primarily in the UK over the last 20-30 years—the soft systems methodology (SSM). The results reported indicate that SSM techniques can complement existing SCM decision-making tools. In particular, this chapter outlines a framework for integrating some SSM techniques with approaches based upon the supply-chain operations reference-model (SCOR) .

Strategic Decision Making From the Viewpoint of Systems Thinking

2017 ◽  
pp. 98-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejana Zlatanović ◽  
Jelena Nikolić
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Strategic Decision Making ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Factors Affecting

Growing complexity and diversity of strategic decisions indicate the need for applying the appropriate holistic tools in strategic decision-making. Thus, the paper deals with the process of strategic decision-making from the viewpoint of systems thinking, with emphasis on the role of values and context in strategic decision-making. The main purpose is to show how systems thinking, through selected systems methodologies, can help decision-makers involve different perceptions and values in the process of strategic decision-making, as well as take into account context in which the strategic decisions are made. Considering the key internal and external factors affecting strategic decision-making (characteristics of decision-makers, organizational characteristics and environmental characteristics), Soft Systems Methodology as interpretive systems methodology and Organizational Cybernetics as functionalist systems methodology have been selected. The way in which they can be combined, aimed at improving effectiveness of strategic decision-making, has been presented.

scholarly journals A longitudial study of private warehouse investment strategies

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-86
Author(s):  
Jonathan W Kohn ◽  
Michael A McGinnis ◽  
John E Spillan
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Investment Decision ◽  
Investment Decisions ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Investment Strategies ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Investment Decision Making ◽  
Inventory Investment

This article revisits private warehouse investment decision making, a topic previously examined in 1989 by McGinnis, Kohn, and Myers (1990). Since then there has been a substantial amount of discussion regarding the scope and nature of logistics /supply chain management. In particular the roles of private, contract, and public warehousing has been discussed, increased emphasis on financial performance and strategic decision making may have altered the criteria for investment decisions in private warehousing, increased coordination of supply chains may have altered the relative importance of private, contract, and private warehousing, and increasing emphasis on controlling inventory investment may have shifted inventory responsibilities onto suppliers and customers. Empirical data was collected in 1999and 2008 regarding warehouse investment decisions in large United State manufacturing firms. This research focused on private warehouse investment decisions, topics that might affect those decisions, and the mix of private, contract, public, and other warehouse options. The results of the 1999 and 2008 data were compared to the earlier findings reported by McGinnis, Kohn, and Myers. Changes in private warehouse investment strategies, the roles of market /product mix uncertainties and availability of for-hire warehouse providers, and changes in warehouse mix were examined. Implications for practitioners, teachers, and researchers of transportation, supply chain management, logistics, and warehousing are discussed.

Blockchain in Supply Chain: Case Study of Lottemart Ciputat

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. K. Handoyo ◽  
M. R. Mashudi ◽  
H. P. Ipung
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Production Processes

Current supply chain methods are having difficulties in resolving problems arising from the lack of trust in supply chains. The root reason lies in two challenges brought to the traditional mechanism: self-interests of supply chain members and information asymmetry in production processes. Blockchain is a promising technology to address these problems. The key objective of this paper is to present qualitative analysis for blockchain in supply chain as the decision-making framework to implement this new technology. The analysis method used Val IT business case framework, validated by the expert judgements. The further study needs to be elaborated by either the existing organization that use blockchain or assessment by the organization that will use blockchain to improve their supply chain management.

A SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE SUPPLY CHAIN OF A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN GAUTENG PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-99
Author(s):  
Lewis Tsuro ◽  
Stan Hardman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Project Planning ◽  
Suitable Model ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Good Tool ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems

The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was developed as a set of tools for identifying and making incremental steps to improve situations with poorly defined causes or solutions. The supply chain forms a key process of any construction project; however, on any given construction site, supply chain inefficiencies could arise from many different avenues. Opinions vary, though, on which of these avenues is more important for increasing supply chain efficiencies; whether any problem even exist across the different aspects of the supply chain; as well as what steps should be taken to resolve them. It was therefore studied, here, whether SSM could be employed as a useful tool to systematically apply in the supply chains of a construction project in South Africa, for understanding and targeting the problematic situations that arise. Following thorough cyclical open-ended interviews with 17 workers, supervisors, foremen, site clerks, senior managers, and the CEO of the principal contractor at a new office park construction project in Rosebank, Johannesburg, and a thematic analysis of the data, SSM was performed to understand the existing challenges, and develop a suitable model for improvement. The study found that SSM was a good tool for understanding the ‘messy’ circumstances surrounding the chosen construction project supply chain, as well as actions that could be taken to improve the supply chain’s efficiency on site. The findings add weight to the argument that SSM could be a good tool for project managers to systematically introduce into their project planning regimens

scholarly journals Reengineering of supply chain management integrated scheduling processes

2018 ◽  
Vol 193 ◽  
pp. 05064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Kuleshova ◽  
Anastasia Levina ◽  
Rustam Esedulaev
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Integrated Scheduling ◽  
Data Flows

The paper describes the principle of the reengineering of supply chain management integrated scheduling processes in order to increase in efficiency of business process and decrease the decision-making time at collision of plan-fact deviations. The basic concept of business-processes reengineering is analyzed. The experience of reengineering of supply chain integrated scheduling business processes for the oil and gas branch is presented. The bottlenecks of the current practice were revealed. The purpose of this paper is to carry out recommendations for improving business processes based on an analysis of the current realization of the process, his provision with information systems and data flows.

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