Title: Research issues in agile supply chain management

Authors: Sathasivam Mathiyalakan

Addresses: MSIS Department, College of Management, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA

Abstract: To compete in the present milieu which has undergone dramatic changes in the last decade, firms are constantly revising strategies, methods, and tactics to better manage operations. The need within the industry is to be able to take advantage of emerging opportunities and react rapidly to altered conditions – in other words, to be agile – has been highlighted as an imperative for firms in this highly turbulent global environment. The present-day business environment dictates that not only manufacturing processes, but also supply chain practices must evolve dynamically. There is no consensus in the literature on what constitutes an agile supply chain or how to achieve it. In this study, we review literature, develop a framework for organising the existing research, and identify issues for further research.

Keywords: agility; change management; framework; information technology; supply chain management; SCM; agile systems; agile supply chains.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2006.010939

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, 2006 Vol.1 No.3, pp.213 - 228

Published online: 19 Sep 2006 *

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