Title: Evaluation of market scenarios in automobile reverse logistics: a system dynamics approach

Authors: V. Ravi; Ravi Shankar; Nitin Kumar Tripathi

Addresses: Department of Humanities, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Department of Space, Valiamala P.O., Thiruvananthapuram 695547, India. ' Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India. ' Remote Sensing and GIS, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand

Abstract: In the recent times, many factors have given rise to adoption of reverse logistics by companies. Reverse logistics are complex systems with high-order, multiple loops and non-linear feedback structures. Thus, long-term strategic management issue of reverse logistics systems is of great relevance to decision makers. In this research, we have adopted system dynamics methodology for evaluation of market scenarios found in automobile reverse logistics. This study brings out the fact that there should not only be growth of reverse logistics enablers but also decrease in the growth of reverse logistics inhibitors for achieving success in reverse logistics programmes.

Keywords: reverse logistics; system dynamics; scenario building; policy experimentation; automobile industry; complex systems; high-order structures; multiple loops; non-linear feedback; non-linear structures; strategic management; long-term strategies; decision makers; market scenarios; scenario evaluation; logistics enablers; logistics inhibitors; logistics systems; logistics management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2011.043104

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2011 Vol.10 No.4, pp.437 - 460

Published online: 09 May 2015 *

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