Learning objectives

This course is designed to develop the following high-level skills:
• Critical understanding of emerging research areas in supply chain management.
• Identifying research gaps and articulating a theoretical contribution.
In more detail, this course is designed to allow the students to have an overview of some up-to-date research topics and complement in this way their specific domain of research for supply chain disciplines. At the end of the three classes, students will be able to identify and select some of the key dimensions characterizing supply chain evolution as a discipline. For class 1: general trends; for class 2: globalization-related trends and tariffs uncertainty; for class 3: innovation within the supply chain.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Attendance of "Classics in Supply Chain Management" PhD course.

Program

The objective of this course is to provide first-year Ph.D. students with a structured and critical overview of current trends in supply chain management research. The module emphasizes conceptual clarity, theoretical contribution, and methodological rigor by engaging students with recent academic work published in top-tier journals.
Class 1 will focus on introducing fundamental new trends and approaches to supply chain management, offering an overview spanning across selected papers published in top-tier supply chain management journals (JBL, JSCM, JOM, IJPDLM, IJLM). Class 2 will focus on supply chains globalization, deepening the impact of elements like tax and tariff regulations which are highly dynamic and volatile. As leaders increasingly respond to conflicts, resource scarcity and voter pressure by increasing or decreasing tariffs, Class 2 will deepen how firms can adapt their supply chains and cope with uncertainty and instability in the new geopolitical era. In Class 3 the topic of innovation in logistics & supply chain management will be deepened and discussed to provide an in-depth understanding of how innovation can revolutionize supply chain management practices and foster competitive advantage.

Didactic methods

Open discussion, presentations, and critical analysis of selected recent papers from:
• Journal of Business Logistics (JBL)
• Journal of Supply Chain Management (JSCM)
• Journal of Operations Management (JOM)
• International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management (IJPDLM)
• International Journal of Logistics Management (IJLM)

Learning assessment procedures

We are committed to the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Ph.D. student assignments, prioritizing fairness and transparency. While AI may enhance learning experiences, its use in generating assignments, including data, results, and references, is not allowed.
Students must describe any content created or modified and appropriately cite the name and version of the AI tool used. This ensures transparency and upholds the integrity of academic work, aligning with our commitment to honesty and accountability. Please follow the Emerald or Wiley guidelines assigned during the Research Design and Research Organization seminar or consult the professor who followed the specific assignment/task requested for any doubts.

Assessment

1. Class Preparation, Participation, (50%)
2. Contribution and Discussion (50%)
3. Assignment, Research Paper & Presentation (0%)

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

A. Excellent
B. Very good
C. Good
D. Sufficient
E. Not sufficient