Is Supply Chain Management a Discipline? A Comparative Content Analysis of Academic and Practitioner Knowledge to Determine Disciplinary Identity

This thesis holds in tension two perspectives on the conceptual framing of supply chain management (SCM): one as a discipline, the other as a domain of practice. It provides a unique appraisal into the conflict existing within SCM by addressing gaps in previous studies, through employing knowledge management (KM) to inform both academic and practitioner conceptualisations of SCM. Application of the core assumptions and deliberations of Fabian’s disciplinary analysis criteria (coherence, knowledge, and quality) combined with Kuhn’s theory of disciplinary evolution permits examination of academic and practitioner conceptualisations of SCM. The analysis aims to challenge the assumption within previous studies that SCM’s disciplinary identity is ascertainable via one conceptualisation (academia) and through only two of Fabian’s criteria (coherence and quality). This thesis contributes to both theoretical development and analytical methodology by elucidating SCM’s body of knowledge to provide insight into its disciplinary identity through employing content analysis from a pragmatist’s perspective. This research is conducted through content analysis of an archive of 1,371 articles extracted from four representative academic and practitioner publications covering the period from 1998 to 2008. The selected texts represent core developments of SCM knowledge, providing insight into theoretical and practical development over this timeframe from both academic and practitioner perspectives. This approach is unique, as the influence of practice on a discipline’s identity is overlooked in the literature. Subsequently, new opportunities of investigatory scope extend the dialogue on SCM’s disciplinary identity. Fabian’s three criteria form the basis for the disciplinary analysis framework employed within this thesis, examining whether sufficient indicators of these criteria exist within the texts to signify that SCM is a discipline. Specifically, analysis of academic and practitioner conceptualisations as to the degree of coherence, the existence of a unified body of knowledge, and the degree of quality within SCM indicate a fragmented discourse. Academic and practitioner conceptualisations of SCM indicate that highly informative divergent discourses exist, representing a discipline in crisis and a domain of practice that is strategically mature. The potential effects of such divergent conceptualisations are acknowledged as they serve as a warning of the impending disintegration of SCM as a researchable entity. Is Supply Chain Management a Discipline? iv Although SCM is argued to be effectively ‘dead’ as a discipline, future developments in the overall operations field enable opportunities for development, both conceptually and within practice. In reflecting on the research this thesis concludes on an optimistic note, for the potential exists to re-weave the tapestry of ideas represented by the term ‘SCM’ into a new form able to manifest the interests of both academia and practice. Thus, the re-weaving of operations management to be more representative of reality is required to ensure its sustainability. In conclusion, the lesson to be learned from this research is that integration of academic and practitioner conceptualisations through their respective discursive practices is essential for the legitimacy and longevity of a discipline. Is Supply Chain Management a Discipline? v Acknowledgements and Publications This thesis is dedicated to the memory of My father, Raymond Harold Davies 25.07. 43 13.12. 09 My father-in-law, Michael Kevin Dwyer 02.01. 34 11.07. 05 Acknowledgements When I read acknowledgement pages, I wonder at the life behind the words. Having gone through the process of highs and lows in my own journey, I read such pages and know that mere words cannot express the range of emotions experienced. No journey is undertaken alone, and so without further ado, it is here that I wish to acknowledge those who have shared my journey, even though two are not here to see the end: my father (who taught me to question everything) and my father in law (who introduced me to the joy of farming); you will always be missed. My husband Sim has been both my chief cheerleader and reality check. Without his ongoing support, I doubt that this process would have been as ‘easy’ as it was. I can honestly say that having a walking calculator as a husband is very handy when one has a question regarding statistical matters! Further, I love the fact that no matter what occurred in our ‘office-bound’ lives, we always worked well together as a team when clearing the farm of pests. Now that this project is complete, I look forward to having more time to go out on ‘bunny patrol’. I also would like to thank one of my siblings, Keely, who even though she saw me at the highs and lows of such a journey still wants to undertake one herself. Only the gods know why! I look forward to reading your ‘doorstop’ in a few years time as ‘revenge’ for me inflicting mine on you! To my supervisors, Associate Professor André Everett and Dr. Jodyanne Kirkwood. André, your words of advice, your quick wit, turn of phrase and comments when we ‘argued’ over single words are matched only by the cheeky grin that would peek out on occasion. It has been an honour to work with you. Jo, what can I say but ‘thank you’ for agreeing to supervise me at such a late stage in the process; your comments regarding the thesis have been informative and insightful. and I still managed to get that cartoon in! To all the other Is Supply Chain Management a Discipline? vi members of the Management Department (staff and post-grads) who have supported me over the years, especially Colin Campbell-Hunt and Richard Greatbanks, I thank you. To the best support team a person could have on such a journey: my friends, Linda, Steve, Adele and Mark. Thank you for being there when I needed to rant, and reminding me that there is life outside of the office. Finally, over the course of this PhD process many individuals have come and gone in our lives – and they have been very delicious as well! Over the years, versions of this thesis have been ‘discussed’ with the various livestock that we have had. I can honestly say that there is nothing better than sitting under the manuka with the flock around you on a sunny day editing a chapter only to find that a nose has poked its way in and is wondering if that pen in your hand is edible! So to the latest crop of my girls – NuNu, Hedwig, Mogwai, Juniper, BarBQ, Jez, Jaz, Nero, Jaws, Jabba and AJ – I know that you won’t read this (might try to eat it! ) but your constant ‘baaing’ (and yes I mean you Jez! ) that it was dinner-time certainly made for regular and enjoyable breaks during the winter months. Without a doubt, it has been a pleasure to finish this journey right on lambing, a season I look forward to each year. Notice of Publication of Related Work It has not been my intention to focus on the extensive publishing of material during the research process, but to publish afterwards. However, various findings described in this thesis have undergone peer review and been presented at (or at the date of this printing will have been presented at) conferences. Thus, certain parts of the material presented here have already been described in the literature, and therefore are subject to copyright by myself outside of this manuscript. Co-authors are in all instances my supervisors. Dwyer, K. , Everett, A.M., & Kirkwood, J. (2010) Can SCM be a Discipline? Comparing Academic and Practitioner Perceptions on the Degree of Coherence. Paper presented at the 41st annual meeting of the Decision Sciences Institute, San Diego, California, USA. 20-23 November 2010. Proceedings published on CD-ROM, pp. 4591-4596. Dwyer, K. , Everett, A.M., & Greatbanks, R.W. (2007) A New Model on the Tacit-Explicit Knowledge Transfer Process. Paper presented at the 24th annual conference of the PanPacific Business Association, Dunedin and Queenstown, New Zealand. 2-4 June 2007. Proceedings published on CD-ROM, ISBN 1-931649-23-5, pp. 45-47. Is Supply Chain Management a Discipline? vii