# Trends and Recommendations for Enhancing Maturity Models in Supply Chain Management and Logistics
## 4 Discussion and Future Enhancements  
MMs are powerful tools that enable the analysis of current states in specific focus areas, aiming for continuous improvement. Indeed, according to various scholars, the concept of performance measurement and management is not only relevant but often serves as the starting point for assessment and continuous improvement initiatives. In some cases, performance management is even regarded as a distinct dimension within the model [2; 18; 77]. They provide a pathway from a low-level situation to a higher-level one [137], which can be assessed both qualitatively by adhering to specific benchmarks and quantitatively through performance indicators [25; 89; 138]. Numerous studies have examined the practicality of these tools in various industries [139; 140] and different inter- and intra-organizational processes [110; 111]. MMs have proven to be useful for both structured companies and small to medium-sized enterprises [112; 113; 141; 142; 143], as well as in industrialized and emerging developing countries [8; 107; 144]. In this study, we aimed to address four research questions (RQs) concerning significant research contributions (RQ1), the evolution of topics over time (RQ2), key criteria for definition, design, and application (RQ3), and potential future developments (RQ4). Through bibliometric and content analyses, it becomes evident that within the realm of SCML, MMs are increasingly interesting tools (see Figure 2) that integrate well with other industrial processes, particularly manufacturing and procurement (see Table 3). Integration is also observed between the academic and practical realms, requiring close collaboration for the development and validation of MMs (see Table 4). Additionally, the concept of maturity is not predefined but rather adaptable to external phenomena, demonstrating the flexibility of these tools (see Figure 12). However, the literature highlights some shortcomings. In terms of definition, six domains were classified using a circular relationship diagram, with a majority focused on operational activities and the use of advanced technologies. While the integration of enabling technologies in digitization processes facilitates operational performance and generates economic results, there are limited references to environmental and social interests. The increasingly emphasized triple bottom line conception, which aims to achieve sustainable development, does not appear to be of interest in MMs for SCML. From a hierarchical perspective, although the research mainly focuses on supply chain and logistics processes, the results indicate varying concepts. Most MMs are used at  
Figure 14: The representation showcases the type of sectors where MMs for SCML find applications. The identified sectors are presented in descending order based on their occurrence frequency. the organizational level to assess the current state of the entire organization, while higher network and lower process levels receive less attention. The direction toward MMs that prepare for transformation, whether digital or sustainable, highlights the current lack of already digitized and sustainable processes. While readiness and transformation MMs are useful for practitioners, the concepts of digitization and sustainability are well-established in academia. Therefore, research should shift focus towards providing guidance for the continuous improvement of processes, organizations, and networks that already embrace sustainable development principles or have undergone the fourth industrial revolution. It may be beneficial to not only assess the current level of maturity but also provide clear guidance on the introduction and enhancement of these practices through the development of detailed guidelines or roadmaps. However, existing MMs for improvement are lacking in terms of detailed roadmaps, as pointed out by [PERSON] et al. [39]. Without comprehensive roadmaps or guidelines, MMs serve well in assessing current and future states but are not suitable for achieving desired levels of maturity.