Thirty years of the International Journal of Logistics Management – a retrospective analysis

Antecedents of agriculture supply chain performance during COVID-19: an emerging economy perspective

COVID-19 led to several complications like labor shortage, inadequate availability of supply chain facilities, price fluctuation, panic behavior, and uncertainty. Despite the challenges, the farmers and stakeholders adopted different strategies for sustaining the agricultural supply chain performance. Hence, the study proposes to explore the antecedents that led to the ASC performance and their linkages. The study combines literature review and qualitative methods to understand and recognize antecedents that impact ASC performance in developing countries. The conceptual model is built with the underpinning theory (the theory of commitment and organization). A quantitative survey follows the study to validate the theoretical model empirically using covariance-based structure equation modeling (AMOS). The ASC performance in the earlier phase of COVID-19 was disrupted. With time, ASC performance was managed by linking different antecedents. The findings reveal the application and linkage of organization theory and theory of commitment which led to ASC performance. The study finds a unique contribution among academia and practitioners by paving directions to manage the uncertainty during COVID-19 and any such risk triggers in the future. The study offers essential insights for practitioners and policymakers to develop a road map for ASC during the calamities.

The Role of Microcomputer Clubs in the Education of the Polish Youth in the 1980s: A Retrospective Analysis

In the 1980s, Polish schools hardly had access to computers, particularly at the primary and secondary levels. The main reasons were funds and shortage of qualified staff that could handle computer hardware. As a consequence, the youth first came across a computer, how to use it, service hardware, and write programs outside schools in the early 1980s. Often informal groups of hobbyists gathered around a single computer were the seeds of microcomputer clubs, which cropped up in huge numbers in Poland in the 1980s. The objective of the paper is to portray the role of microcomputer clubs in the process of shaping the youth and computer education in the 1980s in Poland compared to other countries. The conclusions are founded on a literature review. The analyzed material included an Internet Archive collection “The Computer Magazine Archives”. The content of one of the first Polish computer magazines, Bajtek Magazine was analyzed in detail. It has been demonstrated that the Polish youth of the 1980s first came across a computer mainly outside schools, primarily in microcomputer clubs. It was the root of computer and information technology education in Poland. Moreover, microcomputer clubs were reported to provide education, as well as foster character education, aid socialization, and shape attitudes.

Supply chain risk management in the COVID-19 pandemic: strategies and empirical lessons for improving global logistics service providers’ performance

Purpose

The enormous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic showcases the key role of supply chain risk management (SCRM) in achieving and maintaining business performance, competitiveness and survival in the “new normal”. The purpose of this paper is to explore what impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had and may yet have on supply chains (SCs), which SCRM approaches have proved successful and how logistics service providers (LSPs) have applied the knowledge they have gained to improve their SCRM practices and resilience so as to prepare better for the next major disruption.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper combines an extensive literature review with a multiple-case study of 10 internationally operating LSPs and how they have handled the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic so far. To bridge the research-practice gap, this study draws on the dynamic-capabilities view and provide insights that are valuable to both academia and practice.

Findings

This study provides empirical evidence on the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SCs, which has posed several challenges to LSPs. The study identifies eight factors that are critical to the adaptive capabilities of LSPs and, therefore, to their resilience in extreme conditions. The findings of this study show that these factors determine whether an SCRM system is robust and agile enough to allow an LSP to anticipate potential disruption and to respond fast enough when disruption occurs. Specifically, this study finds that robustness and agility demonstrably strengthen business performance, while learning from experience proves key to reconfiguring an SCRM design in response to acute disruption.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first to provide rich, empirical and practically applicable insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on business in relation to SCRM. These novel insights offer inspiring opportunities for further research.

Contributions of Industry 4.0 to supply chain resilience

Purpose

This study aims at identifying the contribution of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) integration into supply chains (SCs) to the enhancement of SC resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

A scoping review was conducted so that the relevant literature on SC resilience, and I4.0 integrated into SC management was examined.

Findings

The authors summarize the main findings from existing research and propose three research directions: (1) empirical validation of the contribution of I4.0 ICTs to SC resilience; (2) explore the role of processing-actuation technologies in enhancing restorative capacity; and (3) integration between I4.0 ICTs and omni-channel strategy as a means to resilience development at consumer and retail levels. The literature on the design of resilient smart SCs is far outnumbered by works reporting applications of I4.0 ICTs at different SC tier levels. However, the authors’ scoping review organizes the information available on these themes, setting the ground for the development of new theoretical propositions.

Originality/value

The integration of digital technologies from I4.0 can fundamentally change the SC management, acting as enablers of a more effective response to disruptions. However, the digital transformation of SCs is still incipient, and literature is particularly sparse when considering the contribution of I4.0 to the resilience of SCs.

Are artificial intelligence and machine learning suitable to tackle the COVID-19 impacts? An agriculture supply chain perspective

Purpose

This article aims to model the challenges of implementing artificial intelligence and machine earning (AI-ML) for moderating the impacts of COVID-19, considering the agricultural supply chain (ASC) in the Indian context.

Design/methodology/approach

20 critical challenges were modeled based on a comprehensive literature review and consultation with experts. The hybrid approach of “Delphi interpretive structural modeling (ISM)-Fuzzy Matrice d' Impacts Croises Multiplication Applique'e à un Classement (MICMAC) − analytical network process (ANP)” was used.

Findings

The study's outcome indicates that “lack of central and state regulations and rules” and “lack of data security and privacy” are the crucial challenges of AI-ML implementation in the ASC. Furthermore, AI-ML in the ASC is a powerful enabler of accurate prediction to minimize uncertainties.

Research limitations/implications

This study will help stakeholders, policymakers, government and service providers understand and formulate appropriate strategies to enhance AI-ML implementation in ASCs. Also, it provides valuable insights into the COVID-19 impacts from an ASC perspective. Besides, as the study was conducted in India, decision-makers and practitioners from other geographies and economies must extrapolate the results with due care.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first that investigates the potential of AI-ML in the ASC during COVID-19 by employing a hybrid approach using Delphi-ISM-Fuzzy-MICMAC-ANP.