Doctoral dissertations in logistics and supply chain management: A review of Nordic contributions from 2002 to 2008

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify Nordic doctoral dissertations in logistics and supply chain management (SCM) published from the years 2002 to 2008. The paper then seeks to analyze the identified dissertations by categorizing them in various dimensions, including but not limited to subject, methodology, and type of contribution. Subsequently, the paper compares the analysis of the dissertations with results obtained in a previous study that also concerned Nordic dissertations only published from 1990 to 2001, effectively opening up for longitudinal interpretations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on reviews of 70 Nordic doctoral dissertations within logistics and SCM published at relevant Nordic research institutions. All dissertations were reviewed according to a priori determined categories adopted from a similar, previous study in order to strengthen the validity of the longitudinal comparison.

Findings

This paper identifies a clear and significant trend towards: more dissertations based on a collection of articles than monographs; more dissertations focusing on manufacturing companies and fewer on carriers; a shift from a focal company perspective to more dyadic and supply chain‐related research and finally; and a decreasing focus on the philosophy in science.

Research limitations/implications

Despite the thorough method applied, there is possibility that a few dissertations might not have been identified in this paper.

Originality/value

This paper is a continuation of documenting the progress of doctoral work in logistics and SCM within the Nordic countries from the years 2002 to 2008.

Citation

Zachariassen, F. and Stentoft Arlbjørn, J. (2010), "Doctoral dissertations in logistics and supply chain management: A review of Nordic contributions from 2002 to 2008", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 40 No. 4, pp. 332-352. https://doi.org/10.1108/09600031011045334