A longitudinal view of supply chain education : Assessing the challenge of retaining relevance in today's dynamic marketplace
The International Journal of Logistics Management
ISSN: 0957-4093
Article publication date: 6 May 2014
Abstract
Purpose
The logistics and supply chain management discipline has evolved dramatically over the past generation. The rapid pace of change has challenged education providers – e.g., universities, professional associations, and publications – to remain relevant to various stakeholders. Relying on an open systems design perspective, the purpose of this paper is to assess how well organizations use constrained resources (personnel, dollars, time, etc.) to meet customers’ educational needs.
Design/methodology/approach
To examine how well educational providers are meeting stakeholder goals, universities, associations, and publications are examined across time by multiple surveys to determine if they are keeping pace in the changing business world.
Findings
The paper identifies two gaps. First, stakeholders report a growing gap between the offerings of existing education providers and their educational needs. Second, the gap between academic and practitioner perceptions is growing. Importantly, some organizations and universities are doing a better job of responding to changing educational requirements. Finally, a shift to SCM is further complicating the educational process.
Originality/value
This study makes two primary contributions. First, it identifies important changes in the logistics and supply chain education market. Second, it provides updated rankings of the perceptions of academics and practitioners regarding three education providers: professional organizations, universities, and publications. This insight enables logistics and supply chain thought leaders to evaluate how they can enhance education resources and thus remain relevant in a rapidly changing and increasingly tumultuous marketplace.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Finally, the authors would very much like to thank all the participants that took the time to complete a very lengthy survey instrument. Academics may have a vested or self-interest to complete the survey; however, the practitioners were especially kind to take the time out of their busy schedules. It is greatly appreciated by all the people that read the results of the efforts of the participants in the study.
Citation
E. Fawcett, S. and M. Rutner, S. (2014), "A longitudinal view of supply chain education : Assessing the challenge of retaining relevance in today's dynamic marketplace", The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 25 No. 1, pp. 180-201. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-07-2012-0061
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited