Guidelines for establishing practical relevance in logistics and supply chain management research

Abstract

Purpose

Rigor and practical relevance are the foundations for logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) as an applied discipline. Whereas there are well-founded criteria for establishing methodological rigor, researchers must provide their own credible logic as to why their papers can influence practice. Accordingly, this paper aims to develop guidelines for establishing practical relevance in research papers.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review of LSCM, marketing, operations management and management journals forms the foundation for these guidelines.

Findings

Relevance criteria are identified; research should be problem-driven, timely and important, and findings should be implementable, nonobvious, novel and not too costly. Measures for researchers demonstrating the fulfillment of these criteria are identified as practitioner input, gray literature, funding, practitioner involvement and feedback. Researchers should also clearly articulate both problem relevance and the relevance of their findings.

Research limitations/implications

A lack of practical relevance is among the reasons for the rejection of papers by LSCM journals, but researchers can overcome this obstacle using these guidelines.

Practical implications

At a metalevel, this paper contributes to research with greater practical relevance.

Originality/value

Practical relevance is emphasized in the editorials of LSCM journals but has not yet been fully conceptualized from the authors' perspective.

Citation

Svanberg, M. (2020), "Guidelines for establishing practical relevance in logistics and supply chain management research", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 50 No. 2, pp. 215-232. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-11-2018-0373