Bow tie analysis for prioritizing actions to manage the risks of out of stock on shelves in the retail

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology to structure the problem of retail out of stock (OOS). This methodology allows investigating risk factors and barriers related to the main causes and consequences that lead to OOS occurring.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed methodology to structure the OOS problem is based on the bow- ie tool, which allows better visualisation, understanding and analysis of a complete OOS scenario. This proposal comprises exploring the main causes and consequences of OOS, the barriers to prevention and mitigation, the escalation factors to control undesirable events and to define actions to eliminate or mitigate the OSS risk.

Findings

Several potential causal risk factors, related to technical, behavioural, cultural and organisational aspects, were identified with this methodology. With the analysis of the OOS scenario, it was observed that the factors that lead to the OOS risk are preventable. In order to improve existing barriers or implement new barriers, a set of actions can be recommended to reduce or eliminate OOS risk factors.

Originality/value

From a better understanding of hazard, the bow-tie methodology allows identifying crucial factors that could be acted upon to reduce the incidence of OSS. Thus, the value is to propose a methodology that allows establishing the preventive and protective barriers necessaries and the escalation factors related to each of these to help structure the problem and consequently reduce the OOS in retail organisations.

Citation

Barros, C.H.d.O., Santos, I.M.d., Alencar, M.H. and Alencar, L.H. (2021), "Bow tie analysis for prioritizing actions to manage the risks of out of stock on shelves in the retail", International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 49 No. 8, pp. 1213-1231. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-06-2020-0213