Ebook: Qualitative Methods And Approaches In Logistics : Part 1

This is the first of two special issues on ‘‘Qualitative methods and approachesin logistics.’’ Logistics, as well as most other business fields, have long beendominated by the use of quantitative methods.In recent years, the use of various qualitative methods and approacheshave been increasing in their usage, although their inclusion in logistics hasalways been present. For example, executive interviews, case studies, andcontent analysis have been represented in many logistics books,monographs and articles. Many of these articles have appeared in the pagesof IJPDLM. Therefore, their use is not so new, although becoming much morewidespread. Additionally, there has always been a tendency for research to utilizequalitative methods and approaches in non-North American environments,particularly in Europe and Asia, where case studies of companies andindustries have been common over the years. Even in North America, somequalitative research has been conducted, although not as common.In this first of two special issues, four articles are included that utilize orexamine qualitative methods and approaches in a variety of logistics settings.The first paper by van der Vorst and Beulens, ‘‘Identifying sources ofuncertainty to generate supply chain redesign strategies,’’ presents aqualitative research method for analyzing a supply chain network and foridentifying effective supply chain redesign strategies. The method is applied ina food industry utilizing three supply chains.The second article by McCarthy and Golicic, ‘‘Implementing collaborativeforecasting to improve supply chain performance,’’ employs case studymethodology to examine the impact of sales forecasting and collaboration onorganizational performance. Collective planning, forecasting andreplenishment adoption is evaluated utilizing information obtained from indepthinterviews with company executives. As a result of the research, sevenguidelines for implementing interfirm collaborative forecasting areproposed. The third article by Knemeyer, Ponzurick and Logar, ‘‘A qualitativeexamination of factors affecting reverse logistics systems for end-of-lifecomputers,’’ uses a qualitative methodology to examine the design of areverse logistics system to recycle and/or refurbish end-of-life computers. Indepthinterviews of customers were utilized to obtain stakeholder data thatallowed the researchers to analyze the feasibility of a proposed reverse logisticssystem. The final article by Carranza, Maltz and Antu´n, ‘‘Linking logistics tostrategy in Argentina,’’ presents qualitative results of a benchmarking processof Argentinean companies. The study is a first attempt to understand howadvanced logistics practices are implemented in emergent countries,specifically Argentina. It is hoped that this, and the second special issue, on qualitative methods andapproaches will stimulate their further use in logistics research. Quantitativeand qualitative approaches, if done with rigor and quality, can only benefitlogistics thought and practice. James R. Stock Previously published in: International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Volume 32, Number 6, 2002