Christopher W. Craighead, Li Cheng, David J. Ketchen Jr.
{"title":"Using middle-range theorizing to advance supply chain management research: A how-to primer and demonstration","authors":"Christopher W. Craighead, Li Cheng, David J. Ketchen Jr.","doi":"10.1111/jbl.12381","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Middle-range theory (MRT) refers to conceptualizations that apply to some, but not all, contexts. While MRT sacrifices generalizability, it yields rich, actionable insights in the contexts where it applies. With MRT's history of industry grounding, the supply chain field offers a strong fit for the development of MRT, but arguably this potential has been underexploited by supply chain management (SCM) researchers. Several conceptual articles have encouraged greater use of MRT and offered important tips, but no step-by-step demonstrations appear in the literature. Such a demonstration could guide supply chain scholars seeking to better implement MRT as well as lead other scholars to start pursuing MRT. In this article, we develop a five-step process and apply it using an MRT (i.e., warm glow theory) and a series of experiments. The experiments focus on how local businesses might shape demand in their favor during societal crises. We discuss how the results inform local businesses and the crisis context but may have limited generalizability to other organizations and normal conditions. Overall, we describe and explain a systematic and viable approach, albeit not the only viable approach, for using MRT to advance SCM research.</p>","PeriodicalId":48090,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business Logistics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":11.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jbl.12381","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Business Logistics","FirstCategoryId":"91","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jbl.12381","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MANAGEMENT","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Middle-range theory (MRT) refers to conceptualizations that apply to some, but not all, contexts. While MRT sacrifices generalizability, it yields rich, actionable insights in the contexts where it applies. With MRT's history of industry grounding, the supply chain field offers a strong fit for the development of MRT, but arguably this potential has been underexploited by supply chain management (SCM) researchers. Several conceptual articles have encouraged greater use of MRT and offered important tips, but no step-by-step demonstrations appear in the literature. Such a demonstration could guide supply chain scholars seeking to better implement MRT as well as lead other scholars to start pursuing MRT. In this article, we develop a five-step process and apply it using an MRT (i.e., warm glow theory) and a series of experiments. The experiments focus on how local businesses might shape demand in their favor during societal crises. We discuss how the results inform local businesses and the crisis context but may have limited generalizability to other organizations and normal conditions. Overall, we describe and explain a systematic and viable approach, albeit not the only viable approach, for using MRT to advance SCM research.
期刊介绍:
Supply chain management and logistics processes play a crucial role in the success of businesses, both in terms of operations, strategy, and finances. To gain a deep understanding of these processes, it is essential to explore academic literature such as The Journal of Business Logistics. This journal serves as a scholarly platform for sharing original ideas, research findings, and effective strategies in the field of logistics and supply chain management. By providing innovative insights and research-driven knowledge, it equips organizations with the necessary tools to navigate the ever-changing business environment.