Supply chain management: A multidisciplinary content analysis of vertical relations between companies, 1997–2006

The aim of this work is to contribute to a better understanding of the research conducted on supply chain management (SCM) at a multidisciplinary level. To this end, a content analysis was performed of the most significant scientific literature about marketing, logistics, management and marketing channels published over the period 1997–2006. As a result, a database of 414 papers from 14 journals was created. Analysis of these works reveals the level of development of the main lines of research into SCM and makes it possible to detect the topics that require greater attention and which may be the object of future studies conducted by researchers and academics. It also allows managerial staff to identify the methodologies and tools that can be used to improve the management of relationships within the supply chain. One of the main conclusions reached in the study is the shortage of studies conducted on the supply chain as a network of enterprises, since most research focuses on a single enterprise or, at the most, on its relationships with its suppliers or direct customers.

Research Highlights
► Analysis of the evolution and actual trends of research in supply chain management.
► Review of the multidisciplinary academic research conducted on vertical relations.
► Main international journals over the period 1997–2006.
► The study reveals the level of development of the main lines of research into SCM.
► Detect the topics that require greater attention (future studies) in SCM.