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Contemporary Operations and Logistics pp 137–160Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Systems Thinking, Engineering and Dynamics in Modern Supply Chain Management

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Abstract

In this chapter, we revisit the systems movement and outline its influences on supply chain management. Systems theory advocates a holistic approach to supply chains, bringing together qualitative and quantitative approaches that may be summarised as systems thinking, system dynamics and systems engineering. Such approaches are commonly argued to be useful in illuminating our understanding of complex and dynamic problem situations. The chapter begins with a historical account of the development of systems thinking and synthesis of key systems concepts. Then, using applied examples from different branches of systems thinking, namely soft systems, systems engineering and system dynamics, we show how the different tools and techniques can be applied to different supply chain problems. We also give examples from studies in different industrial sectors. The chapter concludes with a discussion of key issues and current concerns in applied systems research.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Mohamed Naim, Jonathan Gosling & Junyi Lin

  2. Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Matthias Holweg

Authors
  1. Mohamed Naim
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  2. Jonathan Gosling
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  3. Junyi Lin
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  4. Matthias Holweg
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Correspondence to Mohamed Naim .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Peter Wells

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Naim, M., Gosling, J., Lin, J., Holweg, M. (2019). Systems Thinking, Engineering and Dynamics in Modern Supply Chain Management. In: Wells, P. (eds) Contemporary Operations and Logistics. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14493-7_9

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