Journal

INTERDEPENDENCE WITHIN AND AMONG 'SUPPLY CHAINS'

Anna Dubois,1 Kajsa Hulthén,1 and Ann-Charlott Pedersen 1, 2

1

Department of Industrial Marketing, Chalmers University of Technology SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden, Tel. +46 31 772 1000

2

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management Alfred Getz vei 1, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway, Tel: +47 73 59 35 03

Abstract It has been argued that the SCM area lacks sufficient theoretical underpinnings resulting in simplified conceptualisations of supply chains and their contexts, and furthermore, that theory may be helpful to uncover some of the complexity characterising supply chains. The aim of this article is to analyse interdependencies existing within as well as among supply chains. Thompson's (1967) and Richardson's (1972) dependency concepts are used to elaborate on this issue. We conclude that supply chains need to be analysed within their contexts, since this has consequences for recommendations concerning the organising and management of supply chains.

Keywords: supply chains, interdependence, inter-organisational context

Introduction The term 'Supply Chain Management' (SCM) was first introduced by consultants in the early 1980's (see e.g. Oliver and Webber, 1982). The concept was mainly used to discuss the benefits of integrating a firm's internal business functions; such as purchasing, manufacturing, sales, and distribution (Harland, 1996). Hence, the original view of supply chains had an intra-organisational focus and was primarily focused on the firm's internal supply chain and how different functions could be integrated in order to smooth the material flow within the company. This view of the supply chain is closely related to what Porter (1985) labels the firm's value chain (Harland, 1996). From this intra-organisational focus the scope of the supply chain was later extended beyond the boundary of the (focal manufacturing) firm to...