Professorship

Global supply chain management is the management of supply chains across borders. Finding its roots in international logistics management, it covers a wide cross-functional field of various topics from strategic design decisions, to actual business practice related to

a) foreign trade and cross-border logistical movements of cargo and,

b) actual cross-border production, sourcing and distribution decisions that have to be addressed within the scope of the logistics function, activities and practices of the firm.

It has increasingly become important for organisations and its managers to identify, measure and control the spatial risks and complexity from global supply chains. Global supply chain management thus offers a wealth of developmental opportunuities for students. The theoretical foundation is based upon transaction cost economics and organisational theory, and the problem field has important interconnections with spatial, information and transportation economics. The notions of logisitical friction and spatial transaction costs are investigated, and how organisations and its managers percieve and strive to manage these, often through the use of sophisticated technologies, information and decision support systems.

Another important area of global supply chain managerment is related to sustainability. Global supply chains can have a paradoxical relationship with sustainable development, as there can be trade-offs between the social-ecological and economic dimensions of sustainability. On the one hand, global supply chains can contribute to economic growth and development by creating new markets, generating employment, and facilitating international trade. On the other hand, these economic benefits may come at the expense of social and ecological sustainability. For example, manufacturing operations may exploit labor in developing countries or contribute to environmental degradation through increased resource consumption and waste production. To address this paradox, there is a need for greater collaboration between science, businesses, governments, civil society, and other stakeholders to promote more sustainable supply chain practices.

The professorship welcomes prospective students to develop their skills and competences within the fields of expertise of the department.