首页|Learning from Habermas and Machiavelli: a thought experiment in supply chain management
Learning from Habermas and Machiavelli: a thought experiment in supply chain management
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NSTL
Emerald Group Publishing
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to show the benefits of bridging the gap between supply chainmanagement (SCM) and political philosophy to challenge the underlying assumptions about SCM concepts andopen doors to novel theory building.Design/methodology/approach - A thought experiment is conducted to illustrate how the twophilosophers Niccolo Machiavelli and Jiirgen Habermas would tackle sustainability issues in coffee supplychains from a research perspective. The thought experiment is carried out using data from 30 semi-structuredinterviews with actors from the coffee industry. Supplementing the thought experiment with empirical insightsallows for a deeper understanding of supply chain dynamics and how these are impacted by the application ofthe philosophical viewpoints.Findings - The research stresses the importance of SCM scholars being aware of the underlying assumptionsof their research, as these have a remarkable impact on theory building. A combination of empirical insightsand philosophical understandings makes it possible to reflect on the underlying concepts of SCM, providingsuggestions for reimagining SCM.Originality/value - The contribution of the research is twofold. First, the paper presents an original view onSCM, as the thought experiment is introduced as an approach to better understand SCM concepts. Bychallenging the underlying assumptions with political philosophy, researchers will be better equipped toaddress grand challenges in the twenty-first century. Second, this is exemplified by the case study of the coffeesupply chain, which provides the reader with insight into the dynamics of supply chains with prevalent powerdifferences.
Department of Technology and Innovation, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark||Department of Operations Management, Copenhagen Business School, Frederiksberg, Denmark
NETL
NSTL
Emerald Group Publishing
