In addition to the classification of the literature on IT in SCM, the tools used to model and analyze various IT-enabled SCM environments also presented. This would be useful to researchers who are interested in modelling and analysis of various decision-making environments with reference to IT in SCM. The literature search has been conducted with the help of e-journal's search engines available in The Hong Kong Polytechnic University library. These include access to the journals published by a numerous publishers in particular Elsevier, Emerald, and Taylor & Francis.
The literature search was aimed at primarily helping researchers and practitioners in implementing a successful IT system for achieving an effective SCM. With this in mind, we looked at the literature that deals with IT-enabled SCM.
4. Classification of the literature on IT in SCM
In this section, a classification scheme has been proposed to review the literature available on IT integrated SCM, based on certain major critical areas for the successful development of IT-enabled SCM. This classification has the objective of bringing out pertinent factors that would support practitioners in their efforts to successfully achieving an IT-enabled SCM. This literature survey is aimed to identify the critical success factors for the applications of IT in SCM, integration of partners/suppliers and IT, B2B e-commerce in SCM, and for successful implementation of IT in a supply chain. Also, an attempt also has been made to offer a framework for the development of IT-enabled SCM and suggest some future research directions. The classification is based on the implications of strategic decisions, potential areas of IT applications in SCM, and the level of interaction between various constituents in developing an effective supply chain. For example, virtual enterprise and SCM are inseparable objectives. Therefore, the role and the development of virtual enterprise have been brought up into while studying the applications of IT in SCM. Similarly, e-commerce is one of the key enabling technologies for achieving an effective SCM and knowledge management (KM) in essential in Internet-enabled SCM. Nevertheless, implementation issues have been significant in achieving the full potential of IT in SCM.
As indicated above, the classification scheme is based on the major components of IT-enabled SCM. The selected articles are classified into five major broad categories focusing on developing an IT-enabled SCM:
(a)
Strategic planning for IT in SCMThe strategic planning is a critical task especially for IT-enabled SCM. It has long-term implications on the performance of IT in SCM systems.
(b)
Virtual enterprise and SCMVirtual enterprise is based on outsourcing concept to take advantage of the core competencies with the objective of being flexible and responsive to changing market requirements. Companies integrate various links of the supply chain and their supporting information systems that are driven by the need to streamline operations. The relationships of VE and the Internet have brought SCM to the attention of top management.
(c)
E-commerce and SCMWith the development of Internet based technologies, integration of e-commerce with SCM systems is becoming a necessity. It can support various activities along the supply chain. B2B e-commerce has tremendous influence on integrating partners in an organization to achieve an effective SCM.
(d)
Infrastructure for IT in SCMCompanies suffer without having sufficient knowledge on what type of IT infrastructure or systems required for their business model to achieve an IT-enabled supply chain. The infrastructure includes the hardware and software and the nature and type of systems required for IT system in a supply chain environment.
(e)
Knowledge and IT management in SCMSince we are operating in information and automation intensive world, there is a need for knowledge workers to contribute to the value-adding activities in advanced organization. Knowledge and IT management requires a systemic approach or framework for educating and training workers in teamwork and be innovative. Management of technology requires planning, developing and implementation decisions based on the characteristics of business processes and organizational objectives.
(f)
Implementation of IT in SCMImplementation of IT in SCM requires a project management approach with the right team for the planning and implementation of IT projects. Top management support is essential in order to provide moral support as well as the financial and technical support for the implementation of IT for achieving SCM.
With an effort to be current on the research field, we only considered research articles published from 1994 to date. This could be substantiated by the timing of the emergence of SCM and IT concepts. We have looked at the other review articles on SCM, but none of them deals exclusively with a comprehensive review and analysis of IT in SCM. The details of the major classification scheme and articles that come under each such classification is presented in Table 2.