Developments in Theories of Supply Chain Management - Term Paper Example

?Philosophical Underpinnings Philosophical underpinnings will be discussed in line with supply chain management in this work. The supply chain will be used in the exercise of the research methodologies in the philosophical underpinnings. This is expected to improve the use of these of these research methods by the researcher and the improvement of the process being researched on. Considerations of the research will be on the philosophical assumptions, qualitative, quantitative and pragmatic claims. The methods of obtaining data will encompass both the qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. Open and closed ended questionnaires will be used in this analysis. The pragmatic consideration will use both aspects. Philosophical claims emanating from the pragmatic consideration and its critique is a major factor that will affect the use of the theories. Ontology to be considered, epistemology and axiology are also important to this research study. Body Several philosophical underpinning research methods can be contained in the research in the supply management efficiency. These methods are considered depending on the extent by which their usefulness will be relevant to the nature of study to be carried out. Ontology is carried out to determine the alternative options available and to be considered. ‘Ontology is a term that refers the list or options that can be considered either in a scientific or philosophical study’ (Williamson, 1993) . The supply chain is the route the product or service goes through from the supplier to the consumer. In some cases this chain is as short as directly from the manufacturer to the consumer but, sometimes it goes through several distributors e.g. retailers before it gets to the consumer. The supply chain is also affected by several factors. These include among others; the length of the chain, the demographic of the target market, the class of the target market, price of the good/service, the technological aspect, other competitors etc (Debora, 1985). In the philosophical underpinnings, the ontologies considered were, case studies, questionnaires- both open ended and closed ended, verification of theories, discussions, observation, relation of variables and analysis of numeric data and epistemology. These research methods apply to the supply chain in different occasions and instances depending on what the researcher is looking at. ‘Epistemology is a method used in analysing data which heavily relies on the type of data obtained during the research. It is popular in the social sciences. Epistemology is a metacognitive learning process assumed in our beliefs but validate other perspectives.’ (Mezirow,1990). The epistemological process is central to critical thinking, it has an effect on race, ideologies power, influence, cosmology, gender and class may be affected. This is when the rationality is in a manner that the issues contained are solved by way of reason (Everline, 1899). There is revolution in the principles of epistemological revolution, and, the sound of reason is usually considered. Studying of cases that had once occurred in trying to deduce the reasons behind their occurrence is also critical in social science. These provide the actual effect of the variables on the samples under research (Valentine, 2005). The results from case study get use in solving other problems of similar cases. Open discussion forum in data collection can be useful when the manufacturer is trying to come up with a new product. This method analyses what is required in the market (Lilian, 2006). It helps the manufacturer to tailor the output according to the user needs. Paradigm ‘Paradigm has been used over the centuries to refer to a set of practices that define a scientific discipline at any given time. It is a term that does not have a precise philosophical meaning, but applied in community research to provide solutions to problems’ (Ashley, 2000). Paragmatic consideration entails what is to be scrutinized from observation, the type and kind of questions to be put in place for the research, the structure of the questions in relation to the subject, equipment available for the conduction of the experiment and the mode by which the results from the research should be analysed and interpreted (Cesky, 2004). Many researchers have considered paragmatism as the refusal of difference metaphysically of the qualitative and the quantitative methodologies. Specifically with application in that area or ought to be done to eliminate their weak sides and strengthen the compatibility claim. There was also a similar argument on the ontological approach on the interpretation and positive that is the base of paradigm consideration. Methodology and Discussion The positivist believes that some stable relationships are lawful among social relationships; these may be realistic or occur on a probability level. The predictions probability can never be one hundred percent, although the accuracy of prediction improves as time goes by. The positivist has the advantage of deriving new information from a set of data. The main disadvantage is that it cannot have an application to verify theories or use in case studies. This is due to the low probability level at the start and is due to change over due. Constructivists’ belief is because simultaneous entries shape each other and that the distinction between cause and effect is not easy but very difficult, this is a major shortcoming to the constructivist. The constructivist however has an advantage over the positivist, in that it can get use in the verification of theories. The paradigmatic viewpoint is disadvantageous because it has a tendency of misleading, because its methodologies are from epistomogically different fundamentals and position of the worldview,. This makes the paradigmatic incommensurable. This avoided only when the researcher advocates usefully and uses the skills of appreciating and elitism methodologies in primary purposes. The paradigmatic can improve its accuracy or acceptance by employing the two perspectives i.e. the positivist and the constructivist. This is a major advantage to the use of the paradigmatic view. The approach may provide entries that are simultaneous that can distinguish cause from effect, this is put in position to justify the research. The pragmatic approach takes into place two positions. This is why there is a consideration not specific and some have preferred other methods to the pragmatic approach. Thomas Khun in his book preferred to use the terms normal science and exemplar to paradigm. He defines paradigm as universally accepted, currently it has gained use in the scientific field of physics. This would allow for orthodox scientific in the investigation and this phenomenon at the end would lead to the contradiction that may lead to the disapproval of the model (Khun, 2003). Assumption of philosophy Positivist Interpretive Pragmatic claim Information gathering Survey Quantitative Narrative and case study Qualitative Survey and Case study Method Closed ended questionnaires Open ended questionnaires Both close and open ended questionnaires Application to the research and researcher Factors identification and Variables in the study Confirms claims Gives personal feelings in the study Broadens the view of the study and accuracy of results Obtains qualitative and quantitative results Separates the various variables Conclusion The pragmatic approach uses both the qualitative and quantitative approach methodologies will play the major role of development of the data at the different stages of inquiry. It would also represent visually or graphically the study procedures. The data collected will be both qualitative and quantitative and its data analysis will include those of qualitative and quantitative technique. Better still is the implication of the measures to be put in place and learned by the researcher. The researcher needs to learn the research method and also gain some knowledge on the supply chain management. With the help of the methodologies put in place, a study on supply chain management is carried out with a lot of ease as expected in the future. Bibliography Ashley, W. (2000). Sociology of Knowlwdge. Paradigm shift ,Routeledge Publishers. 100 102. Cesky, G. F. (2004). Commensurability. In G. Cesky, Confirmation Holism (pp. 6-7). London: Plagflager. Cooper, G. (2002) Global Business: An Introduction. Birmingham: Routledge Publishing. Debora, C. (1985). The Supply Chain. New Jersey: Oxford University Press.pp.132-150 Everline. (1899). Epidemology. Lime: Oxford University Press. Halldorsson, A. (2004) Logistics versus Supply Chain Management: an International Survey. International Journal of Logistics. Khun, T. (2003). The Structure of Scientific revolution. Jersen: Madagascar Publishers. Kumar V. (2010) Developments in Theories of Supply Chain Management: The Case of B2B Electronic Marketplace Adoption. The International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management 2(6). Lilian, G. (2006). New Products. Product Development Process , pp.12-13. Macnail, S. (1996) Organizational Business: Production to Supply. NJ, Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell Mentzer, J. (2001) Defining Supply Chain Management: Introduction. Journal of Business Logistics. Mezirow, J. (1990). Social Sciences in a Broader perspective. London: Jezler Printing Press. Valentine, C. I. (2005). Application in Reseach. The Scientist Journal , 205-206. Read More