This book is written for practitioners and researchers who are currently working in the field of supply chain management and operations management. It provides a thorough explanation of the supply chain configuration problem as well as offers solutions that combine the mathematical aspects of problem solving with applications in modern information technology.

This open access book explores supply chains strategies to help companies face challenges such as societal emergency, digitalization, climate changes and scarcity of resources. The book identifies industrial scenarios for the next decade based on the analysis of trends at social, economic, environmental technological and political level, and examines how they may impact on supply chain processes and how to design next generation supply chains to answer these challenges. By mapping enabling technologies for supply chain innovation, the book proposes a roadmap for the full implementation of the supply chain strategies based on the integration of production and logistics processes. Case studies from process industry, discrete manufacturing, distribution and logistics, as well as ICT providers are provided, and policy recommendations are put forward to support companies in this transformative process.

ERP Systems for Manufacturing Supply Chains: Applications, Configuration, and Performance provides insight into the core architecture, modules, and process support of ERP systems used in a manufacturing supply chain. This book explains the building blocks of an ERP system and how they can be used to increase performance of manufacturing supply chains. Starting with an overview of basic concepts of supply chain and ERP systems, the book delves into the core ERP modules that support manufacturing facilities and organizations. It examines each module’s structure and functionality as well as the process support the module provides. Cases illustrate how the modules can be applied in manufacturing environments. Also covered is how the ERP modules can be configured to support manufacturing supply chains. Setting up an ERP system to support the supply chain within single manufacturing facility provides insight into how an ERP system is used in the smallest of manufacturing enterprises, as well as lays the foundation for ERP systems in manufacturing organizations. The book then supplies strategies for larger manufacturing enterprises and discusses how ERP systems can be used to support a complete manufacturing supply chain across different facilities and companies. The ERP systems on the market today tend to use common terminology and naming for describing specific functions and data units in the software. However, there are differences among packages. The book discusses various data and functionalities found in different ERP-software packages and uses generic and descriptive terms as often as possible to make these valid for as many ERP systems as possible. Filled with insight into ERP system’s core modules and functions, this book shows how ERP systems can be applied to support a supply chain in the smallest of manufacturing organizations that only consist of a single manufacturing facility, as well as large enterprises where the manufacturing supply chain crosses multiple facilities and companies.

For over a decade, there has been an increasing interest in the use of supply chain methods to improve performance across the entire business enterprise. Numerous industries have recognized the importance of efficient supply chain integration, and, as a result, supply chain management has become a standard part of business practice. The Practice of Supply Chain Management: Where Theory and Application Converge is a must-have volume for users of supply chain management methods, supply chain management researchers, and students in supply chain management. The objective of the book is to provide an overview of this important practice-research cycle, and it is organized into three sections: Core Concepts and Practices; Emerging Supply Chain Practices; and Supply Chain in Action. The focus of the book is on supply chain practice, but supply chain practice that has been heavily influenced by supply chain research. It is this synergy between research and practice that continues to simulate new directions for research.

This book discusses different innovative business models adopted by social enterprises to bring about social change in terms of creating capabilities among the marginalised section of people. These models also bring the sustainability of the enterprises to serve the people continuously. Establishing a theoretical base for further research in the area of business models in social entrepreneurship, the book consists of research work from various disciplines from scholars with experience and insights on social entrepreneurship, and who discuss one or more aspect(s) of business model, presenting their work with sound research methodologies. The book takes a broader view of the concept – a) social entrepreneurs are driven by social value and justice, b) social entrepreneur may or may not have a market orientation, c) social entrepreneurs solve variety of social problems such as poverty, health, illiteracy, environmental degradation using the principles of business and with the help of social innovation, and d) social enterprise focus on bringing social change by creating social impact. Chapters of this book are divided into three core themes. The first one – Concepts, Patterns and Values – includes contributions related to sustainable development, business model and vale creation in the context of social entrepreneurship, innovation and cross-cultural influence on business models aspects. The chapter of second theme – Enablers and Influencers – discuss role of corporate in promoting social entrepreneurship as a social responsibility, social entrepreneurship and value creation, BoP market, supply chain, structural and infrastructural choices, family as a stakeholder of indigenous enterprise, and women entrepreneurship. The third and final theme – Innovation – addresses social, open innovation and business model innovations, IPR, firm performance, collaboration and alliance, software and biotechnology industries, decision logic behind social enterprise creation, and strategy and strategic philanthropy concepts. Containing contributions from academia, industry professionals, investors, policy-makers, and other professionals, all from multiple disciplines, the book would interest the same vast audience.

For reseach in all subjects and among different philisopical paradigms, research methodologies form one of the key issues to rely on. This volume brings a series of papers together, which present different research methodologies as applied in supply chain management. This comprises review oriented papers that look at what kind of methodologies have been applied, as well as methodological papers discussing new developments needed to successfully conduct research in supply chain management. The third group is made up of applications of the respective methodologies, which serve as examples on how the different methodological approaches can be applied. All papers have undergone a review process to ensure their quality. Therefore, we hope that this book will serve as a valid source for current and future researchers in the field. While the workshop on “Research Methodologies in Supply Chain Management” took place at the Supply Chain Management Center, Carl von Ossietzky Univ- sity in Oldenburg, Germany, it is based on a collaboration with the Supply Chain Management Group of the Department of Operations Management at the Cop- hagen Business School and the Department of Production Management at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. We would like to thank all those who contributed to the workshop and this book.