Understanding Supply Network Coordination

The concept of a supply chain is expanding into that of a supply network, which includes a broader base of suppliers and partners connected physically and electronically. Accordingly, the scope and depth of management issues and research focuses have also expanded from the traditional supplier-buyer dyad and a linear sequence of suppliers into a collection of inter-related companies. The planning, operating, monitoring, and organizing of a supply network has become a super-complex problem. At the core of the management of a supply network lies the issue of coordination. However, both research on coordination and the concept of supply network are not yet sufficiently developed. Considering the importance and attractiveness of the issue this chapter is designed to present fundamental concepts, issues and perspectives related to supply network coordination.