Decision support systems for sustainable logistics: a review and bibliometric analysis
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-09-2016-0410 |
| Date | 14 August 2017 |
| Published date | 14 August 2017 |
| Pages | 1376-1388 |
| Author | Fahham Hasan Qaiser,Karim Ahmed,Martin Sykora,Alok Choudhary,Mike Simpson |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information systems,Data management systems,Knowledge management,Knowledge sharing,Management science & operations,Supply chain management,Supply chain information systems,Logistics,Quality management/systems |
Decision support systems for
sustainable logistics: a review
and bibliometric analysis
Fahham Hasan Qaiser, Karim Ahmed, Martin Sykora and
Alok Choudhary
School of Business and Economics,
Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK, and
Mike Simpson
Management School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Abstract
Purpose –Decision making in logistics is an increasingly complex task for organizations as these involve
decisions at strategic, tactical and operational levels coupled with the triple-bottom line of sustainability.
Decision support systems (DSS) played a vital role in arguably solving the challenges associated with
decision making in sustainable logistics. The purpose of this paper is to explore the current state of the
research in the domain of DSS for logistics while considering sustainability aspects.
Design/methodology/approach –A systematic review approach using a set of relevant keywords with
several exclusion criteria was adopted to identify literature related to DSS for sustainable logistics. A total of
40 papers were found from 1994 to 2015, which were then analyzed along the dimensions of publishing trend,
geographic distribution and collaboration, the most influential journals, affiliations and authors as well as the
key themes of identified literature. The analysis was conducted by means of bibliometric and text mapping
tools, namely BibExcel, gpsvisualizer and VOSviewer.
Findings –The bibliometric analysis showed that DSS for sustainable logistics is an emerging field;
however, it is still evolving but at a slower pace. Furthermore, most of the contributing affiliations belong to
the USA and the UK. The text mining and keyword analysis revealed key themes of identified papers.
The inherent key themes were decision models and frameworks to address sustainable logistics issues
covering transport, distribution and third-party logistics. The most prominent sustainable logisticsissue was
carbon footprinting. Social impact has been given less attention in comparison to economic and
environmental aspects. The literature has adequate room for proposing more effective solutions by
considering various types of multi-criteria decision analysis methods and DSS configurations while
simultaneously considering economic, environmental and social aspects of sustainable logistics. Moreover,
the field has potential to include logistics from wide application areas including freight transport through
road, rail, sea, air as well as inter-modal transport, port operations, material handling and warehousing.
Originality/value –To the best of the authors’knowledge, this is the first systematic review of DSS for
sustainable logistics using bibliometric and text analysis. The key themes and research gaps identified in this
paper will provide a reference point that will encourage and guide interested researchers for future study,
thus aiding both theoretical and practical advancements in this discipline.
Keywords Sustainability, Logistics, Systematic review, Bibliometric analysis, Decision support system,
Text visualization
Paper type Literature review
Introduction
Logistics is vital to the success of supply chains and inevitably linked with the overall
organizational performance. The activities may involve freight transport, materials
handling, storage and inventory management. Logistics has the potential of bringing
Industrial Management & Data
Systems
Vol. 117 No. 7, 2017
pp. 1376-1388
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0263-5577
DOI 10.1108/IMDS-09-2016-0410
Received 30 September 2016
Revised 11 November 2016
31 March 2017
Accepted 5 April 2017
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0263-5577.htm
This research has been made available through the European Union EuropeAid-funded Project
“EU-India Research & Innovation Partnership for Efficient and Sustainable Freight Transportation
(REINVEST),”Contract Number: R/141842. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility
of the authors of this paper and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
1376
IMDS
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