How to do research on the future in purchasing and supply management (PSM):A literature review on the usage of futures studies in PSM

Abstract

Due to the strategic understanding of PSM, an intrinsic interest exists in researching one’s future of PSM. Recently, calls for more forward-looking, explorative, and futureoriented research in PSM have emerged. Researching the future is predominately conducted in the research field of ‘futures studies’ that deals with the scientific study of future developments to formulate reasonable assumptions of the future to influence today’s actions. In light of existing calls for more research, it is critical to question the extent to which core principles of ‘futures studies’ are already reflected in PSM. Following propositions from dedicated methodological frameworks from ‘futures studies’, a systematic literature review has been completed. This systematic literature review identifies and examines 75 contributions in the field of PSM and investigates possible hints on how to explore futures in PSM. Following the propositions on how to execute ‘futures studies’, it seems as if research in PSM mainly focuses on exploring potential assumptions for future developments and on analyzing and interpreting those assumptions in light of future developments. Research results seem loosely coupled in light of the applied framework on how to conduct ‘futures studies’. The first results indicate that studies and methodological insights on how to (scientifically) create and validateimaginable futures (including creating images of multiple futures) and how to transfer those indications from imaginable futures in today’s actions are missing. Although individual articles provide insight into a highly focused segment of the future, no holistic insight into the future exists. Consequently, PSM is missing an integrated approach of ‘futures studies’ to developing insights into the future. In other words, the subsequent question arises as to whether transferring methods from ‘futures studies’ to research in PSM can yield new insights.