Systems levels in purchasing and supply chain management (PSCM) research: exploring established and novel theories to address PSCM problems and challenges

Interconnected, complex purchasing and supply chain management (PSCM) problems and challenges require holistic approaches and theories as well as analysis that breaks down problems into component parts. Originating in organismic biology, systems thinking enables conceptualisation of whole systems as organised complexity in terms of emergence and hierarchy, communications and control. PSCM is a field of research and practice that examines problems and challenges within organisations, buyer-supplier relationships, supply chains, networks, systems of supply (such as the UN system) and supply markets. To examine these problems and challenges, systems thinking is used to structure this chapter, enabling an exploration of theories appropriate to different levels of supply. An initial conceptual framework is provided to classify theories according to systems levels to shed light on where theory testing, building and elaboration has been concentrated to date in PSCM. Suggestions are made about potential appropriateness of using theories from outside the field to inform PSCM problems and challenges.