Towards a science of logistics: cornerstones of a framework of understanding of logistics as an academic discipline

Abstract

The mission of BVL, the nonprofit German Logistics Association, is to act as an integrative platform to promote the awareness for the importance of logistics in industry, science, and the public arena. It aims to represent the entire spectrum of logistical issues, to develop methods and processes to contribute to the solution of these issues, and to promote and continuously optimise the application of relevant solutions. BVL’s Scientific Advisory Board is supporting BVL’s mission by promoting the dialogue between logistics practice and the academic community. Its members come from many different academic backgrounds. While there is no longer any disagreement about the enormous practical relevance of logistics and its steadily growing impact upon day-to-day economic activities, the members of BVL’s Scientific Advisory Board are aware that there still is no widely shared understanding of the identity of logistics as a scientific and academic discipline. Against this backdrop, and following a strategic discussion which the Scientific Advisory Board initiated some time ago, the idea of developing a framework of understanding for logistics as an academic discipline emerged. For this purpose, a working group was set up comprising the authors of this paper. It reflects the broad spectrum of disciplinary backgrounds and perspectives on the essence of science represented on the Advisory Board. Five key points, as outlined below, were agreed upon as the cornerstones of an understanding of logistics as an academic discipline. They were arrived at as the result of an extremely exciting sequence of discussions which took place in the group’s workshop sessions. The cornerstones are designed to serve as a point of reference for continuing indepth, discussions about the ‘‘science of logistics’’ within BVL, and—hopefully—with academics and logistics practitioners all over the world. A further aim is to contribute to a better understanding of the depth and relevance of the science of logistics among those ‘‘outside’’ the discipline. The paper starts out with a statement summarising the nature of logistics as a science. This statement is followed by five cornerstone points elaborating the essential characteristics of the discipline. The authors are members of a working group of the Scientific Advisory Board of German Logistics Association (BVL).

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