The influence of inter-organizational learning on optimization of the supply chain

The empirical research of strategy and dialogue using an supply chain management game

Abstract

This study demonstrates the influence of a strategy for maintaining proper inventory and rethinking strategy with inter-organizational learning on the bullwhip effect in a supply chain (SC). The bullwhip effect is essentially a phenomenon of demand variability amplification along an SC. We use game data from the latest online supply chain management (SCM) game by businessmen and researchers for analysis. The result of the random-effects model shows that even if there is no strategy, the dialogue in the supply chain has an influence on reducing the bullwhip effect. We also demonstrate the importance of dialogue with strategy for reducing inventory cost. This research proposes the importance of inter-organizational learning for the optimization of SC.