It is time that we in organization sciencesdevelop and implement a new mental model forcause and effect relationships. The dominantmodel in research dates at least to the 1700sand no longer serves the full purposes of thesocial science research problems of the21st century. Traditionally, research is``essentially concerned with two-variableproblems, linear causal trains, one cause andone effect, or with few variables at the most''(von Bertalanffy, 1968, p. 12). However, theliterature is replete with examples ofphenomena in which the traditional cause andeffect construct does (...) not allow for greaterunderstanding and insight into the phenomena. Different conceptions of cause and effectrelationships have been developed includingproducer/product relationships (Ackoff 1981),design causality (Argyris and Schon, 1996), andfour classes of causal models (Schwartz andOgilvy, 1979). Of interest here is thepossibility of mutual causality, ``theassumption that the relationship between two(or more) phenomena is heavily influenced bythe presence of feedback loops that areinstantaneous, or nearly so'' (Dent, 1999). Maturana's (1998, Maturana and Varela, 1987)work on a new epistemology and ontologyprovides a foundation for the alternative modelof cause and effect proposed here. Thisinteraction model includes the dynamics of thetraditional X and Y, but adds the structure ofX (A), the structure of Y (B), the environment(E), and time (T). (shrink)

The quest of developing the logistics discipline, with a more theoretical foundation, is something several authors have emphasized and called for. Today one could argue that most of the research on logistics has a strong connection to the positivistic paradigm where there is a great emphasis on prediction, rationality and control in the solutions produced. In order to challenge the common assumptions and develop the logistics discipline, the process of knowledge creation i.e. the epistemological considerations, are central. Since a paradigm (...) consists of metatheoretical assumptions i.e. ontology and epistemology, the paradigmatic question is the key in order to change the frame of reference of the logistics discipline. The overall purpose of this licentiate thesis is to propose a paradigmatic view and a pragmatic approach based on the science of complexity that contribute to the further development of the logistics discipline. Two main methods have been used; one focusing on my main research method, which is my study of literature related to the field, and the other on the empirically oriented case studies that have been conducted The paradigmatic view proposed in this thesis is based on insights gained from the science of complexity. Assumptions made concerning how to approach and transfer knowledge attained from our perceived reality, drive the choices of methods when conducting research and have, of course, great influence on the results obtained and presented from any research process. Adopting a complexity perspective means taking a step away from the common positivistic influenced view, which dominates the logistics discipline, and approaching the phenomena of interest with a different set of assumptions and prerequisites in the research process. This set of assumptions is in line with the complex adaptive system platform developed in the thesis. The CAS platform is the foundation for the proposed pragmatic approach. The first properties of the proposed platform i.e. the CAS feature covering internal properties, are of central importance in order to grasp fully the complexity of a studied system and to understand where it is derived from. The proposed pragmatic approach means vi taking into consideration the smallest elements of, and agents relevant to, the study being conducted. From this internal approach the mindset of the researcher or practitioner is of great importance in the event of what such an approach might reveal about the problem being studied. In order to capture emergent phenomena and identify self-organization on different levels of description, we need a perception of the context as being “gray”; that is not considering the context as something which is static or stable, nor as something totally disoriented and uncontrollable. The metaphorical description of a fitness landscape where coevolution and continuous changes caused by the actions performed by agents inside and outside the perceived system under study, could be beneficial in the research process. This is the case since too many reductions of various factors could result in “far-from-reality” based solutions. The fundamental aspects of the pragmatic approach are a bottom-up perspective, where the smallest elements relevant to a certain logistics problem are considered, the system built up from this and, of course, an alignment with the paradigmatic view based on the science of complexity. (shrink)

Logistics is gaining increased attention in companies since interconnectivity is increasing, and the interdependence among actors is enhanced due to challenges organizations are facing today . While the logistics discipline has been characterized by an efficiency focus based on positivistic assumptions, the challenges of today require a focus on effectiveness i.e. adaptive logistics based on extended assumptions. As firms are becoming more complex themselves in their relationships with suppliers and customers, and there is increased turbulence facing almost all industries, this (...) complexity needs to be taken into consideration by logistics researchers and practitioners in order to increase their understanding, and for the sense-making of logistics phenomena. The purpose of the thesis is to contribute to the further development of logistics research and practice by exploring, from a complexity perspective, how increased adaptation can enhance logistics effectiveness. In order to gain knowledge and understanding of how a complexity perspective could impact logistics, several methods have been used. Through extensive literature reviews from several disciplines, insights into what type of underlying assumptions dominates the discipline were gained. In order to understand logistics in its ?real? empirical setting, a topical study entitled ?real logistics? was performed, in which logistics practitioners were interviewed with a grounded theory-inspired approach. Case studies have also been performed, focusing on issues of effectiveness. Furthermore, for me to be able provide the logistics discipline with an approach which is ?proven? to be applicable and where ?operationalization? of the complexity perspective could be achieved, combined case and simulation studies have been performed. It is the firm conclusion that adaptive logistics is not a concept separated from human-mind and involvement, instead it is a transformative concept realized in the individual and collective sense-making processes guided by assumptions related to both filters. Hence, in order to move towards adaptive logistics it is the conclusion that this is a process involving reflections on assumptions and their impacts on logistics phenomena and processes, and operationalization of a new way of thinking through sense-making methods with close connection to the perceived contexts in question. For the reflective part, theoretical frameworks are needed, which are in line with assumptions similar to real-life experience by managers i.e. of a less mechanical character, with emphasis on the extended assumptions comprised in the complexity perspective. Secondly, in order to operationalize a different way of thinking and acting i.e. change mind-sets to embrace more complex considerations, and provide tangible results in a reasonable time period, it has been concluded that agent-based modeling provides a feasible and applicable method and tool. (shrink)