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Literature reviews are an essential feature of academic research because, fundamentally, the advancement of knowledge must be built on prior existing work, and to push the frontiers of knowledge, one must be clear as to where these frontiers presently are. By systematically analyzing, synthesizing, and summarizing bodies of related literature, hypotheses can be tested and/or new theories and insights developed. However, despite the recent increase in systematic review research in business and management, and particularly marketing literature, arguably, many reviews continue to be poorly undertaken and reported due to a lack of a rigorous modus operandi for their journal editors, reviewers, and readers. The purpose of this paper is twofold, first to offer marketing researchers and practitioners a modus operandi to better demonstrate the optimization of rigor when undertaking quantitative systematic review research, and second to represent a call-to-action for marketing scholarship to engage further with optimizing rigorous systematic review research in the future. The paper thereby contributes to marketing literature by offering researchers and practitioners a three-stage protocol to demonstrate the optimization of rigor when undertaking systematic review research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a systematic literature review to understand the applications, benefits, and challenges of digital assistants (DAs) in production and logistics tasks. Our conceptual framework covers three dimensions: information management, collaborative operations, and knowledge transfer. We evaluate human-DA collaborative tasks in the areas of product design, production, maintenance, quality management, and logistics. This allows us to expand upon different types of DAs, and reveal how they improve the speed and ease of production and logistic work, which was ignored in previous studies. Our results demonstrate that DAs improve the speed and ease of workers' interaction with machines/information systems in searching, processing, and demonstrating. Extant studies describe DAs with different levels of autonomy in decision-making; however, most DAs perform tasks as instructed or with workers' consent. Additionally, we observe that workers find it more intuitive to perform tasks and acquire knowledge when they receive multiple sensorial cues (e.g. auditory and visual cues). Consequently, future research can explore how DAs can be integrated with other technologies for robust multi-modal assistance such as eye tracking and augmented reality. This can provide customised DA support to workers with disabilities or conditions to facilitate more inclusive production and logistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic's impacts have been devastating for the global economy, and particularly for manufacturing companies. Many firms were unprepared for a crisis of this magnitude and adapted their operations in an ad-hoc manner. Some of these adaptations were facilitated by digital technologies (DTs). This article examines extant literature using a systematic review methodology in order to extend our understanding of what DTs have been used in manufacturing companies during the pandemic, how DTs have helped manufacturing companies cope with the pandemic, and how these innovations can be used in the post-pandemic world. The major outcome of our study is a novel classification of DT applications in the pandemic setting in the manufacturing industry. In addition, we propose an agenda for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on buyer-seller exchange consistently acknowledges the role of uncertainty as an influential factor in decision-making for both exchange parties. However, a fragmented understanding of uncertainty, limitations from data collection, and overreliance on a narrow set of theoretical frameworks has hampered the development of uncertainty as a core concept in sales research. To address these challenges and encourage future research, we conduct a systematic literature review to streamline and synthesize the disparate research on buyer-seller uncertainty. The review process reveals interesting trends in the prevalence of uncertainty research as well as overarching research themes. Discussion of these themes alongside managerial insights help illuminate multiple research gaps that offer fruitful areas for future sales research. The results of this analysis produce an encouraging discussion for sales scholars to reconsider their theoretical, methodological, and conceptual approaches to understand both buyer and seller uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid the escalating environmental crises and economic disparities, Circular Economy (CE) has garnered recognition as a pragmatic mechanism for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In response, several supply chain organisations are integrating CE strategies into their business operations and production processes. Despite these developments and since the introduction of Business Charter for Sustainable Development by the International Chamber of Commerce in 1991, the academic corpus comprehensively connecting CE research themes, catalysts, deterrents, practices with the SDGs has remained limited. To bridge this gap, we present a systematic literature review (SLR) of CE research in operations, supply chain and production management encompassing a time span of 31 years (January 1991 – June 2022), by sourcing, screening, and analysing articles obtained from multiple research databases. Our thematic coding analysis generated ten research themes, and subsequently linking them with relevant SDGs. Additionally, we interweaved CE catalysts and deterrents, establishing a connection with the SDGs. This is further enriched with CE strategies aimed at equipping business practitioners to enhance sustainable business performance and contributing to specific SDGs. Lastly, we delineate CE knowledge data management and priority actions frameworks to aid organisations to enhance employee capability and actively leverage digital technologies for implementing CE strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ever more interconnected and complex supply chains increase the risk of disruptions and their propagation. Companies need to simultaneously develop capabilities such as responsiveness, resilience, and robustness (Triple-R) to hedge against these risks, while staying competitive. This requires careful investment decisions on which portfolio of Triple-R strategies to create. Being a dynamic, transient phenomena, analytical tools are often not feasible to quantify effects. Computer simulation provides an important alternative, which led to a surge of literature in recent years. This study conducted a systematic literature review of studies that use computer simulation for assessing Triple-R capabilities. Based on a final sample of 174 full articles, we found that classical means to create Triple-R capabilities have been widely assessed for a broad set of different disruption characteristics, including type of disruption and type of propagation. But, while there exists a broad literature that focusses on engineering resilience and adaptation, more research is needed that focusses on resilience as transformation. Recent disruptions are social-ecological disruptions that require new mitigation strategies. To appropriately design and assess these strategies, which need to consider societal impacts towards Industry 5.0, hybrid simulations, online simulations, and physical simulations are required that can model social-ecological aspects and contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain decarbonisation has become a strategic requirement in the era of a net-zero economy. Despite the significant role of Big Data Analytics (BDA) in decarbonising the supply chain (SC), no prior study has evaluated it systematically. The present study aims to provide a systematic literature review on the applications and outcomes of big data analytics in SC decarbonisation. A total of 69 papers on applying BDA technology for supply chain decarbonisation published between 2016 and 2021 have been selected following the PRISMA protocol. The findings show that the topic is evolving. Studies employed methods such as surveys (30), case studies (11), and conceptual research designs (8). Thematic analysis reveals that 65% of the studies are grounded in resource-advantage theories, organisational theories, and system theories. Studies from India and China (35%) dominate the topic, while most studies have been conducted on the food and manufacturing industries. Further, this study applied the Antecedent-Decision-Outcomes (ADO) framework in BDA-based SC decarbonisation. Antecedents include BDA resources and capabilities, workforce skills, and supplier capabilities. Decisions refer to improving decision-making across the supply chain. Outcomes refer to improving decarbonisation, sustainable growth, and sustainable innovativeness. Future research directions and questions are provided using the Theory-Context-Methodology (TCM) framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapport and rapport-building are fundamental building blocks of the sales process. As part of the approach in personal selling, as well as a relationship-building mechanism, rapport allows salespeople to facilitate customer engagement. This paper reviews and synthesizes articles over four decades of research on rapport and rapport-building within buyer-seller relationships to provide insight into the gaps in the current literature and provide an overarching conceptual model of where rapport research stands. This analysis of the research from theoretical and methodological perspectives identifies three major themes in the existing literature and offers five gaps where the literature should grow going forward. Building on these gaps, we identify an agenda for future research that extends knowledge in this domain, particularly as salespeople grapple with changing digital communications and relationship-building in virtual spaces with customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic literature review enhances paradigmatic/metaphysic analyses by examining how value-based commitments, intellectual personae, and stances impact the diversity, relevance, and consideration of ethics in gender research published by the top-tier marketing journals in the past 30 years. Theoretical contributions (1) explain how commitments to research values and practices constitute personae and particular stances toward research, (2) attribute value commitments to quantitative/positivist as well as qualitative/neohumanist research, and (3) implicate stances that favor particular theories and procedures and in turn enable the hierarchical development of gender research and its marginalization in the field. Recommendations elaborate the analytic, reflexive, and administrative training and research activities that will foster and reward more relevant, accurate, and ethical research on gender in the marketing academy and in industry. This work is of interest to persons dealing with gender identities, communities, and social issues, those working for greater gender representation and participation in firms and civic organizations, and those concerned with leveraging better marketing research for a better world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on Blockchain implementation in the Pharmaceutical Supply Chains (PSC) is lacking despite its strong potential to overcome conventional supply chain challenges. Thus, this study aims to provide critical insight into the nexus between Blockchain and PSC and further build a conceptual framework for implementation within the pharmaceutical industry. Following a systematic literature review and text mining approach, 65 interdisciplinary articles published between 2010 and 2021 were studied to capture the decade long developments. Descriptive and thematic analysis showcases nascent developments of Blockchain in PSC. The drivers and barriers to adoption, implementation stages, and applications identified through the thematic analysis guide in setting the agenda for future research, primarily focussing on the use of Blockchain for drug counterfeiting, recall issues, along with other sector-specific challenges such as patient privacy, regulations and clinical trials. Research on Blockchain for PSC has been slow compared to other sectors, but has accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic. Identified influential factors, implementation process and apparent applications are expected to influence researchers and practitioners in developing a roadmap for adopting Blockchain in the pharmaceutical industry. The proposed conceptual framework is novel and provides valuable directions to producers, regulators and governments to implement Blockchain in the pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses extant literature on how Industry 4.0 impacts Social Capital in Buyer-Supplier Relationships. We conduct a systematic literature review and identify 36 academic articles that are analysed in the research process. The study uncovers strategic changes Industry 4.0 implies for Social Capital in Buyer-Supplier Relationships. These include transformations in cognitive, structural and relational capital in terms of a shared vision, social interaction and trust. Therein, Social Capital in Buyer-Supplier Relationships is needed and further invested in aspects like common decision-making, information sharing and cross-company integration in Industry 4.0 contexts. We propose that Industry 4.0 implementation does require and foster Social Capital in Buyer-Supplier Relationships and that two diametrically opposed elementary forms of Buyer-Supplier Relationships co-exist in an Industry 4.0 context. The systematic literature review is the first to analyse the extant body of literature on Buyer-Supplier Relationships in Industry 4.0 to synthesise detailed transformations against the backdrop of Social Capital. It provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research and develops several suggestions for future research and managerial practice, for example, concerning the role of humans in strategic tasks in Industry 4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a competitive environment, effective management of production and inventory decisions is critical to maintain an efficient and balanced flow of the supply chain system. Manufacturing companies across supply chains have recognised that inventories can be managed more effectively through increased collaboration and better coordination. In practice, production planning and inventory control decisions are not separated, and supply chain members can significantly reduce costs through the coordination of production and inventory decisions. Research in this field has received much attention in recent years. This study aims to review coordination, cooperation, and collaboration (CCC) mechanisms in production-inventory studies. By using an established research methodology, a total of 118 articles were reviewed and the implemented CCC mechanisms were classified into three main categories: contractual practices, joint decision-making practices, and information-sharing practices. By examining the selected articles according to the implemented methodologies and their impact on the sustainably of supply chains, research gaps and future directions for academics and practitioners were identified. This study shows that more research is needed to discover the impact of combining different CCC mechanisms on supply chain efficiency in terms of economic, environmental, and social concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Extreme weather impacts due to climate change, such as urban pluvial flooding, necessitate adaptive measures. To support decision making in climate adaptation, climate services provide information and guidance to policy makers and other stakeholders. Effective use of climate services is prohibited by usability gaps. Some causes for these gaps originate from contextual factors. However, these factors are not well understood within academic literature. Therefore, our systematic review has two research questions: (1) What dimensions of climate service usability are considered in the design and evaluation of their use and how are these operationalized?; and (2) What contextual influences may affect these identified dimensions? To this end, we analyzed 51 articles that cover one or more urban pluvial flooding climate services. Our results show several overarching categories of usability dimensions (functionality, ease of use, reducing time and effort, reliability, matching user needs, and other). However, these dimensions are not always fully operationalized by authors. Furthermore, our results show that most contextual factors originate from the meso level (within or between organizations), and in lesser extent the macro (e.g., national policies) and micro level (individual users). Here especially organizational (e.g., Does the climate service fit organizational work approaches?); and process factors (e.g., Was the climate service co‐produced?) have been shown to affect usability. We conclude that more attention should be given to usability as a concept within the design and evaluation of climate services well as to the influence of contextual influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health-seeking behavior represents the actions taken to prevent the disease and promote health. It emphasizes both the illness response and the healthcare utilization driven by perceived threat and effectiveness of the preventive behavior. This study aims to scrutinize the progression of research conducted on health-seeking behavior in high-risk period such as COVID-19 using bibliometric analysis. The bibliometric analysis is performed on Scopus and Web of Science databases. Research articles in the English language were extracted using keywords, such as health-seeking behavior and COVID. Eight hundred twenty-five research articles at the final and early publication stage in the English language were extracted from Scopus and 623 from WoS using the keywords Health Seeking Behavior and COVID. Of these, 259 in Scopus and 109 in WoS were selected for the final study following the authors’ eligibility criteria. It analyses the research directions, countries of publications, core journals, leading authors and institutions and important publications followed by research trends in this field. It summarizes the academic interest of the researchers in health-seeking behavior in low- and middle-income countries. The paper informs and directs researchers and policymakers on the state of research in health-seeking behavior during high-health risk periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]