A Literature Review for Project Managers
FEATURED PAPER
By Prof. Dr. M.F. HARAKE
ESLI International – Graduate School of Management & Engineering
France
Abstract
Linking project management to logistics, this article aims to decrypt the adoption of a project-based process to supply chain management – and more precisely logistics, which derives substantial benefits to the organization. The current research will examine an ensemble of concepts that are relevant to both Supply Chain Management and Project Management. This exercise will help identify the key components and factors of a successful logistics’ project implementation. Finally, this article will present the best practices to succeed in a logistics project by exploring a new emerging business field: Logistics Project Management.
Key Words: Supply Chain, Logistics Management, Project Management in Logistics, Logistics Project Manager
Introduction
Project management and Supply Chain Management are both complementary and necessary for a successful endeavor. Project managers are concerned with logistics-related issues and logistics managers will need to work within a project-based framework (Pich et al., 2002). Managers and project leaders must understand the various roles and responsibilities when it comes to implementing a logistics’ project (e.g. planning, executing, controlling, etc.).
Nowadays Logistics Managers are required to lead projects and transform the supply chain by optimizing it while taking into account their resources and the intended outcome – as it will increase the organization’s sustainability and adaptability in the business-transformational environment (Alicke et al., 2020).
Business industries are reconfiguring their Supply Chain Management dynamic by applying it within a project-based framework given its strategic importance to an organization’s success (Giunipero et al., 2006; Aloini et al., 2015).
Any project, great and small, will have its own complexity and will require the crisscrossing of both Supply Chain Management and Project Management principles, tools, processes and procedures (Tatikonda & Rosenthal, 2000; Maylor et al., 2008). The components of both business disciplines are critical to success as they combine business strategy to technical operationality (Loten & Castellanos, 2019). Business practices and operations benefit greatly from the crisscrossing of both disciplines as this will increase business vigilance, enhance resource utilization, and provide better prospective options. Such a situation will better align projects with business strategies, industry trends, and organization’s goals (Lycett et al., 2004).
Both Supply Chain Management and Project Management have attracted considerable interest from both practitioners and researchers which resulted in both publications and business processes formulation (Ika, 2009; Ponomarov & Holcomb, 2009). Both interests, business findings, and further empirical gaps have led to the emergence of a new area of research: Logistics Project Management. Logistics project management is considered as a complex and new field that requires an ensemble set of skills and competencies (Hartel, 2022). This new research field is of great interest to managers as they can benefit from better understanding and integrating Supply Chain Management within Project Management (e.g. risk management, supplier management and procurement, warehousing, IoT, etc.) (Wei et al., 2021). This will enable the building of a holistic business approach to deal with the increasing complexity within and across organizations (Aloini et al., 2015).
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How to cite this paper: Harake, M. F. (2023). Project Logistics Management: A Literature Review for Project Managers; PM World Journal, Vol. XII, Issue IX, September. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pmwj133-Sep2023-Harake-project-logistics-management-a-literature-review.pdf
About the Author
Prof. Dr. M. F. HARAKE
Poitiers, France
Prof. Dr. M. F. HARAKE is a management Professor based in France. He is currently the Director of International Academic Affairs of GIP CEI (a French Higher Education and Research Institution). He is also the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) program manager of ESLI International – Graduate School of Management & Engineering (Paris – France) and the scientific director of the MBA DELIVERWEB at ALTERNIS Business School (Bordeaux – France). He previously served as a visiting professor at ESCE International Business School (Paris – France), Paris School of Business (Paris – France), Ascencia Business School (Paris – France), ESPRIT Business School (Tunis – Tunisia), GBSB Global Business School (Barcelona – Spain), etc.
Dr. M.F. HARAKE is a research fellow and former board member of the CEREGE Research Laboratory (University of Poitiers – France), and a visiting research fellow at CABMR Research Center (Paris – France). He is also an Honorary Academic Advisor and Research Scholar at the Project Management World Library (Austin / Texas – USA). He previously served as the Director of the CREFEGE Research Center (Paris – France). His research interests include Post-Conflict Public Management, Crisis and Urgent Operations Management, Humanitarian Logistics, and Project Management in Unstable Environments.
He can be contacted at mharake@gip-cei.com
