Interoperability in supply chain and logistics: What can the Common Framework offer? – A scientific evaluation

Abstract

Different business models fostering more flexible management of supply chains have been proposed in recent years. The rapid technology development is supporting more reliable and efficient ICT-based cooperation among stakeholders within the supply chain. The technology itself, serving as infrastructure for cooperation has evolved and also tools and frameworks assisting the development and deployment of these technologies have been developed. During this evolvement there have been several attempts to organise different artefacts into frameworks for interoperability. The motivation for this paper is to evaluate qualities held by the Common Framework in relation to new business models, interoperability and other frameworks for interoperability. Consequently our main research question is: Does the Common Framework offer any new qualities serving interoperability in the supply chain management sector compared to established frameworks? The idea behind this evaluation is that the Common Framework contrary to some of the technical-based frameworks already at early stages of development focused on the needed interfaces based on business requirements. The study is based on a combination of literature review and design science. The main contribution from this paper is to put Common Framework in a context with other interoperability frameworks suitable for supply chain management.

Keywords:

• supply chain management
• interoperability
• interoperability frameworks
• business motivation
• business interoperability
• the common framework