Submitted by Maicon Juliano Schmidt (maicons) on 2015-04-15T17:54:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Priscila Bonalume Paraboni.pdf: 12193743 bytes, checksum: 56a6d3ee4c0d4a15f8d60553ab873978 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-15T17:54:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Priscila Bonalume Paraboni.pdf: 12193743 bytes, checksum: 56a6d3ee4c0d4a15f8d60553ab873978 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-23 / Nenhuma / Existem diferentes métodos para o processo de desenvolvimento de novos produtos, as quais abordam, principalmente, uma sequência de passos lógicos aplicados por uma pessoa ou equipe e baseados no escopo do projeto. Entende-se que o contexto organizacional atual exige um processo de desenvolvimento de produtos que contemple este dinamismo vivenciado. Nesse sentido, essa pesquisa realiza a aplicação do Pensamento Sistêmico (SENGE, 2004) durante o processo de desenvolvimento de um novo curso de graduação tecnológica na Unisinos, em busca da análise do lançamento, no tempo e no espaço, identificando os impactos sistêmicos do novo curso. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no setor de educação superior devido ao crescimento deste setor no Brasil e ao aumento da competitividade (MEC/Inep, 2012) e foi aplicada seguindo a lógica do Design Science Research (BAYAZIT, 2004). Foi realizado o mapeamento do processo atual de desenvolvimento de novos cursos da Unidade Acadêmica de Graduação para compreensão e identificação de lacunas. Com isso, a metodologia do Pensamento Sistêmico e Planejamento por Cenários (ANDRADE, et al., 2006) foi aplicada com um grupo de professores e pesquisadores da Universidade que participaram do desenvolvimento do curso Tecnólogo em Gestão da Produção Industrial. A pesquisa apresenta como artefato um conjunto de estratégias robustas e condicionais para a Universidade aplicar independente do cenário que venha a se configurar. / There are many methods for the process of new product development, which focuses, mainly, in a sequence of logical steps applied by an individual or team-based and project scope. It is understood that the current organizational context requires a process of developing products that contemplate this dynamism experienced. In this sense, this research makes the application of Systems Thinking (SENGE P. M., 2012) during the process of developing a new undergraduate technological course at Unisinos, searching for launch analysis, in time and space, identifying the systemic impacts of the new course. The research was developed in the higher education sector due to the growth of this sector in Brazil and increased competitiveness (MEC/Inep, 2012) and was applied following the logic of the Design Science Research (BAYAZIT, 2004). Was mapped the current development process of new courses in the Academic Unit of Undergraduate for understanding and identifying gaps. Herewith, the methodology of Systems Thinking and Scenarios Planning (ANDRADE, et al., 2006) was applied to a group of professors and researchers at the University who participated in the development of the Technologist Management of Industrial Production course. The research presents a set as an artefact of robust strategies and conditionals apply to the University regardless of the scenario that will be set up.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2018-02-08T12:04:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Giane Cauzzi Brocco_.pdf: 5767947 bytes, checksum: 1352c6e88b55fea0bf9be17c23e39e46 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-08T12:04:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Giane Cauzzi Brocco_.pdf: 5767947 bytes, checksum: 1352c6e88b55fea0bf9be17c23e39e46 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-10-27 / Nenhuma / A disponibilidade de recursos naturais é comprimida pelo crescimento populacional e por padrões inadequados de produção, fazendo com que as organizações procurem referências para crescer de modo sustentável. Para isso, é necessário readequar as indústrias, repensando as lideranças e o impacto de cada ação para o planeta. Os negócios dependem da natureza, e a busca por soluções sustentáveis é, além de uma boa prática, condição necessária para a manutenção da competitividade. O Método de Pensamento Biomimético busca na natureza a fonte de inspiração para a criação e a resolução de desafios; no entanto, o atual formato do Método de Pensamento Biomimético nem sempre é convidativo aos que não enxergam a natureza como princípio de orientação na busca de soluções sustentáveis ou aos que não se sentem confortáveis com modelos disruptivos de inovação. O Método do Pensamento Sistêmico permite enxergar de forma holística e integrada tanto o contexto como o impacto de uma solução e, ainda, oportuniza a quebra de modelos mentais limitantes; todavia, não direciona a criação de produtos, sistemas ou processos, lacuna que busca ser suprida pelo Método de Pensamento Biomimético. Logo, visando ao desenvolvimento sustentável por meio de soluções sustentáveis, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo integrar o Método de Pensamento Biomimético ao Método de Pensamento Sistêmico, dando origem ao Método Biomimético Sistêmico. Para tanto, o método de pesquisa utilizado foi a Design Science Research (DSR). Os resultados desta pesquisa indicam que o método proposto é aceito por especialistas de ambas as áreas e é adequado para encontrar soluções sustentáveis e sistêmicas. Nesse sentido, contribui para o desenvolvimento sustentável, configurando um passo importante para o avanço da inovação e sustentabilidade de forma consciente por meio de impactos positivos para as empresas e para a natureza. / While the availability of natural resources is constrained by population growth and inadequate production processes, organizations still look for references to grow in a sustainable way. Therefore, it is necessary to reshape industries, rethink leaderships and become aware of the impact of every action to the planet. Given the dependence that businesses have of nature, the search for sustainable solutions is, besides a good practice, a necessary condition for maintaining competitiveness. The Biomimicry Thinking Method ensures that the final design solution is likely to truly emulate nature, however, the current format of the Biomimicry Thinking Method is not always inviting to those who do not see nature as a guiding principle to find sustainable solutions or also for those who do not feel comfortable with innovative technology models. Meanwhile, the Systems Thinking Method gives a holistically view and integrate both the context and the impact of a solution and, opportunistically, the breaking of limiting mental models, however it is not for the design of products, systems and processes. Therefore this research aiming at sustainable development through sustainable solutions, aimed to integrate the Biomimicry Thinking Method with the Systems Thinking Method, giving rise to the Systemic Biomimetic Method. To support this study, the research method used was the Design Science Research (DSR). The results of this research indicate good acceptance of the method between experts from both areas and, in addition, it can be concluded that the developed method is suitable for find sustainable systemic solutions and to contribute to sustainable development, and sets up an important step in advancing of innovation and sustainability in a conscious way through the positive impacts for companies and nature.

Submitted by Nara Lays Domingues Viana Oliveira (naradv) on 2015-07-01T13:38:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AndreDeusEngProdL.pdf: 7492859 bytes, checksum: e361032eff07c82521b4929b417dafb3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-01T13:38:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AndreDeusEngProdL.pdf: 7492859 bytes, checksum: e361032eff07c82521b4929b417dafb3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Banco Santander / Banespa / O crescimento da dinâmica na indústria automotiva, e a complexidade das relações entre clientes e fornecedores, trazem a necessidade de se administrar e solucionar problemas cada vez mais complexos. As empresas-clientes, por sua vez, definem e aplicam indicadores para avaliação do desempenho de seus fornecedores, de modo a garantir a integridade do fornecimento. Porém, à medida que diversos fatores interrelacionam-se neste ambiente, os resultados são aquém dos esperados, pois não refletem as expectativas do cliente, assim como não permitem a real compreensão da realidade do ambiente no qual cliente e fornecedores estão inseridos. Assim, esta pesquisa tem por objetivo desenvolver um método de análise e proposição de indicadores sistêmicos para avaliação de fornecedores. A metodologia de pesquisa adotada foi a pesquisa-ação, caracterizada pela aprendizagem coletiva e contínua. Uma adaptação do Método Sistêmico, roteiro de aplicação do Pensamento Sistêmico, aos objetivos desta pesquisa foi elaborada e aplicada em uma empresa de componentes automotivos. A primeira fase gerou a adaptação do método proposto; na segunda, foram realizadas as avaliações do método de análise e proposição de indicadores sistêmicos para avaliação fornecedores. Associadas à pesquisa-ação, para subsidiar a proposição do método, foram realizadas reuniões de trabalho com as partes interessadas. Os resultados obtidos, a aprendizagem relatada e as possíveis aplicações identificadas indicam que o método proposto permite a análise e proposição de indicadores sistêmicos para avaliação de fornecedores, por intermédio do Pensamento Sistêmico. / The dynamic’s growth in the automotive industry, and the complex relationship between customers and suppliers, these raise the need to improve the ability to administer and solve problems increasingly complex. The customer-companies, on the other hand, define and apply indicators in order to evaluate the performance of their suppliers, in order to ensure the integrity of the supplying. However, as several factors are interrelated in this environment, the performance results are below the expected, do not reflect the expectations of the customer and do not allow a real understanding of the environment reality in which the customers and suppliers are inserted. So, this research aims to develop an analysis and proposition method of systems indicators for supplier evaluation. Action research is chosen as research method, by its characteristics of continuous and collective knowledge constructions. An adaptation of the Systems Method, a roadmap for implementing Systems Thinking, to the objectives of this research was designed and implemented in an automotive components company. The first step leads the adaptation of the proposed method; on the second, the evaluations of the analysis and proposition method of systems indicators for supplier evaluation were carried out. Associated with the action research, in order to support the proposition of the method, working meetings were held with the stakeholders. The achieved results, the reported learning and the potential applications identified indicate that the proposed method allows the analysis and proposition of systems indicators for supplier evaluation, through the Systems Thinking.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-06-14T16:41:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 THIAGO DE LOIOLA ARAÚJO E SILVA_.pdf: 1988461 bytes, checksum: 213ef25b0f494b861dd4b801a990dc4b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-14T16:41:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 THIAGO DE LOIOLA ARAÚJO E SILVA_.pdf: 1988461 bytes, checksum: 213ef25b0f494b861dd4b801a990dc4b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-28 / IFTO - Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Tocantins / A crise energética atual atinge todos os eixos da sociedade e aponta para uma mudança no uso e na dependência dos combustíveis fósseis. A atual forma aponta para a escassez dessa fonte de energia e ao mesmo tempo, aponta para o desenvolvimento de outras fontes de geração de energia. Dentre essas fontes está o biodiesel feito a partir do óleo vegetal onde a soja vem despontando como matéria – prima mais usada na região central do Tocantins. Nesse contexto, o Brasil vem se destacando através do Programa Nacional de Produção e Uso do Biodiesel (PNPB). Entretanto, a geração de biodiesel a partir do óleo vegetal, assim como as outras formas de energia, gera impactos socioeconômicos e ambientais tanto positivos quanto negativos. Esses impactos afetam a sociedade direta e indiretamente, sendo as vezes desconhecidos ou ignorados pelos atores envolvidos. Nesse sentido, a presente dissertação objetiva, através do pensamento sistêmico, analisar os impactos sociais gerados a partir da instalação de uma usina de biodiesel e da produção do combustível tendo como matéria - prima do óleo de soja. Para se atingir o objetivo proposto, foi realizado um levantamento de dados bibliográficos, realizadas entrevistas com os atores envolvidos e construída uma estrutura sistêmica. Como resultado encontrado foram diagnosticados os impactos sociais através da relação direta e inversamente proporcional entre as variáveis diagnosticadas durante as entrevistas e a revisão bibliográfica. A aplicação do pensamento sistêmico na identificação dos impactos sociais se mostrou eficiente, uma vez que permitiu uma visão das relações entre os impactos encontrados e não apenas uma observação superficial. / The current energy crisis reaches all axes of society and points to a change in the use and dependence on fossil fuels. The current form points to the shortage of this energy source and at the same time points to the development of other sources of power generation. Among these sources, is biodiesel made from vegetable oil where soy is emerging as raw - material used in the central region of Tocantins? In this context, Brazil has stood out through the National Program for Production and Use of Biodiesel (NPPB). However, the generation of biodiesel from vegetable oil, as well as other forms of energy, generates socioeconomic and environmental impacts both positive and negative. These impacts affect the company directly and indirectly, and sometimes unknown or ignored by the actors involved. In this sense, the present dissertation aims, through systems thinking, analyzing the social impacts generated from the installation of a biodiesel plant and fuel production taking as raw - material of soybean oil. To achieve this purpose, a survey was conducted of bibliographic data, interviews with the actors involved and built a systemic structure. As a result, found the social impacts have been diagnosed through direct and inversely proportional relation between variables diagnosed during interviews and the literature review. The application of systems thinking to identify the social impact was efficient as it allowed a view of relations between the found impact and not just a superficial observation

The aim of this research study was to examine high school students' systems thinking when engaged in an engineering design challenge. This study included 12 high school students that were paired into teams of two to work through an engineering design challenge. These dyads were given one hour in their classrooms with access to a computer and engineering sketching paper to complete the design. Immediately following the design challenge, the students participated in a post hoc reflective group interview. The methodology of this study was informed by and derived from cognitive science's verbal protocol analysis. Multiple forms of data were gathered and triangulated for analysis. These forms included audio and video recordings of the design challenge and the interview, computer tracking, and student-generated sketches. The data were coded using Gero's FBS framework. These coded data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The transitions were further analyzed using measures of centrality. Additionally, qualitative analysis techniques were used to understand and interpret systems and engineering design themes and findings. Through the qualitative and quantitative analyses, it was shown that the students demonstrated thinking in terms of systems. The results imply that systems thinking can be part of a high school engineering curriculum. The students considered and explored multiple interconnected variables, both technical as well as nontechnical in nature. The students showed further systems thinking by optimizing their design through balancing trade-offs of nonlinear interconnected variables. Sketching played an integral part in the students' design process, as it was used to generate, develop, and communicate their designs. Although many of the students recognized their own lack of drawing abilities, they understood the role sketching played in engineering design. Therefore, graphical visualization through sketching is a skill that educators may want to include in their curricula. The qualitative analysis also shed light on analogical reasoning. The students drew from their personal experience in lieu of professional expertise to better understand and expand their designs. Hence, the implication for educators is to aid the students in using their knowledge, experience, and preexisting schemata to work through an engineering design.

This thesis has two distinct research threads. One thread examines the effectiveness of technology support on the performance of focus groups. Unlike previous research, the work described in this thesis addresses the fundamental issue that groups are social systems, and that comprehensive measurement of the effectiveness of group activities requires assessment of both the task-oriented and social aspects of the group activity. In this research, four different communication modes are used to compare group effectiveness. The second research thread in this thesis is the use of Systems Thinking, and specifically Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), as the framework for inquiring into the effects of technology support on group effectiveness. The strategy in this thesis for developing and evaluating hypotheses extends the general descriptions and guidance in the literature on using SSM for hypothesis testing. Systems thinking also provides the basis for examining the prevailing ???profile deviation??? view that the better the fit between the group task and the technology support the greater the group performance. Using the six perspectives of fit developed by Venkatraman (1989), the most common GSS models and other models developed to examine Task-Technology Fit (TTF) are analysed. The results show that group performance models are most often tested from a ???profile deviation??? perspective and TTF models developed from a profile deviation perspective claim to have predictive and descriptive validity for assessing the level of group performance. To assess whether an SSM based approach can improve the predictive and/or descriptive analysis of the impact of technology support on group work, a field experiment was conducted at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Twenty focus groups of officer cadets assessed their military training program using a GSS in one of four communication modes. The results showed little predictive or descriptive support for the profile deviation perspective of TTF when measuring the group???s overall effectiveness, task effectiveness, participant satisfaction or group relations. The alternative ???gestalt??? perspective, operationalised in this research by using SSM, provided a more comprehensive approach to examining the effectiveness of technology support for group work.

Engineering is often described as the application of scientific and technical knowledge to solve problems. In this thesis, I support a more general view that engineering should be treated as a continuous process of learning and action that aims to make well understood improvements within dynamically complex environments of co-evolving social, man-made and natural systems. I argue that this can only be achieved by adopting an approach that systematically develops, manages and integrates the knowledge and expertise of many disciplines to conceive, develop, modify, operate and retire systems. A novel implementation of such an approach, called Aspect-Oriented Thinking, is presented. ¶ Aspect-Oriented Thinking begins with the development and verification of a set of domain Models. Each Domain Model represents knowledge about a separate, autonomous and possibly discipline specific concern or view within a given context. Domain models are developed by engineers, scientists, sociologists, psychologists, lawyers, philosophers, economists and others, using languages and techniques with which they are familiar. Knowledge captured in a set of Domain Models is then woven together, in accordance with a set of separately developed patterns and rules, to construct, modify, operate and retire systems, including models, hardware, software, processes and simulations. This is a continuous process which, in the first instance, involves those systems used to learn about a given context and to make decisions regarding required changes. Later, the process involves those systems used to implement and evaluate the impact of these decisions. ¶ The significance of Aspect-Oriented Thinking lies in its broad applicability to any situation in which the expertise and knowledge of diverse disciplines is required to understand and make improvements within complex multifaceted environments such as those that involve sustainable development and national security. ¶ A proof-of-concept within the context of software engineering is provided to demonstrate the mechanics and viability of Aspect-Oriented Thinking. The results of this demonstration are used to support an argument for future experimentation aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of Aspect-Oriented Thinking in a more general interdisciplinary environment.

Current deployments of mobile commerce focus mostly on digital content. However, mobile commerce will grow rapidly with the increased use of portable devices such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDA), increased network bandwidth, and the availability of a wider range of mobile commerce services and transactions. As the revenue generated from mobile commerce is expected to skyrocket in the coming years, strategists are turning their attention to untapped emerging markets in the developing countries. Understanding how mobile commerce will develop in countries like China, where huge market potential exists, is of paramount importance in order to develop effective strategies that will positively affect its course. Modelling the diffusion of mobile commerce in a country is a difficult task due to the non-linear, complex and uncertain nature of its operating environment. A System Dynamics approach is more appropriate to model such a complex system. The main objective of this study is to illustrate the process of developing System Dynamics models for simulating mobile commerce diffusion in China by using a subset of the factors involved. In order to achieve this objective, the Chinese mobile commerce was modelled as the interaction of three subsystems, namely: population evolution in China; mobile commerce diffusion; and the influence from the provision of mobile commerce terminals (MCT) on mobile commerce diffusion. Each subsystem was modelled by identifying the factors influencing its development as well as the interactions between the factors. The subsystems were calibrated using historical and forecasted data whenever they were available. The validation of the subsystems was also performed through extensive sensitivity analysis. The complete model was used for experimenting with some typical Chinese mobile commerce scenarios for the purpose of analysing mobile commerce trends and designing strategies to exert positive influences on those trends. The simulation of the submodels provided useful insights into their respective areas for controlling their development. Simulation of the population development submodel showed that, in addition to family planning policies, urbanisation rates and life quality were important factors that significantly influenced population dynamics in China. Simulation of the mobile commerce diffusion submodel showed that the time when mobile commerce is implemented will significantly influence its market expansion speed i.e. the later mobile commerce is implemented, the quicker the market will expand. The existence of floating populations in China will be a big advantage in starting up the rural market. However, if mobile commerce is implemented too late, the penetration in rural areas will be negligible. Simulation of the MCT provision submodel showed the importance of opening the Chinese market to foreign suppliers and the coordination of strategies regarding the design and supply of MCTs with strategies for the growth of mobile commerce in China. This study is a first attempt to simulate the diffusion of mobile commerce in China using System Dynamics. The results obtained showed that the models developed were useful for understanding and controlling the future diffusion of mobile commerce in China.

<p>This thesis attempts to describe the essential systems features of a complex real-world domain of operational risk (OR) in banking, by employing general systems theory (GST) as the guiding method. An implementational framework (SAFOR) is presented for operational risk management (ORM), the target of which is to manage and mitigate the risk-around-loss causes. Since reasoning about OR is often scenario based, the framework also includes methods for decision making in addition to Value at Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR). Other computational models that yield prediction intervals are discussed as well. Because the banking industry is one of the most mature sectors when it comes to OR, and contains the most data points, the discussion in this thesis evolves around such institutions. The present state-of-the-art in OR management for banking is surveyed using a systemic-holistic approach and the model framework is presented against this discussion. Tools and concepts from systems theory and systems thinking are employed for assessing systems properties and gaining insights into the interaction of various components. This brings about a number of advantages. This is not in disagreement with current suggestions such as those of the Basle Committee (Basel II), which is doing an excellent job in proving the state-of-the-art in best practice for banking institutions. Rather, this thesis offers a complementary perspective, looking at essentially the same problems but in a broader context and with a differing view.</p><p>OR data has been hard to come by in banking. Confidentiality and difficulties in quantifying OR as well as the short time data has been gathered in a consistent way are some of the reasons for this. Therefore, no case study has been done. Instead, we have chosen to look into a published bank application of an advanced OR model. The application shows that the technique holds as validation of the SAFOR modules.</p>

Systems thinking. Systems theory. The systems approach. All these concepts have in various guises been claimed as central to logistics management, since its dawning in the mid twentieth century. Such claims are the starting point of this dissertation, the purpose of which is to contribute to an increased understanding of systems thinking in logistics management research, both present and for future advances. The primary unit of analysis in this dissertation is thus logistics management research. The purpose is pursued through a strategy of triangulation of research approaches, via two research objectives: To describe the nature of systems thinking in logistics management research. To explore the merits for logistics management research of an interpretive approach to actors’ systems thinking. The term systems thinking in this dissertation denotes any somewhat ‘organised’ bodies of thought with aspirations to be ‘holistic’ in the sense of aiming for comprehensiveness. This part relates mostly to the systems part of the term. With regard to the other part, systems thinking is also regarded as a term that encompasses thinking about, and in terms of, systems; either that of researchers or that of actors in logistics practices. Systems thinking can sometimes be theorised on in such a way that it seems fair to label it as systems theory. Another term that is also frequently employed is systems approach. This denotes any approach to intervene in and/or conduct research on enterprises, with a holistic ambition. Such approaches can or cannot be informed by systems theory. By approach is meant the fundamental assumptions of the effort, such as ontological and epistemological positions, views on human nature, and methodologies. This dissertation employs an approach informed by a strand of systems theory labelled Critical Systems Thinking (CST). This builds on a pluralist strategy, which entails an awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of all types of systems approaches, and thus strives towards putting them to work under such circumstances in which they are best suited. The first objective is pursued by means of a combined inductive-deductive approach presented mainly through two peer-reviewed, published journal articles. The first is an extensive literature review of academic publications in logistics management; the second is a survey of logistics management academics. Results show that the systems thinking within the discipline most often is not informed by systems theory, and is oriented towards a narrow section of the available systems approaches. This is an approach that builds on an objective world-view (realist ontology), and which seeks knowledge in terms of different kinds of law-like regularities. There are variations to the kinds of knowledge that are sought, in the sense that some search for deeper, underlying generative mechanisms (structuralist epistemology), some seek causal relationships among observable phenomena (positivist epistemology). The common view on human nature is determinist, and methodologies are often quantitative. It is concluded that logistics management employs a functionalist systems approach, which implicitly assumes homogeneity in actors’ systems thinking in mutual contexts (i.e. shared logistics practices). The second objective is pursued by adopting an interpretive systems approach, thus embracing a nominalist ontology and interpretivist epistemology, in order to explore what benefits such a perspective can lend to logistics management. Informed by the pluralist commitment of CST, theoretical constructs and methods grounded in cognitive psychology are employed to study logistics management practitioners’ systems thinking through cognitive mapping. If this reveals heterogeneities in systems thinking among actors of a mutual context, in which a high degree of homogeneity can be expected, the rationale is that the dominant homogeneity assumption is insufficient. The study, presented through an unpublished working paper, concludes that actors’ systems thinking can differ in ways that render the assumptions of the functionalist systems approach inadequate. More thought, debate, and research on an interpretive systems approach within logistics management is called for. With constant expansions in the scope of ambition for logistics management in mind – towards larger enterprise systems in the spirit of supply chain management, towards more goals for enterprises than the traditional financial ones, and towards new application areas (e.g. healthcare) – it is recognised that more and more actors become stakeholders in the practices that logistics management research seeks to incorporate within its domain of normative ambitions. This leads to an expanding scope of voices that ought to be heard in order to legitimise efforts to improve logistics management practices. This in turn motivates that we should seek to accommodate not only interpretive systems approaches, but also emancipatory, in order to ensure normative prescriptions that are legitimate from the perspectives of as many stakeholders as possible, not only from the common a priori efficiency perspectives of functionalist logistics management research.