A systematic review of strategic supply chain challenges and teaching strategies

Background: This study provides a comprehensive overview of current supply chain challenges and how they are taught within university circles or among supply chain professionals to simulate reality. Methods: The study applied a systematic literature review, using bibliometric co-citation and concept-centered content analysis for a comprehensive review of 118 relevant articles, leading to the identification of critical challenges in modern supply chain management. Results: These challenges include supplier selection and quality, supply chain networks, and sustainable supply chains. Supply chain educators are encouraged to use games that mirror real-world scenarios to teach these challenges. Results from this review underscore that existing games covered supply chain concepts such as the bullwhip effect, collaboration, networks, supplier selection, quality management, humanitarian logistics, sustainability, lean supply chain, Supply Chain 4.0, and perishable goods supply. Conclusions: The study’s contribution is to assist in selecting games tailored to the supply chain specific aspects and to guide developers in creating realistic games that address recent challenges in supply chain management. It recommends a holistic approach to enhance new supply chain game development, drawing from methodologies such as problem-based learning and Lego Serious Play. This multifaceted approach imparts practical knowledge and comprehensive skills for addressing supply chain intricacies in modern business settings.