Review of logistics and supply chain relationship literature and suggested research agenda

Purpose – The paper aims to provide an overview of the evolution of relationship‐related research in the areas of logistics and supply chain management. Design/methodology/approach – Suggestions are offered for future research on logistics and supply chain relationships. Findings – While the literature related to logistics and supply chain relationships have become increasingly sophisticated over the years, there still remain many opportunities for extending the literature base. Considering the significant implications for business practice, this should be a research priority. Research limitations/implications – Questions have been raised regarding the long‐term success of many partnership or alliance‐type relationships. Further research is warranted examining success to date, implications for future collaborative‐type relationships, and guidelines for establishing relationships. Other topics include managing relationships and power imbalances, developing appropriate metrics to monitor relationship performance, leveraging the synergy of cross‐firm relationships to develop innovative approaches, and examining the co‐creation of services. Originality/value – The review of previous literature provided in this paper is intended to provide somewhat of a chronological ordering of research topics and to identify important areas that have contributed to our knowledge base.