Supply chain networks and service‐dominant logic: suggestions for future research

Purpose – The service‐dominant (S‐D) logic views supply chains as value co‐creation networks. These networks promote knowledge growth amongst network members via resource deployment and coordination. The exchange of knowledge and utilization of operant resources among the network members leads to co‐created service offerings and value proposals for the end‐users, with the ultimate goal of transforming end‐user experiences to perceptions of superior value‐in‐use. The purpose of this paper is to develop an illustration of the value co‐creation concept and use this illustration as guide to examine the research gaps that are yet to be tapped in the area where supply chain networks and S‐D logic intersects. Design/methodology/approach – The literature on S‐D logic is reviewed and research gaps are identified and categorized in three specific groups. Findings – Three categories of research gaps in S‐D logic and supply chain management (SCM) areas include: gaps in utilization of internal operant resources by suppliers, manufacturers, and intermediaries; gaps in knowledge exchange and operant resource utilization between suppliers, manufacturers, and intermediaries; and gaps in knowledge exchange and operant resource utilization between end‐users and value co‐creation network partners. Originality/value – An illustration of the value co‐creation network from the supply chain perspective is presented in this paper. The illustration of the value co‐creation network provided the guidance to categorize various research gaps in the area of S‐D logic and SCM. This categorization offers a structure from which more systematic research may be produced. It is the authors' hope that the organization and guidance provided in the paper for specific research topics in the S‐D logic area can result in research streams that could potentially offer significant contributions to SCM theory development.