Strategic Supply Chain Management with the Balanced Scorecard

Abstract

The strategic management of the supply chain includes the formulation and implementation of a supply chain strategy as well as the assessment of the results. Undoubtedly, the formulation of a supply chain strategy is part of each of the three levels of strategic planning: corporate, business unit, and functional. For successful strategic management of the supply chain, an integrated approach is needed to link the supply chain strategy with the overall strategic management of the company. It is the Balanced Scorecard which seems to be a suitable and effective tool for this purpose. The Balanced Scorecard focuses on formulating a supply chain strategy, linking it to the corporate vision and turning it into particular actions to achieve the strategic objectives. In this article, a methodology for strategic supply chain management is proposed based on the Balanced Scorecard as an instrument for supply chain strategy formulation and implementation. The methodology consists of twelve steps, each of which is commented in more detail. The article aims at filling the gap identified in the literature devoted to strategic aspects of supply chain management.