Research in logistics and SCM 89 The International Journal of Logistics Management Vol. 21 No. 1, 2010 pp. 89-103 # Emerald Group Publishing Limited 0957-4093 DOI 10.1108/09574091011042197 Behavioural research in logistics and supply chain management Travis Tokar Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to advocate and facilitate undertaking research focused on the effects of human behaviour, judgment and decision making in logistics and supply chain management (SCM). Design/methodology/approach – In addition to providing an overview of the potential benefits of behavioural research, this paper presents two modified frameworks for identifying and addressing behavioural issues in logistics and SCM. Findings – Behavioural research can significantly advance both theory and practice in logistics and SCM. Little behavioural research appears in top logistics journals. As researchers begin to conduct more such projects, knowledge pertaining to issues of importance to logistics and SCM will be created. Originality/value – This paper highlights an important research area and a methodology, (controlled behavioural experiments), that are currently underutilized in logistics and SCM. It further presents potential research questions and suggestions for ways in which interested researchers could begin to address such issues. Keywords Behaviour, Decision making, Supply chain management, Distribution management Paper type General review Introduction Logistics can generally be identified by its focus on optimizing business activities related to the efficient flow and storage of inventory, goods, and services throughout the supply chain (CSCMP, 2008). While logistics research has developed a wealth of knowledge with regard to these activities, often overlooked is the key issue of human behaviour. Behavioural issues, especially in terms of judgment and decision making, have significant relevance and importance for logistics research because people often fail to make choices consistent with normative or optimal policy and do so in specific and systematic ways (Bazerman, 2002; Stanovich and West, 1998). Therefore, unless behavioural realities are built into models of logistics activities and incorporated into theory, the robustness, predictive accuracy and overall usefulness are limited. Behavioural research is of equal importance to supply chain management (SCM), which, according to Council of Supply Chain Management Profesionals (CSCMP), involves the coordination and collaboration of representatives from suppliers, intermediaries, third party service providers, and customers, (i.e. human decision makers at multiple firms). Despite the relevance of this topic, little research published in logistics and SCM journals focuses on developing knowledge concerning human behaviour, judgment and decision making and integrating that knowledge in to models, processes and tasks. To integrate behavioural issues into logistics models, researchers must begin to examine the behavioural assumptions employed by the models, test those assumptions empirically, and then incorporate the findings back into the models. Or, if incorporation proves unwieldy, researchers should create new, more robust models. Researchers can also identify specific areas of suboptimal behaviour in SCM and logistics-related tasks. Significant improvements to operational efficiency, productivity and profitability could be realized through flushing out the causes of identified problems and by testing the efficacy of proposed remedies to those problems. The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/0957-4093.htm