Clusters and supply chain management: challenges and obstacles

Purpose: This paper provides an insight into cluster supply chain (CSC) management by identifying
challenges and obstacles in the design, implementation and improvement of CSC. This evaluation aims to
propose future research directions for the management of CSC.
Research Approach: A systematic review of published research on CSC management between 2006 and
2013 is conducted in order to round up previous research in this area and identify the gaps in the design,
implementation and management of CSC; up on which the paper closes with a proposed agenda for future
work.
Findings and Originality: There is a limited understanding of the supply chain cluster concept and the
implementation of its practices in addition to the lack of studies that focused on how to model, manage
and improve the performance of CSC. Therefore, this paper would contribute to knowledge by providing an
insight into CSC management and identifying future research directions for developing SC cluster theories
in order to maximize the integration of supply chain and accordingly improving the performance of firms.
Research Impact: A limited number of studies have been conducted to demonstrate the potential impact of
CSC. The previous research did not provide a comprehensive review focusing on the evolution and the
development of CSC idea. The review in this paper will summarise the research up to now in CSC area in
order to identify challenges and obstacles in the design, implementation and improvement of CSC and
propose future research directions.
Practical Impact: This paper helps companies to understand benefits that can be raised from creating CSC
and gives them directions for improving their capabilities to create CSC and select SC partners, which
consequently help in increasing their competitiveness in terms of enhancing performance and increasing
sustainability.