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Open research questions in Outsourcing and Supply Chain Management

122 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 1,482 Outsourcing and Supply Chain Management papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • There is a lack of empirical studies on customer satisfaction in international freight forwarding operations. Prior work in logistics has focused on operational metrics rather than customer satisfaction.

    Enhancing Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction in International Freight Forwarding Operations: An Empirical Study · 2026 · DOI

  • There are multiple limitations of this study that should be stated honestly. The 54 respondents provided an adequate sampling method to use with analytical techniques; however, this limits how widely the findings can be generalized outside the Chennai logistics community that supplied the data. JNPT Mumbai and ICD Tughlakabad as major hub environments may have significantly different dynamics of service quality because the physical and operational infrastructures in those locations are dissimilar, there are different products through trade in those locations, and the customs procedures for processing are also dissimilar among these hub locations. The study only used a cross-sectional design to capture perceptions at a single moment in time. Therefore, it cannot speak to how service quality changes over months and years impact satisfaction. Furthermore, the sub-scale reliability values of a = 0.2781 for Shipment Coordination and a = 0.2084 for Customer Satisfaction, while lower than the ideal reliability level of 0.70, indicate a need for a complete overhaul of these sections of the questionnaire before the results for those sub-scales can be reported with accurate confidence. © 2026 The Author(s). Published by IJCOPE Journal. Website: https://ijcope.org/ 13 International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management ISSN: 3108-1754 (Online) Volume 02 Issue 05 May-2026 | Impact Factor: 3.5 Future research should expand this model across multiple firms of varying sizes and geographical locations; take into account objective operational metrics as well as subjective survey data to triangulate perceptions against actual performance; and conduct longitudinal studies to analyze whether investments in service quality translate into measurable retention results over time. Additionally, due to this study's limitations, pricing transparency, claims settlement efficiency, and brand trust would be excellent candidates to include in a more comprehensive measure of service quality.

    Enhancing Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction in International Freight Forwarding Operations: An Empirical Study · 2026 · DOI

  • The complexity of international trade regulations. The need for customs brokers to possess specialized knowledge and competencies. The impact of digitization on customs brokerage.

    Selection of Customs Representatives for Sustainable Export Operations · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research can explore the application of other multi-criteria decision-making methods in customs representation. Future research can investigate the impact of digitization on customs brokerage.

    Selection of Customs Representatives for Sustainable Export Operations · 2026 · DOI

  • Information asymmetry makes it difficult for customers to assess the ESG performance of suppliers. The study identifies the need for standardized ESG disclosure requirements to ensure transparent and verifiable data on sustainability practices.

    The spillover effects of ESG performance on the trade credit : A supplier-customer dyad perspective · 2026 · DOI

  • Explore cross-country variations in the ESG-trade credit relationship, - Consider institutional and regulatory differences beyond the context of Chinese-listed firms, - Use textual analysis or machine learning-based sentiment analysis for a more nuanced evaluation of ESG efforts

    The spillover effects of ESG performance on the trade credit : A supplier-customer dyad perspective · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should use primary OEM-supplier datasets, multi-tier supplier surveys, and predictive risk models. Future research should investigate the impact of digital maturity on supply-chain resilience in the automotive sector.

    A systematic review of operational risk in outsourced automotive assembly manufacturing in India · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited review-based evidence connects outsourced assembly-line risk with Indian supplier capability, OEM dependence, and global benchmarking. There is a need for a systematic review of operational risks in outsourced automotive assembly manufacturing in India.

    A systematic review of operational risk in outsourced automotive assembly manufacturing in India · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of causal evidence on the impact of offshoring on innovation. Prior work has provided conflicting results, with some studies suggesting that offshoring can raise innovation and others suggesting it can undermine innovative capacity.

    Does Offshoring Production Reduce Innovation? Firm-Level Evidence from Taiwan · 2026 · DOI

  • Having noted this, the study addresses a critical gap in understanding the benefits, opportunities, risks, and threats associated with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outsourcing in banks and provides a comprehensive analysis of its impact on governance, compliance, and operational performance.

    Outsourcing Strategies in Cooperative Banking: Balancing Governance, ESG Integration, and Compliance · 2025 · DOI

  • The findings of this study not only fill existing knowledge gaps in understanding the underlying governance mechanisms of collaborative contracts, but also extend the comprehension of the interplay between relational and formal governance, emphasizing the crucial role of mutual trust in collaborative contracts.

    Impacts of Relational and Formal Governance on Information Sharing and Project Management Performance in Collaborative Contracts: A Mixed-Method Approach · 2025 · DOI

  • Future research can explore the application of dual sourcing in other industries. Future research can investigate the impact of dual sourcing on supply chain resilience in different contexts.

    Dual sourcing strategies · 2024 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in the understanding of Tesla's dual-sourcing strategy and its impact on supply chain resilience. The paper highlights the need for companies to develop strategies to mitigate geopolitical tensions, tariffs, and supply disruptions.

    Dual sourcing strategies · 2024 · DOI

  • A full managerial comprehension of the connection between supply chain integration (SCI) and business performance is missing so far and earlier results are inconclusive.

    THE DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS OF INTERNAL ENABLERS ON INTERNAL INTEGRATION AND BUSINESS PERFORMANCE · 2023 · DOI

  • Have domestic workers employed by the outsourced domestic cleaning service supplier become just like assembly-line workers, where they are anonymous to their clients, performing routine tasks with little recognition from those whose homes they are servicing? Future studies could focus on domestic workers' views on outsourcing and the effects it has on their working conditions and employment relations.

    Is outsourcing better? Clients' views on contracting in domestic cleaning services · 2021 · DOI

  • 
 Findings & Value added: The main finding shows that the synergy of the quantities observed has not been confirmed, although some of the following relations were approved such as a positive relationship between: a) some items of IFC and items of business performance, b) some items of services and items of business performance and c) items of IFC and items of services.

    Synergy of interfunctional cooperation and services in companies producing electrical equipment and electronic components in the Czech Republic: pilot study · 2018 · DOI

  • The study concluded that HR outsourcing as a competitive strategy in Malaysia is still relatively new and probably many of its potential benefits are not fully understood.

    HR OUTSOURCING SUCCESS: DOES PARTNERSHIP QUALITY VARIABLES MATTER? · 2013 · DOI

  • However, empirical results are mixed, and it seems that contracting out can only work in certain service areas and under certain circumstances when supporting factors are present such as strong political leadership, existence of competition among multiple service providers, resource adequacy, and government's contracting capacity (Hodge, 2000; Romzek & Johnston, 2002; Stein, 1993; Auger, 1999; Salamon, 2002; Brudney et al.

    Evaluating Contracting-Out Performance in Taiwan: Comparing Perceptions of Public Managers and Private Contractors · 2010

  • The shift from entrepreneurial to professional management, - The need to respond to critical incidents, - The importance of building relationships with manufacturers

    Distributor contributions to partnerships with manufacturers · 1987 · DOI

  • Further research could examine the impact of other factors on the choice of distribution channel. The study could be replicated in other industries. The paper suggests that future research could explore the implications of the findings for managers.

    International Market Entry and Expansion via Independent or Integrated Channels of Distribution · 1987 · DOI

  • The increasing demand for fabricated metal products made it difficult to fill orders without substantial additions of capital and labor. The master craftsmen risked losing their independence and becoming employees in a large plant. The factory owners lacked the training and ability to organize the production of precision tools or guns.

    The inside contract system of production and organization: A neglected aspect of the history of the firm · 1987 · DOI

  • Historians have not paid sufficient attention to the inside contract system. The paper aims to fill this gap by providing a deeper understanding of the development of manufacturing enterprise.

    The inside contract system of production and organization: A neglected aspect of the history of the firm · 1987 · DOI

  • There is a need for comparative information about local service firms. The evaluation of service firms is a complex task that requires a comprehensive approach. Existing consumer information programs have limitations and challenges.

    Evaluating service firms: Approaches with policy recommendations · 1987 · DOI

  • The investigation is limited to countries exporting manufactured products. The study excludes foods and beverages, tobacco, non-ferrous metals, and several other categories. The separation of developed and developing economies is based on per capita incomes of $2,250 or higher and $2,030 or lower.

    Intra-Industry specialization · 1986 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in the existing literature on intra-industry trade. The study notes that previous research has not fully explained intercountry differences in the extent of intra-industry trade.

    Intra-Industry specialization · 1986 · DOI

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122 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 1,482 Outsourcing and Supply Chain Management papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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