Why is “supply chain collaboration” still a hot topic? A review of decades of research and a comprehensive framework proposal

This paper presents a thorough analysis of the evolving landscape of supply chain (SC) collaboration research using a Systematic Literature Network Analysis (SLNA) approach. Comprising two parts, the study integrates bibliometric and content analyses to offer a holistic perspective on this pivotal aspect of supply chain management (SCM). In the first part, based on 629 articles, the study examines quantitative bibliometric aspects. The bibliometric analysis uncovers prominent authors, major contributing journals, key terms, the literature's evolution, and co-citation clusters. It highlights themes including information sharing, performance, sustainability, Structural Equation Modeling, and SC collaboration practices. The second part applies content analysis to 198 selected articles. It reveals diverse reasons for SC collaboration, including enhancing performance, adapting to volatile contexts, promoting sustainability, fostering innovation, building trust, and advancing technology adoption. It also identifies barriers from the organizational, interorganizational, informational and communication, technological, financial, cultural, sectoral, contextual, and regulatory perspectives. The exploration of collaboration types—upstream, downstream, horizontal, or global—and their evolution, is coupled with key definitions, article types, and employed theories. The paper concludes by proposing a comprehensive framework to guide SC collaboration. The theoretical, methodological, and managerial contributions of this article lie in the insights it provides into the evolving dimensions of SC collaboration, enhancing both academic and practical understanding. The proposed framework serves as valuable guidance for organizations and establishes a robust foundation for further exploration in this field.