Governance and evaluation model of a supply chain

The aim of this work is to present (i) a model for the governance of a generic supply chain network (SCN) and (ii) a structured evaluating framework to measure the integration level between the partners. An analysis of three aspects to define the structure and the contents for the proposed governance and evaluation model has been made. The three aspects are (i) a literature review to determine the main concepts concerning a governance model for SCN, (ii) the practical implications concerning the main known and existing models and (iii) a description of a norm (i.e. Italian government) which encourage the integration among firms in a supply chain network. The main findings are (i) a governance model for a supply chain network composed by five key concepts and (ii) an evaluation model which permits to rank (with a suitable score) the level of strategic and operative integration among the partners of the supply chain. The proposed governance and assessment model could be used for: (i) a guidance to implement a supply management system among the actors of the chain, (ii) developing a standard to manage supply chain and (iii) assessing the effectiveness of the integration level among the partners from a self-evaluation point of view and for a third-part assessment. The models represent an original method to implement and assess a management system to manage supply chain network. The value of the proposed methodology is the easiness of the approach that can be applied to a generic SCN constituted of firms of different typologies with a particular reference to the small and medium enterprises.