Application of the Human-Oriented Planning Model in the Supply Chain: From the Global System to Specific Cases

Abstract

Today, a great challenge exists in predicting and assessing the behaviour of the diverse actors within planning systems. Furthermore, the effects and impacts of human decisions and actions are normally not considered in the planning process. Moreover, uncertain events and disruptions increase the lack of planning accuracy in which traditional planning driven methods often failed resulting in major deviations between expected and actual outcomes representing a great risk. In addition, the cause of the differences is often difficult to find due to the focus on the technical ideal planning method, i.e., the risk is difficult to mitigate based on this traditional approach. Thus, the purpose of the research is to develop a conceptual model on how to bring any planning system from its theoretical and ideal perspective to a reality and human-oriented planning by integrating the human factor in the planning system. The paper presents a global planning system and a conceptual model to develop the human-oriented planning model in the supply chain. A general description of how to apply it in the different supply chain areas such as procurement, production, and distribution planning is described. Moreover, the model is applied in specific cases to close the gap by generating profiles. Therefore, the model pursues to consider the behaviour of the actors and human agents within the planning within information systems thanks to quality tools. Finally, a discussion of implications in current information systems is performed.