Supply chain management – challenges in the scope of modern forms of work

21st-century management poses enormous challenges for enterprises. The constant search for new solutions, strategies, and concepts in the field of supply chain management has become an everyday occurrence. Entering new markets, dynamically changing buyer preferences, individualization of segments, or diversification of goods have meant that supply chains require a flexible approach to managing flows within them.

A great deal has already been written and implemented in practice regarding improving its functioning, increasing flexibility, or competitive advantage. However, looking into the future of this business management philosophy, it seems that there are still untapped potentials to be found. Every supply chain seeks ways to best adapt to a turbulent environment, prepares scenarios or projects in case of unplanned circumstances or events, all to maintain the best possible market position. The competitive advantage of a supply chain results, among other things, from the ability to effectively manage commodity, information, and financial flows. Cooperation and coordination in improving the quality of these flows will, in the long or short term, translate into concrete financial results and value derived from competitive advantage. However, due to the market environment, making decisions regarding supply chain management is becoming increasingly difficult; whether in terms of sourcing raw materials, streamlining production, or improving sales quality. Although companies sometimes possess rich material, financial, or information resources, none of them, despite the ubiquitous internet, is able to function without people. And the role of human resources in every organization is irreplaceable. Considerations regarding the role and importance of human resources in supply chain management seem very difficult because, on the one hand, they are obvious (they exist in every chain), and on the other hand, they evolve along with it. Therefore, modern supply chain management, i.e., one that adapts to current market changes, requires a modern approach to human resource management. These dependencies are directly related, above all, to: the possibilities of gaining a competitive advantage, improving the quality of customer service, and the widespread use of information technology as a factor causing many changes at the level of both the enterprise and the entire supply chain.

The impact of modern forms of work on supply chain management
At the outset, one should consider why contemporary supply chain management in conditions of global competition, as a result of the influence of many factors, also requires a new approach to human resource management. Supply chain management is defined as a tool for coordinating the cooperation of supply chain participants, which can be suppliers, intermediaries, service providers, and customers, the essence of which is the integration of demand and supply management processes inside and outside the company. Every enterprise can be a link in one or many supply chains, which requires a specific approach to management, and together with modern information and communication technologies, they favor the use of modern forms of work. In the literature, various supply chain management models are indicated that include business processes enabling the implementation of this concept. Important in these models are the types of business processes occurring in the supply chain. (…)

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