The unravelled role of soft skills in the logistics and supply chain management field

The progression of logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) has been significantly influenced by various factors, such as structural changes, increased customer awareness, digitalization, resilience requirements, and a growing emphasis on sustainability. This intricacy emphasizes the need for a comprehensive reevaluation of essential professional competencies. This study aims to provide a thorough and comprehensive examination of the existing academic literature to identify the critical skills that are crucial to the current LSCM environment.

The paper is a systematic analysis based on bibliographic methods. Descriptive, bibliographic coupling, and conceptual analyses will be carried out using two distinct software applications: Biblioshiny for Bibliometrix (employed for descriptive and conceptual analyses) and VOSViewer (utilized for bibliographic coupling). A systematic examination of the clusters derived from bibliographic analyses will then be undertaken to derive more nuanced insights.

The analysis of academic literature indicates that much of the attention in the LSCM field has been directed toward technical proficiencies, quantitative abilities, and operational expertise. The overemphasis on hard skills suggests a potential oversight in recognizing the full spectrum of competencies required for success in the evolving landscape of LSCM. Our research reveals a discernible trend towards emphasizing soft skills, as evidenced by the presence of two out of the four clusters focusing on competencies of this nature.

The practical application of this research involves assisting professionals in creating personalized training plans, aiding logistics associations in developing a broader range of skills in response to significant changes and helping universities in designing specialized courses on soft skills for logistics. The theoretical aspect delves into the intricate relationship between soft skills and technical proficiency in logistics, yielding critical insights into how Human Resources can effectively contribute to enhancing a company's overall value.