Author: Aleksandr I. Demchenko and Viktor M. Katochkov

Abstract:

The article examines approaches to interpretation of the concept “logistic chain” depending on various representation of the constituent elements. The authors suggest three main approaches to understanding of the essence of logistic chain: process, functional and organizational and specify corresponding objects of management within them. Allowing for the complexity of the considered concept as well as the specifics of its elements, the authors propose a system multi-object approach to management which implies identification of two interconnected objects of management, namely the system of business processes and system of interacting enterprises – participants of a chain. Such approach enables the coordination of methods of logistic chain management both at the level of its separate links – companies’ logistic systems, and at the level of logistic chain itself. Finally, the paper presents the classification of logistic chains depending on interaction of the constituent elements.

Keywords: logistic chain; integration; business processes; system approach.