Are there any gender differences in the collaborative and innovative mindset of supply managers?
This article received the “Coup de Coeur” award in the Sustainable Supply Chain category in 2026.
This prize is awarded jointly by France Supply Chain by Aslog's Lab SupplyChain4Good and AIRL-SCM, the association of French-speaking researchers in logistics and SCM.
This study examines the influence of gender on collaborative and innovative mindsets in upstream supply chain management (SCM), also known as supply management. Given the critical role these mindsets play in addressing today’s supply challenges, this research explores how gender affects these attributes among supply managers. Using a quantitative methodology, the study surveyed 250 junior supply managers in training and conducted a small-scale replication study with 47 experienced supply managers in the same national context.
The results show significant gender differences in innovative mindset and differences in collaborative mindset among junior managers only. Backed by replication, the study highlights gender dimensions in upstream SCM mindsets. It expands the discourse on gender in SCM by linking it to collaboration and innovation. The findings encourage a reassessment of gender biases and their impact on SCM practices. Practitioners and educators can apply these insights to design training programs that address and leverage gender differences, fostering innovative and collaborative environments.
By Romaric Servajean-Hilst and Salomée Ruel of Kedge Business School and De Vinci Higher Education, France.
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