Understanding the dynamics of supply chain networks-The controversial influence of logistics service providers

International audienceThe analysis of supply chain networks currently represents a major issue in management, both for practitioners and academics. In an increasingly systematic way, the process of value creation involves various firms, which have to coordinate between them a number of logistical activities in the best conditions of cost, timeliness and customer service. This leads to the implementation of complex monitoring procedures and a continuous interaction process to perform mutual adjustments in case of problems. The paper focuses on the strategies currently conducted by logistics service providers (LSP), which are at the heart of thorough reorganizations in supply chain networks thanks to their capacity to control inter-organizational information systems. Some dynamic LSP are ideally placed to monitor product and information flows inside network organizations, and act as “transactional centers.” But to go beyond their function of informational intermediaries, LSP will have to acquire new competences related to the selection and assessment of the various members of the network organizations, and to the way of involving them in long-term project management