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\r\nfactors, such as structural changes, increased customer awareness, digitalization, resilience requirements, and a\r\ngrowing emphasis on sustainability. This intricacy emphasizes the need for a comprehensive reevaluation of\r\nessential professional competencies. This study aims to provide a thorough and comprehensive examination of\r\nthe existing academic literature to identify the critical skills that are crucial to the current LSCM environment.\r\nThe paper is a systematic analysis based on bibliographic methods. Descriptive, bibliographic coupling, and\r\nconceptual analyses will be carried out using two distinct software applications: Biblioshiny for Bibliometrix\r\n(employed for descriptive and conceptual analyses) and VOSViewer (utilized for bibliographic coupling). A\r\nsystematic examination of the clusters derived from bibliographic analyses will then be undertaken to derive\r\nmore nuanced insights.\r\nThe analysis of academic literature indicates that much of the attention in the LSCM field has been directed\r\ntoward technical proficiencies, quantitative abilities, and operational expertise. The overemphasis on hard skills\r\nsuggests a potential oversight in recognizing the full spectrum of competencies required for success in the\r\nevolving landscape of LSCM. Our research reveals a discernible trend towards emphasizing soft skills, as evidenced\r\nby the presence of two out of the four clusters focusing on competencies of this nature.\r\nThe practical application of this research involves assisting professionals in creating personalized training\r\nplans, aiding logistics associations in developing a broader range of skills in response to significant changes and\r\nhelping universities in designing specialized courses on soft skills for logistics. The theoretical aspect delves into\r\nthe intricate relationship between soft skills and technical proficiency in logistics, yielding critical insights into\r\nhow Human Resources can effectively contribute to enhancing a company’s overall value