Competence requirements for logistics managers in the Republic of Serbia

Biljana Cvetić; Dragan Vasiljević; Miloš Danilović

doi:10.7595/management.fon.2017.0010

Biljana Cvetić University of Belgrade, Faculty of Organizational Sciences
Dragan Vasiljević University of Belgrade, Faculty of Organizational Sciences
Miloš Danilović University of Belgrade, Faculty of Organizational Sciences

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7595/management.fon.2017.0010

Abstract

This paper examines the competences that the employers in the logistics and supply chain management (SCM) field require most from employees in the Republic of Serbia. To reveal these competences, we conducted the study of online advertisements of logistics and SCM jobs published in the renowned national job portal Infostud. We used a deductive content analysis and related quantitative indicators to process and analyse the data. The results, among other conclusions, indicate the most required professional and fundamental competences from the logistics and supply chain managers in the Republic of Serbia. When the results of this study are compared with several earlier studies done in the US, the Great Britain and Germany, some similarities between these empirically obtained results are found. Several recommendations for educators that intend to improve study programmes and plans in the field of logistics and SCM are also offered. The results of this study can be valuable to interested educators, to individuals who are interested in logistics and supply chain career development, to human resource managers who are recruiting candidates for these jobs, and to others interested parties.

Author Biographies

Biljana Cvetić, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Organizational Sciences

Biljana Cvetić is a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences (FOS), University of Belgrade, Serbia. She earned her BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in operations management from the FOS, University of Belgrade. She also earned the MS in Industrial Engineering Systems from the Ecole Centrale Paris (France). Her research interests include logistics and supply chain management (SCM) as well as computer integrated manufacturing management.

Dragan Vasiljević, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Organizational Sciences

Dragan Vasiljević is a professor of Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics at the FOS (Faculty of Organizational Sciences), University of Belgrade. He received his PhD degree in the field of logistics and operations management at the same faculty. He published more than hundred papers in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and industry reports. He is the author or co-author of four books: Computer Integrated Logistics: Models and Trends, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Fundamentals of Operations Management and Kaizen: Japanese Paradigm of Business Excellence that are used as textbooks at the FOS’ Department of Operations Management. His current research interests and areas of expertise include lean and high-performance manufacturing, logistics management and supply networks. Dr Vasiljevic has extensive experience in numerous consulting projects done for domestic and foreign companies and also serves on several editorial boards.

Miloš Danilović, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Organizational Sciences

Milos Danilovic was born in Belgrade, Serbia, on April 1985. He received his Bachelor’s Degree (2009) and Master’s Degree (2011) at Faculty of Organizational Sciences (FOS), University of Belgrade. Now, he is a PhD student in the field of Operations Management at the FOS. He currently works as a Teaching Assistant at Department of Operations Management at the FOS. His main research interests and areas of expertise include algorithms, combinatorial optimization problems, supply networks, scheduling theory, operations management and computer integrated manufacturing systems. He has published several papers as an author or co-author in leading journals such as Journal of Manufacturing Systems, International Journal of Production Research, Computers and Operations Research and more. He is a member of the technical committee of the International Symposium of Entrepreneurs and Scientists – SPIN.