OM Forum—Supply Chain Contracting: Doughnuts to Bubbles

This paper discusses the origins of the supply chain contracting literature as well as its current state. It argues that its origins go back further than many scholars realize. It also makes the case that the field expanded rapidly, creating a bubble that has largely burst. However, there have been lasting implications that affect both how we teach supply chain management and the kind of research that is done under the heading of operations management.