What are the mechanisms through which inter-organizational relationships contribute to supply chain resilience?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajad Fayezi ◽  
Hadi Ghaderi
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Conceptual Development ◽  
Interorganizational Relationships ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Resilience

PurposeOur study advances theory in supply chain resilience (SCRes) by identifying and describing the mechanisms through which interorganizational relationships (IORs) contribute to SCRes.Design/methodology/approachWe employ a multi-method conceptual development design combining structured and narrative review of the literature, supported by illustrative case studies. A four-stage refinement process was used for data reduction, and analysis was informed by complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory.FindingsOur findings identify connectivity, collectivity and scalability as key mechanisms through which relationships between organizations contribute to SCRes. These mechanisms draw on IOR elements of information sharing, decision synchronization and incentive alignment to augment self-organization and emergence, and adaptation and coevolution via modifying/advancing resilience strategies and practices.Originality/valueOur study advances theory and practice of SCRes by expounding on how connectivity, collectivity and scalability act as mechanisms that drive and diffuse the contribution of resilient strategies/practices to resilience capability. This is significant for strategic alignment between IORs and SCRes.

scholarly journals To eliminate or absorb supply chain complexity: a conceptual model and case study

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 759-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Aitken ◽  
Cecil Bozarth ◽  
Wolfgang Garn
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Organizational Design ◽  
Organizational Response ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Existing works in the supply chain complexity area have either focused on the overall behavior of multi-firm complex adaptive systems or on listing specific tools and techniques that business units (BUs) can use to manage supply chain complexity but without providing a thorough discussion about when and why they should be deployed. This research aims to address this gap by developing a conceptually sound model, based on the literature, regarding how an individual BU should reduce versus absorb supply chain complexity. Design/methodology/approach This research synthesizes the supply chain complexity and organizational design literature to present a conceptual model of how a BU should respond to supply chain complexity. The authors illustrate the model through a longitudinal case study analysis of a packaged foods manufacturer. Findings Regardless of its type or origin, supply chain complexity can arise because of the strategic business requirements of the BU (strategic) or because of suboptimal business practices (dysfunctional complexity). Consistent with the proposed conceptual model, the illustrative case study showed that a firm must first distinguish between strategic and dysfunctional drivers prior to choosing an organizational response. Furthermore, it was found that efforts to address supply chain complexity can reveal other system weaknesses that lie dormant until the system is stressed. Research limitations/implications The case study provides empirical support for the literature-derived conceptual model. Nevertheless, any findings derived from a single, in-depth case study require further research to produce generalizable results. Practical implications The conceptual model presented here provides a more granular view of supply chain complexity and how an individual BU should respond, than what can be found in the existing literature. The model recognizes that an individual BU can simultaneously face both strategic and dysfunctional complexity drivers, each requiring a different organizational response. Originality/value There are no other research works that have synthesized the supply chain complexity and organizational design literature to present a conceptual model of how an individual BU should respond to supply chain complexity. As such, this paper improves the understanding of supply chain complexity effects and provides a basis for future research, as well as guidance for BUs facing complexity challenges.

Supply chain resilience: a dynamic and multidimensional approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 1451-1471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Adobor ◽  
Ronald S. McMullen
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
System Optimization ◽  
System Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Resilience ◽  
Supply Chain Networks ◽  
Adaptive Capabilities

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework on resilience types in supply chain networks.Design/methodology/approachUsing a complex adaptive systems perspective as an organizing framework, the paper explores three forms of resilience: engineering, ecological and evolutionary and their antecedents and links these to four phases of supply chain resilience (SCRES): readiness, response, recovery, growth and renewal.FindingsResilient supply chains need all three forms of resilience. Efficiency and system optimization approaches may promote quick recovery after a disruption. However, system-level response requires adaptive capabilities and transformational behaviors may be needed to move supply chains to new fitness levels after a disruption. The three resilience types discussed are not mutually exclusive, but rather complement each other and there are synergies and tradeoffs among these resilience types.Research limitations/implicationsThe empirical validation of the theoretical propositions will open up new vistas for supply chain research. Possibilities exist for analyzing and assessing SCRES in multiple and more comprehensive ways.Practical implicationsThe findings of the research can help managers refine their approaches to managing supply chain networks. A more balanced approach to supply chain management can reduce the risks and vulnerabilities associated with supply chain disruptions.Originality/valueThis study is unique as it conceptualizes SCRES in multiple ways, thereby extending our understanding of supply chain stability.

scholarly journals Conceptualizing a circular framework of supply chain resource sustainability

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1520-1540 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.C. Lenny Koh ◽  
Angappa Gunasekaran ◽  
Jonathan Morris ◽  
Raymond Obayi ◽  
Seyed Mohammad Ebrahimi
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Decision Rules ◽  
Theory Building ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Resource Sustainability

Purpose In response to calls for conceptual frameworks and generic theory building toward the advancement of sustainability in supply chain resource utilization and management, the purpose of this paper is to advance a circular framework for supply chain resource sustainability (SCRS), and a decision-support methodology for assessing SCRS against the backdrop of five foundational premises (FPs) deduced from the literature on resource sustainability. Design/methodology/approach Taking a conceptual theory-building approach, the paper advances a set of SCRS decision-support criteria for each of the theoretical premises advanced, and applies the theory of constraints to illustrate the conceptual and practical applications of the framework in SCRS decision making. Findings This study uses recent conceptualizations of supply chains as “complex adaptive systems” to provide a robust and novel frame and a set of decision rules with which to assess the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social capital of supply chain resources from pre-production to post-production. Research limitations/implications The paper contributes to theory building in sustainability research, and the SCRS decision framework developed could be applied in tandem with existing quantitative hybrid life-cycle and input-output approaches to facilitate targeted resource sustainability assessments, with implications for research and practice. Originality/value The novel SCRS framework proposed serves as a template for evaluating SCRS and provides a decision-support methodology for assessing SCRS against the five theorized FPs.

How can a municipal government continue operations during megadisasters? An analysis of preparedness using complex adaptive systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 779-792
Author(s):  
Masahiko Haraguchi
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Municipal Government ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Continuity Planning ◽  
Complex Adaptive

PurposeThis paper aims to examine how government continuity planning contributes to strengthening the public sector's emergency preparedness, resulting in enhanced resilience of the public sector. Government continuity plans (GCPs) are a recently focused concept in disaster preparedness, compared to business continuity plans (BCPs) in the private sector. The need for BCPs was widely recognized after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and the 2011 Thailand Floods. However, recent disasters, such as the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake in Japan, have revealed that local governments without effective GCPs were severely affected by disasters, preventing them from quickly responding to or recovering from disasters. When the GEJE occurred in 2011, only 11% of municipal governments in Japan had GCPs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyzes basic principles of government continuity planning using complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory while summarizing recent developments in theory and practice of government continuity planning.FindingsThis research investigates the Japanese experience of GCPs using self-organization, one of the concepts of CAS. A GCP will complement regional disaster plans, which often focus on what governments should do to protect citizens during emergencies but fail to outline how governments should prepare for an emergency operation. The study concludes that GCPs contribute to increased resilience among the public sector in terms of robustness, redundancy, resourcefulness and rapidity.Practical implicationsThis paper includes implications for the development and improvement of a GCP's operational guideline.Originality/valueThis research fulfills an identified need to investigate the effectiveness of a GCP for resilience in the public sector and how to improve its operation using concepts of CAS.

An integrated Delphi – fuzzy logic approach for measuring supply chain resilience: an illustrative case from manufacturing industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 350-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siva Kumar ◽  
Ramesh Anbanandam
Keyword(s):  
Fuzzy Logic ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Culture ◽  
Resilience Index ◽  
Fuzzy Logic Approach ◽  
Logic Approach

Purpose Growth in a number of the supply chain (SC) disruptions threatens the enterprises globally. Earlier studies and reports say that many organizations go out of businesses within two or three years after they experience a major disruption. Therefore, companies in today’s volatile business arena need to possess the necessary resilience level to combat supply china disruptions. This is even more important for organizations of developing nations, which are constantly struggling to gain the advantages of globalization and to grab the new opportunities. Thus, this paper aims to help organizations understand their SC resilience level through a framework. Design/methodology/approach The methodology comprises integrated Delphi – fuzzy logic approach in identifying formative elements of SC resilience from a diverse resilience related body of knowledge and distinguish key obstacles of SC resilience based on their performance level. Findings Findings reveal that SC flexibility components such as sourcing, manufacturing and logistic flexibility are the major contributors of SC resilience index of case organization. Similarly, lack of risk management culture, inter-organizational relationships, information sharing and integration of SC stakeholders are the major inhibitors of resilience. Thus, the organization needs to overcome these identified obstacles to enhance their SC resilience level. Practical implications Present study offers a novel focus of research on SC resilience measurement that is significant for understanding the level of immunity enterprises possess to unanticipated SC interruptions, and the ability to bounce back after an unforeseen event. Originality/value This paper proposes an integrated Delphi – fuzzy logic framework for measuring SC resilience. In doing so, the study identifies key potential inhibitors of SC resilience of the case company under study.

Supplying resilience through assessing diversity of responses to disruption

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Kahiluoto ◽  
Hanna Mäkinen ◽  
Janne Kaseva
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Price Volatility ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Resilience ◽  
Response Diversity ◽  
Base Management ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to the theory and practice of supply chain management in terms of how an organisation should structure its supply base to be resilient to supply uncertainties and disruptions. An empirical assessment of supplier response diversity is demonstrated, and the following research question posed: Is response diversity of suppliers positively associated with supply chain resilience, more positively than mere supplier diversity is?Design/Methodology/ApproachResilience is operationalised as the maintenance of sales of two food products in 27 southern Finnish retail stores during two distinct disruptions. Response diversity is operationalised as 1) diversity in the personnel sizes of slaughterhouse suppliers of pork under domestic strikes and as 2) evenness in the proportions of imports and domestic supply of food oil under global price volatility. A five-step quantitative assessment is performed.FindingsResponse diversity is positively related to the maintenance of sales, more positively than diversity of individual suppliers is.Research limitations/ImplicationsResponse diversity is an advancement to the theory of supply chain resilience and supply base management, and access to big data increases practical potential.Practical implicationsEmpirical assessments of response diversity of suppliers provide buyer companies an effective means to enhance their supply base management for resilience.Social implicationsThe proposed approach is useful for teaching and for authorities to enhance food security.Originality/valueThis first assessment of response diversity of supply chain operations presents an important advancement in the theory and practice of supply base management for resilience.

Capacity development through international projects: a complex adaptive systems perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 528-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter McEvoy ◽  
Malcolm Brady ◽  
Ronaldo Munck
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
International Development ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Capacity Development ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Donor Agencies

Purpose – International development practice has had as its dominant paradigm the rational-analytic model of project planning, management and evaluation. This is reflected in the widespread adoption by donor agencies of results-based management (RBM), side by side with conventionally used tools for monitoring and evaluation (including logical framework analysis (“logframe”), logic model and results frameworks). Donor agencies rely upon such tools to generate the evidence base for measuring “success” across the spectrum of their work, even though projects differ enormously in their nature, scope and time-span. Process-led capacity development projects and input-led infrastructural or straightforward service delivery projects require very different yardsticks of performance monitoring and appraisal. Drawing on insights from the complex adaptive systems (CAS) literature, the purpose of this paper is to explore how projects focused on capacity development necessitate a more eclectic approach, including – but not restricted to – RBM methodology. Design/methodology/approach – Using the insights of CAS theory, and with particular reference to projects which have capacity development as their prime focus, this paper explores a broadening of conventional project management practices. Findings – The paper posits an integrative approach to managing international development projects focused on capacity development – one which would recognise the values of instrumental utility and goal-setting associated with the application of the tools of RBM, while situating that within a more open, system focused and holistic approach to projects and their outcomes, placing emphasis on context, adaptability and learning. Research limitations/implications – The research enquiry presented is discursive rather than empirical, and builds on established theory and constructs of three distinct conceptual fields: first, the RBM approach to project and programme implementation; second, the “complexity” strand of organisational management literature; and third, the capacity development strand of international development discourse. Originality/value – The paper intersects disciplinary boundaries between project management, organisational studies and international development theory and practice.

Supply chain resilience: A review, conceptual framework and future research

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjali Shishodia ◽  
Rohit Sharma ◽  
R. Rajesh ◽  
Ziaul Haque Munim
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Conceptual Development ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Resilience ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
And Performance

PurposeThe study identifies nine important research areas and critically maps the structural relationships among supply chain resilience (SCRES) dimensions, namely, vulnerabilities, capabilities, strategies and performance metrics. The analysis also revealed various influential authors, journals, institutions and trending articles, across SCRES literature.Design/methodology/approachThis study performs a bibliometric analysis of 771 articles published over the 32 years from 1988 to 2020, and network analysis in combination with content analysis of 90 most cited articles published in research fronts of SCRES.FindingsThe results demonstrate the underlying research areas within the SCRES, which are clustered into nine research themes: (1) conceptual development of SCRES, (2) recent developments of designing resilient supply chain (SC) networks, (3) focus on identifying drivers of SC vulnerability and risks, (4) impact of risks on network resilience, (5) risk assessment to avoid breakdowns/disruptions, (6) measuring resilience approaches/drivers to improve SC performance, (7) building resilient capabilities by integrating other SC dimensions, (8) quantification of SC network and (9) emphasis on developing robustness in SC networks.Practical implicationsThis research offers implications for classifying the works in literature based on bibliometric information and network analysis techniques. This can help researchers and practitioners to understand the prominent areas in SCRES and provide guidelines for future research in this area.Originality/valueThis study provides an overview of the evolution of SCRES over time in the domain of supply chain management and also outlines a future research agenda claimed by the trending articles to encourage further investigations in the field of SCRES.

scholarly journals A complex systems model for transformative supply chains in emerging markets

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-69
Author(s):  
Ruth Yeoman ◽  
Milena Mueller Santos
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
System Level ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complex Adaptive

Purpose Corporations operating global value chains must grapple with a multiplicity of ethical and practical considerations, most notably when value chains extend to emerging markets. Such contexts involve interactions with diverse stakeholders who possess the ability to impact supply chain performance, but who also bring conflicting needs, values and interests. The purpose of this paper is to outline a transformative model of supply chain fairness, arguing that adopting plural fairness principles and practices generates a higher fairness equilibrium which includes all affected stakeholders in the production of fairness outcomes, with consequent positive organizational and system level impacts. Design/methodology/approach Through a philosophically informed overview of the literature on organizational fairness, the paper applies fairness to the management of supplier relations to identify the institutional features of ethically sustainable supply chains. The proposed conceptual model uses a complex adaptive systems approach (CADs), supplemented by describing the contribution of fairness norms and practices. Findings This paper argues that a transformative approach to supply chain fairness can suggest new structures for interaction between firms, stakeholders, mediating institutions and governments. Originality/value Emerging market supply chains are facing significant changes. Adopting a complex adaptive systems perspective upon stakeholder relationships, this paper offers insights from the theoretical literature on fairness, and proposes a normative model of supply chain fairness which accounts for both the normative and empirical aspects of relational complexity.

Enhancing effects of supply chain resilience: insights from trajectory and resource-based perspectives

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jao-Hong Cheng ◽  
Kuo-Liang Lu
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Resilience

Purpose This paper aims to examine the operating frontier, trajectory and absorptive capacity influencing proactive and reactive dimension of supply chain resilience and implementation in inter-organizational relationships. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a research model comprises six research hypotheses with five constructs, including trajectory, absorptive capacity, operating frontier, proactive and reactive dimension of supply chain resilience. The hypotheses are tested on data collected from 297 senior managers of Taiwanese manufacturing firms, using structural equation modeling. Findings The study provides insights into how supply chain members can reinforce their operating frontier, trajectory and absorptive capacity activities to improve proactive and reactive dimension of supply chain resilience. Research limitations/implications The resultant findings cannot be generalized for all forms of supply chains, as they exclusively reflect those in Taiwan. With the research model developed, cross-industrial studies on various forms of supply chains would be worth conducting to investigate whether their inter-relationship effects differ in relation to inter-organizational supply chain resilience. Practical implications This study provides multiple insights for managers and practices seeking to improve inter-organizational supply chain resilience, which have become increasingly popular because their factors enhance coping strategies to achieve corporate goals. The proactive and reactive dimension of supply chain resilience can be effectively improved by enhancing trajectory, absorptive capacity and operating frontier. Originality/value This empirical research attempted to fill the gaps created by trajectory and resource-based perspectives in inter-organizational supply chain resilience. This study reveals how supply chain members can reinforce the factors of their coping strategies (i.e. operating frontier, trajectory and absorptive capacity) to make significant improvements, which is not dealt with in previous studies.

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