Disruptions in sourcing and distribution practices of supply chains due to COVID-19 pandemic: a sustainability paradigm

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishal Sharma ◽  
Amrinder Singh ◽  
Siddharth Shankar Rai

Purpose The present research paper is an attempt to study how COVID-19 can affect the global sourcing practices of various supply chain intermediaries across the demand chain. This study aims to explore and is an attempt to understand the overall impact of COVID-19 on the sustainable operations of the firm such as sourcing, procurement, economic performance, social responsibility, consumption and distributions. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a quantitative technique using data collected from 708 respondents. Structural equation modeling (SEM) has been applied to test the proposed model and hypothesis. Findings The findings of the study suggest that sourcing practices, distribution and sustainability considerations of manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and retailers are affected by COVID-19 to a great extent but the pandemic has also led to making supply chain intermediaries understand the changing dynamics of the business scenario which can help them in their own strategic and business evolution. Research limitations/implications The current disruptions throughout global delivery chains caused by COVID-19 affect badly, the already poor-performing supply chains. Hence, the present study provides fresh insight on how organizations can limit the ill effects of COVID-19 by safeguarding some of their key sustainable operations in a post-pandemic business scenario. Originality/value The present study takes into consideration how core supply functions such as sourcing, distribution and manufacturing and various sustainable operations are disrupted by pandemic and its after-effects. This knowledge base can help business organizations to mitigate such problems/disruptions in the future.

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaojun Han ◽  
Baofeng Huo ◽  
Xiande Zhao

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of backward supply chain information sharing (SCIS) on the performance of different parties along supply chains. Design/methodology/approach Using data collected from 617 Chinese manufacturers, this study examines the effect of information sharing from manufacturers to suppliers (ISMS) on supplier and manufacturer responsiveness in both two- and three-tier supply chains and the transferrable effect of information sharing from customers to manufacturers (ISCM) on supplier responsiveness. The authors use structural equation modeling and regression analysis to estimate the proposed relationships. Findings ISMS is positively related to supplier responsiveness in both two- and three-tier SCIS, whereas its effect on manufacturer responsiveness is conditional, indicating that upstream receiving parties benefit more from backward SCIS. ISCM is positively related to supplier responsiveness, demonstrating the transferable effect of backward SCIS. Practical implications When designing SCIS strategies, managers should take into account the unequal distribution of benefits from SCIS and the transferable effect of backward SCIS. Specifically, companies should always motivate their downstream partners to engage in SCIS, while they themselves need to be cautious with information sharing. They should also be aware that their information sharing behavior may benefit a third upstream party. Originality/value This study provides deep insights into the distribution of the benefits from SCIS among supply chain partners and suggests that the direction and the role supply chain partners play (as receiving or disclosing parties) in SCIS matter.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sindhuja P.N.

Purpose Information security is an essential element in all business activities. The damage to businesses from information security breaches has become pervasive. The scope of information security has widened as information has become a critical supply chain asset, making it more important to protect the organization’s data. Today’s global supply chains rely upon the speedy and robust dissemination of information among supply chain partners. Hence, processing of accurate supply chain information is quintessential to ensure the robustness and performance of supply chains. An effective information security management (ISM) is deemed to ensure the robustness of supply chains. The purpose of the paper is to examine the impact of information security initiatives on supply chain robustness and performance. Design/methodology/approach Based on extant literature, a research model was developed and validated using a questionnaire survey instrument administered among information systems/information technology managers. Data collected were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Further, to test the hypotheses and to fit the theoretical model, Structural equation modeling techniques were used. Findings Results of this study indicated that information security initiatives are positively associated with supply chain robustness and performance. These initiatives are likely to enhance the robustness and performance of the supply chains. Originality/value With the advancements in internet technologies and capabilities as well as considering the dynamic environment of supply chains, this study is relevant in terms of the capability that an organization needs to acquire with regards to ISM. Benefiting from the resource dependency theory, information security initiatives could be considered as a critical resource having an influence on the internal and external environment of supply chains.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1717-1737
Author(s):  
Reza Salehzadeh ◽  
Reihaneh Alsadat Tabaeeian ◽  
Farahnaz Esteki

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the impacts of different forecasting methods (judgmental, quantitative and mixed forecasting) on firms' supply chains and competitive performance.Design/methodology/approachWorking with three groups of manufacturing companies, we explore the consequences of judgmental, quantitative and mixed forecasting methods on firms' competitive performance in supply chains. The validity of constructs and path relationships was examined using structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsOur findings indicate that supply chain efficiency influences both cost reduction and customer satisfaction. In addition, the three dimensions of supply chain performance are shown to be direct antecedents of competitive performance. Our empirical results reveal that although all studied forecasting methods meaningfully influence supply chain performance, the mixed method, compared to the other two methods, has greater capabilities to enhance supply chain performance.Originality/valueThis research provides originality and insight into supply chain practices through forecasting methods to improve competitive performance.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Al Naimi ◽  
Mohd Nishat Faisal ◽  
Rana Sobh ◽  
S.M. Fatah Uddin

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is twofold: to investigate the antecedents of resilience and to highlight the importance of resilience in achieving reconfiguration in supply chains.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on literature on supply chain resilience and collects data from 253 companies in Qatar to understand the influence of the antecedents of supply chain resilience and the impact of resilience on reconfiguration using partial least squares structural equation modeling.FindingsThe findings show that antecedents like risk management culture, agility and collaboration positively affect the supply chain resilience. Further, the study establishes that companies can leverage their supply chain resilience to reconfigure supply chain in case of disruptions.Practical implicationsThis study is important for supply chain managers in Qatar, as the country faced major disruption of supply chains in wake of the blockade imposed by its neighbors with which it had the only land route and maximum trade. The findings from this study should aid mangers in developing resilient supply chains.Originality/valueThis paper highlights the role of supply chain resilience in achieving reconfiguration. Further, novelty of the work reported in this paper lies in its context where supply chains recently faced actual disruptions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 664-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santanu Mandal

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of hospital’s visibility for sensing (VFS), learning, coordinating and integrating on hospital-supplier collaboration. Second, it explored the influence of hospital-supplier collaboration on hospital supply chain performance. The author also explored how the technology orientation of the medical chain units influences the above linkages. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a multi-unit study of different hospital supply chains. Consequently, perceptual data were gathered from seven dominant entities in a typical medical/hospital supply chain: hospitals and clinics, accommodation (i.e. hotels), chemistry and pharmaceutical, marketing/public relations/promotion, medical equipment manufacturers, food and beverage and insurance. The responses were gathered using e-mail survey and were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings Based on 192 completed responses, the author found positive influences of VFS, learning and integrating on hospital-supplier collaboration and a positive impact of hospital-supplier collaboration on hospital supply chain performance. An insignificant influence of hospital’s visibility for coordinating was noted on hospital-supplier collaboration. The study argued hospitals to invest more for enriching their dynamic capabilities to diagnose the changes in the environment so as to sustain their collaborative relationships leading to positive performance implications. Originality/value The study is the foremost to investigate the effects of hospital’s dynamic capabilities on its collaborative efforts with its key supplier and their influence on hospital supply chain performance. Also the study is foremost in exploring the importance of technology orientation on hospital dynamic capabilities and hospital-supplier collaboration. An important contribution of the research is the conceptualization of supply chain visibility core components (visibility of sensing, visibility of learning, visibility of coordinating and visibility of integrating) in the context of hospital supply chains.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasan Uvet ◽  
Hasan Celik ◽  
Sedat Cevikparmak ◽  
Saban Adana

PurposeDespite the significant increase in the adoption of performance-based contracting (PBC) in various industries, the primary value drivers of it are still not clear. Considering a lack of empirical evidence for PBC, this study investigates the effects of collaboration between the suppliers to understand the value offerings created in PBC by empirical findings. The purpose of this paper is to examine how supply chain collaboration (SCC) affects PBC benefits.Design/methodology/approachUsing data from 381 survey participants who hold the title of manager or above, hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThe results reveal that a strong and positive relationship between SCC and PBC benefits.Research limitations/implicationsOne of the limitations of this research is the collection of data through the Amazon Mechanical Turk online service. The experience level of participants in PBC and the absence of validation of these scale items by industrial experts are other limitations of this study. Nonetheless, the authors found convincing evidence that SCC has a positive effect on PBC benefits.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the importance of SCC to increase financial, operational and non-financial benefits of PBC for practitioners. The findings offer guidance for managers aiming to increase PBC benefits through SCC.Originality/valueThis is the first study to empirically examine the impact of SCC for better PBC and contributes to the body of knowledge by providing empirical findings in a PBC context. This research also develops valid and reliable instruments to measure PBC benefits through rigorous empirical and statistical analysis that can be used in future studies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 322-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arun Kumar Deshmukh ◽  
Ashutosh Mohan

Purpose The study aims to present demand chain management (DCM) modeling of Indian apparel retailers. This will result in a structured model presenting contextual interrelationship among DCM variables so that retailers can proactively manage their demand chain. Design/methodology/approach The research follows an exploratory research design. It initially involves identification and analysis of influential factors of the implementation of DCM practices through the review of literature. Then, these variables were analyzed using total interpretive structural modeling or TISM followed by a statistical verification and case-based validation of the model. Findings The major findings of the paper are: top-management commitment and support, information management and supply chain agility in supply chain are the most significant enablers with the highest driving power. The other apparel retail specific significant variables are assortment planning, category management and marketing orientation. The model also indicates that the firms that implement customer-centric DCM practices do well in terms of organizational performance and thereby achieve differential advantage over their competitors. Research limitations/implications Because the literature on DCM is still in nascent stage, the study bases itself on interpretive method; that is, TISM of analysis with a limited number of experts. Future studies may consider larger sample with more advanced statistical tools such as structural equation modeling for further validation of the findings. Originality/value The novelty of the paper lies in the study of an emerging supply chain philosophy; that is, DCM and its key practices per se. It has rarely been studied from the theory building perspective hitherto. Moreover, TISM-based approach is applied for the first time to study the DCM practices and its drivers vis-à-vis dependents.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jao-Hong Cheng ◽  
Kuo-Liang Lu

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1650-1675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kailash Choudhary ◽  
Kuldip Singh Sangwan

Purpose There is a dichotomy in the actual and expected environmental performances of the Indian enterprises even though the Indian enterprises have aligned their businesses with intended nationally determined contributions (INDC) targets. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the supply chain of Indian enterprises to understand influences to adopt green practices throughout the supply chains, and how these green practices influence economic, operational and environmental performances to reveal the underlying currents explaining difference in actual and expected performance. Design/methodology/approach Five research propositions are developed based on the existing literature. Data are collected from 233 ceramic enterprises in India. Exploratory factor analysis has been done to test construct validity and correlation. Confirmatory factor analysis is used to check unidimensionality of constructs. Structural equation modeling is used to test the strength and direction of the relations between the constructs and to develop the model. Findings The findings of the study suggest that the Indian companies have aligned their businesses with INDC targets but they have not adopted the green practices in inbound and outbound supply chains; therefore, the actual environmental performance is not as expected. Other major finding is that the enterprise and government are not focusing on the informative pressure and instead the focus is on coercive techniques which are not yielding positive results. The statistical results show that the adoption of green practices led to the improvements in environmental and operational performances but reduction in economic performance. Originality/value This paper has analyzed green supply chain management pressure, practice and performance measure for Indian ceramic enterprises and proposed a structural model with their interrelation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artur Swierczek

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore whether brokered network governance, run by the manufacturer, affects relational embeddedness and thus contributes to yielding the Coleman rent in the triadic supply chains. Design/methodology/approach Building upon the theoretical tenets of transaction cost analysis, complemented by the underpinnings of social capital theory, this study involves an empirical investigation that uses survey data collected from the triadic supply chains in Europe. The research covers a two-step analysis. In the first step, the Coleman rent was estimated through the regression analysis with the interaction effects. Then, partial least squares–structural equation modeling was used to estimate the reflective-formative nature of higher component model and test the research hypotheses. Findings The results of the study demonstrate that the distribution of three mechanisms in network governance is relatively even; however, market and hierarchy still emerge as the most impactful dimensions. Interestingly, though, this study shows that social capital can actually coexist with market and hierarchy in the triadic supply chains with the structural hole. Likewise, the research indicates that the impact of brokered network governance on the strength of network relational embeddedness is significant, but relatively weak, whereas network relational embeddedness has a strong and positive effect on the Coleman rent. Research limitations/implications This study makes three major contributions. First, this study is one of very few that explicitly considers brokered network governance, run by the manufacturer positioned on the structural hole in its triadic supply chain. Second, as the triadic perspective is still uncommon in the supply chain studies, this research investigates a triad with the structural hole within the manufacturing setting. Third, the paper seeks to investigate the ability to yield the Coleman rent in the triadic supply chains with the structural hole, although this type of rent is typically linked to another arrangement called closure. Originality/value Given the increasing attention paid to the role of social capital within supply chains, this study investigates how relational embeddedness can be used by the manufacturer, sitting on the structural hole and running the network governance mechanism, to yield the Coleman rent in the triadic supply chain.


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