Examining the synergistic effect of supply chain agility, adaptability and alignment: a complementarity perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 514-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javad Feizabadi ◽  
David M. Gligor ◽  
Somayeh Alibakhshi
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Strategy ◽  
International Firms ◽  
Pairwise Interactions ◽  
Supply Chain Agility ◽  
Actual Interaction ◽  
And Performance

Purpose Drawing on complementarity theory, this paper aims to examine the type and effect of interdependencies/interaction (i.e. complementarity or substitutability) between the supply chain capabilities of agility, adaptability and alignment. Design/methodology/approach A survey research design is adopted to collect primary and secondary data from 182 international firms. The complementarity (or substitutability) of three As (agile, adaptable and aligned) were analyzed in three-way and pairwise interactions; both, correlation and performance differences methods of testing the type of interactions among the system’s elements were used. Supply chain-centric and firm-centric performance metrics were used to examine the interaction types. Findings The study did not find empirical evidence of three-way complementarity between the three As. However, this paper did find evidence of complementarity in bivariate interactions for alignment and adaptability. Moreover, in the performance difference method, the study found a substitute relationship between all pairs of As. Practical implications The findings related to the substitutability between the three As offer managers guidance on how to allocate their limited resources to avoid unnecessary over-or under-investing in either one of the three As. Originality/value This study helps refine prior findings related to the three As by offering evidence that firms can still achieve their performance-related goals with reduced investment commitments by taking advantage of the substitutability relationship existent between these capabilities. That is, instead of concomitantly developing all three As as past studies have suggested, managers can use the findings to determine how to prioritize their resource allocation better. Furthermore, understanding the actual interaction among the supply chain variables generally provide insights for designing the supply chain, change management in the supply chain, developing supply chain strategy and adopting best practices in the supply chain.

Supply chain agility: a systematic review of definitions, enablers and performance implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eias Al Humdan ◽  
Yangyan Shi ◽  
Masud Behnia
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Agility ◽  
Performance Dimensions ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Selection Of

PurposeSupply chain agility (SCA) has recently received considerable attention in the literature and in practice. Despite its popularity, the concept of SCA seems to be vaguely defined and loosely structured. More specifically, definitional ambiguity and conceptual fragmentation have prevented the concept of SCA from reaching its full potential. The time is ripe to address these issues through a systematic literature review.Design/methodology/approachA review and synthesis of the literature on SCA was undertaken. The authors selected 56 top-tier related articles for further analysis after applying rigorous filtering procedures.FindingsThe results of the review confirm that several key themes surround SCA's definition and enablers. In addition, consensus needs to be reached in terms of its performance dimensions and measures. Accordingly, this study constructed an encompassing definition, scrutinized SCA enablers and outcomes and thus developed an original framework for SCA, providing a unique conceptual contribution. Several research directions were also addressed accordingly.Originality/valueThe novelty of this research lies in the selection of highly recognized publications. It also provides an encompassing definition of SCA, consolidates its enablers for better communication and synthesizes its performance implications.

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.

Supply chain strategy, flexibility, and performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Awais Ahmad Tipu ◽  
Kamel A. Fantazy
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovative Strategy ◽  
Supply Chain Strategy ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
And Performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare the supply chain strategy, flexibility, and performance relationships in the context of SMEs in Canada and Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach – The research is based on a quantitative approach using a questionnaire survey from a total of 170 small and medium-sized Pakistani manufacturing companies. The current study draws upon the earlier work of Fantazy et al. (2009) for comparative purpose and employs path analysis technique. Findings – The results partially confirm the findings of previous study on Canadian SMEs with regard to the relationships among strategy, flexibility, and performance in the context of supply chain. The survey results revealed that SMEs in Pakistan adopt followers strategy in order to achieve financial and non-financial performance. Whereas in the previous study, Canadian SMEs adopted innovative strategy and customer-oriented strategy in order to enhance their performance. Originality/value – The literature did not reveal any study which attempted to compare supply chain strategy, flexibility, and performance of SMEs in developed and developing countries. The current study fills this important gap in the literature.

Agility assessment in manufacturing companies

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 2081-2104
Author(s):  
Masoud Rahiminezhad Galankashi ◽  
Syed Ahmad Helmi ◽  
Abd. Rahman Abdul Rahim ◽  
Farimah Mokhatab Rafiei
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Strategy ◽  
Supply Chain Contracts ◽  
Agile Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Agility ◽  
Agility Assessment ◽  
Operational Activities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework to assess the agility of manufacturing companies. Design/methodology/approach Particularly, three supply chain logistic drivers (facility, transportation and inventory) along with three cross-functional drivers (information, sourcing and pricing) are selected as the main sets to classify all required activities of agility. In addition, supply chain contracts, as an important indicator of supply chain agility, is also considered to categorize the activities. These activities are ranked using an (AHP) and then categorized based on the major perspectives of agility. Finally, using a cycle view of supply chain, the developed activities are categorized as the major policies of supply chain’s echelons. Findings This study developed a framework to evaluate the agility of manufacturing companies. Operational activities of agile supply chain strategy (ASCS) in addition to supply chain contracts are determined and categorized with regard to supply chain drivers. Originality/value This study contributes to recognizing, ranking and classifying the operational activities of ASCS with regard to logistics and cross-functional drivers of supply chain. In addition, this study considers the supply chain contracts in conjunction with supply chain drivers. From the theoretic and methodological features, to the best of authors’ knowledge, this study contributes to offer new insights to this area as no similar research has been conducted before.

Business intelligence competence, agile capabilities, and agile performance in supply chain

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 356-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Sadegh Sangari ◽  
Jafar Razmi
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Business Intelligence ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Agility ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the role of business intelligence (BI) in achieving agility in supply chain context by examining the relationship between BI competence, agile capabilities, and agile performance of the supply chain. Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical framework is developed drawing on the resource-based view, the dynamic capabilities perspective, and the competence-capability relationship paradigm, as well as an extensive review of the literature. Structural equation modeling is employed to analyze the data collected from Iranian manufacturers in the automotive industry. Findings – The empirical results support the conceptualization of supply chain BI competence as a multi-dimensional construct comprising managerial, technical, and cultural competence, and confirm that it is a key enabler of supply chain agility in terms of both agile capabilities and agile performance. The results also provide support for partial mediation of agile capabilities on the relationship between BI competence and agile performance of the supply chain. Originality/value – This paper provides a response to the identified need for empirical evidence on the benefits derived from BI, especially in the supply chain context. It also contributes to the existing supply chain agility literature by providing insight into the value and role of BI in enhancing agile capabilities and performance in the inter-organizational supply chain.

Effect of buyer-supplier supply chain strategic collaboration on operating performance: evidence from Chinese companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 823-839
Author(s):  
Weihua Liu ◽  
Xiaoyu Yan ◽  
Cheng Si ◽  
Dong Xie ◽  
Jingkun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Operating Performance ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Company Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Improvements ◽  
Manufacturing Supply Chain ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the implementation of supply chain strategic collaboration (SCSC) on companies’ operating performance. Design/methodology/approach Based on 181 SCSC announcements of listed companies in China, this study analyzes changes in the operating performance of the sample companies in the 20 quarters after the announcement. The changes in different operating performance metrics for the sample firms are compared against their metrics before the announcement. This study uses a self-control model based on historical performance and uses a combination of adjustment percentage changes and adjustment level changes to measure performance changes. Findings SCSC helps to improve firm operating performance, although this effect is only evident after two years. Companies that collaborate on product development have better performance improvements than do companies that implement market collaboration. The operating performance of buyer companies is better than that of supplier companies. Finally, strategic collaboration in the service supply chain improves performance more than that in the manufacturing supply chain. Practical implications The finding that company performance varies in different situations can help managers better understand and manage SCSC. Originality/value This study newly uses secondary data to assess changes in companies’ operating performance brought about by the implementation of SCSC.

An empirical examination of firm financial performance along dimensions of supply chain resilience

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xun Li ◽  
Qun Wu ◽  
Clyde W. Holsapple ◽  
Thomas Goldsby
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Empirical Examination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Resilience ◽  
Critical Dimensions ◽  
Firm Financial Performance ◽  
Supply Chain Agility ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of three critical dimensions of supply chain resilience, supply chain preparedness, supply chain alertness and supply chain agility, all aimed at increasing a firm’s financial outcomes. In a turbulent environment, firms require resilience in their supply chains to prepare for potential changes, detect changes and respond to actual changes, thus providing superior value. Design/methodology/approach Using survey data from 77 firms, this study develops scales for preparedness, alertness and agility. It then tests their hypothesized relationships with a firm’s financial performance. Findings The results reveal that the three dimensions of supply chain resilience (i.e. preparedness, alertness and agility) significantly impact a firm’s financial performance. It is also found that supply chain preparedness, as a proactive resilience capability, has a greater influence on a firm’s financial performance than the reactive capabilities including alertness and agility, suggesting that firms should pay more attention to proactive approaches for building supply chain resilience. Originality/value First, this study develops a comparatively comprehensive definition for supply chain resilience and explores its dimensionality. Second, this study provides empirically validated instruments for the dimensions of supply chain resilience. Third, this study is one of the first to provide empirical evidence for direct impact of supply chain resilience dimensions on a firm’s financial performance.

The role of demand management in achieving supply chain agility

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 577-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Gligor
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Flexible Manufacturing ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Turbulent Environments ◽  
Supply Chain Agility ◽  
Managerial Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of demand management in achieving supply chain agility (SCA) through a multi-disciplinary review of the relevant research. The systematic literature review provides the basis for formulating a conceptual framework of the relationship. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic, comprehensive review of the literature on manufacturing, marketing organizational and SCA from 1991 through 2013 was conducted. The literature on demand management is also examined to identify the various elements that contribute to SCA. Findings – Most agility frameworks take a supply-side perspective and assume that demand is known. Those that do acknowledge the role of demand fall short of offering a holistic framework that acknowledges the role of both. This paper suggests that it is simply not enough to have flexible manufacturing, distribution and procurement systems to achieve SCA. Flexibility in managing demand is also needed. Furthermore, it is the premise of this paper that demand and supply integration (DSI) inside the firm is critical to achieving SCA. Research limitations/implications – This research is a systematic, integrative review of the existing literature on the concept of agility. As such, the next phase of research needed for theory building will be the operationalization of constructs and testing of the hypothesized relationships proposed by the conceptual framework. Practical implications – The paper has several managerial implications as well. It illustrates how firms can create and sustain competitive advantages in turbulent environments. Managers can use the framework developed here to assess what structures and decision-making processes they can use to increase the firm’s SCA. Practitioners can use this model as a checklist to identify candidate areas for improving agility. The section illustrating the use of knowledge management to increase DSI should be of particular interest to managers, considering that a great deal of firms experience a disconnect between demand creation and supply fulfillment. Originality/value – Through a systematic, comprehensive review of multi-disciplinary literature, the paper explores the role of demand management in achieving SCA.

Propagation of risks and their impact on performance in fresh food retail

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 568-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir K Srivastava ◽  
Atanu Chaudhuri ◽  
Rajiv K. Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Food Retail ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
Retail Supply Chains ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Supply Chain Risks

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to carry out structural analysis of potential supply chain risks and performance measures in fresh food retail by applying interpretive structural modeling (ISM). Design/methodology/approach – Inputs were taken from industry experts in identifying and understanding interdependencies among food retail supply chain risks on different levels (sourcing and logistics outside the retail stores; storage and customer interface at the stores). Interdependencies among risks and their impact on performance measures are structured into a hierarchy in order to derive subsystems of interdependent elements to derive useful insights for theory and practice. Findings – Using the ISM approach the risks and performance measures were clustered according to their driving power and dependence power. Change in/inadequate government regulations’ are at the bottom level of the hierarchy implying highest driving power and require higher attention and focussed mitigation strategies. Risks like lack of traceability, transport delays/breakdowns and temperature abuse, cross-contamination in transport and storage have medium driver and dependence powers. Research limitations/implications – The approach is focussed on food retail supply chains in the Indian context and thereby limits the ability to generalize the findings. The academics and experts were selected on convenience and availability. Practical implications – It gives managers a better understanding of the risks and performance measures that have most influence on others (driving performance measures) and those measures which are most influenced by others (dependent performance measures) in fresh food retail and also a tool to prioritize them. This kind of information is strategic for managers who can use it to identify which performance measures they should concentrate on managing the trade-offs between measures. The findings and the applicability for practical use have been validated by both experts and practicing managers in food retail supply chains. Originality/value – The work is perhaps the first to link supply chain risks with performance and explains the propagation of risks in food retail supply chains. It contributes to theory by addressing a few research gaps and provides relevant managerial insights for practitioners.

scholarly journals Talent and student private rented sector bottlenecks: a preliminary UK investigation

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Huston ◽  
Arvydas Jadevicius ◽  
Negin Minaei
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Levels ◽  
Macroeconomic Analysis ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Size Growth ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Rented Sector

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to sketch the UK housing backdrop, review the student private rented sector (PRS) and assess the experience of post-graduate university student tenants in the PRS. Design/methodology/approach – A literature review puts the issues of student-PRS responsiveness into context and helps to untangle some UK housing issues. The private sector’s size, growth and performance is assessed by reviewing secondary data. In-depth interviews were then conducted at a regional university campus. Findings – The study confirms accumulating evidence of an unbalanced UK housing market. The study identified four main PRS issues: first, rapid university expansion without accompanying residential construction has sparked rampant PRS growth with, second, quality issues, third, in tight letting market conditions, rented agent service levels fell and fourth, part of the problem is complex PRS management procedures. Research limitations/implications – The research has three noteworthy limitations. First, the macroeconomic analysis integrated secondary research without independent modelling. Second, the views of letting agents, university property managers, planning officers or landlords were not canvassed. Finally, the pilot interviews were geographically restricted. Practical implications – When they expand, universities, local authorities and industry players need to give due consideration to plan for, design and develop quality student accommodation. Over-reliance on the PRS without informed oversight and coordination could undermine student experience and erode long-term UK competitiveness. Social implications – The lack of quality student rented accommodation mirrors a general housing malaise around affordability, polarisation and sustainable “dwelling”. Standards and professionalism in the rented sector is part of the overall quality mix to attract global talent. Originality/value – The preliminary investigation uses mixed-methods to investigate PRS service delivery. It illustrates the interplay between professional property management and wider issues of metropolitan productivity, sustainability and resilience.

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