Supply chain management in times of crisis: a multi-case study

Abstract

Relying on an inductive multi-case logic, this study analyses public discourse involving four supply chain crises in Europe: (i) NotPetya Cyberattack on A.P. Møller-Maersk of 2017, (ii) the Evonik industrial accident of 2012, (iii) Cadbury’s Salmonella Scare of 2006 and (iv) Horsemeat Scandal of 2013. Grounded on contingency theory, the research finds three main operational vulnerabilities (an MSN of threats) surrounding the investigated cases: Market pressures, Sector dependencies and Network liabilities. The study also identifies four themes of crisis mitigation (4IR measures): (i) intelligence review for reassessments, (ii) integrated relationships for response, (iii) innovation resilience for recovery and (iv) integrity rebuilding for reassurance. Driving these mitigation measures is a customer-first mindset and close customer discussions that strive to restore normalcy, recover operations, and regulate networks. This research is original in its focus on a ‘supply chain crisis’ paradigm and adds to discourse on competitive and/or restorative capabilities for supply chain management (SCM) in times of crisis. Theoretically, the research advances a ‘coactive’ SCM strategy for improved SCM performance in times of crisis, and managerially, the value of the research lies in insights on ‘best practice’ for supply chain crisis management and decisiveness for confront and contain supply chain crises.

Keywords:

• Supply chain crisis management
• resilience
• contingency theory
• operations strategy
• European supply chains

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher M. Durugbo

Dr. Christopher M. Durugbo is Director for the Faculty of Business and Management at Muscat University in the Sultanate of Oman. He is a supply chain and services innovation expert with an interest in system thinking for innovative services and policies, network analysis for supply chain innovation, and managing collaboration for innovation through analytics, informatics and ergonomics. Dr Durugbo has published findings from his research in several journals such as International Journal of Operations and Production Management, European Journal of Operational Research, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, International Journal of Production Research, Production Planning and Control, Annals of Operations Research, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Expert Systems with Applications, Ergonomics, and Information Sciences.

Zainab Al-Balushi

Dr Zainab Al-Balushi is Assistant Professor of Operations Management at the College of Economics and Political Science, Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman. She is a founding member of Oman Logistics Association and a member in formulating the Sultanate of Oman Logistics Strategy 2040. She is a reviewer for various journals and has published in international journals such as Supply Chain Management: An International Journal and International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, and Computers & Industrial Engineering. Her research interests include Inter-Firm Relationships, Supply Chain Uncertainty and Risk Management, CSR & Sustainability, Logistics Digitalization, and Logistics Education.