https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1383-0957
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Abstract
Supply chains (SC) are increasingly complex and if the resulting complexity is not managed effectively, it could lead to adverse consequences for the firm. The effect big data analytics (BDA) can have on managing distinct types of SC complexity is not well-understood in the extant literature. Based on a sample of 166 firms from Pakistan, this study empirically investigates the effects of BDA, and structural and dynamic SC complexities, on SC resilience. The study also investigates the role of BDA as a mediator between SC complexities and SC resilience. We find that structural SC complexity positively affects SC resilience, while there doesn’t seem to be a significant impact for dynamic SC complexity. We also find a mediating effect of BDA for structural and dynamic SC complexities on SC resilience. Our results contribute to the extant literature investigating BDA and SC resilience by offering a more nuanced understanding of distinct types of SC complexities. We establish a more critical understanding of the role of BDA in mediating the critical link between the two types of SC complexity and SC resilience. The proposed model highlights that there are both direct and indirect effects between structural SC complexity and SC resilience, however dynamic SC complexity only influences SC resilience via BDA. These findings provide strategic insights for SC executives as to where to invest in BDA to build much-needed SC resilience.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Anas Iftikhar
Dr. Anas Iftikhar is currently an International Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster University, United Kingdom. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics, Management, and Quantitative Methods from the University of Salento, Italy. His research focuses on the role of organizational capabilities to improve the resilience of supply chains, considering different organizational contexts. In his research, he applies different methodologies, such as NK fitness landscape, partial least square-structural equation modelling, and quantitative meta-analysis. Dr. Anas’s research has been featured in the Journal of Business Research and International Journal of Production Research. Dr. Anas also possess supply chain industry experience in the consumer goods and utility sector. He is experienced in the inventory planning and operations management area.
Laura Purvis
Dr. Laura Purvis is a Reader in Supply Chain Management at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, UK. She holds a B.Eng. In Mechanical Engineering from Transylvania University, Brasov, Romania, and a Ph.D. in Strategic Supply Chain Management from Edinburgh Napier University, UK. Her current research focuses on global supply networks, supply chain flexibility, and resilience. Laura’s previous work has been published in journals, such as Production Planning and Control, International Journal of Production Economics and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, etc.
Ilaria Giannoccaro
Dr. Ilaria Giannoccaro is an Associate Professor at Politecnico di Bari, Italy. Her two main areas of research are management and organization of supply chain networks and new sources of competitive advantage for geographical clusters/industrial districts. Her previous research has been published in journals, such as International Journal of Production Economics, Journal of Business Research, International Journal of Production Research, etc.
Yingli Wang
Dr. Yingli Wang is a Reader in logistics and operations management at Cardiff Business School. She specializes in logistics and supply chain digitization and has led several research projects from a wide range of UK and international funding bodies. Her research started with examining technological innovation for organizations, such as logistics service providers and manufacturers, and then recently extended to explore how technological innovations could benefit wider society, in particular by addressing the ‘wicked’ problems and grand challenges. Dr. Wang is also a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).