Zhao Nanyang, Hong Jiangtao, Lau Kwok Hung
International Business School, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, No. 1900 Wenxiang Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, 201620, China.
School of Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.
Int J Prod Econ. 2023 May;259:108817. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2023.108817. Epub 2023 Feb 23.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has accelerated the building of resilient supply chains, and supply chain digitalization is gradually being recognized as an enabling means to this end. Nevertheless, scholars generally agree that more empirical studies will need to be conducted on how digitalization can facilitate supply chain resilience at various stages and enhance supply chain performance in a highly uncertain environment. To echo the call, this study develops a theoretical influence mechanism of "supply chain digitalization → supply chain resilience → supply chain performance" based on dynamic capability theory. The proposed relationships are validated using survey data collected from 210 Chinese manufacturing companies. The results help identify the paths digitalization and supply chain resilience can take to improve supply chain performance in a turbulent environment. The different roles of three supply chain resilience capabilities, namely absorptive capability (before the disruption), response capability (during the disruption), and recovery capability (after the disruption), which impact on supply chain performance differently, are highlighted. In addition, it is found that digitalization can bring a differential impact on these three supply chain resilience capabilities through different aspects of resource and structural adjustment measures. The findings also confirm the mediating role of absorptive capability, response capability, and recovery capability between digitalization and supply chain performance. During crisis, supply chain digitalization can increase cost-effectiveness, enhance information and communication efficiency, and promote supply chain resilience to achieve better performance. For theoretical contribution, this study enriches the research on supply chain digitalization and resilience by underpinning the relationships between the two with dynamic capability theory. For practical contribution, the research findings provide insights for enterprises to leverage digitalization to strengthen resilience in supply chain.
新冠疫情的爆发加速了韧性供应链的构建，供应链数字化正逐渐被视为实现这一目标的一种推动手段。尽管如此，学者们普遍认为，需要进行更多实证研究，以探讨数字化如何在各个阶段促进供应链韧性，并在高度不确定的环境中提升供应链绩效。为响应这一呼吁，本研究基于动态能力理论，构建了 “供应链数字化→供应链韧性→供应链绩效” 的理论影响机制。利用从210家中国制造业企业收集的调查数据，对所提出的关系进行了验证。研究结果有助于确定数字化和供应链韧性在动荡环境中改善供应链绩效的路径。突出了三种供应链韧性能力，即吸收能力（中断前）、响应能力（中断期间）和恢复能力（中断后）对供应链绩效的不同影响。此外，研究发现，数字化可以通过资源和结构调整措施的不同方面，对这三种供应链韧性能力产生不同的影响。研究结果还证实了吸收能力、响应能力和恢复能力在数字化与供应链绩效之间的中介作用。在危机期间，供应链数字化可以提高成本效益，增强信息和通信效率，并提升供应链韧性以实现更好的绩效。在理论贡献方面，本研究通过用动态能力理论支撑两者之间的关系，丰富了对供应链数字化和韧性的研究。在实践贡献方面，研究结果为企业利用数字化加强供应链韧性提供了见解。
