Achieving supply chain resilience: the role of supply chain ambidexterity and supply chain agility

• Published in: Journal of manufacturing technology management Vol. 31; no. 6; pp. 1185 - 1204
• Main Authors: Aslam, Haris, Khan, Abdul Qadeer, Rashid, Kamran, Rehman, Saif-ur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 24.11.2020; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Advanced manufacturing technologies; Alignment; Competition; Competitive advantage; Developing countries; Efficiency; LDCs; Model testing; Multivariate statistical analysis; Resilience; Suppliers; Supply chains; Uncertainty; China; Dynamic capabilities; Supply chain alignment; Supply chain agility; Supply chain resilience; Supply chain ambidexterity; Supply chain adaptability
• ISSN: 1741-038X; 1758-7786
• DOI: 10.1108/JMTM-07-2019-0263

PurposeThis study analyzes the role of supply chain ambidexterity (SC-Ambidexterity) in developing supply chain resilience (SC-Resilience). We describe SC-Ambidexterity as a simultaneous application of supply chain adaptability (SC-Adaptability) and supply chain alignment (SC-Alignment) capabilities. We also consider the role of supply chain agility (SC-Agility) in the relationship between SC-Ambidexterity and SC-Resilience. We further suggest that the relationship between SC-Ambidexterity and SC-Resilience may be stronger in case of higher market uncertainty.Design/methodology/approachBased on the dynamic capabilities view (DCV) of the firm, we develop a set of hypotheses that are tested through a survey of manufacturing firms in Pakistan. The hypothesized model is tested through structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThe results of this study show a positive effect of SC-Ambidexterity on SC-Resilience. SC-Agility positively mediates the relationship between SC-Ambidexterity and SC-Resilience. However, our results show that this relationship does not vary at different levels of environmental uncertainty.Originality/valueThis study provides the seminal operationalization of SC-Ambidexterity in the supply chain context. It further shows the importance of SC-Ambidexterity and SC-Agility in contributing toward SC-Resilience.