Comparing regions globally: impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains – a Delphi study

Abstract

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has challenged supply chains (SCs) around the globe unprecedentedly. This study aims to gain insights on the impacts of the pandemic on SCs and their management under consideration of different regional contexts on a global scale.Design/methodology/approachA Delphi study collects the expertise of global SC academics on the SC vulnerabilities and the measures for responding to disruptions, improving resilience, and restoring operations. Data from three polls are systematically analyzed by content, frequency, and cluster analysis.FindingsThe study identifies and ranks ten major issues related to SC vulnerabilities and management strategies for specific SC processes and geographical regions. Detected differences among the considered geographical regions point towards particular challenges and call for specific measures to integrate regional contingencies into SC management. In a regional comparison, China and Iran as well as Africa clearly stand out, but also Europe/North America, India/Pakistan, and Brazil show geographical particularities.Research limitations/implicationsThe responses are collected against the COVID-19 pandemic, while the findings show differences among the regions thereby arguing for taking regional contingencies into account in managing SCs.Practical implicationsSC resilience is a core aim, which was emphasized by the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings provide insights and challenges that managers would have to meet in the different regions covered.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to existing knowledge on SC risks and SC resilience in context to extreme situations. Given that events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, will become more frequent in the future due to climate change and geopolitical tensions, insights into how to manage SCs under extreme conditions and into regional differences are crucial.

“Managing the “new normal”: the future of operations and supply chain management in unprecedented times”

“…Each of these extends theory in novel ways, addressing aspects of the divide between the stable and unstable external contexts, and the remedies for the latter around increased communication. Seuring et al (2022) concerns the importance of regional context for supply chain management, contrasting Iran under sanctions, the manufacturing centres of China, advanced consumer economies of Europe and North America, the distinct contexts of India, Pakistan, Brazil, the many countries of Africa and so forth. Sauer et al (2022), considers the mindset of firms in relation to external turbulence, distinguishing those that bounce-back and return to a previous state with those that 'bounce-forward' to achieve a new state.…”

“…They also suggest looking into other forms of project governance models, and the role of organisational values in potentially shifting industries away from traditionally adversarial ways of working. Seuring et al (2022) note a number of limitations in their study in capturing supply chain responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. But with climate change impacts and geo-political tensions becoming more severe in the future, research is needed into how resilience of supply networks is affected by network characteristics and levels of collaborative working.…”

“…Seuring et al. (2022) concerns the importance of regional context for supply chain management, contrasting Iran under sanctions, the manufacturing centres of China, advanced consumer economies of Europe and North America, the distinct contexts of India, Pakistan, Brazil, the many countries of Africa and so forth.…”

“…Of these, those that were accepted are as follows and while selected based on their own quality rather than alignment to the conference theme, they nonetheless, unsurprisingly, reflect the topics described above. Seuring et al (2022)'s "Comparing regions globally: Impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains -A Delphi study", describes a comprehensive list of supply chain vulnerabilities and highlights different regional variations. The regional similarities and differences point to heterogeneity based on institutional contexts in addition to macro-economic contexts.…”

“…Seuring et al. (2022)’s “ Comparing regions globally: Impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains – A Delphi study ”, describes a comprehensive list of supply chain vulnerabilities and highlights different regional variations.…”