So Many Recalls, So Little Research: A Review of the Literature and Road map for Future Research

Abstract

Although the literature on product recalls is informative, our understanding of these events is still in its infancy. To promote and guide future research in this nascent area, we engaged in a two‐step process that included a systematic review and categorization of product recall‐related literature and interviews with executives from along the entire supply chain. By oscillating between findings in the literature and themes that emerged during our interactions with executives, we discovered several research opportunities that have yet to be systematically examined by scholars. We also highlight four underutilized theories in supply chain management research—upper echelons theory, punctuated equilibrium theory, enactment theory, and justice theory—that could help guide future research in this area. For managers, this study reveals insights related to four key aspects of product recalls: (1) recall precursors (factors that may lead to recalls); (2) the recall process; (3) the impact of recalls; and (4) mitigation approaches (mechanisms firms can employ to reduce the impact of recalls). For scholars, our study identifies several emergent research opportunities and theoretical lenses in the same four areas and thus serves as a road map for future product recall research.

Ramp Up and Ramp Down Dynamics in Digital Services

“…The decision to recall may be voluntary, initiated by the supplier, or involuntary, required by a regulatory body. Product recall costs, which can be considerable, are pressing concerns for supply chain managers (Wowak & Boone, ). Hora et al.…”

The Impact of Supplier Sustainability Risk on Shareholder Value

“…Similarly, risk related to product safety refers to the likelihood that use of the product will harm its users (Marucheck et al, 2011). Both quality and safety issues are thus associated with product recalls, a topic that has received less scholarly attention in the field of OSCM (Wowak & Boone, 2015). Quality management (QM) research has focused on it (e.g., Gray et al, 2011).…”

Learning from Conformance Quality Failures That Triggered Product Recalls: The Role of Direct and Indirect Experience

“…Additionally, the potential for experience with industry recalls to influence learning from quality failure has not been addressed previously, suggesting a second gap in the extant product recall literature (Wowak & Boone, ). Results from Steven et al.…”

“…First, we examine previously unidentified relationships between the type of prior failure experience such as internal locus, supplier locus, and industry recalls and future recalls. In doing so, we respond to calls to examine drivers of learning from recalls (Wowak & Boone, ) and the impact of different types of experience on learning (Argote & Miron‐Spektor, ). Our results show that both internal locus and supplier locus improve learning, demonstrating that while these quality failures may be relatively rare, that, on average, firms interpret these experiences in a way that contributes to positive learning outcomes and decreases future external conformance quality failures (March, , ; March & Olsen, ; Starbuck, ).…”