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Understanding the influence of lean and agile strategies on creating firms’ supply chain risk management capabilities

Waqar Ahmed (Faculty of Management Sciences, Iqra University, Karachi, Pakistan)
Muhammad Zaki Rashdi (Director Research, Innovation and Commercialization and Associate Dean, Iqra University, Karachi, Pakistan)

Competitiveness Review

ISSN: 1059-5422

Article publication date: 29 June 2020

Issue publication date: 22 July 2021

1591

Abstract

Purpose

Lean and agile strategies are two basic supply chain paradigms that strategist decouples based on their internal and external environment. This study aims to identify the influence of market orientation (MO) and quality management (QM) deployment on the supply chain strategies. Furthermore, this study also seeks empirical evidence of the impact of these core strategies on creating risk management capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative research technique is deployed to explain the phenomenon. The data was gathered through a structured scale questionnaire from supply chain professionals working at different manufacturing firms. Valid data of 134 respondents is then analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling for further empirical understanding.

Findings

The outcome of the research indicates that MO capability; as an external drive is a key to make an operational strategy. QM as an internal control is more prone to formulating a lean strategy (LS). Another important finding is that LS does not complement risk management capabilities especially in an uncertain market condition.

Practical implications

The study suggested concrete implications for risk management through the right mix of lean and agile supply chain strategies. There are some good insights for the supply chain policy-makers working in a developing country.

Originality/value

This study will provide empirical evidence for managing supply chain risk through an effective strategy making.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Addendum to Ahmed & Rashdi (2020): Since the publication of our article ‘Understanding the influence of lean and agile strategies on creating firms’ supply chain risk management capabilities’ (Ahmed & Rashdi, 2020), the editors of Competitiveness Review have drawn our attention to its similarities with our earlier work (Ahmed & Huma, 2018). We wish to clarify that the current article, ‘Understanding the influence of lean and agile strategies on creating firms’ supply chain risk management capabilities’, builds significantly on the earlier paper while testing a similar set of research questions. We also wish to confirm that the analysis published here draws on new raw data and reflects further conceptual thinking.

References

Ahmed, Waqar & Huma, S. (2018), “Impact of lean and agile strategies on supply chain risk management”, Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 32: 1-2, pp. 33-56, https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2018.1529558.

Ahmed, W. and Rashdi, M.Z. (2020), “Understanding the influence of lean and agile strategies on creating firms’ supply chain risk management capabilities”, Competitiveness Review, Vol. 31 No. 5, pp. 810-831, https://doi.org/10.1108/CR-03-2020-0040.

Citation

Ahmed, W. and Rashdi, M.Z. (2021), "Understanding the influence of lean and agile strategies on creating firms’ supply chain risk management capabilities", Competitiveness Review, Vol. 31 No. 5, pp. 810-831. https://doi.org/10.1108/CR-03-2020-0040

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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